Author: St Patricks Church

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD signifies the end of the Christmas season. The Feast is notable because it marks the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and confirms his identity as the Son of God. This event is documented in all the gospels except John. Christ’s baptism remarkably shows all three Persons of the Trinity at the same time: the Son being baptised, the Holy Spirit descending, and the Father speaking from the heavens. In this event, the Father and the Holy Spirit confirm the deity of Christ, and Jesus submits to his Father’s will. When Jesus comes to John, John hesitates to baptise him. John’s is a baptism of repentance, and Jesus has nothing for which he needs to repent. Why then does Jesus insist on being baptized? By choosing to be baptised, Jesus fulfils all righteousness – preparing himself to be a perfect sacrifice for us.

POPE BENEDICT XVI We are saddened by the death of Pope Benedict
XVI. His funeral was celebrated in Rome on Thursday. Bishop Declan will
celebrate Mass for Pope Benedict at the Cathedral on Tuesday 10th January at 11am. A Requiem Mass will be offered at St Mary’s on Tuesday at 12.10pm. Pope Francis said, “His acute and gentle thought was not self-referential, but ecclesial, because he always wanted to accompany us in the encounter with Jesus.” May Pope Benedict rest in peace and rise in glory. Let us give thanks to God for his Petrine ministry among us.

Please visit the diocesan website for latest resources and information for the Synodal journey we are all invited to participate in, including videos of the keynote talks.

As part of our Advent Journey and our response to the call to prepare for the Synod 2023, there will be a time of prayer and reflection on the Synod themes of Communion, Participation and Mission, on Wednesdays December, 8th, and 15th from 11.15am to 12noon with Eucharistic adoration.

Francis invites everyone to participate in the 2023 Synod Process. In prayer we are asked to listen to each other’s hopes, dreams and concerns for the Church in the future. During Advent we will spend time listening to God first. Then we will gather in January to listen to the community and a parish response will be sent to Bishop Declan by the end of February. This process will be guided by Fr Michael and the PPC.

As people begin returning to more regular patterns of parish life and following the first face to face meeting of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales in Leeds, the bishops have issued the following statement about the importance of honouring Sunday:
www.cbcew.org.uk/bishops-statement-honouring-Sunday .

It is also available to read on the notice board in Church.