Dear friends in Christ
I wish you all the peace and blessings of this Christmas week in abundance!
As we gather with family and friends at this time, we celebrate the unique and beautiful family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Whilst we may feel our experience of family life is far from ideal at times, we can be sure of the prayers of the Holy Family to support us, as we live the joys, sufferings and experiences of life together. This weekend, to mark the Feast, our Bishop has written a Pastoral Letter which will be read at the Masses.
Thank you all for the many greetings that you have sent over the Christmas celebration: your greetings cards, gifts and Christmas Offerings which are so much appreciated. The first greeting of the angels at the birth of Jesus was: Glory to God in the highest! This is the primary motive for everything we do as Christians: that God is glorified in all things. We extend our thanks as a Parish Family to all those who have arranged the Christmas liturgies and decorations: the many people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that God’s House and the family of the Church are fittingly prepared and arranged to give the fullest glory to God that we can.
I would very much like to place on record my deepest gratitude to the other priests who live in the Parish, especially Fathers Joyce and Selvini. The help they offer is invaluable—particularly by visiting the sick—which allows me to give time to my Diocesan duties. We especially remember the father of Father Selvini—Roland Selvini—who died last month; Christmas without our parents is difficult, so we remember him and all those of you who have had a bereavement during this last year; may they rest in the peace of our Saviour.
We have just begun the Jubilee Year of Hope initiated by Pope Francis, which continues throughout 2025 until Epiphany 2026, as a time of special grace and pilgrimage. It is also the Centenary of our church which was opened and consecrated in September 1925. Part of our celebration of these two events will be the Parish Mission in the second week of Lent. In the meantime, I wish you all every grace, peace and blessing for the New Year ahead!
Msgr Kevin Hale