Llandudno -
Our Lady Star of
the Sea
Parish Priest: Fr Antony Jones STL - Telephone: 01492 860546
Sunday, October 21st 2007
Twentyninth of Ordinary Time (C)
Parish Priest: Fr Antony Jones STL - Telephone: 01492 860546
Sunday, October 21st 2007
Twentyninth of Ordinary Time (C)
Dear
Parishioner,
I, along with many of you, received this week a reply from Betty Williams, our Member of Parliament, to the message sent her regarding the forthcoming debate in the House of Commons on the Human Tissue and Embryo Bill. Her reply to all of us was the same:
Thank you for your Society for the Protection of Unborn Children card regarding the draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill.
I note the points made and will bear these in mind during the parliamentary activity on this issue.
She graciously tells us that she will bear these points in mind. I could tell you that I will bear in mind the possibility of going to Timbuktu for Christmas, while having not the slightest intention of ever going to Timbuktu, let alone for Christmas.
Betty Williams’ reply is a non- reply; it is “vanilla flavoured” as someone described it. It is a polite reply because she is obliged by law to reply to such letters but it says nothing. But it implies she has no real intention whatsoever of representing before Parliament the anxieties we have shared with her.
Abortion, the wanton destruction of the unborn child, and the associated evils that are linked with it are a crime against humanity, a blasphemy against God the Creator; and the greatest evil that is blighting human society at the moment. It is not something we can stand back from with folded arms. It is a moral issue of the greatest magnitude. We are witnesses to Christ and as such we need to be Prophets of light and life in the world. If not we, who else can be?
We should not only remember Betty Williams’ attitude when we come next time to casting our votes, but should also make it our business to share this concern with as many people as we can. There is more to life than the bread and butter issues which often determine our voting patterns. When we come to vote we should vote as responsible citizens, as responsible citizens who have been enlightened by the light of Christ. We must say No to abortion and to anyone at all who furthers this iniquitous cause.
Now let me give you plenty of notice of our Advent Penitential Week. You will remember what this is: when a penitential service is held every evening of the week in each of the parishes of the deanery, with all the deanery priests in attendance. Outwardly there will be no difference this year. The week begins 9 December with all services at 730pm and ours on Friday 14th.
What will be different this year is that, in line with the Church’s Office for Evangelisation, we will be trying to use it as a means of bringing lapsed Catholics back to the practice of their faith, bringing them home for Christmas. So how can this work? It can’t at all – unless you yourself are prepared to evangelise.
Evangelisation, a big word with a big meaning. If we are really honest, evangelisation isn’t a word that features prominently in our vocabulary. It means bringing Gospel (evangelium) joy into other people’s lives. It means sharing the good news about Jesus. Evangelisation is a word and a reality that Jesus himself has called each of us to make our own. You and I are called to evangelise, and that doesn’t necessarily mean standing on a soap box, bible-bashing. It means bringing Jesus back into people’s lives.
You and I are supposed to be so on fire with God’s love that it becomes impossible for us to keep it to ourselves. There should be an inner flame inside each one of us, burning with enthusiasm to bring others to Jesus, into the warmth of his wonderful fire.
Bring someone back to Jesus, back into his face to face presence. This is what the Sacrament of Reconciliation is all about– for you, for me, for those Catholics who have lost touch with Him and, eventually, for those who have never yet met Him at all. Who can you bring with you to meet Christ on Friday 14 December? Who can you bring home for Christmas?
God bless you,
Fr Antony Jones
I, along with many of you, received this week a reply from Betty Williams, our Member of Parliament, to the message sent her regarding the forthcoming debate in the House of Commons on the Human Tissue and Embryo Bill. Her reply to all of us was the same:
Thank you for your Society for the Protection of Unborn Children card regarding the draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill.
I note the points made and will bear these in mind during the parliamentary activity on this issue.
She graciously tells us that she will bear these points in mind. I could tell you that I will bear in mind the possibility of going to Timbuktu for Christmas, while having not the slightest intention of ever going to Timbuktu, let alone for Christmas.
Betty Williams’ reply is a non- reply; it is “vanilla flavoured” as someone described it. It is a polite reply because she is obliged by law to reply to such letters but it says nothing. But it implies she has no real intention whatsoever of representing before Parliament the anxieties we have shared with her.
Abortion, the wanton destruction of the unborn child, and the associated evils that are linked with it are a crime against humanity, a blasphemy against God the Creator; and the greatest evil that is blighting human society at the moment. It is not something we can stand back from with folded arms. It is a moral issue of the greatest magnitude. We are witnesses to Christ and as such we need to be Prophets of light and life in the world. If not we, who else can be?
We should not only remember Betty Williams’ attitude when we come next time to casting our votes, but should also make it our business to share this concern with as many people as we can. There is more to life than the bread and butter issues which often determine our voting patterns. When we come to vote we should vote as responsible citizens, as responsible citizens who have been enlightened by the light of Christ. We must say No to abortion and to anyone at all who furthers this iniquitous cause.
Now let me give you plenty of notice of our Advent Penitential Week. You will remember what this is: when a penitential service is held every evening of the week in each of the parishes of the deanery, with all the deanery priests in attendance. Outwardly there will be no difference this year. The week begins 9 December with all services at 730pm and ours on Friday 14th.
What will be different this year is that, in line with the Church’s Office for Evangelisation, we will be trying to use it as a means of bringing lapsed Catholics back to the practice of their faith, bringing them home for Christmas. So how can this work? It can’t at all – unless you yourself are prepared to evangelise.
Evangelisation, a big word with a big meaning. If we are really honest, evangelisation isn’t a word that features prominently in our vocabulary. It means bringing Gospel (evangelium) joy into other people’s lives. It means sharing the good news about Jesus. Evangelisation is a word and a reality that Jesus himself has called each of us to make our own. You and I are called to evangelise, and that doesn’t necessarily mean standing on a soap box, bible-bashing. It means bringing Jesus back into people’s lives.
You and I are supposed to be so on fire with God’s love that it becomes impossible for us to keep it to ourselves. There should be an inner flame inside each one of us, burning with enthusiasm to bring others to Jesus, into the warmth of his wonderful fire.
Bring someone back to Jesus, back into his face to face presence. This is what the Sacrament of Reconciliation is all about– for you, for me, for those Catholics who have lost touch with Him and, eventually, for those who have never yet met Him at all. Who can you bring with you to meet Christ on Friday 14 December? Who can you bring home for Christmas?
God bless you,
Fr Antony Jones