Newsletter – 2nd Week of Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners
John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove’. The main events of Christmastide are now behind us, the crib has been packed away for another year, and our focus now takes on the Public Ministry of Christ. Until Lent, we follow the Sundays of ‘Ordinary Time’. This Second Sunday in Ordinary Time returns to the event of Jesus’s baptism.
In the Gospel, John the Baptist recognises in Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John bears witness that Jesus truly is the Son of God. In the First Reading, the Prophet Isaiah speaks of the Servant, whom Christians have long identified with Jesus. He will be a light for the nations, so that salvation can reach the ends of the earth. The Psalmist gives thanks for the help he has received. He delights in doing God’s will, offering his skills of listening and speaking to those around him. St Paul, in the Second Reading, greets the young Church in Corinth with grace and peace from God.
This week, we might like to reflect on the witness that we ourselves give in our daily lives as modern day disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and determine how we may better listen to the needs of those around us with an ‘open ear and heart’ and respond to them with kindness and compassion just as the Lord always responds to us with His great generosity and love. We also pray this week for peace throughout the world and an end to warfare and violence.
First Holy Communion Candidates 2025 – This weekend our new group of First Holy Communion candidates begin their catechesis. Please keep them in your prayers as our young candidates begin this important period of preparation with a view to making their First Holy Communion in church later in the summer.
Fr Jonathan – Annual Leave for Christmas this coming week – I shall be taking a week away from the parish as my Christmas break from this Monday 19th January until Monday 26th January inclusive. During my absence from the parish there will be a reduced Mass schedule during the week. The weekend Masses will be celebrated as normal and at the normal times. Please note the church will be closed outside of the times of Mass during my absence.
Peace Sunday – 17th/18th January – Peace Sunday – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. This year Pope Leos’ message for the World Day of Peace has been published and his theme is: Peace be with you all: towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace.’ This is a challenging but exciting goal. Our Holy Father is reminding us that peace should not rely on fear, threats, or weapons of destruction. Peace should have the capacity to resolve conflicts and open hearts through mutual understanding and hope. This weekend we recommit ourselves to work for peace in our world; as men and women of faith to help build bridges between peoples and nations, and to seek justice for all peoples and the care of all God’s creation.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 (18 -25th January) – Grantham no longer has a Churches Together Group. Please continue to pray though each day during the Octave of Christian Unity for that unity for which Christ longed. The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘One Body, One Spirit’. More resources may be found at: www.ctbi.orguk/weekofprayer
With my prayers for you and for your families during my time away,
Your parish priest and friend,
Father Jonathan
2026 18th January– Newsletter – Download