Seasonal Thoughts and Meditations

Christmas 2007 - A Star (What a Star!)
EASTER 2007 - Christ is risen from the dead, he is risen indeed!
Education Sunday - 4 February 2007
Home Mission Sunday - 17 September 2006
Racial Justice Day - 10 September 2006
New Year's Day - World Day of Peace, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - 1 January 2006
World Day of Prayer for Vocations - 17 April 2005
Advent - Journey in Hope - 28 November 2004
Praying for the Dead - 14 November 2004
The Month of the Rosary - October 2004
Year of the Eucharist - October 2004 - October 2005
Apostleship of the Sea - 11 July 2004
Day for Life - 4 July 2004
World Day of Prayer for Vocations - 2 May 2004
Education Sunday - 8 February 2004
The Rosary
Catholics and Holocaust Remembrance Day - 27 January 2004
Homelessness Sunday - 25 January 2004
Christmas 2003
Racial Justice Sunday - 14 September 2003
Sea Sunday - 13 July 2003
World Communications Day - 1 June 2003
Vocation Sunday - 11 May 2003
Easter 2003
Presentation of the Lord
Education Sunday - 26 January 2003
Peace Sunday - 17 January 2003
Feast of the Epiphany - 6 January 2003
A Christmas Prayer
Advent 2002 - Movement in Advent
 Prisoners' Sunday - 17 November 2002
World Day of Prayer for Vocations - 21 April 2002
Catholics and Holocaust Memorial Day - 27 January 2002
Education Sunday - 21 January 2002
First Sunday of Advent 2001
Prisoners' Sunday - 18 November 2001
Racial Justice Sunday - 9 September 2001
Education Sunday - 11 February 2001
Advent 2000 - Making Sense of Life








Christmas 2007 - A Star (What a star!)

“Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened” Luke2:15
The journey to Bethlehem today may not excite us in the same way as it did the shepherds. Bethlehem is a sad place because of the war, conflict and division it has suffered these many years. In our remembrance of the place where Jesus was born, let us make a special effort to pray for peace not only in Bethlehem, but throughout the whole of the Middle East. Jesus’ birth brought great excitement to the shepherds and in the same way the peace we pray for today will fill all our hearts with joyful hope. Let our rejoicing be one of thanksgiving for the God who is with us, our Emmanuel, and let each Christian person witness to the power of God’s love. Christian signs and symbols are deemed by some in our society to be offensive to non-believers and persons of other faiths. While this may be true in some instances, the overwhelming majority of people are happy to see and join in our Christian Christmas celebrations. It is more than being just proud of our Christian heritage, but we should be alive in our Faith, our Hope and our Love. Our witness to these virtues will far outshine any star, sign or symbol. Perhaps our prayer this Christmas could be that of the Dawn Mass Collect: “Father, we are filled with the new light by the coming of your Word among us. May the light of faith shine in our words and actions”.

May the peace of Christ be in your hearts and homes this Christmas and in the coming year of 2008. God Bless you all.

Fr Bill








EASTER 2007 - Christ is risen from the dead, he is risen indeed!

Easter is full of joyful promise. To fully appreciate it we must first pause and go over again all that has happened to Jesus. Betrayed, captured, tried, condemned, scourged, crucified to death - the final act. What more could be done, what more could happen? It was surely the end of all the dreams, about a new way, about Kingdom. We know little of the desolation of his mother, relatives, friends and those whom he had chosen to follow him. The silence of the tomb gives way to a joy that seemed too great to understand; the emptiness of the tomb is filled with a hope too daring to imagine. To see again one who was dead, a cruel death, alive again: talking, walking, eating - a real person in a real body, celebrating with his friends. How can we imagine a dead person coming back to life? It is only by turning to Jesus Christ who was dead and is alive. Alleluia, alleluia!

Our thoughts and prayers are with all who have suffered the loss of a close family member or friend. We think especially of Michael, Sarah and Helen Tripp who are grieving for Edna, a beloved wife, mother and friend. Edna was the personification of a delightful and perfect ecumenist. She would be here with her family every Sunday and be very much part and party to our parish community and then attend her local Anglican church during the week. Her sudden death is a sad loss for us all. May the Risen Christ shine upon her and on all who have died in the parish. Our faith teaches us that death is not the end, but the beginning of a new life with the Risen Christ.

Wishing all our parishioners and visitors God's blessing for a happy and joyful Easter.

Fr Bill, Fr Bruno, Sisters Fionnuala, Roseanne and Margarite








Education Sunday - 4 February 2007

For well over a hundred years there has been an annual recognition of Education Sunday in England and Wales. It is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone in the world of education. Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Chair of the Catholic Education Service, writes:

"On Education Sunday each year, the Christian community celebrates its mission in education. This mission of hope helps children, young people and adults appreciate and know of God's love for them. God's love transforms and brings about personal change that is not skin deep but life-changing. Catholic schools and colleges are founded by communities of faith and characterised by a commitment to personal excellence and social justice. Through the example of parents, teachers, teaching assistants, chaplains, governors and the wider Catholic community, students will learn how to be truly happy and fulfilled. Through learning more about their own faith students will learn how to talk to people of other faiths and none; thus building a more content and peaceful society."

