Mauro Iannicelli will break-open the forthcoming Lenten Sunday Gospels with in-depth teaching and stimulating questions. Starts: Tuesdays 17th February 2026 @7pm Six consecutive Tuesdays: 17 Feb | 24 Feb | 03 Mar | 10 Mar | 17 Mar | 24 Mar (7pm - 8:15pm) Free of Charge LIVE on YouTube Registration: comeandsee.org/lent26

The Holy Family's Love and Forgiveness (3) It is so easy to love others when life is easy and everybody is your friend, but can you still love others when things got difficult and the whole world seems to be against you? How precious is that love if you can still love! How true is this love! On that day in Bethlehem, when Joseph went up and down from day until night in search of an inn, one after another people closed their door on him, time after time he got sent away, disappointment happened again and again. Joseph from anxious and troubled, to finally wept in front of Mary. They both knew the urgency of their situation – Mary is going to give birth soon and no one is willing to offer a place to stay. Mary should even be more concern, because a woman in labour at that time can sometimes be a life or death matter. If we are in that situation, isn’t it so often that we start ranting or speak bitterly about those people or to voice out this injustice? But Mary, just consoled Joseph instead. It is even more touching to learn that before the Holy Birth of Child Jesus, Mary even invited Joseph to unite with her in prayers for those hard-hearted people who would not give Jesus a shelter place. Why is Mary so patient, so peaceful? Did Mary not get angry or feeling resentful at all? To answer this simply: Mary got no place in Her heart for any sin and negative emotion, because She is full of Love. Not only She is full of grace, She is full of Love as She bears God in Her womb, Whom is Love. Love penetrate Her whole being. This Love would not diminish in good or bad situations, just like the sun ‘rises on the evil and the good’. Because there is Love, there is forgiveness, thus bears all things and endures all things. (Reference: The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations, Bl Anne Catherine Emmerich)

Bishop Bosco MacDonald, Bishop of Clifton and Lead Bishop for Marriage and Family Life for the Bishops’ Conference, has praised the “ordinary heroism of married love, and the strength of family life” in a message to mark Marriage Week. “Love has a purpose,” says Bishop MacDonald.  “Love is sustained by choice as well as by affection. It is a promise lived again each day, sometimes at a cost, often in quiet, hidden ways. Mercy keeps love alive when people are disappointed in one another. Discernment helps couples face the realities in front of them without bitterness. Mission reminds every family that their home is meant to become a place where others can glimpse the kindness of God.” “To every married couple: thank you. To those preparing for marriage: be brave and be patient with one another. To those who carry wounds or grief in family life, including separation, divorce, bereavement, or strained relationships: the Church cares for you and is here to accompany you… May St Joseph intercede for us. May the Holy Family guard our homes. May the Lord deepen in us the joy of love.” There are also resources in the Bishops’ Conference website to support this time of prayer and reflection: www.cbcew.org.uk/marriage-week/

Archbishop Mark has published a pastoral letter, 'Heart speaks to heart', calling the Archdiocese to become a missionary and synodal diocese built on prayer and four pillars: youth and vocations , evangelising zeal , formation in faith , and loving service . The letter challenges Catholics to encounter Christ more deeply and share that encounter with others, and will be broken into six pieces for study during Lent or Eastertide. Read the full pastoral letter on our website. ( https://tinyurl.com/nmj5ppxk )

The Holy Family's Love and Forgiveness (1) When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, tormenting anxieties filled his heart, because Mary was silence about the matter. Although initially he did wonder whether Mary has violated her fidelity, but he refused to believe it because this did not add up with Her great virtue and perfection that he saw in Her whom only a saint will show, yet he did not know by whom or how it was caused. However, God wished to perfect Joseph’s virtues ‘as gold is tested in the fire’ by hiding this Mystery from him for a while. Two months passed by, poor Joseph eventually overcame by this great tribulation, what should he do? He could have out of jealousy and anger and in the name of ‘justice’, let Mary be condemned by everyone and put to death. But his uprightness, and the high esteem and love he had for Mary, made him rather put himself at a disadvantage instead of others. He rather let the person go than watch a possibly-innocent being killed. He argued with himself: ‘…I do not wish to injure Her reputation of holiness by involving Her in the punishment of the law; yet at the same time I cannot stand by and witness the consequences of her pregnancy.’ He also prayed to God: "...I find no way to restore my peace. In order to choose the least evil I will withdraw from Her and seek a place where no one knows me and, resigning myself to thy Providence, I will pass my life in a desert...” This good man even went the extra mile of vowing to go to the temple of Jerusalem and offer up a part of the small sum of money which he had provided for his journey, so that God might help and protect Mary from the calamities of men and free Her from all misfortune. Can we even match this in our lives?  (Reference: The Mystical City of God, Ven Mary of Agreda)

God our Loving Father, we thank you for the life and testimony of men and women whom you have called to serve you as sisters, brothers, religious priests, consecrated virgins, hermits and members of Secular Institutes. Help them to be more and more rooted in you by following the evangelical counsels. We pray for those of them discerning their vocation, grant them the strength to respond to your call courageously.  We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.’  (Matthew 5:3-12a)

Blessing of throats on Feast of St Blaise Tuesday 3rd February during 10am Mass

Monday 2nd February is the feast day of The Presentation of the Lord. There will be blessing of candles during 10am Mass. Please bring your own candles for blessing.