Dear friends in Christ
The month of September is dedicated to the Holy Cross—this Wednesday is the feast of the Triumph of The Cross. Each time we celebrate this feast, indeed every time we make the Sign of the Cross, we are reminded that an instrument of human cruelty and death has been transformed by Christ into a symbol of joy, life and salvation. Lord by your cross and resurrection, You have set us free. You are the Saviour of the world!
It is with profound sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty The Queen on Thursday evening. In Queen Elizabeth we were given a model of a Christian Sovereign who reigned with fidelity and integrity. We thank God for the example of her long and persevering service to our Nation and Commonwealth. May God reward her for her constancy in Faith and her example of virtue. Our prayers and sympathies go out to all of the members of The Royal Family. A Requiem Mass was offered on Friday evening in our church.
This Sunday marks and highlights Catholic Education. As our various centres of learning and formation resume a new academic year we are asked to celebrate what is good in Catholic Education. At the 9.30am Mass this Sunday, some of our Primary School children will be responsible for some of the elements of the Mass. Please pray for all those who work in the field of forming our young Catholics. Pray that they will be fervent in communicating Truth in all it’s beautiful facets. Pray that they will, above all, hand-on our glorious Catholic Faith with all integrity. We have been given a great trust: to enlighten and enliven the minds and hearts of our Youth with the truth of the Gospel and our Catholic Faith. Each of us: parents, teachers and priests have this sacred duty: to ensure that the person of Jesus Christ and His teaching is proclaimed with clarity.
Recently we have had the church organ cleaned and restored. Following professional advice the wooden panels hiding the pipes have been removed; this has resulted not only in a clearer acoustic but also now show the pipes of the instrument as a thing of beauty. A new frame now sets-off our instrument as something to be admired. We might recall the words of the Second Vatican Council on Sacred Music: The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem in the Latin Church, since it is it's traditional instrument, the sound of which can add a wonderful splendour to the Church's ceremonies and powerfully lift up men's minds to God and higher things (Musicam Sacram 62).
Thanks to all those who contributed to the Flower Festival in our church this weekend. It was a celebration of the feasts and festivals of the Christian calendar and a reminder to us of the beauty of the mysteries of the life of Christ celebrated florally.
God bless bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale