St. Thomas & St. John Catholic Parish

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    • Home
    • Church Services
    • About Us
    • Weekly Newsletter
    • Current Parish Activities
    • Ukraine
    • The Synodal Process
    • The Care of Creation
    • Life & the Family
    • The Church in Our Times
    • Prayer
    • Saints from our Tradition
    • Covid-19 Church Info
    • Fr Luke's Faith Talks
    • Fr Luke's Lent Talks
    • Fr Luke's Advent Talks
    • Bishop's Letters & Info
    • Our Parish Community
    • Charitable Activities
    • Contact Us
    • Links

St. Thomas & St. John Catholic Parish

St. Thomas & St. John Catholic ParishSt. Thomas & St. John Catholic ParishSt. Thomas & St. John Catholic Parish
  • Home
  • Church Services
  • About Us
  • Weekly Newsletter
  • Current Parish Activities
  • Ukraine
  • The Synodal Process
  • The Care of Creation
  • Life & the Family
  • The Church in Our Times
  • Prayer
  • Saints from our Tradition
  • Covid-19 Church Info
  • Fr Luke's Faith Talks
  • Fr Luke's Lent Talks
  • Fr Luke's Advent Talks
  • Bishop's Letters & Info
  • Our Parish Community
  • Charitable Activities
  • Contact Us
  • Links

Life & the Family

“The Meaning of Life – Part 1 (Identity)

“What is the meaning of life? This question may become significant at any stage of life. It may be a fleeting feeling, or something more profound. The answer may seem obvious. The question may also seem perplexing, and prompt further reflection. This series is for all who are touched by the sense that life itself raises questions that need to be explored, for the sake of our own understanding of ourselves, of how we relate to other people, and how we may respond to God….   


“John the Baptist is an interesting character. Jesus talked about him occasionally when he was prompting people to think about himself. John attracted the attention of many, who came to him at the river Jordan in order to repent, be baptised, and have their sins forgiven. John’s actions, his forthright preaching, his clothes, and his austere diet prompted that feeling of expectation and the question that was put to him – ‘Who are you?’   


“John answered the question in a negative and a positive way. He openly declared that he was not the Christ, and appealed to scripture for his own description of himself as ‘the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.’ His confidence and truthfulness are impressive.  


“John is a good example of someone who was entirely at home with who he was. He knew what account to give of himself, yet he also knew that it was not all about him. His identity was formed by self-knowledge, and by his relationships with God, with Jesus, with his contemporary religious authorities, with the crowds who came to him, and with his religious heritage, expressed in the Hebrew scriptures. He knew the tensions and kept them in balance.   


“The French philosopher, René Descartes, has been called ‘the father of modern philosophy’….  


“For someone who prized simplicity and clarity, Descartes gave a complex account of his identity. What he believed about himself overlaps with John the Baptist’s sense of his identity. He differs from him too. What they have in common is an underlying sense that who they are is not all about them. That ‘it is not all about us’ is true of how we behave, but also of who we make ourselves to be. We cannot be who we are by ourselves, but only by including what has been given us by others from the beginnings of our lives until now. [emphasis added] …   


“Our self-worth is often calibrated by other people’s opinions of us. Our identity defined by their approval. This creates a burden and a vulnerability which is hard to erase. At other times, so consumed with our own worries, we fail to see the need of help or of a hand.   


“I am because you are. John the Baptist and Descartes teach us this today through their relationship with God. When we know who we are and who we are not, only then can we navigate a room, a person or a crowd.

                   With Permission, The God Who Speaks, The Bible and Catholics, 31st January 2022         https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/the-god-who-speaks/focus/preparing-for-lent-and-eastertide/the-meaning-of-life-part-1-identity  

“The Meaning of Life – Part 2 (Generosity - Giving and Giving Away)

“What is generosity and what does it mean for us today? Bishop David Evans explores how Jesus and Arthur Schopenhauer show us that generosity is the capacity to recognise the lack of something good in a person and to act to supply it….   


“Scripture passage: Luke 6:35:  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil….   


“The present reflection on generosity follows naturally from [the] description of human beings created by God and dependent on him, living in the world created by God, among other created things, particularly other human beings.   


“The passage from St Luke that I have chosen presents Jesus’ demands on the new people that he has gathered around himself – a people called to be holy. He was preparing them to receive the Holy Spirit in due course, by already living in this world the life that is as natural as breathing in the kingdom of God.  Jesus invited people to become children of God, as he was Son of God, through the acts of reckless generosity that he demanded of those who wanted to follow him. In effect, he was asking them, and is asking us today, how highly do you value your life? Or paradoxically, how little do you value your life? Are you able to give it up for the sake of others, and for the sake of your Father, as I am doing?...   


“There is… one philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, (1788-1860), who identifies compassion as the foundation for morality. He contrasts compassion with egoism and malice, defining compassion as that ‘which wills the well-being of an ‘other’ (and by extension, noble-mindedness and magnanimity).’   


“There are three key words in this definition: ‘will’, ‘well-being’ and ‘other’. Schopenhauer believed that action is the result of the will being stimulated; that is, action is urged into being by something different from the will itself. In the case of compassion, the stimulus is the lack of something in someone other than oneself, which is to that other person’s benefit. Compassion is not passive. It is a positive response in the real world intended to stop a person suffering by providing them with what they lack…. 


