Author: St Patricks Church

THE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY begins on Wednesday 18th January and concludes on 25th Jan with the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul. We rejoice in the unity we already share by virtue of our common baptism and we pray that all may eventually be one at the Eucharistic table of the Lord, the sign of perfect unity for Catholic Christians.

The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2023 was selected by the Minnesota Council of Churches, USA in the aftermath of the extrajudicial killing of George Floyd and the trial of the police officer responsible for his death. These events brought anguish, but also time for the Christian communities to contemplate ways in which they may be complicit in racial injustice. Christian unity is needed as a source of reconciliation and unity.

The theme, taken from the first chapter of the Book of Isaiah, reflects his concern for the oppressed who suffer from injustice and inequality fed by hypocrisy that leads to disunity. He teaches that God requires righteousness and justice from all of us, to create the peace and unity that God desires. These virtues originate in God’s love for all, and racism runs counter to this vision. Isaiah’s challenge to do good and seek justice together applies equally to us today

A votive Mass ‘for the unity of Christians’ will be offered on Friday 20th January at 12noon in Corsham. Come along and pray that “all may be one”.

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.