We have a new member of our Rosminian community, Brother Cong is from Vietnam. He is here for the next few months and will be studying to improve English. Please make him welcome, and if you can offer to take him to see parts of our area, he will be grateful.

A big “Thank You” to all the parishioners who contributed to the Easter ceremonies. The musicians, the altar servers, the volunteers who read so well or volunteered for the washing of the feet. The parishioners who cleaned the church and decorated with a stunning flower display. The stewards who greeted us and the family in the parish shop. We are grateful too to the large number of parishioners this year who made the liturgy a real moment of praise to the Risen Lord. Fr Chris

Thinking about becoming a Catholic?  RCIA meetings are for adults who wish to look more closely at the Catholic faith whether you have a view to Baptism or reception into full communion or not. Please complete form at the back of Church and pass to one of the priests. More details of meetings to follow. Course will be starting soon.

Our parish has recently joined a worldwide campaign of 40 days of Perpetual Adoration, starting 8 February to 19 March 2024 , and would like to ask you to pray for the following 7 intentions during our weekday Adoration from 10.30am to 11.30am: ● Hearts to be open to God and others ● Reparation and repentance for the world’s turning away from God & His commandments ● The undoing of global forces of fear, lies, evil & sin ● Revival and unity in the Church ● The end of human trafficking, abortion & euthanasia ● The Spirit of Truth to bring freedom ● Priests to be deeply Marian & Eucharistic

Catholic C: Why do we believe the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady? Catholic B: This is one of the four Marian dogmas. Our Catechism explains: "To become the mother of the Saviour, Mary “was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.”... in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace." In 'The Glories of Mary', St Alphonsus explained in-depth how fitting it was to the Holy Trinity, let me share some points with you: ● Since the Eternal Father destined Mary for the restorer of the lost world, and mediatrix of peace between man and God, so she should not appear as a sinner and enemy of God, but as his friend, and pure from sin. ● God destined Mary to crush the head of the serpent, therefore she should not first be conquered by Lucifer, and made his slave; instead she should be free from every stain and from all subjection to the enemy, and remaining free from every stain of sin to the end, so she could conquer the devil. ● The Eternal Father also destined Mary for the mother of His only begotten Son, at least for His Son’s honour, the Father would create her pure from every stain and adorn her soul with every grace, that it might be a worthy habitation for a God. ● God can give the grace to Eve to come into the world immaculate; He can certainly bestow it on Mary. ● Since the Son could select a mother according to his pleasure, surely He would choose one befitting a God. Who would choose a slave for his mother instead a queen? Or an enemy of God instead a friend of God? Indeed, it is fitting that a most pure God should have a mother pure from all sin. ● If Our Lord gave us the command to honour our parents, then when he became man, should also observe it himself, which included created His mother immaculate when He was able to do so.  ● Who does not want a beautiful bride? If so, the Holy Spirit would surely use His power to make Mary - His spouse, as beautiful as He possibly can. Also because this divine spouse loved Mary from the beginning, more than all the saints and angels united, we can think of the swiftness of the Divine Spirit, in making her His spouse, before Lucifer can take possession of her. Yes, we believe this dogma. St Cyril of Alexandria says: Who has ever heard of an architect building a house for his own use and then giving the first possession of it to his greatest enemy?

SVP are relaunching an appeal for food donations at the back of church! Tins, pasta, dry goods and non-perishables are all needed by local people in the community. Please pass on this appeal to others.  Thank you in advance!

Catholic A : Why do we call Mary the 'Mother of God'? It sounds like she is more superior than God? Catholic B : This title is one of the oldest and most commonly used titles for Mary, even since the very first centuries of the Church. The title “Mother of God” is a western derivation from the Greek word Theotokos, which means “God-bearer”. The title “Mother of God” does not imply that Mary was the “originator of God” or “generate” God or greater than God, but because Jesus was God, and Mary was his mother since she did bear Him in her womb and give birth to Him, then that made her the Mother of God. Calling Mary “Mother of God” also states an essential truth about Christ: He is both God and man. Mary as the virginal “Mother of God” is the link between her Son’s humanity and divinity. Furthermore, this title reminds us of the role that the Blessed Virgin played in the plan of our salvation, because it is by Mary’s fiat (“Let it be done.”) that Christ Our Saviour’s birth was made possible. Therefore we should love Our Lady too for her love for us by bringing Jesus into this world that has waited for thousands of years, calling Mary “Mother of God” is the highest honour we can give to her.

Where is the king? Could it be that Jesus wants to reign above all in men's hearts, in your heart? That is why he has become a child, for who can help loving a little baby? Where then is the king? Where is the Christ whom the Holy Spirit wants to fashion in our souls? He cannot be present in the pride that separates us from God, nor in the lack of charity which cuts us off from others. Christ cannot be there. In that loveless state man is left alone. As you kneel at the feet of the child Jesus on the day of his Epiphany and see him a king bearing none of the outward signs of royalty, you can tell him: "Lord, take away my pride; crush my self-love, my desire to affirm myself and impose myself on others. Make the foundation of my personality my identification with you." (Extract from Christ is Passing By, no.31, by St Josemaría Escrivá)

“...some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’” (Matthew 2:1-2) O God, who on this day revealed your Only Begotten Son to the nations by the guidance of a star, grant in your mercy that we, who know you already by faith, may be brought to behold the beauty of your sublime glory. 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.