The 22nd Sunday of the Year
2nd September 2007

Mon - St Gregory the Great
Tue - St. Cuthbert
Sat - The Birthday of Our Lady

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Gospel Reflection:
Hard To Be Humble

In today's gospel story, there is a jostle for places of honour at a banqueting table, and Jesus takes the opportunity to teach us that there should be no top and no bottom places. The privileged shouldn't expect respect as an automatic right. The poor shouldn't invite disdain simply because they are dependant on charity. Everyone, regardless of status should have an equal right to dignity and respect, and this cannot happen until those of us who are privileged learn humility.

Humility is difficult to define. Does being humble mean putting yourself down or being falsely modest? Does being humble mean being a door mat? How can we be outwardly humble if we don't feel humble inside? We all know that a pretence of humility is not humility at all. In short, it's as difficult to be truly humble as it is to define.

A prolific author was once asked where he got his ideas. The author replied that the characters simply appeared in his head and enacted the stories for him to write down. It's interesting that many great people have the feeling that greatness is not of them, but through them. Can we really boast of our own achievement, when everything we have comes from God in the first place? True humility is taking what God has given us not to lord it over others but to help others. True humility is to give of ourselves not out of charity but out of a sense of justice.

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Nativity of Mary
(8th. September)

The Church has celebrated Mary's birth since at least the sixth century. A September birth was chosen because the Eastern Church begins its Church year with September. The September 8 date helped determine the date for the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 (nine months earlier). Scripture does not give an account of Mary's birth. However, the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James fills in the gap. This work has no historical value, but it does reflect the development of Christian piety. According to this account, Anna and Joachim are infertile but pray for a child. They receive the promise of a child that will advance God's plan of salvation for the world. Such a story (like many biblical counterparts) stresses the special presence of God in Mary's life from the beginning.

The American Catholic

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Pope Benedict's Prayer Intention for September

The Conference of the European Churches together with the Council of European Bishops' is gathering in Romania from 4th-9th September 2007. This assembly will gather together Christians from various denominational backgrounds: the Catholic, the Orthodox and the Protestant and lead them all into discussion about Christianity in Europe today. The topics in the agenda include themes such as inter-religious dialogue, peace and reconciliation; migration, poverty etc. We join in Pope Benedict's prayer intention for September, "....That the ecumenical assembly in Romania this month may contribute to the growth of unity among all Christians."

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FIRST COMMUNIONS 2008
Application forms

Would parents of children due to commence a period of preparation to make their first Holy Communion in May next year please take the application form from the table at the back of the church. These should be completed and returned to the presbytery as soon as possible.

Classes are due to commence in the first week of October and will take place on Thursdays after school

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THE WORLD'S BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING
Friday 28th September 10am.-12.Noon
Parish Centre

Please come to support our efforts on this day to raise funds for the MacMillan Nurses and the essential work to which they are committed. If you have any items you wish to donate please bring them on the day. K. Wren