Newsletter - 15 January 2023
PEACE SUNDAY
Peace Sunday is celebrated this week-end in the parishes of England and Wales and follows the international World Day of Peace on 1st January.
The Holy Father's 2023 Message for World Peace Day is: “No one can be saved alone. Combating Covid-19 together, embarking together on paths of peace."
Pope Francis asks us to unite and to connect with one another because " our greatest and yet most fragile treasure is our shared humanity, as brothers and sisters, children of God."
LEARNING FROM THE PANDEMIC
The coronavirus pandemic exposed the fractures in our social and economic order, bringing to the fore inequalities that impact on the poor and the most vulnerable. At the same time the Covid crisis led us to a "renewed sense of solidarity that had made us more sensitive to the suffering of others and more responsive to their needs". This is the greatest lesson from the pandemic, " none of us can be saved alone". It is this togetherness that will help us move forward and try to make our world a better place.
THE IMPACT OF WAR
But "when we dared to hope that the darkest hours of the Covid-19 pandemic were over, a terrible new disaster befell humanity. The war in Ukraine is reaping innocent victims and spreading insecurity" everywhere and together with all the other conflicts around the globe, it represents a setback for the whole of humanity. As the Pope says "the virus of war is more difficult to overcome because it comes, not from outside of us, but from within the human heart corrupted by sin (cf. Gospel of Mark 7:17-23)."
WHAT ARE WE CALLED TO DO?
Pope Francis says that we must allow our hearts to change. "We must think in terms of the common good, recognising that we belong to a greater community, and opening our minds and hearts to universal human fraternity."
We are called to "confront the challenges of our world" by promoting actions that enhance peace, "join in caring for our common home" and "battle the virus of inequality".
Only inspired by God's infinite and merciful love "will we be able to build a new world and contribute to the extension of his kingdom, which is a kingdom of love, justice and peace."
The Pope trusts us to become peacemakers, artisans of peace and "work, day by day, to make this a good year."
Helena Worley
Our Common Home Project
Focus of the Week
BISHOP JOHN’S VISIT
Over the weekend of 14 /15 January we are delighted to welcome Bishop John to the parish.
He will preside at each of the Sunday masses including the Saturday Vigil and the Sunday Evening Mass.
Bishop John will be available after each mass when you will have the opportunity to speak with him.
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Tuesday 24 January 2023 8pm-9.30pm
Praise and worship with a talk and intercessions followed by refreshments.
The main speaker will be Fr Laurent Fabre, founder of the Chemin Neuf Community.