Happy Feast Day, and it looks like being quite a warm one as we go into the weekend. Our Saint has his origins in the Middle East, and was a military figure before turning to Christ and becoming His soldier and martyr. We welcome this Saint from the Orient, reminding us of the blessing the stranger can become. We thank God for so many who come to make their homes here in England and bring a strong Faith. It happened with the Irish in the nineteenth century, and in more recent times with people and families from the Philippines, India, Africa and elsewhere. They help give the Church here a future.
This weekend we will be praying for vocations to the Priesthood and the Religious Life. The Pastoral Letter will be placed on the website for those who do not manage to get to Mass. I believe that the unsettled nature of the past year may well have served to awaken thoughts of vocation in some people. The Risen Christ has to raise us up from our mundane habits and help us see things in a new way, including our own lives. What’s happening in India at the moment illustrates that we are not yet out of the woods as far as Covid-19 is concerned. But the work of Salvation is not on hold.
May we sense the care of our Patron Saint, and may his prayer for us keep us safe from all that would threaten us, body and soul.
God bless you,
+Paul
Paul Swarbrick