God's love for you - 22nd December

Webmaster • December 20, 2024

A Christmas Meditation (2)


Once again, let our thoughts return back to the scene inside the Cave. Joseph already prepared it as comfortably as he can for Mary. As Jesus' Birth soon approached, Mary begged Joseph to do all he can to receive the Child with honour, and invited Joseph to unite his prayer with hers for all those who didn't give Him a place to stay. They bore no hate, no grudges towards others who did not accept them nor complained about the situation they were in. But to prepare with all their hearts and mind for the soon coming of Our Saviour into the world. On that Holy night, Mary was deep in her prayers, supernatural light streamed out from her and filled the cave, her body raised above the ground...then Mary gave birth to the Holy Child. There was no pain, no distress, no tainting of Mary's Virginity. What a lovely sight to see Angels prostrated around Mary who was holding Baby Jesus. And Joseph was so happy yet so humble and full of devotion that it was until Mary urged him again then he embraced the Sacred Infant. Beholding this Baby sweetly lying in the Crib, Mary and Joseph sang praises to God and shed tears of joy... Quite some distance away from the Crib, this silent night became an unforgettable night to some shepherds, as they saw magnificent light shining on the Crib, Angels appeared and spoke to them, and heard the Angels singing the Gloria. Note that the first group of people who received the news of this great Mystery is not the powerful, rich or intelligent ones, but the simple and poor ones, as God Loves the humble and lowly. How blessed are the shepherds who has the privilege to listen to the sweet and beautiful voices of the Angels singing! Yet they are even more blessed that they believed and went to the Crib Cave, and became one of the first people to adore Baby Jesus with their very own eyes! They offered Him gifts of little animals, food etc. What would you like to offer Him this Christmas? May be as Christina Rossetti wrote in her poem: "what I can I give Him, — Give my heart." Dear all, He was born because His Love for you, love Him back is the most pleasing gift you can give Him. May you be united in love with Him this Christmas, have a very Merry Christmas!


(Reference: • Luke 2:8-16 • The life of Jesus Christ and biblical revelations, Volume I, Ven Anne Catherine Emmerich, Tan Books & Publishers, 1986 • The Sermons of St Francis de Sales for Advent & Christmas, "The coming of the Divine Infant", 24 December 1613 • A Christmas Carol, Christina Georgina Rossetti (1872)) 

Parish fundraising

By Webmaster • May 30, 2026
The Parish is facing two repairs. The flat roof over the long corridor has water penetration to the retaining wall capping stones. The tall chimney of the old boiler is blamed for some water penetration and must be removed. The second repair follows a report of water penetration of the tower. The rain entry threatens electric contacts of the bells. Again work on the capping stones and the lead covering which will call for scaffolding to the top.  Project pictures and information will be displayed in the entrance of the Church shortly. The weekly collection is not covering our outgoing costs, as we all know in paying our utility bills. We hope to have various fundraising projects to assist this essential work. If you have any ideas for fundraising please share on the list at the back of Church. Any contributions will be gratefully welcome Fr Chris & Finance Committee

Parish Picnic

By Webmaster • May 30, 2026
A warm invitation is offered to all parishioners to join us for a Parish Picnic on Sunday 7 June from 12.15pm – 3pm . It will take place in the parish hall next to the church and to celebrate the international diversity of our parish community we invite you to wear national costume and bring a dish that represents your cultural heritage. As it’s a picnic, we also ask that you bring your own chairs (there aren’t many in the hall at the moment!) and, if possible, maybe even a table. If cannot bring a chair, please let one of the priests or Deacon Mike know so we can source some extra. Children are very welcome and if you have any traditional games that you would like to share with others, please feel free to do so.

St Peter's RC Primary School

By Webmaster • May 30, 2026
St Peter's RC Primary School CSI Report The latest Catholic School Inspectorate Report for St Peter's RC Primary was published on Thursday 21 May, and the school is rated as "Excellent" in every single area, across Catholic Life and Mission, Religious Education and Collective Worship. You can read the report here: www.rcadcschools.org/StPetersRCPrimarySchool401648%2021.05.26.pdf For Admissions visit: www.stpeters.wales/ admissions/ or email the school via admissions@stpeters.wales