“Compassion arises from recognising that someone else possesses a reality distinct from my own, and that their suffering is their own and not mine. Action to address the need that causes pain in the other person also has to be taken in the concrete circumstances of everyday life. Schopenhauer teaches us that compassion is not a feeling, but the taking of practical steps to restore a person’s well-being.  He does not give examples, nor does he say how he would regard the examples given by Jesus and the motives for them; but he does point to the basis for moral action as the capacity to recognise the lack of something good in a person and to act to supply it….   


“Generosity and memories are what bind [mother and daughter, for example]. There might be duty and guilt too, but above all there is love for the other, for the vulnerable who knows us from birth and brought us into life. No matter how stressful this day might be, it is the wellbeing of her mother that matters most.”

                     With permission, The God Who Speaks, The Bible & Catholics, 28 Feb 2022

                              https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/the-meaning-of-life-part-2-generosity/ 

“The Meaning of Life – Part 3 (Adaptability)

“What is adaptability and what does it mean for us today? Bishop David Evans explores how Jesus and Hans-Georg Gadamer show us that adaptability is the capacity to scrutinise the situation one is facing and to change oneself significantly in order to benefit from what it promises….   


“Scripture passage: Matthew 20:20-28:  But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave….   


“Our lives are given meaning in the company of others and through our putting other people before ourselves. … [G]iving meaning to our lives is something individuals do for themselves, which demands that they change. A further element of this enterprise is adaptability….   


“Hans-Georg Gadamer … a German philosopher… believed that understanding and interpretation are similar. Both require engagement with a text or person different from oneself. For this to succeed, the interpreter, or translator, must become aware of their own prejudices, the significant aspects of their personality and history that they bring to bear on understanding someone or something. Interpreters must also be willing to be changed by what they receive from the other. Or to adjust their horizons, that is the parameters within which they live, in order to grasp the subject matter of the conversation or text that they are attending to. As well as being interpretation, understanding is also conversion of a sort. This makes language a living reality, even if the text belongs to the past, or the conversation has finished…. 


“Spiritual adaptability is very subtle, the fruits appear much later than the seeds we planted. Adaptability is as much about risk as it is about courage. To step out in faith and not much understanding requires humility. Whether we’re chatting with friends, or praying in Mass, negotiating a problem at home or struggling at work, our decisions and behaviours can be transformed by the wisdom and compassion of others. And when we serve another, enable them to become all that they can be, these are the moments of God’s grace. The kingdom of heaven begins with us, in the coffee shop, the school, and the boardroom. The Spirit speaks in the language of every cry and every plea. Words are not always necessary to understand God’s will….”


             With permission, The God Who Speaks, The Bible & Catholics, 31 March 2022

                        https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/the-meaning-of-life-part-3-adaptability/ 

“Families in the Bible - Theme: Adoption - The Holy Family

“Adopt - legally take (another's child) and bring it up as one's own.   


“In Biblical Jewish culture, there was not adoption as we know it today. When a child was without parents, someone else in the family would take the child in and raise them. However, we have a unique example of adoption in the Holy Family…. Joseph and Mary were engaged but she was still living with her parents when she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph knew he wasn’t the father and he had to decide what to do about his pregnant fiancée.”   


We know the outcome of his selfless decision and of this unique adoption.


             With Permission, The God Who Speaks, The Bible and Catholics, 22nd June 2021  https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/the-god-who-speaks/education/primary-schools/families-in-the-bible-worksheets/ 

“Pope Frances urges young people: Talk with your grandparents

“During Wednesday's General Audience … Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the meaning and value of old age, noting that bonds uniting the generations can prove enriching for families and for the growth of society.     


“Inviting the faithful to rediscover the Book of Ruth which he described as ‘a jewel in the Bible’ - Pope Francis said this story ‘sheds light on the beauty of family bonds.’     


“The Pope recounted the relationship of love and mutual support between the older widow Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi, living in a foreign land, is left alone when her two sons die.     


“But despite her grief, she encourages her two daughters-in-law to remain among their own people as she returns to Bethlehem, her native town, a gesture Pope Francis described as an ‘act of love.’     


“Ruth makes the decision not to abandon Naomi, and accompanies her to Judah, telling her: ‘Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.’    


“The Pope underlined that ‘Naomi, moved by Ruth's devotion, will emerge from her pessimism and even take the initiative, opening up a new future for Ruth.’…    


“Pope Francis explained that the story of Naomi and Ruth demonstrates that in God's providential plan, faith and love enable challenges to be overcome.     


“He went on to say that these bonds uniting the generations can prove enriching for our families and for the growth of a society that respects the dignity and gifts of each of its members, however young or old.     


“Pope Francis concluded: "If the young open themselves to gratitude for what they have received, and the elderly take the initiative of relaunching their future, nothing can stop the flourishing of God's blessings among peoples."   


“He also recommended that young people talk with their grandparents and to their elders, and that old people talk with young people. This, he said, will … forge that ‘beautiful bridge that we must guard and watch over.’”

                                         With Permission, ICN, Source: Vatican News, 27 Apr 2022

                                                           https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/44569 

“Pope … looks forward to Malta trip

“[Pope Francis] greeted the people of Malta, the Mediterranean island where St. Paul was shipwrecked and found ‘great humanity’ and hospitality, and where, still today, the people are dedicated to welcoming so many people in search of refuge, he said.     


“The pope’s trip to Malta from 2nd-3rd April will be a chance to ‘go to the source of the proclamation of the Gospel, to get to know firsthand a Christian community’ that has such a long history and is so active and alive, he said.     


