World Day for the Poor - Caritas in Action!
Webmaster • November 16, 2020
The Directory for Catechesis states that ‘charitable action is an integral part of the catechetical proclamation’ and ‘[t]he need for an organic approach to pastoral care requires the coordination of catechesis with the other activities of evangelisation.’
In his Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti, On Fraternity And Social Friendship, Pope Francis writes:
“Social love” makes it possible to advance towards a civilization of love, to which all of us can feel called. Charity, with its impulse to universality, is capable of building a new world. No mere sentiment, it is the best means of discovering effective paths of development for everyone. Social love is a “force capable of inspiring new ways of approaching the problems of today’s world, of profoundly renewing structures, social organizations and legal systems from within”. (183)
Charity is at the heart of every healthy and open society, yet today “it is easily dismissed as irrelevant for interpreting and giving direction to moral responsibility”. Charity, when accompanied by a commitment to the truth, is much more than personal feeling, and consequently need not “fall prey to contingent subjective emotions and opinions”. Indeed its close relation to truth fosters its universality and preserves it from being “confined to a narrow field devoid of relationships”. Otherwise, it would be “excluded from the plans and processes of promoting human development of universal range, in dialogue between knowledge and praxis”. Without truth, emotion lacks relational and social content. Charity’s openness to truth thus protects it from “a fideism that deprives it of its human and universal breadth”. (184)
Caritas in Action! Briefings 11 - 12, with the Contents headings as follows (the full documents can be viewed below):
Caritas in Action! Briefing 11 – November 2020
11.1 Participation in charity is an integral part of ‘the process of evangelisation’
11.2 ‘…charitable action is an integral part of the catechetical proclamation’
11.3 ‘…coordination of catechesis with the other activities of evangelisation’
11.4 Instruction "The pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelising mission of the Church"
11.5 Weaving together the processes and relationships for building ‘a civilisation of love’
Caritas in Action! Briefing 12 – November 2020
12.1 Exploring the organisational and relational processes of the Catholic Church in its mission
- The warp and the weft of the Catholic Church community in England and Wales (NB. Purely illustrative.)
12.2 Participating in the organisational and relational processes at Diocesan and Parish levels
12.3 ‘“Social love” makes it possible to advance towards a civilization of love’
12.4 The main roles of the different levels of Caritas
12.5 Learning to become ‘witnesses to the faith’ in the twenty-first century
"Healing through the Penitents Path" Every Tuesday throughout Lent at 7:30pm in St David's Chapel of St Peter’s Church (Entrance through Bedford St) A potentially life changing Includes talks, prayers, sharing, testimonies, and prayer ministry. See poster in Church porch for more info. A must for those seeking God!
STATIONS of the CROSS Every Friday during LENT at 6pm Different versions of meditations & prayers will be used
Six Bible Studies on the Lenten Sunday Gospels Starts: Tuesdays 17th February 2026 7pm - 8:15pm Six consecutive Tuesdays: 17 Feb| 24 Feb| 03 Mar| 10 Mar| 17 Mar| 24 Mar Free of Charge. LIVE on YouTube. Registration: comeandsee.org/lent26
Thursday 5th March @ 12noon Community Hall, Bedford Street Two course lunch Cawl / Pudding / Coffee / Tea Wine / Soft Drinks / Music £ 10.00 Tickets available all Masses from this weekend
On the night of betrayal Lord, You know that I love You. Not only I left everything to follow You, I also told You that ‘Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.’, I even have the courage to struck the high priest’s servant with my sword when they tried to arrest You. But then what happened to me? I witnessed silently the utterly unfair tribunal you went through, they chained You like a criminal, but You bore it all patiently and in silence. You got spat on, hit by their fists and sticks, being poured with dirty water, being hurled every imaginable insult; as if there is no bounds to their barbarity, to a point that I could not continue watching. Yet my love for you caused me to stay around in the court of the high priest. Was that a mistake? Three people recognised me and three times I denied. Why did I do that? Where was my courage? Was it because of my instinct to danger? Or my mind was too troubled and grief-stricken? Or was it due to exhaust by the sufferings of this sad night? No, I got no excuse. I went back on my words, I renounced You when I knew You need me most! I know I am no longer to be worthy to walk 'on the water' with You, but in tears I beg You to save me once again as I am drowning in this sea of remorse, do not let me fall into this hole of despair, this hole of no return. I confess that I am a great sinner, I admitted that I have committed this horrible sin in front of You which caused me shudder in fear because I know I deserve eternal damnation. But I remember that You said You came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. I am not afraid of being recognised anymore, and I am ready to proclaim both my fault and repentance to the whole universe. Help me Lord, I trust that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, who has the Power to forgive sin. I boldly ask You to forgive me, because I have this tiny hope and faith that You still Love me, and I trust in your Love. Like a prodigal son in the parable You told us, I now come to you with my contrite heart, because I know that You would also be like the loving father who would never abandon his child. Forgive me, forgive me, Lord, and save me! Reflection : Lent is a time of repentance. But are we ready to confess our sins? Or do you think you have no sin? Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen told us in his prayer: I see now why Peter was not made Thy first vicar on earth until after he had fallen three times, in order that the Church of which he was the head might forever understand forgiveness and pardon. Jesus, I begin to see that if I had never sinned, I never could call You ‘Saviour’
Prayer emphasizing the deepening of one's relationship with God. Lent is a season of return — a time to draw closer to God, not just in routine but in relationship. Pray with Scripture, attend Mass, even daily Mass, walk the Way of the Cross. Let your prayer lead to a heart reshaped, softened, and set ablaze with love. Fasting focusing on self-discipline and abstinence. Why do we fast during Lent? Fasting deepens our spiritual lives. True fasting leads to freedom — the kind that makes space for God to work. Catholics aged 18 to 59 are obliged to fast (i.e. limit to one full meal and two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Catholics 14 years and older are required to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Consider to take Fridays as day of abstinence, at least during Lent. Almsgiving emphasizing charity and concern for others. It is described as a witness to fraternal charity and a work of justice pleasing to God. Lent calls us to move beyond token gestures and into radical generosity. This practice encourages Catholics to share their resources with those in need, reflecting God's generosity. Almsgiving can take various forms, including donating money to charitable causes, volunteering time to serve others, or performing acts of kindness. Give in a way that costs you. Step into someone’s suffering, not just from a distance, but up close. Offer your time, your presence, your heart.
Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday 3rd March 7pm Front room of the Presbytery All are welcome to attend including all those who attended the St Peter’s Hall meeting
Opening Times Saturday : Before and after 5.30pm Mass Sunday : Before and after 9.30am Mass until 11.30am Mass begins We have a large selection of Mother’s Day, St Patrick’s Day and Easter cards and gifts available. We also have new rosaries and Mass books for children. Please feel free to pop in and take a look.