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Letter from Father Richard
24-11-2016, 19:01WitnessPermalinkDear Brothers and Sisters
The Church invites us in Advent to slow down, rest, refocus our energies. You may think that the frenzy of the Christmas Season, the busyness of life, militates against a prayerful approach to the Feast. It need not.
Christmas above all is about hospitality. Welcoming Jesus in our midst; learning to recognise Him in our family members, our colleagues and the poor and opening our hearts in welcome.
Hospitality is an attitude. It can be practised in all circumstances of life, even in the busy pre Christmas Season.
Fr. Richard
The Church invites us in Advent to slow down, rest, refocus our energies. You may think that the frenzy of the Christmas Season, the busyness of life, militates against a prayerful approach to the Feast. It need not.
Christmas above all is about hospitality. Welcoming Jesus in our midst; learning to recognise Him in our family members, our colleagues and the poor and opening our hearts in welcome.
Hospitality is an attitude. It can be practised in all circumstances of life, even in the busy pre Christmas Season.
Fr. Richard
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Letter from Father Richard
18-11-2016, 18:39WitnessPermalinkDear Brothers and Sisters
The Church ends the liturgical year with the Feast of Christ the King. This is a reminder that our life here on earth is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. The journey is a journey to a sacred place – it is a pilgrimage.
If we accept the Kingship of Christ, we accept His Rule. We ready ourselves to be citizens of the Kingdom even here on earth.
In our families, in our schools, in our places of work, in any of the groups or sub communities to which we belong, let us be positive forces for good . . . and let us always remember our youth who are prey to so many temptations, but equipped so badly to fight the good fight.
May our prayers be their strength and protection.
Fr. Richard
The Church ends the liturgical year with the Feast of Christ the King. This is a reminder that our life here on earth is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. The journey is a journey to a sacred place – it is a pilgrimage.
If we accept the Kingship of Christ, we accept His Rule. We ready ourselves to be citizens of the Kingdom even here on earth.
In our families, in our schools, in our places of work, in any of the groups or sub communities to which we belong, let us be positive forces for good . . . and let us always remember our youth who are prey to so many temptations, but equipped so badly to fight the good fight.
May our prayers be their strength and protection.
Fr. Richard
Today's Gospel – Luke 19:1-10
15-11-2016, 06:13WitnessPermalinkThis is the story of the tax collector, Zacchaeus, who wanted to see Jesus when he passed by, but was too short to do so in the crowd. So he climbed a sycamore, where Jesus saw him and said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately, I must stay at your house today."
Zacchaeus means 'God remembers', and God remembered him that day.
"In the depths of our hearts, listen to God's voice that says to us: 'Today I must stay at your house.' Let us welcome him with joy; he can change us, can transform our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, he can liberate us from selfishness and make our lives a gift of love." (Pope Francis).
Chris (taken from Bible Alive Reflections for today).
Zacchaeus means 'God remembers', and God remembered him that day.
"In the depths of our hearts, listen to God's voice that says to us: 'Today I must stay at your house.' Let us welcome him with joy; he can change us, can transform our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, he can liberate us from selfishness and make our lives a gift of love." (Pope Francis).
Chris (taken from Bible Alive Reflections for today).
Letter from Father Richard
04-11-2016, 12:35WitnessPermalinkDear Brothers and Sisters
St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Thessalonians that "Faith is not given to everyone . . ." and he says to those who believe, “May the Lord turn your hearts towards the love of God and the fortitude of Christ.”
There is in that little sentence a direction for our efforts, and a warning that the path ahead requires strength and perseverance. As we come into the winter months, let us not be overpowered by the darkness, but let in a metaphorical candle by our good works. As the Chinese saying goes, ‘Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness’.
All the best,
Fr. Richard
St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Thessalonians that "Faith is not given to everyone . . ." and he says to those who believe, “May the Lord turn your hearts towards the love of God and the fortitude of Christ.”
There is in that little sentence a direction for our efforts, and a warning that the path ahead requires strength and perseverance. As we come into the winter months, let us not be overpowered by the darkness, but let in a metaphorical candle by our good works. As the Chinese saying goes, ‘Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness’.
All the best,
Fr. Richard
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