“In his main audience talk, the pope continued his series of talks dedicated to the meaning and value of ‘old age,’ and the importance of maintaining a sense of ‘spiritual sensitivity.’…     


“Being sensitive to the Spirit means accepting that one is not the protagonist, but a witness to the presence and greatness of God, he said.… When the elderly are able to keep their ‘spiritual senses’ sharp and alive, he said, then they are able to feel a kind of consolation that their lives have meaning and are able to share a sense of hope with younger people, he said.     


“’It is so important to visit older people, to listen to them, to talk to them,’ to have an ‘exchange of civilisations’ between young and old, he said.”


                                With Permission Universe Catholic Weekly, 30 Mar 2022

                                        https://universecatholicweekly.co.uk/ukraine-malta/  

“SVP responds to Chancellor's Budget - another missed opportunity …

“Today's Budget announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak is delivered against the backdrop of an inflation rate expected to peak four times above the Bank of England's 2% objective, and an economic outlook which is at best uncertain.   


“A recent Resolution Foundation report suggests that the conflict in Ukraine could push peak inflation in 2022-23 above 8%, which could leave the typical real household income for non-pensioners 4%, or £1,000, lower than in 2021-22.   


“Wholesale energy prices have risen much faster than expected since the last Budget, and the war in Ukraine is expected to further increase fuel and food prices over the coming months….   


“The cost of living crisis is affecting millions of households, many of whom are being supported by members of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) and St Vincent's centres across England and Wales. Without the support of the SVP, tens of thousands of families would fall into poverty and be denied the help they need to survive and the empowerment to pull themselves out of poverty and regain their dignity….   


“The SVP has been extremely vocal over its concerns …. We pointed out the need for policies which promote secure employment, and we urged the government to listen to the experiences of frontline service providers….  


“The government continue to squander opportunities to lead the country out of the pandemic and into a fairer and more just future built on every sector of society. This Budget could have addressed the financial mechanisms which unfairly punish those on lower incomes as inflation rises. Mr Sunak could also have lessened the impact of rising wholesale fuel prices on people who simply cannot afford the startling increase in heating and fuel bills, and the government could have better consulted with frontline service providers, such as the SVP, to provide more robust and targeted solutions to the epidemic of poverty effecting England and Wales during these uncertain times.”


                                  With Permission, Independent Catholic News, James Robert Welton, 23 Mar 2022

                                                                                               https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/44329 

“Christian groups urge Chancellor to ease tax burden on families

“Three Christian organisations have called on the Chancellor to make the tax system fairer for families … in light of rising inflation and soaring energy prices….   


“The three organisations called on the Government to implement fully transferable tax allowances and bands ahead of the Autumn Budget last year so that all families with the same income pay the same amount of tax regardless of whether they are single-earner or dual-earner households….   


“The intervention from the three organisation is intended to help bring about a system whereby all families pay the same amount of tax whatever the split of income between individuals within the family….  


“Professor Philip Booth, Professor of Finance, Public Policy and Ethics at St Mary's University, Twickenham, said: ‘The UK is unusual in the Western world in discriminating in such a marked way against single-earner couples or couples whose earnings are not equal. We probably tax families more severely than any other comparable country. It would not only be fairer to move to a tax system where tax rates were based on family income, it would remove the penalties on family formation that exist in our current tax and benefit systems. Furthermore, it would remove the penalties faced by couples where one member takes on caring responsibilities.’"


                           With Permission, Independent Catholic News, James Somerville-Meikle, 16 Mar 2022

                                                                                               https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/44281 

“Retired priest will walk Portuguese Camino to tackle global hunger crisis

“Houghton Regis resident Peter Stannard, 62, is taking part in CAFOD’s Walk against Hunger challenge, which raises money to tackle global food poverty.   


“Instead of doing the suggested 5km per day over 40 days of Lent, retired priest Peter will be walking 200km in 13 days.  Peter will be walking the length of the Portuguese Camino from Porto to Santiago de Compostela in Spain – an ancient pilgrim route at least a thousand years old. Peter has a fundraising goal of £10,000….   


“His challenge starts on 2nd April, and he plans to reach Santiago de Compostela in 13 days….   


“Peter is fundraising for aid charity CAFOD.  ‘I believe that people often overlook the suffering which goes on in other countries-it just doesn’t receive enough attention,’ he said.   


“CAFOD supports communities in the long-term through training people in farming methods, and savings and loans schemes which can help people to start small businesses. CAFOD’s Deborah Purfield paid tribute to Peter’s efforts.   


“’So many of our wonderful CAFOD volunteers and supporters are rising to the challenge and Walking against Hunger this Lent,’ she said. ‘They want to support communities to tackle global hunger and malnutrition. I’d like to say thank you to our supporters, particularly Peter Stannard who is planning such an arduous walk in solidarity with our brother and sisters who are in great need. What an inspiration he is.’”

                                                     With Permission Universe Catholic Weekly, 25 Mar 2022   

“Forgiveness, friendship, prayer: Pope answers questions…

“Pope Francis told an Italian interviewer that forgiveness is ‘a human right.’…     


“’We all have the right to be forgiven if we ask for forgiveness. It is a right that flows from God’s nature and has been given to humans as an inheritance,’ he said. ‘Someone who asks for forgiveness has the right to be forgiven.’    


 “A criminal, he said, must pay his or her debt to society, but still has a right to be forgiven.     