There is a second collection on Education Sunday for the Catholic Education Service, the national negotiating and advisory body on matters affecting all aspects of Catholic education. Parish Gift Aid does not apply.

A Prayer from the Association of Christian Teachers

Learning to live is such a wonderful but difficult business, Lord:

Learning to know and to understand, learning to love and to care.

We so often fall short, but you prompt us to try and try again.

So, bring us to that day when we know as we are known

And love as we are loved, the day of the joy of your kingdom.

In the name and grace of Jesus we ask this. Amen








Home Mission Sunday - 17 September 2006

a day of prayer for the spread of the Gospel in England and Wales. Please pray that we will find new ways to share our faith with others. As Catholic Christians we are called to share the Good News of God's love. Visit www.case.resources.org.uk for inspiration







Racial Justice Day - 10 September 2006

Extract from the Churches' Commission for Racial Justice Charter 2003

"Racism is not only a crime, it is a sin that violates Christ's command to 'love your neighbour as yourself.' How we treat one another cannot be separated from our relationship with God. Racism is a powerful force of oppression and injustice and is destructive in all its forms. It continues to permeate the different levels of Church and society. It denies people their dignity as children of God and their God-given inalienable rights. It severely weakens the social fabric of society by dividing the human family and destroying attempts to build community and the common good. It stands opposed to every humanizing process and is contrary to God's plan for us."








New Year's Day - World Day of Peace, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

The theme chosen by Pope Benedict for his New year message on this, the World Day of Peace, is "In Truth, Peace". You can read the full text on the Vatican website, but here are a few extracts.

"The theme expresses the conviction that wherever and whenever men and women are enlightened by the splendour of truth, they naturally set out on the path of peace...Peace appears as a heavenly gift and a divine grace which demands at every level the exercise of the highest responsibility: that of conforming human history - in truth, justice, freedom and love - to the divine order...Peace is an irrepressible yearning present in the heart of each person, regardless of his or her particular cultural identity...The truth of peace calls upon everyone to cultivate productive and sincere relationships; it encourages them to seek out and to follow the paths of forgiveness and reconciliation, to be transparent in their dealings with others, and to be faithful to their word."

As we begin 2006, let everyone make a special effort to live this message of peace. Peace begins with each one of us, in our hearts and in our our homes, with our families and friends and in the workplace. Let Mary, the Mother of God, be our protector, guide and example as we continue our journey of faith as disciples of her son, Jesus Christ.

As we reflect on our Christmas celebrations here at St Joseph's, it is encouraging to see so many people coming to celebrate the birth of the Saviour. Some 2,500 people attended our Mases and our new ministry of welcomers really made a difference. Their presence here, greeting visitors with a smiling face, added a certain warmth.






World Day of Prayer for Vocations 17 April 2005

Our Saviour,
sent by the Father to reveal His merciful love,
give to your Church the gift of young people
who are ready to put out into the deep,
to be the sign among their brothers and sisters of Your presence
which renews and saves.








Advent 2004 - "Journey in Hope"

"Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord" Isaiah 2:5 This Advent the prophet Isaiah invites us to begin our journey in hope. We move towards his dream of the mountain of the Lord, where God dwells amongst the people and there is peace, prosperity and justice for all.

World governments too hope for a better future for the world's poor and they outlined their vision in the Millennium Development Goals. By the year 2015 they aspire to a world in which the proportion of people living in hunger and poverty is halved; primary education is available for all; improved health provision means that infant and child deaths are reduced by two thirds and women dying in childbirth by three quarters, whilst the incidence of HIV/AIDS and malaria is reduced and the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water is halved.

This dream will be realised if ordinary people encourage and support their governments to take the necessary steps to bring it to fruition.

As the light from the first candle on the Advent wreath sheds light and hope into the increasing darkness of our world, we have faith that God will not leave us in the gloom, but will come and dwell with us again. Let us, in our turn, bring light, and hope for a better future, to the world's poor. Prayer: God of light, give us hope as we begin our journey through Advent and sustain us on our way, so that we may help to build your kingdom of peace, prosperity and justice for all. Amen








The Catholic Tradition of Praying for the Dead

Why pray for the dead? In the Creed we profess our faith in the Communion of Saints. This means that all the baptised, alive or dead, belong to each other. As such we are part of that great wheel of prayer which is the Catholic Church. The living pray for the souls in Purgatory. The Saints in glory pray for all of us. Of course the highest form of prayer, be it for the living or the dead, is the Holy Mass offered for them. Praying for the dead is an act of love for those who have gone before us. Praying for the living and the dead is one of the Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy. We read in the 2nd Book of Maccabees "It is a good and holy thing to pray for the dead that they may be released from their sins" (12:44,45). From the Roman Ritual ". To you, O God, the dead do not die, and in death our life is changed, not ended. ...God of all consolation, open our hearts to your word, so that, listening to it, we may comfort one another, finding light in time of darkness and faith in time of doubt".

