This week's news

NEW ALTAR SERVERS

If any children who’ve made their 1st Holy Communion would like to learn to serve on the altar, a practise will take place after this Sunday’s Mass. Come & try it!

THE MASS FOR CHILDREN

We have ordered 15 copies of a new book from CBC called "The Mass for Children".

A lovely updated book to help children understand more about the various part of Holy Mass, as they read along ~ with beautiful illustrations, reflections and prayers for different times.

We are selling these at just £3 each and will happily order more if all 15 are sold.
If you would like a copy please go to the church shop after Sunday Mass or contact the parish office.

DIOCESE OF CLIFTON ~ LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 2025.

If you would like your PETITIONS taken to the Grotto, email them to

lourdes@cliftondiocese.com and they'll be printed for the Bishop to place them there for you.
Your intentions will be offered up at the Torchlight Procession for Our Lady's Intercession.
If you would like to donate towards the 'Lourdes Candle for the Intentions of all in the Diocese of Clifton', go to www.holyfamilypatchway.co.uk and click on the Dona button to donate to the 'Lourdes Fund'.
Fr Eugene, Holy Family Parish, Patchway.

You can watch all daily events live from Lourdes via www.lourdes-france.com/en/lourdesplus/

Reflections for Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C from Deacon Vincent

1st Reading from the Prophet Isaiah 66: 10-14c.

This passage we have before us is from the “Third Isaiah”, “Trito-Isaiah”, and is probably dated after the return from Exile. He is dealing with the disappointment of those who had returned from Exile at the encouragement of the Second Isaiah and had found that they were poor and harassed by the wealthy residents of Jerusalem. Here Isaiah is trying to encourage those returners to view Jerusalem as their mother to pick themselves up and optimistically re-build their lives. They can be assured of the assistance of God. The theme be joyful and trust in the Lord. A timely message for ourselves in this present age.

Psalm 66(65): 1-7, 16, 20.

This song continues the theme of Isaiah of rejoicing and thanksgiving to God. It is always appropriate for us to rejoice and thank God always for all that the Almighty has done for us.

2nd Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians 6: 14-18.

Paul uses the phrase “A new creation”, it is an important idea for Paul. He emphasises that in “Christ there is no longer the polarisation of the world in which Paul had grown up, between Jews and non-Jews”. What matters now is the new universe without the old divisions. He aligns himself with the suffering of Christ on the cross, “I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” He uses a remarkable phrase, “the Israel of God.” That is a thought for us to ponder in the coming week.

The Holy Gospel according to Luke 10: 1-12, 17-20.

Luke has a theme in his Gospel and the Acts of Journeying, and this sending out of the seventy-two is a ripple effect of Christ’s teachings being carried to other areas by these disciples. Luke alone gives such prominence to this episode of the mission and the subsequent analysis of their mission. There is this wonderful statement of Jesus, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” There is great joy and confidence, because of their mission. We see here how the early Church was gaining momentum, and the Jewish authorities must obviously have been viewing this development with great concern. Luke certainly views this as a major stride forward of the early Church, under the direct guidance of Jesus. It is a timely reminder for us to realise that Jesus had a plan for spreading the Gospel message and lifestyle. He is greatly concerned about the fact that the disciples should rely upon the people for their sustenance and not be concerned about it. Jesus obviously viewed concerns about their welfare could get in the way of the “Message”. St Francis of Assisi will take this passage literally for his order many centuries later and produced an astounding ripple effect for the Lord’s message. The readings this week give us some tough ideas to ponder as we struggle in a world beset by the accumulation of wealth and comfort.

Lord, continue to guide our mission in today’s environment. Deacon Vincent.