“In the hourlong interview, Pope Francis repeated what he often has said about the scandal of weapons’ sales and the futility of war, the obligation to protect the environment and the need for a better-coordinated European process for welcoming migrants and refugees….     


“Pope Francis [said], ‘I imagine the church of the future the way St. Paul VI imagined it after the (Second Vatican) Council … [we need to create] new ways to share the Gospel message with the world.     


“’This spiritual worldliness within the church makes an ugly thing grow: clericalism, which is a perversion of the church,’ he said. It increases ‘rigidity’ and a reliance on rules rather than on God….     


“Pope Francis insisted that Jesus’ incarnation and his death on the cross meant that Christian faith must take flesh in practical signs of love and care for others and in going out to preach the Gospel.     


“Pope Francis said people who are born in developed countries to families who always have enough to get by and where health care, education and jobs are fairly easy to come by must recognize that they are no more deserving of those things than a person born into poverty with little or no access to any of those things.     


“And while it is tempting to ‘look the other way’ when the news reports on victims of war or migrants drowning or when one sees a person begging on the street, it is ‘a very ugly temptation.’     


“’It is not enough to see, one must feel it, touch it,’ the pope said, [adding] that allowing one’s heart to be touched and recognizing a victim as a person, a brother or sister, is the only way to move toward finding a solution.”

                                                  With Permission, Universe Catholic Weekly, 7th Feb 2022

                                                   https://universecatholicweekly.co.uk/pope-tv/ 

“Allow Jesus to bring us his light says Bishop Alan

“In his pastoral letter for the start of January, Bishop Alan Hopes writes, let us truly allow Jesus Christ to bring his light into our dark winter nights and into the dark winter nights of those around us by our sharing of the God-given gifts of love, hope and peace…. 


“God made each one of us.  God loves each one of us.  God fills us with hope.  


“At the moment of the Incarnation, God pledges that there will be peace on earth to men of goodwill.  As we begin the new civic year, we pray fervently with the whole Church that the gift of peace may become a reality for all peoples – all those who are caught up in war and conflict, for all who daily face persecution because of their faith, and all those who do not know real freedom or human dignity in their lives.  


“Because of the Incarnation our prayer must lead to action: 

  • We must be prepared to support those who are actively working for peace in our world; 
  • to work for reconciliation and peace in our own communities and families; 
  • to be prepared to welcome all who are refugees and who come to live among us. 
  • The Incarnation declares that peace is a gift from God himself – a peace that passes all human understanding.  


“As we continue to turn aside to contemplate and to worship the Incarnate Son of God …, let us truly allow Jesus Christ to bring his light into our dark winter nights and into the dark winter nights of those around us by our sharing of these God-given gifts of love, hope and peace.”


                        (With permission) Diocese of East Anglia, Keith Morris, January 4, 2022

                https://www.rcdea.org.uk/allow-jesus-to-bring-us-his-light-says-bishop-alan/

“SVP report exposes scandal of in-work poverty

“Elizabeth Palmer, CEO St Vincent de Paul Society of England and Wales writes:  


“[It] seems incongruous that people who work and earn money for their family are at risk of falling into poverty. It also seems unjust that low wages, work contracts which are not flexible enough, and high childcare costs can have a disproportionally adverse effect on those who do not have the reserves to weather the storm.  


“And yet, this is the reality for many. Reading our latest report, Stealing futures: In-work poverty and its impact on children and young people, I was both reminded of the daily struggle facing many and of the need for our work, and why the SVP continues to serve and support people in need. 


“The report points out that people experiencing in-work poverty often have other challenges in their lives, and it's the cumulative effect of this which drags them down. …  


“We are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. Inflation hit 3.8% in October driven by rising fuel bills and spiralling food and clothing costs, … Add inflated childcare costs, stagnant wages and the proliferation of zero-hour contracts and it's easy to see how life is not getting any easier for those who are already struggling.  


“Our Stealing futures report says that ‘charity is not the solution to in-work poverty’ and that ‘we need a strong commitment from the Government to tackle this hidden crisis, including policies to tackle insecure work, the high cost of childcare and low wages.’ In the meantime, the SVP will always be on hand to support people in poverty of any kind with kindness and dignity, and without judgement.  


“We don't stand alone on poverty. We need to raise as many voices as possible in support of people for whom affording the basic essentials of life - food, fuel, and shelter - is becoming increasingly difficult in the current financial climate.  


“Our report highlights the growing challenges the cycle of poverty means for people who want to work, provide for their family and live with dignity.”  [Download the full report at … https://www.svp.org.uk/sites/default/files/content/In-work%20poverty%20and%20its%20impact%20on%20children%20and%20young%20people%20-%20report%20Dec%202021.pdf ] 


                    With Permission, ICN, Elizabeth Palmer, Dec 15th 2021

                    https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43676

“In-work poverty 'blights the lives of children and young people'…

“Stealing futures - In-work poverty and its impact on children and young people [a report by St Vincent de Paul Society(SVP)] shines a light on ‘one of the most daunting silent issues facing the UK today’, with the impact on children and young people often going undetected and ignored….


“In Spring 2021, the SVP ran a listening exercise across the country to speak with children and young people, aged between seven and 17, and their teachers to understand their personal experiences of living in, or supporting, households affected by in-work poverty.


