God's Love for You - Sunday 2nd February 2025

Webmaster • January 31, 2025

Christian Hope (4)


Hope is a desire, is a yearning. Christian Hope desires the everlasting life and God's Kingdom in Heaven. A hope that we rely on the help of Holy Spirit's Grace instead on our own human strength. A hope which trusting in the Promise of Christ Jesus. When and what did Jesus promised us? When He told us 'The Beatitudes'. They are the promises which give us hope during tribulations, and raise the hope in our hearts toward our Eternal Home. Therefore, this Hope leads us to behave differently compare to those who do not have hope. Because it gives us courage, confidence and support in the midst of trials, sufferings, abandonment and in situations that we need to defend our faith. It can even gives us joy in those difficult or horrific times. Our fathers and ancestors were brave when confessing and became witnesses to our faith in front of the pagans; and martyrs became fearless and even singing hymns when they walk towards the colosseum or when they were being persecuted. Ah, Hope sustained them in their fears, because they know this life is not the end as Eternal Life awaits for them. "And be not afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul." (Matt 10:28) Therefore, we Christians live in Hope, walk this pilgrim journey in Hope and die in Hope. Remember, God has already given us 'His Word', so our Christian hope is assured. Jesus also told us: "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matt 28:20) Even in this pilgrim journey on earth, He has not left us as orphans; so do not be afraid, persevere in fighting the good fight and finish the race. (2 Tim 4:7)


(Reference: Catechism of the Catholic Church #1717, #1817, #1818, #1820)

