16th Sunday of the Year

“For too long a time there has been a mistaken insistence on the supposed incompatibility between secular work and the interior life. Nevertheless, it is there in the midst of daily work and by means of it, not in spite of it, that God wants to call most Christians to lives of holiness. We are to sanctify the world and sanctify ourselves with a life of prayer that gives divine meaning to earthly tasks.

“Jesus does not pass sweeping judgement upon Martha or Mary. He responds to Martha’s question with profundity by pointing to what is most important in life, that being the presence of Christ in the house. How often might not the Lord make the same reproach to us?  Nothing can justify forgetting Jesus in our daily work, not even the most important concerns. We cannot put Him, who is the Lord of all things, aside for the sake of the things of the Lord. We certainly cannot minimize the importance of prayer with the excuse that we are too busy with activity.

“All worldly occupations, when engaged in with the right intention, allow us the opportunity to put into practice charity, mortification, a spirit of service to others, joy and optimism, understanding and an apostolate of friendship and confidence. We sanctify ourselves through our work. This is what really matters – to find Jesus in the midst of our daily concerns, not to forget about the Lord of all things… Otherwise we will end up doing what is, in fact, His work for ourselves, thereby neglecting the Master.

From In Conversation with God, by Francis Fernandez

6th Sunday of the Year

ASH WEDNESDAY is not a Day of Obligation but it’s important to make a good start to the Season of Lent. Come to Mass at 7am, 10am or 8pm and receive the blessed Ash of your forehead as we each seek to turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.

CONFESSION is the realistic way of doing this. Just come along any Saturday morning to any Cathoilc Church in the world! At St Joseph’s Confessions (the Sacrament of Reconciliation) are 10.30am – 11.30am & 5.15 – 5.45pm every Saturday. If you’ve not been to for a long time just tell the priest and he’ll help you. Pick up one of the Catholic Trust Society (CTS) leaflets on Why go to Confession or Examination of Conscience (only 20p), or read our Simple Guide to Confession to get you started.

PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING are the traditional marks of Christian commitment during the 40 days of Lent. There’s also a leaflet on that at the back of Church or in our Bookshop.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO DO DURING LENT? Decide today!

PRAYER: Morning and Evening Prayers are vital, so (re-)start or deepen your daily times of conversation with God.

Come to one of the Daily Masses once a week during Lent or, if you already come weekly, try to come more frequently in Lent. There are already about around 30 at the 7am daily Mass, and 60+ at 10am. Come and swell our daily offering of the Eucharist.

How about joining us for Lauds (Morning Prayer of the Church) at 9.30am Monday to Saturday (before the 10am Mass).

Stations of the Cross is at 10.30am and 8pm on the Fridays in Lent – helping us to focus on Our Lord’s journey of suffering towards His sacrificial death for love of us and helps us live our lives in imitation of Him.

Friday Lent Lunches are, like all our events during Lent, in support of two Lenten Charity Projects. A simple lunch of soup and bread with cheese and a beverage to enable us to show solidarity with the hungry and homeless while giving what we might otherwise spend on a meal to send them practical support.

There are plenty of 20p leaflets and £1.95 booklets available to help us during Lent, and especially the popular Walk with me booklet of daily reflections (£1) on the Pope’s Lenten message.