"’Growing up in a household experiencing in-work poverty has a deep and lasting impact on children,’ comments SVP National President Helen O'Shea. ‘The experiences of the children and young people we heard from were striking. Many spoke about the extreme hardship of having to be almost entirely isolated due to Covid restrictions, and how that led to mental health issues, anxiety and a deterioration in their physical health. Many children were also aware of the pressure on families living on low incomes who are struggling to afford food and digital equipment for school.’ “Helen O'Shea continues: ‘Of major concern is the fact that many of the young people we spoke with expressed a real fear of not being able to find a 'good job' which would allow them to be financially stable and 'not homeless'.’


“The SVP has set out three policy approaches to tackle the blight of in-work poverty for adults and children alike, including provisions which ensure employees have access to suitable working arrangements such as flexible working from day one, and secure work arrangements which prohibit zero-hour contracts.”

             With permission, Independent Catholic News, James Robert Welton, 6th Dec. 2021

                                                                          https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43610

Bishop Deenihan: The private Catholic is by nature, a poor missionary

“The Gospels … speak clearly of the obligation to share one's faith. Lamps under bushels, buried talents and faith shown by good deeds are all examples. The Second Vatican Council was clearer and spoke of the Church being missionary - each parish was either establishing a mission [or] developing one. The private Catholic is, by nature, a poor missionary. … outward looking and missionary Church, typified by acts of outreach, charity and compassion is very much the model that Pope Francis has for the Church of today.”

                            ICN, https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43507

“Pope's Peace Day Message focusses on intergenerational dialogue, education and work

“In his message for the 55th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis calls on all men and women of goodwill, government leaders, and decision-makers to walk together with courage and creativity on the path of intergenerational dialogue, education and work.  


“Introducing his message, the Pope notes that the path of peace continues to remain "sadly distant from the real lives of many men and women."  


“Citing the intensification of wars and conflicts, climate change and environmental degradation, an individualistic economic model and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, ‘the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth,’ he says, ‘constantly make themselves heard, pleading for justice and peace.’  


“But, he points out, ‘in every age, peace is both a gift from on high and the fruit of a shared commitment.’....  


“Men and women who are conscious of their role in society, and who work and find fulfilment in places where human dignity is respected, Pope Francis says, will become artisans of peace, walking together on the path of intergenerational dialogue, education and work: three indispensable elements for making possible the creation of a social covenant without which every project of peace turns out to be insubstantial.  


Read the full Message here: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2021/12/21/211221a.html                  


                              With Permission, ICN, Source: Vatican News, Dec 21st 2021

                              https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43721

Pope Francis: We need to call on the Holy Spirit more often

“…Pope Francis emphasised the passion St Paul showed in defending the freedom that Christ brought - a passion that ‘still moves us today’. Paul responded to the call he had received to preach the Gospel, with great conviction, the Pope said.


“St Paul pointed out to the Galatians that they, too, were called to the freedom that liberates them from every form of slavery by making them heirs of the ancient promise and children of God through Christ. Summing up Paul's teaching, , the Pope said, ‘The fulfillment of the true Law is found in this life of the Spirit given to us by Jesus. And this life of the Spirit can only be lived in freedom: Christian freedom.’


“The Pope said St Paul's teaching generates enthusiasm, encouraging people to follow the way of freedom and ‘walk according to the Spirit,’ which always makes us free….


“With the presence of the Spirit, the Pope said, ‘we will protect our freedom’, since ‘Christian freedom is what makes us grow’ and makes true joy comes forth.”

                  With permission, Independent Catholic News, Source: Vatican News, 17th Nov. 2021

                                                                       https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43436

“Pope: We need a new approach to counter global poverty

“In his message for the fifth World Day of the Poor, celebrated in the Catholic Church globally on 14 November 2021, Pope Francis has challenged the faithful to seek out and help the poor wherever they are:


"’We cannot wait for the poor to knock on our door; we need urgently to reach them in their homes, in hospitals and nursing homes, on the streets and in the dark corners where they sometimes hide, in shelters and reception centres. It is important to understand how they feel, what they are experiencing and what their hearts desire.’


“He also stresses that the poor have much to teach us and actually help us to look into the ‘true face’ of God. They retain the dignity of God's children that can't be taken away:


"’For this reason, a different approach to poverty is required. This is a challenge that governments and world institutions need to take up with a farsighted social model capable of countering the new forms of poverty that are now sweeping the world and will decisively affect coming decades.’


"’If the poor are marginalised, as if they were to blame for their condition, then the very concept of democracy is jeopardised and every social policy will prove bankrupt. With great humility, we should confess that we are often incompetent when it comes to the poor. …’


"’Poverty, on the contrary, should motivate us to creative planning, aimed at increasing the freedom needed to live a life of fulfilment according to the abilities of each person….’”


                   With permission, Independent Catholic News, Source: CBCEW, 26th Oct. 2021

                                                                        https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43347

“Pope: Overcoming hunger is one of humanity's great challenges

“In a message to the Director General of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, Qu Dongyu, Pope Francis says we must adopt ‘innovative solutions’ to transform the way we produce and consume food ‘for the well-being of people and of the planet.’


“’The annual celebration of World Food Day brings us face to face with one of humanity's greatest challenges: overcoming hunger once and for all is an ambitious goal’ he says.


“In his message, the Holy Father says this year's theme for World Food Day – ‘Our actions are our future. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life’ – ‘underlines the need for concerted action so that everyone has access to diets that ensure maximum environmental sustainability and are also adequate and affordable.’


“Pope Francis points to a paradox with regard to food access, noting that while more than three billion people do not have access to a nutritious diet, almost two billion are overweight due to poor diets and a sedentary life style.