God's Love for You - Sunday 31st May 2026

By Webmaster • May 30, 2026
The First Revelation to St Margaret Mary Alacoque: 27 Dec 1673 St Margaret Mary was a French Visitation nun. Jesus revealed His Love for mankind through His Sacred Heart and His Sacred Heart devotion to her in several mystical visions between 1673 and 1675. I was praying before the Blessed Sacrament…He made me repose for a long time upon His Sacred Breast, where He disclosed to me the marvels of His Love and the inexplicable secrets of His Sacred Heart…Then it was that, for the first time, He opened to me His Divine Heart… Jesus: “My Divine Heart is so inflamed with love for everyone…being unable any longer to contain within Itself the flames of Its burning Charity, It must spread them abroad by your means, and manifest Itself to them (mankind) in order to enrich them with the precious treasures… contain graces of sanctification and salvation necessary to withdraw them from the abyss of perdition. I have chosen you as an abyss of unworthiness and ignorance for the accomplishment of this great design, in order that everything may be done by Me.” After this, He asked me for my heart, which I begged Him to take. He did so and placed it in His own Adorable Heart, where He showed it to me as a little atom which was being consumed in this great furnace, and withdrawing it thence as a burning flame in the form of a heart, He restored it to the place whence He had taken it… Jesus: “See, My well-beloved, I give you a precious token of My love, having enclosed within your side a little spark of its glowing flames, that may serve you for a heart and consume you to the last moment of your life; its ardour will never be exhausted…As a proof that the great favour I have done to you is not imagination…although I have closed the wound in your side, the pain will always remain. If before, you have taken only the name of My slave, I now give you that of the beloved disciple of My Sacred Heart.” (Excerpts from St Margaret Mary Alacoque’s autobiography)

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

By Webmaster • May 30, 2026
In the Nicene Creed we pray: “…I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father… I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified…” The formulation of the Trinitarian relationship in the Creed reveals the profound depth of God’s nature: God is of one essence, yet three distinct Persons. Each Person is involved in an eternal, loving relationship with the others. If these definitions of God seem beyond your grasp, you are correct. They are. Even if you were to spend years studying the best theology on the Trinity, you would still only be able to comprehend a slight image of Who God is. The best way to grow in a deeper understanding of God and all of reality is through the deepest forms of contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer is not something you can simply turn on. It is an infused prayer that only God can bestow as He invites you to enter into His divine presence. Contemplative prayer begins with a profound purification process by which all sin is purged from one’s life, as well as all attachment to sin, and then all conceptual knowledge of God is eliminated so that the mind can gaze upon God through infused knowledge. As you strive to deepen your own prayer life, offer your praise to God the best you can. Profess your unwavering belief in the Creed, despite not fully understanding it. Most importantly, open your heart to God, Who is Love, and love Him in return with every power of your soul. By doing so, you will be on the slow and steady road to a mystical union of love with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Sunday 31st May 2026

By Webmaster • May 30, 2026
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17) God our Father, who by sending into the world the Word of truth and the Spirit of sanctification made known to the human race your wondrous mystery, grant us, we pray, that in professing the true faith, we may acknowledge the Trinity of eternal glory and adore your Unity, powerful in majesty.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen

St Peter's Church Shop

By Webmaster • May 30, 2026
Opening Times Saturday : Before and after 5.30pm Mass Sunday : Before and after 9.30am Mass until 11.30am Mass begins We have a large selection of beautiful first Holy Communion Gifts & Cards for girls & boys all at reasonable prices.  A lovely memento of this Special Day on the Faith Journey of our young people. The Church of tomorrow. Come in & take a look.

Corpus Christi Procession Sunday 7th June

By Webmaster • May 30, 2026
The Procession will start at 3:00pm from Nazareth House (please arrive by 2:30pm), moving along Colum Road and Park Place, past the Museum and City Hall, head down Park Place and along Queen Street before finishing at St David’s Cathedral. Refreshments will be available afterwards.

Sunday 24th May 2026

By Webmaster • May 22, 2026
O God, who by the mystery of today's great feast sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth and, with the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now once more the hearts of believers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,  God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

By Webmaster • May 22, 2026
WISDOM : helps us to understand the inner life of the Trinity more clearly. UNDERSTANDING : helps us to enlighten our mind with the light of divine truth. COUNSEL : helps us to choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven. FORTITUDE : adds the strength we need to do all that we are called to do in love with unwavering commitment. KNOWLEDGE : helps us make practical decisions in accord with God’s will. PIETY : helps us to see the great dignity and beauty of God and enables us to have a deep reverence for Him and for all of His people.  FEAR OF THE LORD : helps us to see how our actions help or hinder our relationship with God, helping to motivate us to avoid all that harms this relationship and choose all that strengthens it.