Download: This Week’s Parish Newsletter
Fr MATTHEW KWAGHTAVER
It was Thanksgiving season in the nursing home. The small resident population gathered around their humble Thanksgiving table, and the director of the home asked each in turn to express one thing for which he or she was thankful for. “Thanks” were expressed for a home in which to stay, families, friends, etc. One old lady, when her turn came, she said, “I thank the Lord for two perfectly good teeth left in my mouth, one in my upper jaw and one in my lower jaw. They match so well that I can chew my food.” The psalmist says, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord.” (Ps.92:1).
By Deacon AIDAN McPARTLAN
I wonder how many stories have been told or films made about buried treasure? You know the sort of thing. A clue is found that sets the ball rolling and we quickly discover the lengths that people will go to revealing the greedy instincts, of human nature, hiding just below the surface.
Dear Parishioners & Friends of SS Joseph & Swithun, It is lovely that at long last we are able to open the church doors again and I am able to greet parishioners as they enter for private prayer. As you know, Parish Masses must now be celebrated by the priest alone, without servers, readers or choirs.…
By Deacon BARRY MELLISH
The following was sent to me by a friend who is a priest. It relates to the current tribulations that we are all facing. It is in the form of short statements that give us – or least me – something to think about. The last line is a great summary: God is nudging us in our current predicament to focus on who and what is important, inviting us to be creatively present to others and to ourselves. Real Presence.
The question may strike you as irreverent. How dare I suggest that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven, Tower of David, and all the other titles, could have left us in the lurch like that? But what if she had?
O holy angel at my side Go to the church for me Kneel in my place at Holy Mass Where I desire to be. At offertory, in my stead Take all I am and own And place it as a sacrifice Upon the altar throne. At holy consecration bell Adore with seraph’s love My Jesus…
Fr MATTHEW KWAGHTAVER
In biblical times, it was stipulated by the Law of Moses that every firstborn child belonged to God and the parents had to buy him back on the fortieth day by presenting him to the temple and offering a sacrifice for his redemption (Ex.13:1-2, 11-15).
Fr TOM McHUGH
No words of mine can ever adequately express my deep gratitude to the wonderful community of SS Joseph & Swithun for the human/divine celebration that was the One Parish Mass. Nothing could have been more appropriate to celebrate our shared pilgrimage of faith over the past 13 years.
By Fr TOM McHUGH
If there is one word that we should never tire of repeating, it is this: dialogue. We are called to promote a culture of dialogue by every possible means and thus to rebuild the fabric of society.