Christian Family Life When Jesus came to this world, He did not chose to suddenly appear in the midst of people or no one knows where He came from, and began His Mission and Ministry that the Father have given Him. Instead He chose to born in a humble family, grew up in a family, and was subject to His parents. This shows us the importance of a good family life, since family is meant to be a place of nurturing the future of our next generation. The example of the Holy Family at Nazareth showed us the fruit that it will bear when the Holy Child was raised in a family that was in union with God, abided to the Law, and loved each other and their neighbours. St John Vianney said in one of his Sermons: "The family received from God a threefold mission: The care of the material life, the spiritual life and the supernatural life." Not only the child's physical body requires its tender loving care, but the soul also needs to be 'cultivate' - parents has the responsibility and necessary to bring God into their family and which in turn will bring God into their children's life. And this is the best gift that parents can ever give to their children. Since luxury food, clothes and toys are temporal, only good for a period of time. Yet God is Eternal, Whom can affect the rest of their life, even eternity. And God is Love, which means you are also bringing love into the family, and from love there will be joy, peace, patience, kindness, protection, trust, hope... So how to bring God into our lives? Pray together, especially the Rosary. Have you ever heard that 'The family pray the Rosary together, stays together'? Read the Word of God with your children, set some time aside everyday to read the Bible. Attend Mass as a family, at least every Sunday and worthily receive the Holy Communion. Whatever the parents did, often stayed in the children’s memories, and whatever you feed their thoughts with, they absorb like sponge. Therefore, fill your children with the knowledge about God, Who is the source of all Goodness. In Him, they will find true happiness, and one day their happiness will also become your own happiness.

“Our hope is grounded in the knowledge that the Lord never abandons us: He is always at our side.” Pope Leo XIV expressed this at the Mass for the ordination of the 32 new priests that took place in St. Peter’s Basilica on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 27 June, which also marks the Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. Pope Leo continued, “At the same time, we are called to cooperate with Him, above all by putting the Eucharist at the centre of our lives, in as much as it is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.’” Also the Pope recalled that in the first reading, the Prophet Ezekiel describes God as a shepherd who watches over his flock, counting his sheep one by one, seeking out the lost, binding up the wounded, and strengthening the weak and sick. “He thus reminds us, in this age of vast and devastating conflicts, that the love of God has no limits...We are called to let ourselves be embraced and shaped by that love, and to realize that in God’s eyes—and our own as well— there is no place for division and hatred of any kind.” Towards the end, the Pope reminded that from the earliest communities on, the Church has raised up priests who have been martyrs, tireless apostles, missionaries, and champions of charity. “Cherish this treasure: learn their stories, study their lives and work, imitate their virtues, be inspired by their zeal, and invoke their intercession often and insistently!... Keep their memory alive by your own example of fidelity.”  (Read the full article on: www.cbcew.org.uk/pope-leo-xiv-at-ordinationmass-may-priests-be-shaped-by-gods-love/ )

“‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest...” (Luke 10:2) O God, who in the abasement of your Son have raised up a fallen world, fill your faithful with holy joy, for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin you bestow eternal gladness. 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.

This Sunday 6th July 3 pm Join Archbishop Mark, clergy and fellow pilgrims for the Procession through the streets of Cardiff. The procession begins from the University Chaplaincy on Park Place. We will walk together along Gorsedd Gardens Road, past the Museum  and City Hall, then cross Greyfriars Road to the Friary, continues along Queen Street and finishes at the Cathedral with Benediction. Followed by refreshments at The Cornerstone. All are welcome!

TODAY there is a second collection for Peter’s Pence What is Peter’s Pence? It is an offering that may be small, but is of great symbolic value: It expresses the sense of belonging to the Church and love and trust for the Holy Father. It is a tangible sign of communion with Him, as Peter’s Successor, and also of attention to the needs of the most disadvantaged, for whom the Pope always cares. Peter's Pence's aims ● To support the Holy Father’s mission, which extends throughout the entire world. ● To support the numerous charitable works in aid of people and families in difficulty, populations afflicted by natural disasters and wars,  or who are in need of humanitarian assistance or support for development.

Come to the Quiz ! The Parish is holding a quiz in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association Wednesday 9th July The Community Hall, Bedford Street 6.30pm Admission fee: £5 Please support this charity. For more information contact Peter on 07906 101015

Congratulations to Fr Chris who is celebrating his 45th Ordination Anniversary this Sunday 29th June.

Christian Marriage (2) Although Christian Marriage is sacred and its bond is sealed by the Sacrament, yet there is always evil and temptations to try to disturb and even break this bond of love. Jealousy, suspicion, infidelity, a spirit of domination, disparage are some of the beginnings that can lead to hatred and separation. Therefore, Christian Marriage should be built on the help of God's Grace and the faithful married love for the spouse. Since God's Grace can heal the wounds of sins, perfect the couple's love, strengthen their unity, and help them to attain holiness. The conjugal love is a totality love to their spouse, whether it is their appearance, affectivity or will. Thus it is not only a love to becoming one flesh, but even aim to forming one heart, one soul. It is also a love to embrace their entire life, whether it is their past, present or future; open to fertility, total mutual selfgiving and day-to-day fidelity, in order to grow continually in their communion. You may wonder how the Holy Family's life was like, since they are the example for us to follow. According to the Servant of God Mother Maria Cecilia Baij’s personal revelation, sometimes when St Joseph worked very laboriously he would came up to his wife and humbly asked her to sing a God-praising hymn for him to relieve his tiredness. Virgin Mary would then promptly do so, and her singing was so delightful that St Joseph frequently went into ecstasy. He once commented: "My spouse, your singing alone is enough to bring comfort to every afflicted heart! What consolation you gave me through it! What relief for my weariness! What a great joy it is for me to hear you speak or sing!" The Virgin Mary then replied: “God has poured these graces into my heart, in order that you might be comforted and obtain relief in your tribulations and afflictions."  (References: CCC #1606, #1608, #1641, #1643-4. 'The Life Of Saint Joseph' by Maria Cecilia Baij, O.S.B., One Hundred One Foundation, 1997.)

Saints Peter and Paul are considered the foundational pillars of the Church. Peter represents the stability of the Church and the office of the Vicar of Christ. Paul represents the mission of evangelization that was entrusted to the Church by Jesus Himself. He was also the Church’s first theologian, which is seen in his numerous letters that expound on the Gospels. Though unlikely, one tradition states that they were both martyred on June 29, in Rome, making them twin martyrs. Their twin martyrdom reminds us that the Church must be both stable and mission-oriented. It must remain grounded in the ancient Truth, yet grow and flower with an ongoing understanding of the mysteries of faith. As we honor these two pillars of the Church, recall the fact that, though they are great saints, they were also ordinary men called to extraordinary vocations. They responded and God used them in ways they could have never imagined. Ponder your own calling in light of theirs and resolve to lay your life  down for the Church, joining yourself to these two men so that God can continue their holy mission through you. (Source of content: mycatholic.life)