Reflection
Lord, you planted me on this earth. You fenced me around with the love of family and friends. Their care towered over me. In the shelter of this tower I grew up in safety and peace. I put out early blossoms; I filled up with leaves. People had great hopes for me. You had great hopes for me. But now the year of my life is passing. The harvest is approaching. What fruit have I to show? What if, after all this care, I had nothing to offer but sour grapes? May you , Lord, have mercy on me, and with your patient urging help me to produce the fruits of love.
Prisoners’ Sunday
Prisoners’ Sunday is the national day of prayer and action for prisoners and their dependants as marked by the Catholic Church and across the Christian denominations. It is a day to direct our thoughts and prayers to prisoners, their families and children. Prisoners’ Sunday is the time to reflect on how we as individuals, as a Church and as a community are serving those affected by imprisonment.
Prisoners’ families, prisoners and people with previous convictions often find themselves on the margins of society due to the social stigma associated with imprisonment. They are often forgotten or come lower down on the list of causes to ‘hold a hand out to’. But the gospel of Matthew 25: 36 reminds us of our duties towards them:
PACTs work embodies the Christian value of mercy and belief in the innate dignity of every human being. Through this campaign we ask you to engage with a core element of Catholic social teaching and put our faith into action. To donate, send a cheque to: PACT, 29 Peckham Road, London SE5 8UA.
Masses Next Week
Fr Brian and Fr Jim are away at a meeting in Leeds from Monday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon. This means they won’t be available to say Mass on Tuesday and Wednesday. Fr Jakub has agreed to say Mass on Tuesday evening, but no one is available to say Mass on Wednesday. Therefore there will be no 10am Mass on Wednesday 11th October here in the Parish. We apologise sincerely for this situation.