Walking Together
This is the first weekend of October. We, in the northern hemisphere, are experiencing the season of Autumn and the clocks go back on the 30th of this month. Apparently, the night sky is clearer this month and thus good for stargazing.
For us in the parish, this weekend we are our beginning a six-week preparation course for our young people who will be confirmed in November. Also, this month the Journey in Faith (RCIA) programme is starting for adults who will be baptised, confirmed or received into full communion with the church next Easter. Please remember them all in your prayers.
In the series “The God who Speaks’ this month we are taking a closer look at St Luke, his Gospel and ways to celebrate his Feast Day on 18th October. St Luke’s Gospel also contains the most complete infancy narrative of all the Gospels – if you’re already excited for Christmas then check out Bible Society’s resources, that are on offer now.
A word that we will be hearing a lot in the coming months is synod. Every parish in the diocese have been asked to be involved in the synod taking place in Rome in 2023. It’s an invitation for us, as Catholics, to ‘walk together’ and every member of the Church has the right to speak, and the obligation to allow those charged with the work of discernment the freedom to do so. For the first time, the Synod Office in Rome has produced a comprehensive process which encompasses the stated aim of the Holy Father that the Church in today’s world should have a vision of missionary communion orientated to evangelisation. Archbishop John Wilson will be opening the process with a pastoral letter that will be read at all Masses on 17th October.
The Pope Francis prayer intention for this month of October is that we be Missionary Disciples. We pray that every baptised person may be engaged in evangelisation, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavour of the Gospel.
World Mission Sunday is on Sunday 24th October. It’s the one Sunday in the year when the entire global Church comes together to support mission. It is celebrated in every Catholic community in the world. It’s a moment of grace to express solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are living in situations of poverty, violence and oppression. Every parish, school and community are invited to join this special event, and every penny, pound and prayer you give to Missio helps missionaries everywhere continue their work. The theme this year is: We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard.
Every weekday this month the Rosary will be recited at 11:30am in the church. October is the month of the Rosary. Let us consider this beautiful prayer of the Rosary as a means that we too can use in order to draw closer to Jesus and Mary by meditating on the great mysteries of our salvation.
On Friday 22nd October Monsignor Canon John and myself will be going to St John’s Seminary, Wonersh near Guildford where we both trained over 40 years ago. We will be concelebrating with many others at a Mass of Thanksgiving to mark the closing of the Seminary after 130 years. It marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new way for forming men for the ministerial priesthood.
