Please keep in your prayers: Margaret Quinn, Agneszka Kister and Christopher Riley who died recently. May they rest in peace.
This will take place 7 – 9 September in Liverpool, the first Eucharistic Congress in this country for over 100 years. There are 22 dioceses participating and some 5000 people expected to attend. The whole session is devoted to the centrality of the Eucharist and reminds us all how vital our Sunday celebration is each week. This is the last of the readings from the Bread of Life Discourse in John’s Gospel. In today’s passage, we move on from seeing Christ as the Wisdom of God, who must be accepted and believed, to a reflection on the sacrament of eating the bread of life. These two themes correspond to the two halves of the Mass, first the service of the Word, then the Eucharistic banquet. We are all so diet-conscious nowadays that it is quite obvious that the food we eat affects us. By eating the Body of Christ we are assimilated into him. But, just as, if I am sick, food does me no good and can even harm me, so if I eat Christ sacramentally without wanting to be moulded into him, it does me no good at all. That is why Paul complained that the Corinthian people were answerable for the death of Christ. Blood is the sign of life – if there is no blood, there is no life – and God is the Lord of life and death. So if I receive Christ’s blood I take on his life, his divine life, as the gift of God. That has alarming side-effects: it means I share Christ’s life with other Christians. We all live with the same life’s blood. Do I really share my life, my talents, my goods with others, knowing that we share the same life of Jesus?
Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB The summer is here – and many people will be going on holiday. Would readers and lay ministers especially please ensure that you arrange a substitute for your ministry while you are away. The liturgy continues every day and every week – even if you are away! If you are unable to arrange a substitute please do inform the parish office so at least we know where the gaps are likely to emerge. Thank you.
On Saturday 20th October. First prize is a £1000, second prize and third prize £250 shopping vouchers. This is a fundraising event for the development of the Parish Centre. We also hope to welcome the new Mayor of Merton, Cllr. Mary Curtin to the celebration. All communities are invited to arrange a food stall and champion their own distinctive culture. |
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