ST PAUL’S POST St Paul’s Province Weekly Newsletter: 74 16 April 2018

Extracts from the Pope’s

apostolic exhortation

Gaudete et Exsultate, which

was released on Monday.

Pope Francis’ new apostolic exhortation is a radical call to holiness in today’s world.

I like to contemplate the holiness present in

the patience of God’s people: in those parents

who raise their children with immense love, in

those men and women who work hard to

support their families, in the sick, in elderly

Religious who never lose their smile. In their

daily perseverance I see the holiness of the

Church militant. Very often it is a holiness

found in our next-door neighbours, those

who, living in our midst, reflect God’s

presence.

* * * * * *

Do not be afraid of holiness. It will take away

none of your energy, vitality or joy. On the

contrary, you will become what the Father

had in mind when He created you, and you

will be faithful to your deepest self.

In the Beatitudes, we find a portrait of the

Master, which we are called to reflect in our

daily lives. The word happy or blessed thus

becomes a synonym for holy. It expresses the

fact that those faithful to God and His word,

by their self-giving, gain true happiness.

* * * * * *

We need to think of ourselves as an army of

the forgiven. All of us have been looked upon

with divine compassion.

* * * * * *

This holiness to which the Lord calls you will

grow through small gestures.

* * * * * *

Growth in holiness is a journey in community,

side by side with others.

Adapted from an article in THE TABLET, 14 APRIL 2018

Upcoming Event

Father Ray Kelly, the parish priest in Oldcastle (where I live),

will be singing on ITV3 this Saturday evening, 21 April, at

8.00pm. Previously he had appeared on YouTube for singing

at a local wedding.

Catherine Lee

Relatives of Sisters:

Marguerita’s brother-in-law, Brendan

and her brother, Pat, who has just been diagnosed with cancer of the nasal area.

Damian’s brother, Brendan and her sister, Betty;

Anna Hainey’s brother, Danny;

Francis’ niece-in-law, Val McCartan

and Francis’ brother, Austin;

Cecilia Wilkinson’s brother, Bill;

Lorraine’s Mum, Mary;

Martin Joseph’s sister, Hilary.

Pat Carney had a successful hip surgery last week and is now recovering well. Please continue to uphold her in your prayers.

Marian Langan has recently suffered a fall. Please pray for her speedy recovery.

Our Sisters: Olcan Watt

Julie McGing

Cephas Wearden

Evelyn Wilson

prayer Remember to pray for our upcoming Assembly, 25 April;

Please remember to uphold in prayer those currently

suffering in Syria.

Also, please pray for Rose Bellerby, a Middleton Associate, who is seriously ill.

Pat Carney had a successful hip surgery last week and is now recovering well. Please continue to uphold her in your prayers.

Marian Langan has recently suffered a fall. Please pray for her speedy recovery.

Our Sisters: Olcan Watt

Julie McGing

Cephas Wearden

Evelyn Wilson

EVOLUTION …

Theologian and scientist Ilia Delio, applies the process of evolution to human spiritual

growth:

Part 2

If being the image of God is

at the heart of evolution in

Christ, then the spiritual life

is essential to Christian

evolution. A dynamic

interior spirit must be at

the heart of change.

Change is not what

happens outside us; rather,

change must first take root

within us. . . . Just as the

world of nature has an

inner freedom to be itself,

so too Christian life, if it is

truly an evolutionary life in

Christ, must be rooted in freedom.

We live in a dynamic

and unfolding universe; ours

is an open system of life. In

light of an evolving universe,

where change is integral to

the emergence of new life,

we should welcome change

as the very sign of life. To

resist change is ultimately to

resist Christ; it is to prevent

evolution toward unity of

life in the universe. To be a

Christian is to be “on the

way,” announcing the good

news of the risen Christ

through spiritual attitudes of

poverty of being, humility,

compassion, openness of heart

and mind.

Part 4

by Pat Carney

(Quoted & adapted from Richard Rohr.)

Savio and Eily May attended JPIC Links, Fri 13—Sun 15 April:

Renewing the Prophetic Imagination

There was reciprocal joy on our faces when we saw each other in the queue booking in for this conference in High Leigh, Herts. The grounds here are beautiful, but Savio only sees them in the Autumn and so was delighted with the spring flowers and flowering shrubs. The weather played its part too.

David McLoughlin, lecturer in Newman University, Birmingham:

He outlined Prophetic Imagination as a result of Encounter with the living God. He traced its history…..Prophetic Imagination is born in the encounter of Moses with the voice from the burning bush in the desert, Exodus 3. He is called to free God’s people. They are freed to find a new energy in trust and hope that a new world can be created.

In our day we are challenged to do this too. Begin by taking that little step we don’t want to take! And let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Savio

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *