Dear friends in Christ
There are a number of questions in this life which we can safely ignore without consequences. Other questions have a more important relation to ourselves, to society, and above all to Almighty God. We might think about the dignity of the human person, the fleeting nature of material things, and the shortness of life on earth… but the most momentous question which touches upon our very existence is that question that Jesus put to his apostles and which forms the heart of the Gospel at Mass this Sunday: But who do you say I am? There is only one possible answer: You are the Christ, the son of the living God. It is in this profession of faith that we find all our happiness, our optimism, and our hope. Through the testimony of Peter, the apostles give Jesus the summary of what they had learned from him during His public ministry. God has proved His love for mankind by sending us his Only Begotten Son, so that we may live through Him. His death has brought us life, and Christ is the only way to the Father. The primary concern of every Christian must be living the life of Christ, to become one withHim as the vine is with the branches. The branch depends upon the vine for its very life. Remove the branch from the vine and it is useless, fit only for the fire. We have to be Christians not only culturally but above all in reality and make our following of Christ a daily experience which is lived-out in prayer, the practice of the Faith, and the celebration of our Faith through Holy Mass and the sacramental life of the Church.
Last Sunday was designated Education Sunday in this country: a moment for us to give thanks to God for the formation we have received especially as young people. It is also a moment to reflect on how we communicate the essential Truths of the Faith in an educational setting. Our Primary School will mark this by their joint attendance and participation at 9:30am Mass this Sunday. Let us pray for all those who live-out the Christian vocation in schools and colleges, that they may communicate at all times the deepest meaning of life here on earth, and so prepare our young people for eternal realities.
On Tuesday I attended the Service to welcome the new Rector of St Clement’s Anglican Church in the Town: Rev Myles Owen. As St Clements was the original Catholic Church in Leigh there is a special connection between our communities. We remember him and his congregation in our prayers as we strive to fulfil the unity for which Christ prayed.
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale