Newsletter- 22nd Week of Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners
‘Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart.’The themes of today’s readings at Mass are humility, generosity, and respect and care for all.
In the First Reading Sirach advises us to be thoughtful and attentive to others. We are to be modest, not seeking praise or approval for our action: everything good is a gift from God, and to be shared with others. The Responsorial Psalm is a song of thanksgiving and hope, calling us to rejoice and trust in God’s care. Everyone is valuable in God’s eyes. This care for the suffering and oppressed points to Jesus, who came to serve all humanity but especially the poor, weak and vulnerable.
Jesus uses the setting of eating together at a feast to teach us the values of the Kingdom of God (Gospel). We are to put others before ourselves, showing kindness and compassion to everyone, especially those who cannot repay us. By following Jesus’s own values of selfless giving and humility, we radiate God’s unconditional love to others by how we live out our lives in all the areas of our human existence. We will be rewarded at the resurrection with our own place at the heavenly banquet. The Second Reading presents Jesus as the mediator of the new covenant. Each of us can rejoice, celebrating our identity in God’s family, where everyone has the same rights as a firstborn child.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee year, let us pray this week for the grace that we may become more attentive and kinder towards everyone we encounter during this coming week. We think especially of those on the margins of our society, and of the Church and we continue to pray to for the peoples of Gaza and the Ukraine and all who continue to suffer in the areas of our world where there is violence and bloodshed. Let us pray for peace in our homes and families, peace within our community and peace too within our fractured world.
Many within our parish will be returning this weekend from their holidays and we welcome you warmly back into the parish community. This week to many of our young people will be returning to school and we pray as you begin a new academic year that Lord will continue to bless you and support you.
St Marys Primary School – First Mass of the new Academic Year: This Friday 5th September Mass will be celebrated at St Mary’s School at 9.30 am. Parishioners are warmly invited to attend, and the school will be providing refreshments for all after Mass in the School Hall. Do stay for these if your time will allow. There will be no Mass that day in the church.
Education Sunday – 13th /14th September: At all our Sunday Masses celebrated over the weekend of 13th and 14th September we shall be keeping Education Sunday. St Marys School will help to animate the Sunday Liturgy on 14th September at 9.30 am, assisting with the Offertory and Reading for us at Mass. The young pupils are encouraged that weekend to come to Mass on Saturday and Sunday in their school uniforms and we shall be praying particularly for them and for all our young people continuing in education.
With my prayers for you and for your families during the coming week ahead,
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
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