World Day for the Poor - Caritas in Action!
Webmaster • November 16, 2020
The Directory for Catechesis states that ‘charitable action is an integral part of the catechetical proclamation’ and ‘[t]he need for an organic approach to pastoral care requires the coordination of catechesis with the other activities of evangelisation.’
In his Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti, On Fraternity And Social Friendship, Pope Francis writes:
“Social love” makes it possible to advance towards a civilization of love, to which all of us can feel called. Charity, with its impulse to universality, is capable of building a new world. No mere sentiment, it is the best means of discovering effective paths of development for everyone. Social love is a “force capable of inspiring new ways of approaching the problems of today’s world, of profoundly renewing structures, social organizations and legal systems from within”. (183)
Charity is at the heart of every healthy and open society, yet today “it is easily dismissed as irrelevant for interpreting and giving direction to moral responsibility”. Charity, when accompanied by a commitment to the truth, is much more than personal feeling, and consequently need not “fall prey to contingent subjective emotions and opinions”. Indeed its close relation to truth fosters its universality and preserves it from being “confined to a narrow field devoid of relationships”. Otherwise, it would be “excluded from the plans and processes of promoting human development of universal range, in dialogue between knowledge and praxis”. Without truth, emotion lacks relational and social content. Charity’s openness to truth thus protects it from “a fideism that deprives it of its human and universal breadth”. (184)
Caritas in Action! Briefings 11 - 12, with the Contents headings as follows (the full documents can be viewed below):
Caritas in Action! Briefing 11 – November 2020
11.1 Participation in charity is an integral part of ‘the process of evangelisation’
11.2 ‘…charitable action is an integral part of the catechetical proclamation’
11.3 ‘…coordination of catechesis with the other activities of evangelisation’
11.4 Instruction "The pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelising mission of the Church"
11.5 Weaving together the processes and relationships for building ‘a civilisation of love’
Caritas in Action! Briefing 12 – November 2020
12.1 Exploring the organisational and relational processes of the Catholic Church in its mission
- The warp and the weft of the Catholic Church community in England and Wales (NB. Purely illustrative.)
12.2 Participating in the organisational and relational processes at Diocesan and Parish levels
12.3 ‘“Social love” makes it possible to advance towards a civilization of love’
12.4 The main roles of the different levels of Caritas
12.5 Learning to become ‘witnesses to the faith’ in the twenty-first century
Archbishop Mark has published a pastoral letter, 'Heart speaks to heart', calling the Archdiocese to become a missionary and synodal diocese built on prayer and four pillars: youth and vocations , evangelising zeal , formation in faith , and loving service . The letter challenges Catholics to encounter Christ more deeply and share that encounter with others, and will be broken into six pieces for study during Lent or Eastertide. Read the full pastoral letter on our website. ( https://tinyurl.com/nmj5ppxk )
The Holy Family's Love and Forgiveness (1) When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, tormenting anxieties filled his heart, because Mary was silence about the matter. Although initially he did wonder whether Mary has violated her fidelity, but he refused to believe it because this did not add up with Her great virtue and perfection that he saw in Her whom only a saint will show, yet he did not know by whom or how it was caused. However, God wished to perfect Joseph’s virtues ‘as gold is tested in the fire’ by hiding this Mystery from him for a while. Two months passed by, poor Joseph eventually overcame by this great tribulation, what should he do? He could have out of jealousy and anger and in the name of ‘justice’, let Mary be condemned by everyone and put to death. But his uprightness, and the high esteem and love he had for Mary, made him rather put himself at a disadvantage instead of others. He rather let the person go than watch a possibly-innocent being killed. He argued with himself: ‘…I do not wish to injure Her reputation of holiness by involving Her in the punishment of the law; yet at the same time I cannot stand by and witness the consequences of her pregnancy.’ He also prayed to God: "...I find no way to restore my peace. In order to choose the least evil I will withdraw from Her and seek a place where no one knows me and, resigning myself to thy Providence, I will pass my life in a desert...” This good man even went the extra mile of vowing to go to the temple of Jerusalem and offer up a part of the small sum of money which he had provided for his journey, so that God might help and protect Mary from the calamities of men and free Her from all misfortune. Can we even match this in our lives? (Reference: The Mystical City of God, Ven Mary of Agreda)
God our Loving Father, we thank you for the life and testimony of men and women whom you have called to serve you as sisters, brothers, religious priests, consecrated virgins, hermits and members of Secular Institutes. Help them to be more and more rooted in you by following the evangelical counsels. We pray for those of them discerning their vocation, grant them the strength to respond to your call courageously. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.’ (Matthew 5:3-12a)
Blessing of throats on Feast of St Blaise Tuesday 3rd February during 10am Mass
Monday 2nd February is the feast day of The Presentation of the Lord. There will be blessing of candles during 10am Mass. Please bring your own candles for blessing.
Saturday 31st January 2026 9:30am - 5:00pm St David’s Catholic Sixth Form College, Cardiff The Catholic Youth Conference will be celebrating the Regional Jubilee of Jesus Youth of 25 years in the UK. Open to all aged 16 and above, this day is for young adults to experience how God is guiding and working through young people. Archbishop Mark will be celebrating Holy Mass on the day. Please show your interest by registering before 25th January using link below or scan QR code: Registration link: https://forms.gle/HqevPZ8KfL2EsyrK6 Come and encounter Christ and be inspired to transform your life.
Archbishop Mark and Bishop Peter Brignall have issued a joint statement on Assisted Suicide: ‘As the Senedd prepares to debate whether to give legislative consent to Westminster's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, Archbishop Mark and Bishop Peter Brignall wish to express their deep concern about legalising assisted suicide in Wales. International experience shows that where assisted suicide is legalised, eligibility criteria expand over time and subtle pressure is placed on those who are elderly, disabled, or who fear becoming a burden. True compassion means accompanying those who suffer and ensuring no one feels abandoned, not ending life. They urge Members of the Senedd to withhold consent and focus on strengthening palliative care. On Monday 26th January, those who can are asked to observe a day of fasting in solidarity with the vulnerable. Please also engage respectfully with your Member of the Senedd to make your voice heard on this important decision for Wales.’
Sunday 25th January 2026 Today is also a time to pray for and stand in solidarity with people affected by leprosy around the world. The John Bradburne Memorial Society (JBMS) is calling on individuals and communities to support its mission on World Leprosy Day. The Society is named in honour of John Bradburne, ‘Servant of God’, who served for ten years as warden of the Mutemwa Leprosy Care Centre in Zimbabwe. John Bradburne’s unwavering compassion, faith and dedication to those living with leprosy left a profound legacy. Inspired by his life and witness, JBMS continues his work by supporting people affected by leprosy, raising awareness of the disease, and helping fund the ongoing operations of Mutemwa. Please consider supporting this vital work through prayer, awareness or donation. Contributions to JBMS go directly towards supporting the Mutemwa Leprosy Care Centre where patients receive essential medical care, food and shelter. Visit: www.johnbradburne.com
The importance of family (Continue from last week) Pope John Paul II once said, “Every family carries a light and every family is a light...a light which must illuminate the Church’s path and the future of the world.” Therefore, family should be like a greenhouse for your children, where your tender loving care is given to their delicate hearts, your morality is shown to their simple hearts and your Catholic Faith is passed on to their innocent hearts. It is not easy to be a good parent, although no one is perfect, but one should keep trying and striving. Keep in mind that we are not without a real perfect example - the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Let us see how they live and let them be our inspiration and guide to follow.