“He writes that everyone has a role to play, emphasising, ‘If we do not want to jeopardise the health of our planet and our entire population, we must encourage active participation in change at all levels and reorganise food systems as a whole.’


“The Pope highlights four areas in particular where urgent action is needed: in the field, at sea, at the table, and in reducing food loss and waste. Although ‘individual lifestyle choices and daily consumption practices influence global and environmental dynamics,’ he says, ‘we must encourage producers and consumers to make ethical and sustainable choices and raise awareness among the younger generations of the important role they play in making a world without hunger a reality.’


“Pope Francis says that with the pandemic there is an ‘opportunity to change course’ so that the global food system will be better able to respond to future crises. But he stresses, ‘the fight against hunger requires overcoming the cold logic of the market,’ and instead ‘strengthening the logic of solidarity.’


“In his message, Pope Francis ensures the FAO's Director-General, ‘The Holy See and the Catholic Church walk side by side with the FAO and those other entities and individuals who do their best to ensure that no human being sees his or her fundamental rights undermined or disregarded.’


“He concludes his message with words of encouragement: ‘May those who sow seeds of hope and harmony feel the support of my prayer, pleading that their initiatives and projects may be ever more fruitful and successful.’

                              With permission, Independent Catholic News, Source: Vatican News, Oct. 16th 2021 

                                                                                             https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43262

“Bishop for Life Issues asks Catholics to oppose Assisted Dying Bill

“Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has written an open letter inviting Catholics to pray for the defeat of the Assisted Dying Bill to be debated in the House of Lords in October.


“It encourages them to write to peers at the House of Lords stating the reasons why they oppose this legislation and particularly explain from personal experience the reasons why this change in the law should be opposed.


“It urges discussion and communication about this important matter.”

                                          (With permission) Sep 8th 2021, Independent Catholic News [Source: CCN]

                                                                                          https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/42999

“Bishop Sherrington thanks all who wrote and prayed for defeat of Assisted Dying Bill

"’I would like to thank all those who have prayed that this Bill might be defeated and who have written letters to Peers sharing their experiences and opposition to the Bill. The Bill has now passed to Committee Stage, without a vote, as is the convention of the House. Given that it is not supported by the Government, it will likely run out of time and not become law. We will continue to scrutinise and challenge this legislation in the months ahead.’”

                With permission, Independent Catholic News, Source: CBCEW, Oct. 25th 2021

                                                                    https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43322

“Pope rejects ‘throwaway culture’ of Assisted Suicide

“Following the Pope’s lead, Bishop John Sherrington has encouraged Catholics to write to Peers about the upcoming Assisted Suicide Bill. Sarah Ward explains the background.


“’Year on year we have seen the so-called ‘Assisted dying’ lobby attempt to introduce changes to the laws that exist to protect the terminally ill and the vulnerable,’ writes Sarah, pro-life representative on the Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Commission. ‘This has been done with a series of proposals to Parliament such as the current Bill due for debate or by test cases brought in the name of individuals.’


“’Very often these focus on heart-wrenching hard cases, and words like ‘dignity, ‘autonomy’ and ‘compassion’ are cleverly misused to sway our emotions on this complex issue. Whilst we continue to fight against this threat to the sanctity of all human life, we must be on our guard against the manipulations of the mainstream media who increasingly show strong bias towards the legalisation of assisted suicide. Please do write to members of the House of Lords.’”


                                         (With permission) Eldred Willey, Sep 27th 2021, Diocese of East Anglia 

                             https://www.rcdea.org.uk/pope-rejects-throwaway-culture-of-assisted-suicide


Download the text of Bishop Sherrington’s message here,

“Fr Shay Cullen: Children are the most important of all - Jesus

“The attention of most adults is primarily focused on what they consider to be the most important reality in the world- themselves, especially many clerics. Yet there is one overriding unassailable truth that stands above all else in the teaching of the founder of Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth.


“The truth that 2,382 billion Christians, including 1,329 billion Roman Catholics, have supposedly bound themselves to accept and obey is that children are the most important in the Kingdom of God. To accept, recognise and affirm a child with that exalted status and dignity is to accept Jesus himself.


“That's what he said and taught and for which he gave his life. He stood a child before them and declared, ‘Unless you change and become as innocent as this little child, you will never enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child, and whoever welcomes in my name one such child, welcomes me.’ (Matthew 18:1-5)”

                                                             With permission, Independent Catholic News, Oct. 8th 2021

                                                                                  https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43205

Year of the Family - Top Family Values from 'The God Who Speaks' Website

The Top 10 family values according to ‘The Bible and Catholics’ website. 


“Adoption - The Holy Family (Matthew 1:18-25)

"We start with our ultimate model of family. The family God provided for his own Son. A young woman of great faith and a just man who took on the role of adoptive father. Joseph’s adoption of Jesus plays a key role in the Holy Family.

"What we know of Joseph’s life reveals the love and service towards others that comes with adoption. Joseph is protector of Mary and Jesus, and listens to God’s direction through his dreams to guide his family to safety (Matthew 2:13-15). From Joseph, Jesus would have learnt the importance of work and skills, and the stability that comes from a love between parents. It is also significant that through adoption into Joseph’s family, Jesus is born into the family line of King David and God’s promise that it will produce a Messiah who will bring into being God’s kingdom of Justice and peace.

