Newsletter for Sunday 4 December 2016

2 Dec

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The Advent theme of “preparing a way for the Lord” is again being repeated in our readings – in the imperative!: ‘A voice cries in the wilderness: “Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight” ’! 

Whilst Isaiah points to The One to be born of the family of Jesse (- Jesse was the father of King David, the ancestor of Jesus (see Mt 1:1-16), and with pointed urgency John the Baptist preaches a baptism of repentance, both speak of the eschatological judgement that will take place: Isaiah says, ‘He will judge the wretched with integrity, give a verdict for the poor, strike the ruthless and bring death to the wicked’ (vv 3&4);  John the Baptist says ‘His winnowing-fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing-floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning the chaff’ (v 12. see also Lk 3:7-8).  That He will do this with fine-honed accuracy (c.f. the Hebrew word for ‘delight’ in Is 11:3) – as our Creed professes – the mercy of God is such that all who turn to him with a contrite heart (Ps 50:17;  Mk 1:14-15) making straight their paths (Mt 3:3 //)  will be granted salvation.

Let all of us prepare a way for the Lord to come into our personal lives, our family situations and our society, by coming into the presence of Christ in prayer and through the sacraments.

Fr Philip Sainter

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Pilgrimage to Mount St Bernard’s Abbey

2 Jun

mount st bernard abbeyA pilgrimage from St Mary’s to Mount St Bernard’s Abbey (approximately 6 miles) will take place on Saturday 25th June 2016 to celebrate the Year of Mercy and visit one of the four Holy Doors in the Nottingham Diocese. Here is a brief guide to the day’s events:

  • Leaving St Mary’s at 09.30 arriving at Mount Saint Bernard’s at 12.30 in time for Mass at 1.00pm celebrated by our Priests
  • Picnic (bring your own) after Mass (weather dependent) in the abbey grounds
  • Transport back to St Mary’s for Pilgrimage walkers
  • Unable to walk? Come by car for 12.30, welcome the walkers, come to Mass and enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of Mount Saint Bernard’s

Route
Storer Rd, Hospital Way, Alan Moss Rd, Kenilworth Avenue, Coe Avenue, through Garendon Park Estate over M1 to Shepshed St Botolph’s, Charnwood Road, Iveshead Lane, Blackbrook Reservoir, Mount Saint Bernard’s

For those interested in joining the pilgrimage along the route, approximate time of arrival at Coe Avenue is 10.15am, St. Botolph’s Shepshed 11.15am, and onwards to Mount St. Bernard’s Abbey. Please note that these are approximate times.

Further details from Bernard Monaghan: 077 131 601 99 or bernard.p.monaghan@btinternet.com

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Sunday 20 March 2016

18 Mar

PALM SUNDAY

The kaleidoscope of life, with its ups and downs, its moments of love, elation and joy countered by rejection, failure and disappointment, of friends and foes, of affirmation and then back-stabbing, are all present in today’s Palm Sunday liturgy or, more accurately, in today’s “Account of Jesus Fulfilling God’s Plan of Salvation” which culminated in his Passion and Death. The only Hosannas that really count are those that come after Jesus’ death.  The green palm leaves and brightly coloured cloaks will soon become the wood of the cross and the funeral shroud.  And the leitmotif?  Obedience!  Constant, challenging, obedience! Obedience to the will of God: to love, to love, to love!  To love in good times as in bad.  Unconditional loving.  Are you up to that?

Jesus said, ‘If anyone wishes to be my disciple, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.’  (Matt. 16:24)  Let us be genuine, authentic disciples of Jesus, taking up our crosses and following him, loving … But loving to a rare and exquisite degree * … loving unconditionally.

(* c.f. A. Rosmini, Common Rules, Chp 3, On the Love of God, para. 9: ‘The soul’s perfection consists in the love of God raised to a rare and exquisite degree’)

Fr Philip Sainter

To view/download the complete newsletter, click here > Newsletter Sunday 20 March 2016

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