14 NOVEMBER IS REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY WHEN WE REMEMBER THE DEAD OF THE TWO WORLD WARS AND SUBSEQUENT WARS (INCLUDING IRAQ)








October - The Month of the Rosary

Pope John Paul II wrote 'The Church has always attributed efficacy to this prayer, entrusting to the Rosary the most difficult problems. At times when Christianity itself seemed under threat, its deliverance was attributed to the power of this prayer, and Our Lady was acclaimed as the one whose intercession brought salvation.

'The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at the heart a Christocentric prayer. In the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety, of which it can be said to be a compendium. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abudant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer'.

Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II:
Rosarium Virginis Mariae








The Year of the Eucharist

The Holy Father has declared October 2004 - October 2005 'The Year of the Eucharist'. He said 'The Eucharist is at the centre of the life of the Church. In it, Christ offers Himself to the Father for us, making us participants of His Sacrifice itself, and he gives Himself to us as bread of life for our journey on the paths of the world'. He continues that the Year of the Eucharist seeks to 'make every community grow in faith and love toward the mystery of the Body and Blood of the Lord'. Let us pray fervently for a greater reverence and love for the Mass and the Eucharistic Presence.








Sea Sunday 2004

The Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) is the Catholic Church's mission outreach alongside the one million international seafarers who visit UK ports every year. They work away from home for up to 12 months, facing loneliness and isolation, danger and even exploitation as they deliver the goods and resources we consume each day. 60% of seafarers come from a Catholic background. The AOS offers:

There will be a retiring collection today for the work of AOS. This mission is extraordinarily important but often forgotten. I am conscious that those who work on our ships are among the poorest people and are separated from their families. They deserve all the support, hospitality and care we can give them.
(AOS patron Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor)






A Day for Life

Celebrating the Blessing of Families

The Catholic Church in England and Wales marks the first Sunday of July as a special day to celebrate and reflect on the gift of life. There are special 'Day for Life' colour newsletters available for you to take home and read.







WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS - 2 May 2004

We are invited to pray today for a flourishing of all vocations, with a particular intention for those to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life, and for a deeper and stronger culture of vocation throughout the Church. God our Father,

You sent your Son, Jesus, into the world,
and he in turn, through the Holy Spirit,
sent the apostles and their successors
to continue your work as Teacher, Priest and Shepherd.
We ask you to choose from among us in our diocese
Priests, deacons, brothers and sisters
who will willingly give their lives in your service
and work to make you better known and loved.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDUCATION SUNDAY - 8 FEBRUARY 2004

fishing net"Putting out into the Deep" For well over a hundred years there has been an annual recognition of Education Sunday in England and Wales. It is a national day of prayer and celebration for everyone in the world of education. The theme "Putting out into the Deep" has been devised by an ecumenical steering group representing different Christian denominations. These words, from St Luke's Gospel, have echoed strongly in the life of our Catholic community since the Jubilee Year 2000. They were used by the Holy Father to encourage us to a renewal of our life of faith, for communion and mission. Here they are brought to bear on the tasks of education. God invites teachers and learners to put out into the deep. The invitation carries a challenge! We shouldn't be satisfied with paddling in the shallows of knowledge and understanding. Rather we are urged to reach out to new learning experiences. This will involve tackling more difficult concepts and issues. God encourages us to learn more of his complex world. As learners and teachers it is not always straightforward to move from the easy to the complex. We often fail in our initial attempts. However God, through the Holy Spirit, challenges us to take risks to fulfil our God given potential and not to be discouraged by failure. As we learn more, we realise our dependence upon God, whose transforming grace enables us to grow in understanding. We then discover the joy of learning and grow in self-confidence as we think more deeply. Are we now ready to trust and obey God's call to put out into the deep?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rosary

Last year the Holy Father, John Paul II, called Catholics everywhere to pray the Rosary for "the great cause of peace". The Holy Father continued, "I wish to entrust the great cause of peace to the Rosary". The Rosary is a way to contemplate the face of Christ through the eyes of Our Lady. Therefore it is a prayer rooted in the Gospel.

Urging everyone to recite the Rosary for peace in the world, Pope John Paul said: "The Rosary has been shown to be a particularly appropriate prayer. It builds peace because while it appeals for God's grace, it deposits the seed of good in the heart of the one who recites it, and from this one can hope for the fruits of justice and solidarity in personal and community life. The Rosary can help bring these fruits of justice and solidarity not only to nations but also to families ... what peace would be assured in family relations if the recital of the Rosary were again taken up in families?

St Jerome tells us that "The beauties contained in the Hail Mary are so sublime, so wonderful, that no man or angel could fully understand them". The Hail Mary is like a mine of gold that we can always take from but never exhaust. Each time we say the Hail Mary, we are repeating the same words with which St Gabriel, the Archangel, saluted Mary on the day of the Annunciation, when she became the Mother of God.

Oceans of graces and joys filled the soul of Mary at that moment. Now when we say the Hail Mary we offer anew all these graces and joys to Our Lady and she accepts them with immense delight. St Bernard said that it was never heard, at any time or in any place, that Mary refused to hear the prayers of her children on earth.