By Webmaster • October 2, 2026
Sunday 18th October at 11am Meet Angelo & colleague at the Museum The tour will take about 2 hours. Tickets £10.00 (Please pay on booking) available this weekend from Church porch. Only 15 places available so sign up quickly.  If more people interested then another date could be available
By Webmaster • September 25, 2026
The Council confirm that the new restrictions are not currently active – as the zone is still being delivered. Their contractors are anticipated to be on-site until approximately the end of November. The Council will be sending out a letter closer to the time to all properties advising of a “go-live” date for the zone when enforcement will begin, and will put something on social media. This will be done in advance to provide people with enough time to obtain the relevant permits, and will contain more information on how to obtain permits.  Until the new restrictions are in place the current restrictions apply – weekdays 'two hours free parking’ – Sunday no restrictions in parking areas.
By Webmaster • October 2, 2026
Bell Tower Fundraising - Autumn Fayre Saturday 10th October 11am-3pm St Peter’s Hall (behind Church) Free Entry. All are welcome. We need donations of the following: Raffle prizes; Bottles (alcohol, soft drinks); new/nearly new Toys; Jewellery. Please leave them in the Church porch before Friday 9th October. On Friday 9th October, the Hall will be open from 10.30am to 12noon, and 4pm to 7pm when you can directly bring in your donations and set up your stalls.  Home-made Cakes to the Hall from 10am on the 10th October. Thank you for your support.
By Webmaster • October 2, 2026
 CAFOD Family Harvest Fast Day Appeal Use the CAFOD envelopes in Church porch, donate via Dona station in Church porch, online at cafod.org.uk/envelope or call 0303 303 3030 Please give generously
By Webmaster • October 2, 2026
Holy Rosary will be held in Our Lady’s Garden at St Peter’s every Sunday in October at 10:45am Week 1 (4 October) The Joyful Mysteries For World Peace & world leaders Week 2 (11 October) The Luminous Mysteries For the conversion of sinners & those who searching for God Week 3 (18 October) The Sorrowful Mysteries For the most forgotten Holy Souls & our deceased family members Week 4 (25 October) The Glorious Mysteries For the universal Church, Priests & Religious All are welcome to join the full Holy Rosary in the October month of the Rosary!
By Webmaster • October 2, 2026
Organ Music for the Bell Tower As part of our fundraising for the Church Bell Tower, there will be three organ recitals taking place between now and Christmas. They are: 15th October – Huw Morgan 12th November – Tim Lyons All recitals start at 7.00pm and there will be a retiring collection in aid of the Bell Tower fund. Please come and support the music, the organists, and your Parish.
By Webmaster • October 2, 2026
Holy Family's Humility & Meekness (1) ‘Love...does not boast, it is not proud.’(1Cor 13:4) So where did we see these within the Holy Family? If you look at their lives carefully, you will see meek and humble shone everywhere. Let’s start with Mary. During the Annunciation, we learned that Mary’s reply to Angel Gabriel when she accept the role of becoming the Mother of the Son of God was: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” She showed her humbleness by calling herself a handmaid, and that was said before giving her ‘yes’ to God, which showed her love for humility. Later, when Elizabeth greeted her as the ‘mother of my Lord’, Mary said in her Magnificat: “For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid” (Lk 1:48). As if to reply to her cousin that is all because the Almighty God had blessed His lowly handmaid. Mary did not become arrogant simply because she got raised to the Mother of God status, instead she served her pregnant cousin humbly and supported her in her time of need. In fact, Mary did not announce that she bore the Son of God to anyone in order to enjoy honour and praises, she kept silent about this great Mystery that happened within her. It is only through Divine revelation that people like Elizabeth, Joseph, Simeon, the shepherds etc. knew about it afterwards. Mary did not used her privilege of being Jesus’ mother either. As we can see in the wedding of Cana, Mary did not use the status of a mother to order Jesus or made Jesus to obey her. She simply said: “They have no wine.” As if to gently ‘remind’ him, then trusting that He will do something with His Power to fulfil her wish. In another place, we also read: ‘While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him.’ (Matt 12:46) Mary wanted to speak to her Son, but her humbleness did not want herself to be given the priority and disturb His Mission, neither her meekness allowed her to push through the crowd, so she waited patiently outside to be seen, like a lowly handmaid.
By Webmaster • October 2, 2026
Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. 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.
By Webmaster • September 25, 2026
The Holy Family’s Obedience & Faith (5) Obedience is always within the Holy Family, and the Son of Man even with His Eternal Wisdom also most humbly obey to the fullest. Consider that He was only 12 years old when He sat amongst the teachers in the temple of Jerusalem, revealing His knowledge and understanding that were beyond the most learned, in order to bear witness to the truth. But soon after learning His disappearance for 3 days had caused His parents on earth so much sorrow: “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.” (Luke 2:48), even Mary did not explicitly ask Jesus to go home, Jesus left the temple, went down with them and was subject to them. Although His parent did not tell Him to never do it again, but He understood their feelings and officially withheld His Mission until another 18 years later! Jesus’s obedience is not superficial, but fully and complete. Again, looking at the wedding of Cana, Mary did not order Jesus to perform a miracle, but her words to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.” is enough for Jesus to take action. Even if His hour has not yet come, but Jesus showed us obedience is more importance is His Eyes. And Jesus is not ‘partially’ fulfilling His mother’s request, as it was not just one jar of wine so can tide the bridegroom over until he can get more elsewhere. It was total obedience, since it was six full jars up to the brim so the couple won’t be lack of any good wine for the rest of the wedding. If one say, that was not too difficult since Jesus only needed to give His Words and it was accomplished. Then what about in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he foresaw his every sufferings in His Passion, that he shuddered with fear and sweated great drops of blood. Jesus is truly God and is truly human, the Passion is what His human nature needed to go through completely, there is no such thing He can hide within His Divinity and suffer lesser. Oh, how horrid and barbaric those torments will be! But He knew this is His Heavenly Father’s Will. So, Jesus prayed: “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) How many can totally forget oneself, and be truly obedient even in the midst of pain and sufferings, unto death? Jesus did.
By Webmaster • September 25, 2026
O God, who manifest your almighty power above all by pardoning and showing mercy, bestow, we pray, your grace abundantly upon us and make those hastening to attain your promises heirs to the treasures of heaven. 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.