"Adoption is a wonderful life-giving gift, both for the adopted son or daughter and for the adopting parents. It is a beautiful parallel that just as Jesus, through adoption, shares Joseph’s family life so we through baptism, share the life of Jesus in the family of God."


“Forgiveness – Joseph’s Family (Genesis 37, 39-45)

“Looking back to the Old Testament, we encounter an earlier Joseph and the dramatic story of him and his family. We hear of how Jacob had twelve sons but loved the young Joseph more than all the others and how the brothers jealous of this love sold their brother into slavery. Joseph goes on to endure years of suffering, he is sold, wrongfully imprisoned, and apparently forgotten. However, his story turns around when he is the only person that can reveal the meaning behind Pharaoh’s dream (with his special gift from God) and he is suddenly elevated to power and responsibility working for Pharaoh. Meanwhile, Joseph’s brothers also seem to be suffering as a result of their actions, they endure terrible guilt as they witness the grief of their father day-after-day. The story has a happy ending though. Joseph is reunited with his brothers when they travel to Egypt during the famine to request grain. They do not recognise Joseph at first and so he is able to test them and discover that they are truly repentant for their past actions. Once he knows this, Joseph reveals himself and offers them his forgiveness and the family is reunited. This great story becomes the foundation story of the forming of the 12 tribes of Israel and the understanding that all families and states depend on mutual forgiveness and reconciliation.”


“Peace – Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:19-34, 27 and 32-33) 

“Joseph’s father Jacob had his own experience of family drama. The intense rivalry between him and his twin brother Esau which almost ended in war. The Bible tells us that Jacob and Esau had been fighting since the womb. Rivalry among siblings can take many forms, it can be rivalry over academic excellence, sporting success or rivalry over a parent’s attention and praise. In this case, it was rivalry over their father’s blessing and inheritance. Jacob, though the younger brother, managed to deceive his blind father into giving him the blessing. Esau was furious and threatened to kill Jacob and so Jacob flees. Years later, Jacob is fearful when he hears that Esau is marching towards him with hundreds of men, he thinks that Esau is coming to fight him and so readies himself for a battle whilst also trying to appease his brother with gifts. Amazingly, Esau greets Jacob with a hug and not a fight. It is not clear why Esau greets Jacob peacefully. Perhaps because he has forgiven Jacob, or because he values reconciliation with his brother over winning the rivalry, or because he was pleased to receive the gifts from Jacob, or because God had moved his heart towards peace. God is the source of true peace (Leviticus 26:6; Psalm 29:11; John 14:27), he brings order and completeness out of chaos and offers us peace with him through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).”


“Mercy – The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)

“Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son reveals to us the love that God the Father has for us all. A selfish younger son asks for the inheritance he will receive when his father dies while his father is still alive. And the father who loves him gives it to him, but he soon squanders it all in reckless living. For a while, pride keeps him from seeking help from his family and he ends up working and living in a pig-sty. However, when he does return, he is welcomed back as a new son. His father, who has been waiting for him to come home, immediately shows his long lost son mercy and forgiveness. The brother is called to share in this welcome but appears bitter. The parable ends on a cliff hanger so we don’t know if the elder brother will be as joyful as their father is in their family’s reunion. The question hangs over us as to whether we who live in the mercy of God every day, show mercy to those who have strayed and returned needing welcome and forgiveness?”


“Hospitality – The widow and her son meet Elijah (1 Kings 17:7-16)

“The story of this single mother and child’s life-transforming interaction with the great prophet Elijah started with a simple act of hospitality. The widow could have been too consumed with fear and grief for herself and her son to respond to Elijah when he asked for water. However, she extends hospitality sharing the last of her food, and Elijah responds through miraculously multiplying her flour and oil so that she never runs out during the famine. What’s even more wonderful about this story is that God knows this woman’s hospitable heart, because he tells Elijah that she will provide for him. God sees and knows our acts of hospitality when we welcome others into our family home, no matter how much or how little we have to share, it is always honoured and blessed by God.”


“PRAYER – SIMEON AND ANNA (LUKE 2:25-38)

“Often, it is those who are older in age who become the prayer warriors of our families and churches. When younger people tend to want everything in the here and now, older people can provide a long-term perspective, they are our living memory. They can set the example of faithful service, patience and trust in God’s promises. Simeon and Anna are two such people who are honoured in the Bible. Simeon is described as righteous and devout and Anna as someone who did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day. Both are present when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the Temple as a new-born, and both recognise that in Jesus all of their prayers have been answered. How amazing it must have been for them, who had believed they would see this day, that their countless prayers and hopes had been answered and they could now die in peace. They remind us just how significant the prayers of our grandparents and all who are older in years are, and that we should always cherish them. This year Pope Francis has instituted a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly and it will be held on the fourth Sunday of July in churches across the globe.


“BELONGING – THE CHURCH FAMILY (EPHESIANS 2:19-22)

“There’s a deep desire in every one of us to belong. Unfortunately, that desire for belonging can sometimes be misplaced, either in persons or ways of looking at the world, but in Christ we are given the opportunity to belong not only to him but to one another through our adoption into God’s family. To belong to God’s family, at its core, is to follow Jesus’s two commandments to love God and one another (Mark 12:30-31), just as Jesus said ‘For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:50)

“For some of us who don’t have families or have difficult relationships with family members, being part of God’s family means gaining a loving father (God), mother (Mary) and older brother (Jesus) and quite a few less than perfect church siblings!


