Newsletter - 26 February 2023
Dear brothers and sisters,
As we strive to start a new year we are surprised that Lent has already started. The more dynamic of you may rejoice and be happy of this fantastic opportunity to repent and to get closer to God. But maybe some of us are silently and reluctantly moaning inside “Oh no! Not already! I am tired of repeated Lenten seasons! Do they truly bear lasting fruits in my spiritual journey?” I invite us to ponder on the words of our Archbishop, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, in his pastoral letter read at mass last weekend.
I put before you today three ways of refreshing and renewing your faith: a renewed focus on Jesus, a fresh readiness to bear witness to him and thirdly a conscious effort to build community and compassion.
The Cardinal puts first and foremost our personal, intimate relationship with Jesus without which all efforts are meaningless. The relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ gives a purpose to everything, to all our doings, activities, efforts and thoughts.
During these weeks of Lent, please do all you can to place Jesus at the heart of your lives. Our relationship with him is the foundation of all we strive for, our abiding strength and our source of hope and joy. Without this relationship our faith loses its heart and warmth, becoming a matter of outward observance rather than inner wonder.
But how do I achieve this? What can I do for this relationship to thrive and become a priority? The Lord knows our intentions and desires and can facilitate our endeavour – he can put into our hearts the mere desire to deepen our relationship with him. In addition, we get to know better someone by spending more time with him. We could for instance start or restart reading a Gospel or one of the letters of Paul to know better the Lord when he came in this world, to become familiar with his humanity. Sister Theresa of Avila had a deep understanding of this and said that since God took on our humanity in Jesus, He offers us a human as well as a divine friendship by which we may approach Him.
Brothers and sisters, let us take heart and ask the Lord to incline our hearts towards him for him to become our priority so that Lent this year bears renewed and lasting fruits.
Silence and prayer in Lent: Each Monday following the 11 am Mass (11:45 to 12:45) a group meets upstairs in the church for prayer and Christian meditation. All are welcome.
Lenten Day of Retreat Saturday, March 11, 9am to 4 pm (with lunch). An introduction to two forms of prayer: Christian Meditation with Josephine von Zitewitz (morning); Praying with Scripture with Deacon Ted Wood (afternoon). Offered by Cockfosters Centre for Spirituality and Chemin Neuf Community. A donation toward costs is welcomed. Register through the parish office.
Fr Pascal Sullivan,ccn
Focus of the Week
CARDINAL’S LENTEN APPEAL 2023
Funds raised this year will be shared between the four pillars of the Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal : Marriage & Family Life; Youth & Evangelisation; The Education Service and Caritas Westminster. The church continues to respond, with thousands of people putting their faith in action by serving those in need. Cardinal Nichols has expressed his gratitude to everyone who supports the Appeal, with whatever they can afford. For those who can’t give financially, your time is a priceless commodity.
Please take a donation envelope today, for more information. Thank you for your generosity.