Newsletter- 27th Week of Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners
‘Fan into flame the gift of God’– This Sunday – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time – our readings at Mass lead us to consider the gift of faith, to ponder our trust in a faithful God, and to ask for the strength to offer humble service.
In the First Reading the prophet Habakkuk complains loudly to God that he does not help in the face of tyranny and oppression. The Lord’s reply is to wait faithfully, for justice will come.
The Responsorial Psalm is a song of praise and worship, but also encourages us to listen to the Lord, to be open to God today. The Second Reading warns Timothy never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord. He has been given the gift of the Spirit, which he must continually enliven, relying on God’s power in times of trial. The disciples, in the Gospel, ask the Lord, ‘Increase our faith’. Jesus responds with the parable of the mustard seed and then follows on with another about self-forgetfulness and service of others. A life of faith is one that liberates us to follow the voice of the Spirit.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, Let us pray for the end of all forms of slavery and trafficking in our world. May governments collaborate in their efforts to fight against it, and may victims find freedom and rehabilitation in compassionate communities.
CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY – Friday 3rd October – There is still time to take envelopes to put your donations in. These can be found on the card table as you come into church. You can put these in the collection plate throughout the month of October, after which all donations will be sent directly to CAFOD.
Jubilee Year – World Day of Migrants & Refugees – 4th and 5th October alongside the Jubilee of Migrants.
In his 2024 World Day of Migrants & Refugees (WDMR) message, Pope Francis invited us to walk alongside migrants and refugees, noting that ‘it is possible to see in the migrants of our time, as in those of every age, a living image of God’s people on their way to the eternal homeland.’ Pope Francis referenced the journeys of hope taken by refugees and migrants, with ‘God as their travelling companion, guide and anchor of salvation.’
Each year, The World Day of Migrants and Refugees invites us to express our Christian concern, care and solidarity with all migrants and refugees. It offers us a moment to reflect on the journeys and hardships that many are forced to undertake to escape war, poverty and hunger. This year, we mark the 111th celebration of WDMR with the theme: “Migrants: Missionaries of Hope.” It is a powerful reminder that those who flee their homes do not leave their dignity behind. They carry with them inspiring stories of resilience and courage; stories that remind us to act with compassion towards those who are strangers to us, to find hope even in difficult times, and to recognize that God is always with us. Behind every migrant is a story of loss and sorrow, but also of hope and resilience.
Pilgrimage is a sacred act of encounter. When we walk in solidarity with those who have been forced to leave their homes, we allow their stories to speak to our hearts. It is in these shared steps that we draw closer not only to one another, but also to Christ Himself. May our journey this Jubilee Year be one of listening, of reflection and of deepening love for the stranger and outsider as we welcome them into our midst and as we walk together, may we become, like those we accompany, missionaries of hope.
Fr Jonathan- annual leave from the afternoon of Sunday 5th October until Wednesday 15th October – I shall be taking a short holiday away from the parish and during my time away Deacon Andrew will be your first point of contact in an emergency, and he will be able to put you in touch with a priest. Or you can telephone Fr Stephen Dye (retired and living still in Oakham) 07980 148193; For all other non-urgent parish matters I ask please that you wait to contact me until my return. Mgr. John Hadley will be offering the weekend Masses during my time away. There will be a reduced Mass schedule. Please check the Parish Newsletter for the dates and times of all the liturgies being celebrated during my absence.
Schedule of Liturgies – Monday 6th October – Wednesday 15th October
Weds. 8th October – Mass at 9.30 am
Thurs. 9th October – Service of Word & Holy Communion (Eucharistic Minister) – 11 am
Saturday 11th October – Vigil Mass – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 6 pm
Sunday 12th October – Parish Mass – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 9.30 am
Weds. 15th October – Service of Word & Holy Communion (Eucharistic Minister) – 9.30 am
Thurs. 16th October Normal Mass Times Resume – Mass 11 a.m.
Please note the church will be closed outside of the Liturgies listed above. The church will be open again throughout the day from 8.30 a.m. until dusk from Thursday 16th October.
With my prayers for you and for your families during my time away,
Your parish priest and friend
Fr Jonathan
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