Sunday 24 August St Mary’s Church, Monmouth Begin with Mass at 9.15am and set off to walk to Welsh Newton from 10.15am, the event will concluded with Benediction in the Church at 4.15pm. Everyone welcome - bring a packed lunch. For further information, contact Mary Walsh on 01600 713 316

Saturday 13th September 10am-2:30pm All Hallows Church, Miskin Free lunch provided Welcome all mothers, grandmothers, and women with hearts for children Arranged by: Nora Woodward and Sr Susan Armond on behalf of the Archdiocese. Learn about establishing your own Mothers' Prayers group with the UK national coordinator. Discover how these small, faith-filled groups began under the Holy Spirit's guidance and now flourish in 120 countries.

Holy Communion (1) Do you notice that in our lives we always need companionship, friendship, relationship, or some simply like to go to where people exist? Since from the very beginning, God has said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper..." (Genesis 2:18) Therefore, whilst we are still living in this world, this togetherness (or this union) is necessary and tends to be in our nature. Thus you may find some chose to be with someone, some chose to be with something... But there is a union on this earth which is above all, that is, the communion of a human with God - the receiving of the Holy Eucharist - the Holy Communion. What is the word 'communion' means? Dictionaries will give you the meaning of 'connect in a meaningful way or a close relationship with someone in which intimate thoughts, feelings and emotions are shared or exchanged, especially on a mental or spiritual level'. Do not forget, Jesus is really, truly and substantially present in the Eucharist. The Holy Mass is not simply the breaking and sharing of the bread in memorial of Our Blessed Lord. Because, during the Mass, the greatest of Miracles occurs - 'Transubstantiation' - the change of the whole substance of bread and wine (though not the appearance) into Christ's Body and Blood. It begins at the moment of the Consecration and the Eucharistic presence of Christ endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist. Therefore, in the most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist is “the Body and Blood, together with the Soul and Divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ". So this union, receiving of the Holy Communion, is not a distanced or superficial connection, but a very close, deep and intimate connection. (References: *Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament *The Holy Mass Explained to Catalina Rivas by Jesus and Mary *Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Early Church Fathers used a “typology” to establish the continuity between the Old and New Testaments. For example, King Solomon is a prefigurement of Christ because he was a peacemaker, filled with wisdom, and built the Temple. Christ is the true Peacemaker who built the true Temple of His Body, the Church. Following this form, theologians note that King Solomon paid his own mother homage and granted her requests (1 Kings 2:19–20). If King Solomon honored his Queen Mother’s requests and sat her on a throne next to his, then so much more does our Lord, the true King of Kings, honor His mother. Thus this memorial celebrates that Jesus’ mother sits on a throne next to His, and Jesus says to her,  “Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” As Queen, Mother Mary intercedes for us and acts as His mediator. As a mother, she is pleased to lavish every good thing upon her earthly children. We turn to her with childlike faith and simplicity, as a young child runs to his mother in time of need. She is our protectress, our refuge, our hope, and our sweet delight. Her affection is perfect and her motherly love unmatched.

“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! ... Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division...” (Luke 12:49,51) O God, who have prepared for those who love you good things which no eye can see, fill our hearts, we pray, with the warmth of your love, so that, loving you in all things and above all things, we may attain your promises, which surpass every human desire. 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

“Taken up into heaven, Mary shows us the way to God, the way to heaven, the way to life.” - Pope St John Paul II Solemnity of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Day of Obligation  Friday 15 August Masses at 10am and 7pm All are Welcome

Eucharistic Miracle of Alcoy, Spain 1568 On the 29th of January in 1568, a citizen of Alcoy by the name of Juan Prats, who needed money, secretly entered the parochial Church and stole many sacred objects, among which was a precious silver box containing three consecrated Hosts. Juan consumed the three Hosts immediately and then hid the box in his stable underneath a pile of wood. The next day, the Parish Priest, Don Antonio, found out about the sacrilegious theft. Distressed, he sounded the Church bells to let the people know of the horrendous act. Soon after, all of the people of Alcoy were assembled in prayer in front of the Church. The searches began immediately, but were in vain. Near Juan's house lived a pious widow, María Miralles, who had a statue of the Holy Child. The woman, profoundly disturbed by the profane act, began to pray intensely in front of the statue of Jesus, pleading for the consecrated Hosts to be returned to the citizens of Alcoy. Few hours had passed when she started her fervent prayer when María saw the little hand of the statue of Jesus point its finger to the house of her neighbour, Juan Prats. The woman, suspicious, decided to tell the civil authorities of what had taken place. In that moment the pastor of the Church, moved by a mysterious force, went to the garden of the house of Juan and entered the stable. He rummaged through the pile of wood and immediately recovered the silver box with the three consecrated Hosts. Juan, not under-standing how the three Hosts were inside the silver box again, (as he remembered consuming them) repented deeply and confessed the misdeed. The miracle is still remembered every year by the inhabitants of Alcoy in a festival that is celebrated on the feast of Corpus Christi. The house of Juan was turned into an oratory and can be visited to this day. The documents relative to the miracle and the statue of Baby Jesus are still kept today in the monastery of the Holy Sepulchre of Alcoy. (Reference: www.miracolieucaristici.org)

Almighty ever-living God, whom, taught by the Holy Spirit, we dare to call our Father, bring, we pray, to perfection in our hearts the spirit of adoption as your sons and daughters, that we may merit to enter into the inheritance which you have promised. 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.

This Sunday 17th August Mass at 3pm Please bring your own seat All are welcome!