Dear friends in Christ
The Church brings to conclusion her liturgical year with the great feast celebrating the universal sovereignty of Jesus Christ. There could be no more appropriate way to end the year before we begin another year with Advent. Living as we do, in a time of great uncertainty and turmoil in our world, the image of Christ the King reigning serenely over the universe, is comforting and reassuring. Through all of the uncertainties of life, we have the assurance that Jesus is Lord of the world and of our lives. He has come, in the words of the Preface of the Mass this weekend to establish an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
The feast of Christ the King each year is also National Youth Sunday, and so a moment for us to express our hope in our young and the value they give to the Church and the hope for the future. Our Primary School children will participate in the Vigil Mass this Saturday evening as an expression of their desire to be a vibrant part of the Church in our uncertain times.
As we have done for the last twenty years, the final thee days of the liturgical year—Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week—are given-over to our solemn Eucharistic adoration or Forty Hours’ Prayer. These days imitate the Church from the beginning, waiting upon The Lord and His return. It is a time of deep prayer and intercession for the needs of our Parish and wider Church. I encourage you to come and spend silent time in prayer with Jesus present in the Gift of Gifts, which is the Blessed Sacrament. I want to suggest that we would all sign-up to spend either fifteen or thirty minutes of silent prayer sometime between Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon in this most vital exercise of praise and adoration to Christ our King!
May God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale