Newsletter- 2nd Week of Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners
On Monday last week, we began the First Week of Ordinary Time and this weekend we celebrate the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time– Year C. After his Baptism, Jesus now starts his public ministry by giving us a first ‘sign’ of his transformative love. In the Gospel from St John, we hear about the wedding feast at Cana, where Jesus changes water into wine at the suggestion of his mother. Here we see Mary already interceding for others. The First Reading at Mass today also uses the image of a wedding to show that the Lord rejoices in his people ‘as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride’. St Paul in the Second Reading teaches the people of Corinth about the various gifts given to each one of them – and to each one of us – which can be used for the good of all in a variety of ways. These gifts all witness to the same Spirit, the same God. The Responsorial Psalm is a joyful song of praise that reflects the spirit of the other readings. It invites us to ‘Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples’. God will judge His people with fairness.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, the joyful image of wedding festivities might inspire us to think of all who go without in our world today, the many who live in poverty or who daily suffer because of warfare or in the aftermath of natural disasters. Let us pray this weekend at Mass that we may be sensitive to the needs of others as we reflect on all that we have received ourselves from God. Let us receive with joy Jesus into our own homes, and into our hearts and lives this coming year so that He may fill us with the wine of compassion, understanding and love for one another. We have all been given many different gifts and talents let us put these at the service of one another. Then, we will come to know and appreciate more fully the transforming love that is God.
Fr Jonathan absence from the Parish – I will be going into hospital in Nottingham on Tuesday 28th January after which my surgeon has advised me, I will need to take some time to convalesce. I will be staying at my mother’s home in Southwell. I hope to be back at the start of the week of the 9th of February. Whilst I am away and, in an emergency, please contact Deacon Andrew in the first instance who will be able to put you in touch with a priest. For all other routine parish matters I ask please that you await my return. I am extremely grateful to those who will be assisting with cover and helping with the practicalities needed to be put into place during my absence. There will be a reduced Mass schedule whilst I am away and there will be times too when the church will need to remain closed during the week. Details will be published in next week’s Parish Bulletin.
Changes to the normal Liturgies for this coming week:
Tuesday 21st January – The church will be closed all day and there will be no Mass nor period of Exposition and Benediction in the evening. The church will be closed all day and there will be no evening Mass nor period of Exposition
First Holy Communion Candidates 2025 – This Sunday catechesis begins for our new group of First Holy Communion candidates. Please keep them in your prayers as they begin this important period of preparation for their First Holy Communion later in the summer.
Peace Sunday – This weekend we keep Peace Sunday and this year’s message from Pope Francis takes as its theme ‘Forgive us our trespasses: Grant us your peace’. The message speaks to all of us of how we must listen to the ‘pleas of an endangered humanity.’ In this Jubilee Year our Holy Father inspires us to seek the liberating justice of God in our world and how by ‘opening our hearts to our brothers and sisters, we will restore God’s justice on earth’ and ‘move forward to achieve the goal of peace’.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 –There will be a joint act of Christian worship to mark the beginning of Christian Unity Week 2025 this Sunday 19th January at 6 pm at Christ church Methodist’s. I intend going myself and have been asked to read the Gospel and lead the Responsory. I encourage as many parishioners as possible to join me there this Sunday evening as together we share in this important ecumenical time of prayer and worship with our brothers and sisters from other local Christian communities of our town.
With my prayers for each of you and for your families during the coming week ahead, please keep me also in your own,
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
2025 19th January – Newsletter – Download