Newsletter- 16th Week of Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners
From this weekend onwards many of our congregation will be starting to leave us for the summer holidays either at home or abroad and so I wish each of you who may be travelling during the weeks ahead to see friends and family members or to enjoy time away to rest, recoup and relax, a wonderful holiday. Travel safely and return to us refreshed! A very warm welcome too to all who may be visiting our parish during the summer holidays.
As we move into a time of greater relaxation and a period too when many will be enjoying a break from work, school, college or the daily round of our normal activities It seems appropriate that on this Sunday, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B the shepherding care of God is revealed as a central theme of all of our readings at Mass. This divine shepherding brings reconciliation and ends false separation. Jeremiah (First Reading) shows great courage as he castigates the rulers of his day, describing them as corrupt, irresponsible shepherds. But he also foresees that God will raise up other shepherds with integrity, who will be true leaders of their people.This prophesy is fulfilled in the Gospel, where Jesus sees the people as ‘sheep without a shepherd’. His loving concern for them reveals him as the Good Shepherd, who offers food for hearts and souls and bodies. He also tends the tired apostles, inviting them to rest awhile, affirming a balanced life that includes times of reflection and rest and relaxation as well as activity. Today’s Responsorial Psalm is the famous song of confidence and trust in the Lord as ‘my shepherd’: the God who is with his people in times of both challenge, and of rest and celebration. St Paul (Second Reading) offers us the basis for a profound understanding of our human interconnectedness and unity as children of the one creator. Christ Jesus brings all peoples together: He is the great unifier and peacemaker.
This week, let us pray for peace for innocent victims of war throughout our polarised world, and let us ask for the individual and collective courage and humility that leads to forgiveness and reconciliation. Let us also follow the invitation of Jesus when we can: ‘Come … rest for a while in my presence …’
Confirmandi preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in September: Please continue to keep our young people in your prayers as they continue in their journey of faith and in their preparation for Confirmation later in September. My thanks to all our catechists and helpers who did so much last Saturday afternoon to ensure we had a wonderful afternoon workshop with our young people; for the excellent refreshments prepared to recharge everyone before Mass in the evening; and to each of our young people for all they did to help animate and assist at the Saturday evening Mass; my thanks too to all our young people for all making their Act of Commitment at the Saturday evening Mass last weekend and for the many who returned again to Mass on Sunday morning with their families to help and to serve!
With my prayers for you and your families during the coming holiday season,
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
2024 21st July – Newsletter – Download