“CELEBRATION – THE WEDDING AT CANA (JOHN 2:1-11)

“The wedding at Cana like a modern wedding drew together family and friends from far and wide. Celebrations and holidays are an opportunity to reconnect with family members and to thank God for his grace and generosity. It wouldn’t have been expected by the Jewish leaders at the time that the promised messiah’s first public miracle would involve turning water into wine at a wedding feast, but thankfully, Jesus’ concern for the wedding couple (and an arm twist from mum) reveals that God loves a joyful celebration. We are all invited to the heavenly banquet with all saints and sinners, called by God. Something of that joy should be in every Mass when we celebrate with Jesus the free meal of the family of God.”


“HOPE – MARY, MARTHA, LAZARUS AND JESUS (JOHN 11:1-44)

“Grief and despair is something we all have to face at some point. Some of Jesus’ closest friends were the siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and they experience a family tragedy when Lazarus dies. When Lazarus dies Jesus too experiences grief for a lost friend. It’s here that we read the shortest and possibly one of the most powerful verses in Scripture – ‘Jesus wept’. Mary and Martha both show their deep faith and hope in Jesus when they meet with him. Jesus seems to use the situation to show that not only can he prevent death, but he is ‘the resurrection and the life’ for all who believe when he raises Lazarus from the dead. In this incidence, we get a snapshot of the future hope that awaits us, when death will no longer separate us from our loved ones.


“LOYALTY – RUTH & NAOMI (BOOK OF RUTH)

“This story seems very far removed from our modern day context, however, at its heart is a great example of loyalty between family members.

“Ruth could have left her mother-in-law after the death of her husband, Naomi’s son; indeed Naomi suggests this and her other daughter-in-law chooses this option. However, Ruth chooses to stay by the side of her mother-in-law. If Ruth had chosen to leave, she could have remarried and started again. Yet, Naomi would have been left completely alone, as both her sons had died, and she had no other immediate family around her. At the time, the custom allowed for Ruth to marry a distant relative of Naomi’s and through him, she could provide an heir for her deceased first husband. This is the part that seems very strange to us nowadays, but is ultimately what happens for Ruth, and through this Naomi receives a grandchild and heir for her line. It also ends happily for Ruth as she finds a great husband in Boaz. God honours the generous loyalty of Ruth because she is now protected, and included in the genealogy line of King David, and later Jesus.”

                                     With permission, The God Who Speaks, 22nd June 2021

https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/the-god-who-speaks/word-at-home/our-top-tens/our-top-ten-family-values/



“Who do you think you are biblically?

“We've prepared this new resource to help you discover more about your extended family in the Bible and their life stories.


“… Who do you relate to most in Scripture? Who would feature in your family tree? And what can we learn from them? Share [this resource] in your parish for the Year of the Family.” 


[Download the file at this link.] https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Who-do-you-think-you-are-biblically.pdf

                                                                             With permission, The God Who Speaks, 30th June 2021

“Novena to St John Paul II for the flourishing of life

“…From 14th to 22nd October, in the lead up to the Second Reading [of the Assisted Dying Bill in the House of Lords], the bishops encourage the faithful to unite for nine days of prayer, seeking the intercession of St John Paul II, as part of our efforts to help defeat this attempt to legalise assisted suicide. 


“Prayer “Merciful God, we pray with thanks and gratitude for the great spiritual gift of Saint John Paul II's apostolic life and mission. Through his heavenly intercession we ask that the 'Assisted Dying' Bill be defeated and that the infinite worth of each human person is upheld through proper investment in palliative care. Grant also that we may grow in love for You and proclaim boldly the love of Jesus Christ to all people. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen”   


See the full Novena in the Special Notices section of the Newsletters page on this website or at https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43216 


                                                 With permission, Independent Catholic News, Oct.10th 2021

                                                 https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/43216

“March for Life relaunches in London as a real event

“March for Life UK will be taking place in September as an actual, in-person event to inspire, educate and motivate the nation to value all life from the moment of conception.  


“The March will be in London on Saturday September 4. In the morning the Life Fest will take place from 10.00 – 13.00 in the Emmanuel Centre, Marsham St, London, SW1P 3D.  


“Pro-Life organisations from around the UK will be showcasing their work. There will be inspiring speakers, moving testimonies, live music, pro-life merchandise, pro-life tots, kids and teens’ activities, selfie stands and much more.  


“The March will take place from 13.30 – 16.00. Pilgrims from the diocese of East Anglia are encouraged to congregate together outside the Emmanuel Centre at 1pm and walk under the banner of Our Lady of Walsingham.


 “Please contact Sarah Ward on sarahcampling@hotmail.com to let her know you will be attending.  “In June Sarah took part in the online March for Life livestream ‘Raising a ProLife Family’ https://vimeo.com/563452426.” 

                      

           (With permission) Eldred Willey, July 21, 2021, The Diocese of East Anglia,

            https://www.rcdea.org.uk/march-for-life-relaunches-in-london-as-areal-event/

Icon of St Joseph and the Holy Family

We welcome the Icon of St Joseph and the Holy Family which has be traveling around the diocese for the Year of St Joseph and the Family.  The icon was painted by our parish priest, Fr Luke Goymour.

Copyright 2009-2021, St. Thomas & St. John Catholic Parish.  

Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license M-401533. All rights reserved.
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The Roman Catholic Parish of Brandon and Mildenhall is part of the Diocese of East Anglia covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and the Unitary Authority of Peterborough within the Province of Westminster, part of the Catholic Church of England and Wales in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.