Parish Weekly

Seeking God in prayer
Growing together in faith
Reaching out in love

Calendars

Now is the time to find your 2026 diary or calendar so you know what date it is and what to plan. This comes to mind in that I have two hospital appointments – one in March and the other in August ! It may feel rather like the irritation some of you may have felt in that suddenly last Sunday was not the 29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time but the Solemnity of St Philip Howard. Similar moments are ahead. So a little explanation. There is a) The General Calendar of the Church b) The national calendar for England and Wales and c) The Diocesan Calendar for A&B – sometimes called the Propers. They regulate which feasts are to be observed, which ones take precedence or are transferred. This is where the annual Diocesan Directory provides guidance in the section Ordo for Liturgical Celebrations. Do ask if you want further information.

Bishop Richard’s Message

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Jesus’ parable that forms this Sunday’s Gospel reading teaches us on a number of levels. The first is that of prayer. The prayer of the tax collector has become what is often referred to as the “Jesus Prayer”, it is a text used especially, but not exclusively, in the Orthodox Church and, in its simplicity, enables us to place ourselves before the Lord as we truly are – sinners in need of mercy, conscious that the love of the Lord means He wants nothing more than for us to be totally His.

The way in which the Pharisee presents himself is, in fact, not faithful to reality. He looks at himself in a way that is full of pride and compares himself to others, rather than being open to the relationship with God that is the focus for true prayer.

Prayer must always be honest. There is no need to be anything but honest, because God knows us better than we know ourselves. Why try to be someone else?

Truthfulness and humility are deeply related. Michael Casey, the Australian Cistercian Monk and writer of a number of books, describes humility as “Truthful Living.” This is, surely, a very helpful reflection. In the parable, the tax collector is truthful about himself, honest before God. Our prayer – our lives – must be the same. Indeed, “Truthful Living” is a mark of the Christian, for real humility enables us to rely not on ourselves, but on Christ. This is the path to life, and to effective witness to the Gospel, for all around us.

With every blessing,

+Richard

Missio Annual Collection

You can still return your envelope next Sunday. Thank you for your card donations direct to HQ please use this link.

Mass Schedule

Sunday 26th October 10am 30th in Ordinary Time
Monday 27th October 8:15am St Mary’s House
Tuesday 28th October 11am St Mary’s Church Requiem Mass for Maureen Fleet RIP
Wednesday 29th October 9:30am Int Fr Gerry Vann RIP anniversary
Friday 31st October 9:30am Carole Hastie RIP
Saturday 1st November 11am Requiem Mass for Dom Kevin Taggart OSB
Sunday 2nd November 10am All Saints’ Mass
Monday 3rd November 9:30am All Souls’ Mass

King Charles visits Pope Leo at The Vatican

Enjoy the coverage and pray for unity. Visit useful websites and search Vatican News and the Conference of Bishops of England & Wales for reports.

The Catholic Children’s Society

See publicity from the society at the entrance. You can also follow this link.

Vaccinations

Flu in the left and Covid in the right arm. Have you had yours ?

The more affliction for Christ in this world, the more glory with Christ in the next.


St Philip Howard in The Tower of London 1587