Each Hail Mary, well said, gives the greatest joy to Our Lady and obtains for us wondrous graces. All we have to do in order to say the Hail Mary well is to remember that we are offering to Our Lady the very same joys that St Gabriel offered her at the great moment when she became the Mother of God.

Each Sunday during Lent we will have Exposition, the Rosary and Benediction at 4.00pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CATHOLICS AND HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY 27 JANUARY 2004

<p>Holocaust Remembrance Day focuses our minds on the need to remember the tragic loss of Jewish life, when one in three Jews died worldwide, and on all who suffered and died through prejudice and tyranny. It can be a day of reflection about the meaning of life, about how human beings treat one another and about the depths to which the human spirit can sink and the heights to which it can rise. It can be a day for all to express solidarity with religious and ethnic minorities and hope for a different future, resolving to build that future in peace.</p> <p><i> God of our fathers,<br> you chose Abraham and his descendants<br> to bring your name to the nations:<br> we are deeply saddened<br> by the behaviour of those<br> who in the course of history<br> have caused these children of yours to suffer,<br> and asking your forgiveness<br> we wish to commit ourselves<br> to genuine brotherhood<br> with the people of the Covenant<br> </i></p> <p>Copy of the letter placed by Pope John Paul II into a crevice of the Western Wall in Jerusalem in 2000.</p> <p>  </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <h3>Homelessness Sunday - 25 January 2004</h3> <a name=" id="holocaust2004></a> <p>Holocaust Remembrance Day focuses our minds on the need to remember the tragic loss of Jewish life, when one in three Jews died worldwide, and on all who suffered and died through prejudice and tyranny. It can be a day of reflection about the meaning of life, about how human beings treat one another and about the depths to which the human spirit can sink and the heights to which it can rise. It can be a day for all to express solidarity with religious and ethnic minorities and hope for a different future, resolving to build that future in peace.</p> <p><i> God of our fathers,<br> you chose Abraham and his descendants<br> to bring your name to the nations:<br> we are deeply saddened<br> by the behaviour of those<br> who in the course of history<br> have caused these children of yours to suffer,<br> and asking your forgiveness<br> we wish to commit ourselves<br> to genuine brotherhood<br> with the people of the Covenant<br> </i></p> <p>Copy of the letter placed by Pope John Paul II into a crevice of the Western Wall in Jerusalem in 2000.</p> <p>  </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <h3>Homelessness Sunday - 25 January 2004</h3>

One in twenty young people experience some form of homelessness in their lives. In fact young people are becoming homeless faster than any other age group. Most are forced to leave home either because their families reject them or because they have been subject to some form of physical, mental or sexual abuse. In most cases, the young people lack the maturity, experience and skills to be able to support and provide for themselves. With no one to turn to and nowhere to go, many resort to a life on the streets where they become vulnerable to the vices of crime, drugs and prostitution. The Cardinal Hume Centre in London provides a complete service for young homeless people that includes secure accommodation as well as counselling, advice, education and resettlement into new homes. There are leaflets in the narthex giving further information about the Centre. Perhaps you might consider making a donation to their work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas 2003

"The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means 'God is with us'".

We thank God for his presence with us always and especially during this past year. To take stock of all that has happened would take more than one newsletter!

This time last year we were praying for some 'Good News' to break through the war clouds over Iraq, and in recent days our TV screens were filled with pictures of Saddam emerging from a hole in the ground. Still we must continue to pray for peace in Iraq and throughout the world. And so while we rejoice and are glad that Christmas has come again, let us not forget those people for whom this time is painful and sad as they have lost close family and friends. Please keep in your prayers those who have died and whose funerals will be in and around the Christmas period: To their families and friends I offer my sympathy and prayers that Christ who is born for us will comfort you.

The lead up to Christmas has seen the presence of so many visitors to our church for one celebration or another. We have welcomed the Mayor of Epsom & Ewell on two occasions, David Smith, the Chief Executive of the Council, and our local MP, Chris Grayling, among many others. St Joseph's can be proud to play our full part in the life of the community. At the ecumenical carol concert one lady turned to me and asked, "Who's idea was it to put a church up here?"

I thank God for all of you and for your part here in the life of our parish; to our school, St Joseph's, for valued added and all great things; to Fr Armand whom we sent off to heaven on the 3rd October; to the many priests who were with us throughout the summer, Frs Dominic and Jarek; to Fr Míceál who has joined us - a warm welcome; to Deacon John and to Srs Margarite and Roseanne and to Sr Regina who helps us in the office on Thursdays - yes so much to be so grateful for. From all of us to all of you, the blessing and peace of our God with us.

Fr Bill

God who comes as a child and thus makes all people holy, bless us with a sense of wonder in the Christmas moment. Come to life in us that we may see and love as you do. Keep us ever alive to the presence of Jesus Christ our Lord, God with us. Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Racial Justice Sunday - 14 September 2003

Why have Racial Justice Sunday?

