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Please pray for sick in our hospitals & nursing homes around the parish.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: George Toland, John Bellekom, Edward Kendall, Bridget Dillon, Charlie Hurd, Brian Morris
General
Coming Events
Year of Communion –third Sunday in ordinary time
Today is a special day in the life of the Church. On the day that we began our
“Year of the Word” – “The God who Speaks”, Pope Francis announced that
the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time would be dedicated as “Word of God”
Sunday. He announced tis in a decree entitled “Aperuit Illis” within which
he said, “The relationship between the Risen Lord, the community of believers
and sacred Scripture is essential to our identity as Christians. Without the
Lord who opens our minds to them, it is impossible to understand the Scriptures
in depth. Yet the contrary is equally true: without the Scriptures, the events
of the mission of Jesus and of his Church in this world would remain
incomprehensible” . As we reflect today on the significance of the Scriptures,
we might want to do a little soul searching. Do we give time on a regular basis
for praying the Scriptures? Do we allow ourselves the time to meditate on them?
Do they impact on the way we live our lives? If our Bible is simply gathering
dust on the book shelf, maybe today is the day to take it down and commit
ourselves to reading just a few lines each day so that in nourishing our
knowledge and love of the Lord we grow in that relationship which matters above
all others. As communities, in our diocesan “Year of Communion”, we might
consider forming small Bible study groups or Lectio Divina groups and sharing
the Word with one another.
Gospel commentary for 3rd Sunday in ordinary time
St Matthew, in his Gospel, describes the coming of Jesus in prophetic terms. “The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light”. The light that Jesus reveals exposes the true darkness which is sin, and is preventing all human beings from fulfilling their true destiny as sons and daughters of a loving Father in the everlasting kingdom of heaven.
The revolutionary project that Jesus starts involves a real change of heart and starts with faith: faith in God and faith in ourselves. Do I really believe that God loves me and has called me into a relationship of love? The project of Jesus is to change the world by changing one person at a time, enabling everyone to believe that they are beloved sons or daughters of the one Father God in heaven. In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus at the beginning of his project to bring this new light into the world. He calls the fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James and John, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”. With this small group which gradually increases to twelve, Jesus goes around proclaiming the Good News, teaching and healing. Their mission is to capture the hearts and minds of people, opening up to them the promise of eternal life.
This is still the mission of the disciples of Jesus. The challenge for us today is to recognise the real darkness. There are so many artificial lights that blind us to the reality of what God wants for us. Many believe that human success and fulfilment lie in the acquisition of wealth and knowledge. However, our life project will be very different if we start from our self-awareness: who do I think I am? If I really believe that I am a beloved son or daughter of God, then I must start by asking, “What does God want me to be?” When Jesus is the light in my life, I am going to see myself and the world I live in very differently. So let us take up the invitation to follow Jesus. Let us ask for eyes that see as he sees, and for the courage to respond to the needs of our world with his love and compassion.
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Holy Father’s January prayer intention Prayer intention for evangelisation Promotion of World Peace We pray that Christians, followers of other religions, and all people of goodwill may promote peace and justice in the world. |
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 A Bible –is available on the
table in St. John Fisher church, for your use.
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For
our immigrant parishioners:
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Clifton Diocese Polish Directory:
Lists Polish chaplains, societies, Masses etc. throughout the diocese
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Yellow Parish Introduction Cards in Polish: Available at the doors.. |
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Next Holydays of Obligation:
Holy
day Masses are usually celebrated at the following times:-
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Sacrament
of Reconciliation: |
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CTS
faith booklets-
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Parking for 11.15 Mass: |
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Parish
structure: Parish
Pastoral Council Parish
Outreach Committee (Chair: Pending new appointment.) Finance
& General Purposes Committee Parish
Forum (Facilitator: Parish
open Annual General Meeting: Who
does what: Our main
parish functionaries |
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Parish
Projects: |
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Welfare: Crisis
pregnancy? Nearest
LIFE centre for impartial support: Also “Alternatives” in “Message in a Bottle:” With
an easy form, so 999 services find your needs.
FREE by church doors. Details:
Poster, Fr. Vincent
. Parish Visitors –support any in need: lonely, sick, bereaved.. Tel. Fr Vincent Hospitalisations:
With
no priest based at Sacrament
of the Sick: Available
after the homily at Sunday Mass once each quarter. |
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Deadlines: For
the Parish Diary: For inserts into the parish weekly bulletin: Posters
to display: |
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Every
effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this diary, but you should check
details in the "This Week" section, or get in touch. |
