Dear Friends in Christ

Jesus often speaks to us about the joy that comes from self-denial. In the Gospel of this weekend we hear the well-known words in which Jesus invites us to share His yoke, His burden. It is the Gospel text much related to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The oft-proclaimed paradox of the Christian life is to be found in this way: accepting the difficulties and contradictions of life so as to be more liberated and also more united with Christ. Our love of God is nourished in prayer and reception of the Sacrament, in the constant struggle against our defects, in the unceasing effort to maintain a living presence of God throughout the whole of our days, in our relationships with others and even in our times of rest. The Blessed Eucharist is, above all, the spring at which our love of God is perpetually refreshed and strengthened.

The Diocesan Centenary Exhibition which has been on display in Brentwood for the last six months will be coming to our Parish Centre next weekend and can be viewed after all of the Masses in the St Clement Room. All are welcome and a Bookstall is also available.

This Sunday evening is the occasion of our Annual Parish Meeting. As in previous years the invitation to attend is extended to the entire Parish Family. However, I invite in a particular way all who offer their time and talents to the Parish as a means of my expressing gratitude to you all. Please do try and come along if only for a short time. The Meeting will begin at 6.30pm with the Reports from the Parish Groups and then flow into the Garden Party.

God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale

Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org