26
Jan 2025
On 24 December 2024, Pope Francis inaugurated the Holy Year of Hope when he opened the door of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. On Sunday 29 December, Bishop Alan inaugurated the Holy Year in the diocese during the 11.30am Mass at the Cathedral. He also issued a pastoral letter (see here). Catholics can receive the special grace known as a plenary indulgence during the Jubilee Year 2025 is by making a pilgrimage to one of the four major papal basilicas: St. Peter’s, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major or St.......
25
Jan 2025
Sunday of the Word of God Click here for our latest newsletter The Sunday of the Word of God offers Christians an opportunity to renew their commitment to reading and meditating on the Bible as a fundamental tool for growth in faith and spiritual life, as well as a source of hope for the faithful worldwide. This week’s challenge: Can you? 1) Today, find your Bible and put it somewhere in evidence in your house. Done □ 2) Each day of the week, open your Bible, find a verse, and prayerfully read......
18
Jan 2025
Peace Day Click here for our latest newsletter The sign at Cana in Galillee (Jn 2,1:11) Marriage and wedding feasts are metaphors used in Scripture to describe God’s salvation and the Kingdom of God. By narrating the transformation of water in wine at Cana at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, John’s Gospel seeks to establish that Jesus is going to re-interpret and fulfil Yahweh’s promise to Israel. Jesus establishes the New Covenant. A hint about what this New Covenant will be like is made evident in the deed that Jesus performs.......
14
Jan 2025
PLEASE READ ! OTP – One Time Password A few parishioners have fallen victim to this hack. So much so the parish leadership has decided to fight back. WhatsApp is a end to end, fully encrypted social media application. What this means is that between your device and the person you are communicating with, is totally secure. However, the single point of failure, and this is not a criticism, is the the persons at either end. Hackers know this and totally exploits this. As users of the technology, we need to make......
12
Jan 2025
Click here for our latest newsletter Throughout the Gospel of Luke, people question ‘who is this?’ when they encounter Jesus. The Pharisees (Luke 5:21), the dinner guests (Luke 7:49), the disciples (Luke 8:25), Herod (Luke 9:9) – all ask, ‘who is this?’ In fact, God himself has already given us the answer right at the beginning of Jesus’s ministry: ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’ (Luke 3:22). The reason that the Baptism of Jesus marks the end of the Christmas season, even though it happened decades after......
04
Jan 2025
Click here for our latest newsletter Today, we celebrate the visit of the Magi to Jesus. We know little about the Magi. They come from the East and journey to Bethlehem, following an astrological sign, so we believe them to be astrologers. We assume that there were three Magi based upon the naming of their three gifts. The Gospel does not say how many Magi paid homage to Jesus. In Matthew’s Gospel, they represent the Gentiles’ search for a Saviour. Because the Magi represent the entire world, they also represent our search......
30
Dec 2024
Click here for our latest newsletter Jubilee 2025 :“Pilgrims of Hope” On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica and officially inaugurated the 2025 Jubilee of Hope. “Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year. A time to re-establish a properrelationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. The Catholic Church celebrates this tradition once every 25 years as a year of grace, offering the faithful the opportunity to renew faith through prayer, pilgrimage, acts of charity, and by asking for a plenary......
24
Dec 2024
21
Dec 2024
Click here for our latest newsletter ‘For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, thebabe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed thatthere would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.’ On this last Sunday before Christmas, our Gospel reading prepares us for the birth of Christ by showing us how Jesus was recognised as Israel’s long awaited Messiah even before his birth. Luke links the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, establishing John’s early connection with......
15
Dec 2024
Click here for our latest newsletter REJOICE, Jerusalem, with great joy,because your Saviour will come,” Today, the Church anticipates the joy of Christmas. The Mass readings speak of Joy : ‘Rejoice, exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem!‘. Zeph 3 ‘Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!‘ Is 12 ‘Brothers and sisters : Rejoice in the Lord always'. Phil 4 ‘he preached good news to the people.‘ Lk 3 The 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, which......