We discussed at our Parish Council meeting that parishioners will know about the deluge of water that entered over the Repository shop last December just in Christmas week. We were mopping up each day and St Francis statue had to be moved for safety. We now know that it was a slipped ridge tile and other tiles that damaged the leadwork on the roof. We also had water slowly entering on the St Peter’s side. This side had faulty lead work and a damaged valley nest to the tower. This has now been rectified with a new lead valley. The cost of this side has been £13,000.00 and it still needs to dry before repainting the walls. The shop side is not yet complete but will be equally costly. Please consider these costs in maintaining our beautiful church in the opportunity of the collections, or a special yellow envelope that can be ‘Gift-Aided’. Many thanks. Fr Chris This weekend there is a Second Collection for the restoration of the water damage in St Peter’s Church

& Call to Priesthood (continued from last week) If you look back once more, after Jesus said He will give Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and after Jesus died on the Cross and resurrected, it is then that Jesus asked Peter this question face to face. And now, over 2000 years later, in a different space and time, He gave you this thought to be His Priest, He showed you His greatest Love from the Cross and reminds you during every Mass you attended, with His glorious Body hidden in the Eucharist He comes to you and asks you: Do you love me? Do not be afraid to give Him your love, since your love will not be an unrequited love, remember: you are already being loved with an everlasting love… If you are ever in doubt or have worries along the way, do not fear, because you will always have Our Lady who will support and protect you, call on Her, as She is your Heavenly Mother given by Our Lord, who has accompanied the Apostles in the Early Church. Jesus needs you, to work in His field to gather His 'harvest', in his pasture to feed His 'sheep', in His Church to nourish and strengthen His children with His Words, His Eucharist and His Sacraments. Would you lend Him your lips, your hands, your feet? You did not choose to have this Vocation, no, He chose you. You are chosen. He gave you this desire, this invitation, this thought in your heart; and He waits for your reply. "Come and see." "Follow Me."  Do not wait until you are 100% sure, do not wait until you think you are perfect. There is no such thing that you need to have the 'character of a Priest' in order to be a Priest, look at Jesus' disciples: they are people from all walks of life. Go now, and pursuit His Call. It is all worth it, because when Peter asked what will they get at the end after abandoning everything to follow Him, Jesus has promised that they will receive a hundredfold more and inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29)

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) Almighty ever-living God, constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us, that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism may, under your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal. 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.

& Call to Priesthood If you want to appoint someone to work for you, you would certainly want that person to have various skills, knowledge, experience, etc. But if you want to work for God, He only ask you one thing: 'Do you love Me?' And that was exactly what He asked Peter after the Resurrection, no doubt about it, because He asked him three times. After Peter expressed his love to the Lord, Jesus then put 'His sheep' into Peter's hands — all the people of His Church, which He bought with His own most Precious Blood. Such great responsibility He gave Peter, why does He only ask for that? You know, God can give you all your talents you need in this world; but only you and you alone can gives God your love, your 'fiat'. Because God can only ask but cannot force upon you, He invites, yet you need to be willing to respond. You might ask: is it enough to just have love? Do not treat 'love' lightly, because as St Paul wrote to the Corinthians:"Love is patient, love is kind..." (See 1 Corinthians 13:47). Therefore love is the source of every goodness, like a white light shines through a clear glass prism and gives all kinds of colours of light. Love makes everything complete, because God is Love. With love, God created this Universe, with love the Son came down from Heaven, willing to suffer and die to save us. Therefore what is not possible with love? When you love someone, you will do everything gladly and willingly for that person. When you fall in love, you will do anything for that person and even beyond. Hence Priesthood is Jesus calling you in love to follow Him and be His shepherd with love. ( To be continued )

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.

“Each year, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations invites us to reflect on the precious gift of the Lord’s call to each of us, as members of his faithful pilgrim people, to participate in his loving plan and to embody the beauty of the Gospel in different states of life. Hearing that divine call, which is far from being an imposed duty – even in the name of a religious ideal – is the surest way for us to fulfil our deepest desire for happiness. Our life finds fulfilment when we discover who we are, what our gifts are, where we can make them bear fruit, and what path we can follow in order to become signs and instruments of love, generous acceptance, beauty and peace, wherever we find ourselves…”  (CBCEW)

Almighty ever-living God, lead us to a share in the joys of heaven, so that the humble flock may reach where the brave Shepherd has gone before. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God,  for ever and ever. Amen.

Join us for six inspiring sessions (informative talks, guided prayers, healing, teaching, fellowship, ministry & empowerment) Every Tuesday 16 April - 21 May 7.30pm - 9:30pm Talk 1 (16 April) “The Certainty of God’s Love” St Peter’s Prayer & Healing Ministry Fellowship St Peter’s Church, Cardiff CF24 3BA (Entrance through Bedford Street gates) For more info see poster at Church porch

The Divine Mercy (3) When someone hurt or wronged us, it is so easy and natural for us to take revenge or hold grudges. But when St Longinus pierced Jesus in the side, Jesus did not punish him with His Power, instead returned him with His very last drops of Blood and Water, they covered his face and body, grace and salvation entered his soul at once, and opened his eyes both physically and spiritually. When you look at the Divine Mercy Image, the most striking feature is the two rays coming from the heart of Jesus, represent His Most Precious Blood and Water, ever pouring, ever gushing forth with abundance, until the end of time. For who? For you. Yes, for you. It is not God's Will to punish us or sentence us to Hell after we sinned, but it is His Will that we go back to Him with a contrite heart and experience His Mercy. He wished for all of us to return to Him and be saved. If you recall in the Old Testament, despite so many evil deeds Absalom has done, St King David still want to protect him. If an earthly father can have such great love to his child, can you imagine how much more does our Heavenly Father Loves us with His Infinite Love? Have you seen other non-Christian faith has a god like ours — God full of Love and Mercy? This Image is not only a Sign He wants to show us of His Infinite Mercy, but also a solid proof of His Love for you and me. He does not demand us to give Him sacrifices and offerings, but He wants you to love Him with all you can. When you loves someone, isn't it necessary for that person to love you back in order to make a love complete? God shows you His Mercy, He shows you His Love, do you accept it? Will you return His Love for you? He would not force you, as He gave you a free will to decide yourself, the choice is yours.