Jesus broke down the barriers of ethnicity, class, gender, power and wealth. His gospel has liberating power to bring about spiritual and social change. Christian campaigning for racial justice is instrinsic to our spiritual pilgrimage and discipleship. It is motivated by gospel values. Christians hold the Biblical view that all human beings are created in God's image and likeness. Our mission is set in a multi-ethnic, multicultural society. The rainbow mix of people is a gift from God and can be seen as a foretaste of life in the heavenly kingdom (Revelation 7:9-10). Sadly the reality in many of our churches, as in society at large, falls far short of this biblical vision. Racism is sin, and God is against it. What is needed is a repentance that leads to active reconciliation. As Christians, our commitment to strive for racial justice must be more than an observance on one Sunday: it must be a continuing commitment to work and pray for dignity, equality, justice and freedom for all.

In all our magnificent diversity, we are united by our humanity. We are one race, the human race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEA SUNDAY - 13 JULY 2003

The Apostleship of the Sea is the Catholic Church's mission outreach to the one million international seafarers who visit UK ports every year. Seafarers work away from home for many months, facing loneliness, danger and exploitation as they deliver the goods and resources we consume. There will be a collection for the work of the AOS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY 1 JUNE 2003

This Sunday we pray for all those who work in the media and also for those in the Church who use the media to announce the service of the Gospel.

The past few months have been a time when the media and the Catholic Church in England and Wales have not always seen eye to eye. This, however, in no way diminishes the need to work with the men and women of the media to help them be agents of truth, justice, freedom and love, which, as the Pope says in his message, is their calling.

The second collection is being taken today for the vital communications work going on within the Church in England and Wales including that of the Catholic Communications Service, which uses the media to promote the Good News. This work helps to proclaim the Gospel through newspapers, magazines, television, radio and the internet, in times of peace and war. This collection does not qualify for gift aid, so you do not need to use numbered envelopes.

 

 

 

 

 

VOCATIONS SUNDAY - 11 MAY 2003

The Church is the Body of Christ. Through Baptism we all belong and share in the work of making Christ known to others. Responding to the call of God means making real choices, and will always lead to service and commitment.

"Jesus, Servant and Lord, is also the one who calls. He calls us to be like him, because only in service do human beings discover their own dignity and the dignity of others"
(Pope John Paul II)

Sunday 11 May is an international day of prayer for vocations. Vocation, from the latin word vocare meanings "calling", is that journey of self-discovery that leads me to understand who I am before God. Most people when they hear or read the word "vocation" immediately and exclusively think of priests, nuns and monks. In fact we all have a vocation, a God given calling, the discovery of which should be the most exciting project of our lives. Vocation is not just about what we "do" in our life, but more important to God is who we "are".

 

 

 


Easter 2003 - Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again

These words acclaiming the mystery of our faith in the passion, death and resurrection of Christ take on a more poignant meaning for all of us as we contemplate all that Jesus Christ has done for us by his death on the cross and his Resurrection to New Life. This is what Easter is all about: not bunny rabbits and eggs! In the Easter Liturgies the Church invites us to remember and to relive the amazing love of God manifest in his Son Jesus. It is especially in the Mass that we encounter at the deepest level the life, death and resurrection of our blessed Lord as the bread and wine become for us, by the action of the priest, the Body and Blood of Christ. This is how Christ chose to be continuously present to us, and we are invited to share in this mystery, the mystery of our Faith.

It would be good for each one of us to examine our attitude to the Eucharist (Communion) as we approach the altar of the Lord. In this the twenty-fifth year of his Pontificate, Pope John Paul II has issued and Encyclical Letter on the Eucharist, which he calls "The most precious possession which the Church can have in her journey through history." It is a timely letter which I'm sure will be studied at great length.

"What good would life have been to us had Christ not come as our Redeemer?" sung in the Exsultet at the Easter Vigil, Christ has come and we meet him in so many ways in our daily lives. This Easter may the Risen Christ shine upon all here at St Joseph's, and especially on those who are to be received into full communion into the Church and will also receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This makes a total of three Baptisms and five receptions - good news indeed for the parish, please keep these new members of our community in your prayers and give them every encouragement and support. Another piece of good news comes by way of a whisper from the bishop to the effect that we will have an assistant priest following the summer Ordination. Thank you for all your support and kindness and a Happy, Holy Easter to you all from Canon Armand, Deacon John Brockman, Sisters Margarite and Roseanne and myself.

William Davern










Presentation of the Lord

The celebration of Christmas certainly seems a long way behind us. We have moved on in the life of Jesus, hearing Sunday by Sunday in the gospel of how he was baptised, of how he called his disciples and began his adult ministry of preaching, teaching and healing. And yet, almost out of sequence, as if we had turned back the clock, we come today to this beautiful Feast of the Lord's Presentation. Like a present put on one side at Christmas, we now ponder again the significance of Jesus as God's greatest gift to the world. It's as if we've returned to unwrap something more of the mystery of Christ's birth.

We hear how Jesus is consecrated to the Lord and, more than this, how he is consecrated with sacrifice as an act of cleansing and purification. For the wealthy this sacrifice was to be made with a year old lamb, for the poor with a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. In their humble poverty Joseph and Mary offer the two birds, for Jesus himself was the true Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. In bringing Jesus to the Temple, Mary and Joseph thankfully presented back to God the gift God had given them.

