Newsletter- The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Dear Parishioners
‘For God so loved the world …’ This weekend we celebrate how Christ Jesus, the source of our life and salvation, transformed all human suffering, by willingly accepting death on the cross.
In the First Reading, the people of Israel bring suffering upon themselves by losing faith on their long journey to deliverance from slavery. Moses is commanded to lift up a fiery serpent on a stick: all who turn to this symbol of salvation will be healed. In John’s Gospel, Jesus understands the suffering that he is being called to embrace. He foretells how he will be lifted up, just like the serpent in the wilderness, so that whoever turns towards him will have eternal life. He reminds us that he was not sent to condemn the world, but to save it. The Responsorial Psalm encourages us to never forget the deeds of the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and forgiveness – truly the source of our salvation. The Second Reading provides a poetic teaching of our salvation story. God’s love took human form in the person of Jesus. By accepting a shameful, humiliating death, God not only powerfully demonstrated solidarity with all who suffer cruelty and injustice at the hands of others, but overcame the finality of death, offering us all a path to eternal life.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee year, we pray for all those who are persecuted or caught up in the injustice and horrors of war. May theirs and all suffering be transformed by the saving love of Christ.
Education Sunday – At all our Sunday Masses we keep the Diocesan Education Sunday. We welcome on Sunday at Mass members of St Marys Catholic Primary School who will help to animate our Sunday Liturgy, assisting with the Offertory and Reading for us at Mass. The young pupils of St Mary’s are encouraged this weekend to come to Mass on Saturday and Sunday in their school uniform, please do make them and their families welcome at Mass. We pray this weekend for our Diocesan Education Department and for all who work and study within our Catholic Schools throughout the Diocese of Nottingham. We remember too this weekend all our young people from the parish continuing with their education.
Note of thanks: The National Walking Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope: Last Thursday we welcomed the three Perpetual Pilgrims (Fr Peter Wygnaski, Terence Cavanagh and Patrick Lovett) overnight to our parish along with the Day Pilgrims walking the 20 miles from Dyke to Grantham. Thank you to all within our parish community who helped with refreshments and to offer a warm welcome to all our visitors.
Changes to Mass Schedule This Week
Tuesday 16th September – There will be no Liturgies in church today
With my prayers for you and for your families during the coming week ahead,
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
2025 14th September – Newsletter – Download