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Pastoral Letter – (Bishop Patrick McKinney)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, On this first Sunday of Lent I wish to speak to you about the connection between Almsgiving and the Eucharist. CAFOD, as you know, is our Catholic Agency in England and Wales for Overseas Development. It works closely with local partner agencies in many poor and developing countries. As…
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Family Funerals
A radio broadcast suggested that people need advice on funerals and their high costs – but from whom? The local minister or priest was seen as the one best placed to advise. Funeral firms can be reluctant to publish their prices, claiming that costs vary according to type of coffin chosen, number of limousines required, bringing…
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Two Years!
I served under a wonderful bishop in British Columbia, Canada, 1971-73. I remembered him in my prayer this week when news of the bad weather across North America came through. My first Christmas day with him saw us 40 below zero! Bishop O’Grady was appointed to Prince Rupert in 1956. Find the port by following…
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My Thanks
Thank you. We had another wonderful parish Christmas. The churches looked beautiful, we welcomed many visitors, the music and singing were joyful and prayerful and our five new servers took their duties calmly and efficiently alongside our long-serving seniors. As I began my days of prayer and reflection (a retreat) on Christmas afternoon, after a…
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A Blessed Christmas
We have had a prayerful parish preparation for Christmas. On the Third Sunday of Advent, there was an outline of the very different stories of the Nativity which are full of fascinating symbol: an ideal invitation to read the stories at home, in our own bible. On Monday evening SPANNED came from Hinckley and sang…
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Christmas Preparation
Our parish Christmas has begun beautifully. On Tuesday and Wednesday St Joseph’s Table provided a delicious Christmas dinner in the tastefully decorated hall. The mood was festive and homely, the atmosphere warm and friendly and the compliments were many. The Lourdes Garden has been given its Christmas preparation and is ready for our Carols by…
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Advent – Hope!
A new Church year begins – Advent, leading to Christmas. If only we Christians knew how to share our joy in the remembrance and celebration of Jesus’ birth. The world knows colour and song but it worries about the costs of gifts, parties, and there is the sadness of many for whom Christmas is meaningless,…
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Papal Audience
Another wonderful week in Rome. We had mass three times in St Peter’s, twice at an altar reserved for our group and one of these times at the most privileged altar in the basilica – the altar at the tomb of St Peter. We saw and heard Pope Francis twice, at the Angelus on Sunday…
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The Voice of Women
Here are two letters from last week’s ‘Time’:(1) “Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein represents a form of extreme masculinity. To solve a problem like him we need to start by recognising men’s role in feminism. Until men act as advocates for women in their lives society will never be equal. For too long, women have been…
Daily Prayers
Prayer is Love, I want to Love