In the ordination ceremony of priests and deacons there is a request that the one to be ordained come forward, and the candidate responds 'present'. The whole of Christian life, and every form of vocation, is about being 'present'; not just about being there in time and place, but about being radically presented, gifted, to the Lord. Each of us has been presented to God through water and the Holy Spirit. In baptism we are caught up into the one perfect offering of Jesus to the Father; in his death we have died to sin; in his resurrection we have been reborn to everlasting life. The life we have been given by God is to be continually presented back, freely offered over in thankful service of Christ and our neighbour. As gift we receive Christ; as gift we offer all to Christ; as gift we must share Christ as light and salvation for all.
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Education Sunday - 26 January 2003

Today (26 Jan) we celebrate Education Sunday

Teaching is for life

'Follow me' is the call of Jesus to every one of us, to be shaped by the values of God's kingdom and to become new people. In responding to that call we learn about the world and our place in it, who we are now and what we might become. And beyond the roles we may have in the home or workplace, the call to us as followers is always to something greater, to share in God's plan for redeeming the world.

Teachers, and those in education, offer particular gifts to the world. In committing themselves, in their chosen field, to nurturing and realising the potential of people of all ages, they echo Jesus' own ministry of teaching and service - informing, as he did, but also affirming, challenging and even provoking. Teachers not only accompany us on journeys of discovery about the world, they help us deal with the things we discover about ourselves as we travel.

For Christians, teaching can be a particularly fulfilling way of following Christ's call, in which faith can be truly integrated into a professional role. Teachers have the privilege to be a power for good in society, developing understanding of ourselves and the world, celebrating the wonders of creation - art, science and technology - and exploring the whole range of human experience and cultural difference.

Learning about ourselves and the world leads us to a clearer understanding of our divine origin and destiny. Teachers who have faith can be assured that they are working to show God's glory to the world.

On Education Sunday, we celebrate all teachers and the ways in which we all teach and learn. As we learn and grow we are being called by Christ into fullness of life.
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A Day of Prayer for Peace on Earth

To you, Creator of nature and humanity,
of truth and beauty, I pray:
Hear my voice,
for it is the voice of the victims of war and violence
among individuals and nations.
Hear my voice,
For it is the voice of all children who suffer and will suffer
when people put their faith in weapons and war.
Hear my voice,
when I beg you to instil into the hearts of
all human beings the wisdom of peace,
the strength of justice and the joy of fellowship.
Hear my voice,
for I speak for the multitudes in every country
and every period of history who do not want war
and are ready to walk the road of peace.
Hear my voice,
and grant insight and strength so that we may always
respond to hatred with love, to injustice
with a total dedication to justice,
to need with sharing of self, to war with peace.
Oh God, hear my voice and grant unto the world
your everlasting peace.
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The Feast of the Epiphany

The Feast of Epiphany reveals Jesus as the Light of the Nations, the Messiah who is the hope of the people of Israel. His promise is for all people: that all will be gathered into one family to praise God. The hope of Epiphany is a vulnerable and innocent child. Jesus is born into poverty and tenderly cared for by Mary and Joseph. The child is also the one who is worshipped with the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh: gold for a king, frankincense for the worship of God, myrrh, a sign of the anointing at death, which will mark the climax of Jesus' life.

Religious conflict has a long and tragic history; we think of the Crusades, persecution at the time of the Reformation, conflict between Jew and Christian, violence and bloodshed between Hindu and Muslim. These conflicts indicate the deeper conflict within the human heart; pride, the desire for power and wealth, the need for superiority and identity over others. Often this leads to a person of a different colour or creed being treated as a scapegoat. The insecurity of the human heart needs external supports and earthly victories.

Jesus reveals a different meaning for human life. The hope of the message of peace, which is proclaimed to the shepherds, may seem distant and ideal. However the disciple is called to the life described in the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. It is a call to accept the distinctiveness of other people, to respect them. The disciple is called to love, which goes beyond liking, but demands treating the other with respect and dignity. The poor in spirit, the meek, the humble and those who hunger and thirst for what is right will share in the Kingdom of God.

Peace can come only through self-sacrifice, through living with the cross. Peace will demand treating the other as an equal and with respect. This is difficult and requires a change of attitude. Only in the cross, in the mystery of death and resurrection, can this occur. To hear the plea of the other person, to try and understand their viewpoint, can be the beginning of a journey of reconciliation. Although we might despair that peace is unachievable, St Paul's life shows how the power of God is active in human weakness. God's plan is greater than any human plan; we can take hope in Paul's life and conversion. Epiphany gives an impetus to the journey of reconciliation because Christ is revealed as a light for all peoples.
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A Christmas Prayer

At Christmas may God open your heart to love
Your mind to wonder,
Your life to the Divine Presence.
May you experience God's peace in your troubles,
God's forgiveness in your guilt,
God's presence in your loneliness,
God's light in your path,
God's guidance for your journey,
God's joy for your life.
May you know something of the Christmas season,
The uplifting joy of the carols,
The caring found under the roof,
The sharing found in the giving,
The anticipation of the prophets,
The good news proclaimed by the angels,
The wonder of God's love
Made flesh in Mary's boy-child.
And may you take into the New Year
The light of Christ in your eyes,
The word of Christ in your ears,
The hope of Christ in your heart.
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Movement in Advent

A variety of journeys
Every season marks the passage of time, and every season has its own inherent dynamic. Advent offers us a variety of journeys: journeys from heaven to earth (of angels to Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary, and Joseph); the journey that John makes from his home into the desert, and that of the people leaving their homes to journey to him; the journey of Mary leaving her home to visit Elizabeth. All of these are cast within the journey that is to come, the return of the one who will come in glory to judge the living and the dead.

