St Alban & St Stephen Catholic Church

Weekly Reflection

28th June 2009
Ss Peter & Paul

Son of the Living God
On this day the Church of Rome celebrates its apostolic foundation. The earliest liturgical texts maintain the unity of this solemnity.
Peter and Paul are the two pillars of the Church whom ancient liturgy and iconography never separate. The confession of faith is the particular trait which earns Simon the surname Peter and the mission to guide and to strengthen his brothers and sisters and thus to build the Church.

It seems strange that God entrusted such a demanding task to this rough, unpolished man, who had no exceptional gifts, who was at times so weak.

How much wiser it would have seemed to assign this ministry to Paul! Although a latecomer to Christianity, he appears to have been so much better prepared by birth and by his brilliant formation at the hands of well-known teachers. Always alert, animated by an extraordinary energy and by an exclusive passion for the One whom he had at first persecuted in this Church, he becomes the instrument chosen to reveal the gospel of salvation to the Gentiles. Paul, whom no trial could separate from the love of Christ, will never deny him.

Update from Tshwaranang.
The HIV/Aids hospice in
South Africa led by the
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart

All in the latest Tshwaranang newsletter, which you can download from our website (click here) - the stories include:

Update from Tembisa - Fr Herman MSC has taken some photos of the garden so we can see how they're spending the money we've generously given them.

The Toughness and The Joy of the Place. We've included part of a talk
given by Fr. Tom MSC at the 21st February fund raising evening of his days as a missionary priest in Ivory Park, South Africa.

JIGSAW - our parish youth group - have raised £130 by working at Morrisons helping to pack grocery bags!

Take That ! Many of you have recently bought raffle tickets, hoping to win two tickets for the Take That concert at Wembley on 5th July. The tickets have been generously donated by the band!

The Tshwaranang AIDS Hospice is located in Midrand, South Africa and currently accommodates about 14 patients - it's housed in a former convent of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. It is funded by donations from Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) parishes and others and is one of the most prominent charities supported by the parish of Ss Alban and Stephen.

Each of them has a place in the development of the faith: Peter, the guide, through his role of direction and confirmation; Paul, the sower, through his energy and gift of adaptation. Their meetings at Jerusalem and Antioch show their common inspiration as well as their confrontations.

It is at Rome, where they both receive the crown of martyrdom, that they are ultimately united in that charity which they always sought to promote. The dialogue between institution (Peter) and charism (Paul) is not always peaceful, but it alone moves history forward.

Parish Assembly Update

Your Parish Assembly met on 6th May to see the fruits of the six priority groups: Welcome; Adult Faith Formation; Outreach, (POET); Parish Friends; Youth and Worship

Over sixty people saw wonderful displays and heard from the groups of the amazing activities of our Parish. Fr. Charles thanked everyone playing a part in these and building up the Kingdom of God. A new constitution was approved (click here for a copy). The priority groups will be giving details of their new plans to the Parish in the near future through presentations, the bulletin and our website. Every group will always need fresh ideas and energy if we are to build a faith. Please ask yourselves if you have some skills or time you can give to the Parish, perhaps you have a particular interest in one of the groups. Our Parish is growing and we have all gained as a result but it needs all of us to help even in some small way. Please speak to one of the priests, a member of the PPC or Gina at the presbytery (853585)