God's love for you - 26th May

Webmaster • May 26, 2024

The Virtues of Mary - Poverty

When Jesus came onto this earth, He chose to be poor so to teach us to despise the goods of this world, therefore He says to whoever wants to be His followers: "If you wants to be perfect, go sell what you has and give it to the poor, and come follow me.", and Mary is indeed His most perfect disciple. Because from the inheritance left by her parents, Mary could have lived in a comfort life , but she only saved a small portion for herself, and gave the rest to the Temple and the poor. Mary herself told St Bridget: "From the beginning I vowed in my heart never to possess any thing in the world." "All that I had I gave to the poor, and kept nothing for myself but poor food and clothing." Another example is, in the Presentation of the Lord, Mary offered two turtle-doves and two young pigeons - the oblation of the poor. If you wonder why that is the case, since the Three Kings gave them some very valuable gifts not so long ago. That is because she gave them all to the poor. And again, because of her love of poverty, she did not refused to marry St Joseph, a poor carpenter; and later on, doing sewing or spinning to support herself. At her death, she left nothing behind her except two poor garments to two women who had helped her during life. But the virtue of poverty is not just being poor, but in loving poverty. As Jesus told us: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." They are blessed, because they wish for nothing but God, they find every good in God, they find in poverty their paradise on earth, like St Francis found it in saying: 'My God and my all'. So let us pray to Our Lord with St Ignatius: Give me only you love together with your grace, and I am rich enough. And when poverty afflicts us, let us console ourselves by the thought that Jesus and His mother have also been poor like us. Ah, my most holy mother, detach me from the world, and draw me after you to love that one who alone merits to be loved. Amen.

(Source: St Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary, P J Kenedy & Sons, 1888)

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SPUC White Flower Appeal 2026

By Webmaster • January 3, 2026

SPUC exists to transform culture so that abortion is not only abolished but becomes unthinkable. The Society is actively leading the fight in courts, classrooms and culture to achieve this mission, in order to restore a respect for the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death. This year’s appeal postcards allow supporters to join the fightback campaign against the current threats in Parliament to expand abortion and allow assisted suicide. There will also be a Second Collection next weekend (10th/11th January) for this Appeal.

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By Webmaster • January 3, 2026

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Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

By Webmaster • January 3, 2026

Holy Day of Obligation Tuesday 6th January Mass at 10am Blessed Epiphany chalk will be available from this Mass in front of the Crib for parishioners to take. Taizé Service at 7pm Led by the 9.30am Sunday Mass music group. There will be refreshments afterwards. All welcome! At the time of Jesus’ birth, it was commonly believed that a new star would appear whenever a new ruler was born. The Father in Heaven used this belief to honor His Son Who was born as the new King. The three Magi from the East were astrologers. When they saw this “new star,” they chose to follow it to discover the new King. Creation itself, in the form of a star, pointed the way, thus giving glory to the newborn King, manifesting Him to the whole world as symbolized by the Magi. The word “Epiphany” means “manifestation.” Therefore, as we honor this moment in time when the Christ Child was made manifest to the world, we need to look into our own hearts. There, we discover Christ’s ongoing manifestation to us so that we can worship Him Who has also chosen to be born within our hearts. We must diligently seek out that manifestation of God within us and respond to it in the same ways that the Magi responded.

Sunday 4th Januaty 2026

By Webmaster • January 3, 2026

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