My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
A year ago we were caught up in the moving events of the death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI. The Church is always new and, as the number of people seeking full communion with the Catholic Church indicates, the Church is always being renewed!
The Church and the life of Christians everywhere are strengthened by the celebration of the sacraments and particularly the Mass. As our diocese looks towards the year 2010 (see February edition of the A&B News) it is becoming clear that we must never "take the mass for granted". In this parish we are well placed for the year 2010 as we have already planned and made changes.
We, however, must not become complacent. The Holy Spirit continues to renew us and equip us for living and proclaiming the catholic faith. We must treasure every mass and celebrate the sacraments with eagerness, joy and conviction. In so doing we shall be renewed and others will be caught up in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as they were caught by the events of a year ago.
I am looking forward to baptising or receiving 10 adults into the Catholic Church this year. They need our prayer, we need their sincerity and integrity. I am pleased that many people are asking me questions to deepen their faith or turning to their faith as a first resort when struggles or suffering is encountered. The parish morning on prayer, the "Faith in Our Family" Course and our sacramental preparation indicates to me that we are being renewed at a very deep level - the level of the Spirit. I thank God for this and for the graces received after our Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes in February.
In his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict, recalls us to the commandment to Love. He reminds us of the inseparable connection between eros (love that seeks God) and agape (which passes on the love received). "God is love" and so it should not surprise us to discover that Love is a single reality and so we need to love God and our neighbour as our self. Cut off from each other they fall short and will never attain the height, depth, length or width of Love (nn7&8).
Therefore, the celebration of the sacraments, our prayer and faith cannot be in isolation. It goes hand in hand with charity towards others. Our awareness and compassion towards others will help us all become "fully human" and therefore enter deeper into the mysteries of God.
Equally there is another kind of poverty that demands our charity. As Blessed Teresa of Calcutta commented, the worst poverty is not to know Christ. (Pope Benedict Message for Lent 2006)
I would like to thank all those who contribute to the life of the parish in anyway. Thank you to all who put their love of God into action in serving the homeless, visiting the sick, writing letters of protest, lobby or support, raising funds for development charities... But also I would like to thank those who support the missionary work of Christ in the parish and also those who financially support it in their Planned Giving (Envelope, Standing Order and GAD). We try to serve the whole person.
Bishop Kieran suggests that we aim to give the church an hour of our weekly income per week (or whatever we can afford.) Contrary to popular belief, the church is not rich. We do not have access to the Vatican or Diocesan banks. We need to be self-financing. We may need to think and pray about this. Thank you to all who are already doing so and are being generous. Similarly, we could also try to devote a similar length of time to helping those in need. If you would like to know how just ask!
In the weeks ahead we will be asked to oppose the campaign to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide in the debate on "Assisted Suicide for the Terminally Ill" in the House of Lords on May 12th. The passing of this bill has serious consequences, which contradict the logic of Love.
As we come to celebrate Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter let us allow Jesus to gaze upon us in Love. May we allow ourselves to examine our consciences to see how we can respond to God's Love in the Church and in our neighbour. Let us allow ourselves to be renewed by the sacraments we celebrate with and in love.
Be sure of my prayer for you all. May God bless you.
Fr Graham Ricketts