Making the journey our own
The Advent candle that is burnt partially each day, or the Advent calendar that is opened each morning are simple signs of that moving nearer to the Christmas event. Yet it is important to mark each of those days in a different way - what is the challenge of Advent that day for us, and what can we do to be ready to meet the Christ who comes as child and the Christ who comes as judge in glory. It is this latter image that asks us to do something each as we journey towards the crib.
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Prisoners' Sunday - 17 November 2002

The Day of Prayer for Prisoners and their Dependents A few facts: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your mercy in sending us your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask for your blessing on all those in prison right now. May you heal the hurt of sin and separation. Sustain the families of prisoners with your strength and your patience. And give peace to the victims of crime, the peace of your kingdom where you live for ever and ever. Amen
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World Day of Prayer for Vocations

21 April 2002 is a special day of prayer for vocations to the Priesthood, the Diaconate and Consecrated Life. It is a day which reminds us that each of us, because we are baptised, is called by God to a particular vocation. Let us reflect upon how important it is for us all to pray for, encourage and support all those considering a vocation. May our prayers help them to discern God's plan for them.
Families are called to play a decisive role for the future of vocations in the Church. The holiness of marital love, the harmony of family life, the spirit of faith with which the problems of daily life are confronted, openness towards others, especially towards the poorest, and participation in the life of the Christian community form the proper environment for their children to listen to the divine call and make a generous response. (Pope John Paul II)
As a good shepherd in the parish or school community or wherever, let us be open to the call which Christ has for each one of us. Let us remember that when it came to the call of the disciples, Jesus did not pin a notice to a tree and ask for volunteers. Jesus did not call the experts. Instead he looked people in the eye and called them by name to follow him. Individuals will rarely if ever answer their vocation in life if they are not invited in the first place. Let us do that by drawing out the gifts and talents of others by supporting and nurturing them. Copies of Bishop Kieran's Pastoral Letter for 21 April are available in the narthex.
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Holocaust Memorial Day - 27 January 2002

God of our fathers,
you chose Abraham and his descendants
to bring your name to the nations:
we are deeply saddened
by the behaviour of those
who in the course of history
have caused these children of yours to suffer,
and asking your forgiveness
we wish to commit ourselves
to genuine brotherhood
with the people of the Covenant
Jerusalem, 26 March 2000
John Paul II
(A letter placed by Pope John Paul II into a crevice of the Western Wall, Jerusalem)
Holocaust Memorial Day focuses our minds on the need to remember the tragic loss of Jewish life during the period 1939 to 1945. Genocides have also happened to other peoples - the Armenians (1915-16), the Roma Gypsies (1941-45) - and still happen today, as in East Timor, Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia and elsewhere. Holocaust Memorial Day can be a day of reflection about the meaning of life, about how human beings treat one another and about the depths to which the human spirit can sink and the height to which it can rise. It can be a day for all to express solidarity with different groups of people and express a hope for a different future, with a resolution to build the future in peace.
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Education Sunday 2002

MOVING ON . . . from darkness to light
(Isaiah 8:23)

Moving on is a fact of life. Times change, people change, situations change. Whatever our age, at school, at home, in the workplace, we experience changes that move us forward. Moving on can offer opportunities for children and adults to live life to the full. These opportunities can be exciting and stimulating, but they can also be daunting, painful, even frightening. Throughout His ministry, Jesus encouraged people to take risks and to move on, challenging them to recognise their potential. By offering reassurance and encouragement He helps us to acknowledge our self-worth and gives us the courage to move on. On Education Sunday we acknowledge Jesus the teacher as the inspiration at every stage of our life.

At the request of the Bishops' Conference the second collection this week is dedicated to the work of the Catholic Education Service which promotes and supports Catholic education in a variety of ways - by promoting spirituality and supporting education, by continuing to secure our statutory provision and funding by working with the Government on education policy on all aspects of the curriculum and on life-long learning; by giving expert legal, technical and pastoral advice; by publications.

We welcome the children and staff of St Joseph's School who will be leading us at the 9.30am Mass on 27 January.
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First Sunday of Advent 2001

Today is a day of beginnings - the beginning of the season of Advent, the beginning of the Church's year and the beginning of our preparations for Christmas. The 'liturgical year' is a twelve-month cycle of anniversaries, memorials of the events by which God has won our salvation and opened for us the way to heaven. But God never repeats himself; just as each day is a new day, so each season of the liturgical year is a new season. Though we may have celebrated it many times before, we are invited to plumb its depths anew, to discover aspects we hadn't perhaps noticed before.

Advent highlights the truth that here and now we exist in an in-between stage - looking back to Jesus' birth in Bethlehem and forward to his coming at the end of time - and so, not surprisingly, it urges us to make the most of present opportunities. Paul promises that 'it will be daylight soon', his way of describing the second coming of Jesus; so now, he says, we must 'stay awake'. It's not so much a question of undertaking a new way of life as of renewing our ordinary way of life so that more and more it reflects a genuine love of God and of our fellow men and women. If, in our own small way, we are striving to live a truly Christ-like life, then we are indeed preparing ourselves well to celebrate the anniversary of the greatest event in human history, the Incarnation; and at the same time making the ideal preparation for the greatest event in our own personal history, that meeting with the Lord when he comes again.
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Prisoners' Sunday - 18 November 2001

A day of Prayer for Prisoners and their Dependants
"The demands of the common good require public authorities to do all they can to prevent crime and to safeguard people and property, and where offences are committee to hold those responsible to account and to care for the victims. In a society where materialism is pervasive, where the bonds of mutual responsibility are being weakened, where moral norms are being eclipsed and where family life is fragmented, it is hardly surprising that crime becomes of increasing concern."

"One important issue is the current effectiveness of the penal system. With prison populations rising fast, and rates of re-offending on release very high, is there not a nurgent needs, without compromising public safety, to consider how best to educate and rehabilitate prisoners rather than just contain them? At present it is quite clear that many of them are not being treated with the dignity and respect which is their as human beings."

Extract from Vote for the Common Good
Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales 2001

Behind the headlines Social background of the prison population: So we have a picture which is predominantly about emotional deprivation, poor levels of education, unemployment, poverty and disadvantage. And on top of this - prison can be a damaging experience - for the individual who is imprisoned, the families, relationships and children.

On Prisoners' Sunday, let us pray and reflect on how we can best respond to Christ's call to serve him in our brothers and sisters in prison.
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Racial Justice Sunday - 9 Septmeber 2001

ONE RACE - THE HUMAN RACE

We are invited to focus today on the theme of Racial Justice. The barriers of ethnicity, class, gender, power and wealth were broken down by Jesus. The good news he proclaimed has real liberating power to bring about true spiritual and social change. Christian campaigning for racial justice is part of our spiritual pilgrimage and discipline. It is motivated by biblical and gospel values of equality, justice, freedom, dignity. Christians hold the biblical view that all human beings are created by God in his image and likeness. Our mission is set in a multi-ethnic, multicultural community. The rainbow mix of people is a gift from God, and can be seen as a foretaste of life in the heavenly kingdom (Revelation 7.9, 10). In all our magnificent diversity, we are united by our humanity.
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Education Sunday 11 February 2001 - "Preparing for Citizenship"

extract from Newsletter 4 February 2001

This year's theme is chosen to coincide with the introduction of the new courses in citizenship in the school curriculum. Each one of us is not only a citizen of this world, but we are also preparing and looking forward to being a citizen of the next - a citizen of the Kingdom of God (cf Hebrews 13:12-16). Citizenship then is part of our pilgrimage of faith; it calls for lifelong learning and implies both rights and responsibilities. Social and morel responsibility, and community responsibility are often identified as two of the key strands of citizenship. They are also fundamental aspects of being a Catholic. Catholic schools work hard at preparing young people to understand and practise social and moral responsibility as well as to be involved in community activities for the common good. Families and parishes contribute significantly to the development of Catholic citizens, as do many who work with our young people in colleges. The extensive work in adult formation and lifelong learning continues this important process. We owe all of these teachers - teachers in the broadest sense of the word - a great debt of gratitude. On Education Sunday we pray for them and celebrate their vocation and ministry.

Bishop Vincent Nichols
Chairman, Bishops' Conference, Department for Catholic Education and Formation
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Advent - Making Sense of Life

extract from Newsletter 3 December 2000

Questing for the heart of Advent. Ember days of feasting and fasting - all words associated with Advent. This year we have decided not to prepare for Christmas, not because we have lost our church and are having to make do with the hall and our school hall. More and more we come to realise that Advent is not to be used as a preparation for Christmas when buying our Christmas cards (from the Repository of course!), decorations and presents. Advent is a season in its own right, which would exist even if there was no Christmas! It is a time when we pay special attention to the mystery of waiting. In these fast moving times, waiting bores and irritates us, especially when it comes to waiting for a train, bus or plane. We at St Joseph's are waiting for our new church and centre to be completed. "Advent" may be a little longer than usual this year! How then can we think creatively about Advent? Perhaps this Advent will help us to understand our own humanity, our own weaknesses and our dependence on others. Waiting is a mystery - God waits and nature waits - so that, when we as individuals wait, we go beyond ourselves and enter a deeper life with our Creator in whose image and likeness we are made. If it makes sense to your life, celebrate Advent and enjoy the season for what it is - a positive time of waiting.
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