The 24th Sunday of the Year

16th September 2007 - HOME MISSION SUNDAY

Mon - St Robert Bellarmine
Wed - St Theodore of Canterbury
Thur - St Andrew Kim Teagan & Comps.
Fri - St Matthew Evangelist

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Gospel Reflection
Get The Message?

As children we probably thought the story of the 'Prodigal Son' was about the prodigal son; in fact it's much more about the older brother. The key to the story is in its setting. The gospel reading opens with bitter religious division. The scribes and Pharisees were appalled to find Jesus associating with sinners. In the eyes of the Pharisees this association made Jesus ritually unclean. In the story of the 'Prodigal Son' the older brother represents the Pharisees. The older son represents all those who think they are better than the next person. The older son represents all those who are self-righteous, hardhearted, judgemental, uncompromising and unforgiving.

When the father welcomes the prodigal son home with a big party, the elder brother is consumed with bitterness. In truth, like many of us, the older son was just as lost to God as his younger brother. He fondly imagined he had done everything right, when in fact he was lost in his own world of resentment and intolerance. The touching end to the story sees the ever loving father go out onto the porch and try to draw his sulking son into the party. The father not only wants to share forgiveness with his wayward son, but he wants to share the joy of forgiveness with his loyal son.

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THEODORE OF CANTERBURY 669-690 AD

The Feast of St Theodore every other place in the world is 19th September so on Wednesday Evening this week we will celebrate a votive mass in honour of our patron.
St Theodore's is a singular and crucial influence on the development of the Christian life of this country. The Saint's learned writings and spiritual disciplines, particularly in respect of the Sacrament of Penance, as well as his pastoral direction of the Church's affairs, became a pattern of practice for the universal Church as recalled by the Venerable Bede in his own majestic historical record. Not without controversy Theodore led the infant Church of this land for over 20 years and left a spiritual legacy that is even yet to be fully appreciated. There is much to remember him by, much to celebrate and much, I am sure, for us to gain from his guardianship. Fr. B.

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Home Mission Sunday
(England and Wales - Sept 16th.)

An aim of Home Mission Sunday is to raise awareness of the fact that 'mission' isn't just to do with spread of the Gospel in far off lands, but with so many people having no idea of God's love for them in England and Wales, right here 'at home' is mission territory. Home Mission Sunday is organised by the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE). For more information please go the websites:

• www.caseresources.org.uk
• www.comehomeforchristmas.co.uk
  

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OCTOBER VISIT OF THE CARDINAL

The date of Cardinal Cormac's visit to the parish for our 80th Anniversary celebrations is Saturday Oct. 20th
when he will celebrate the 6.30 Evening Mass.
He looks forward to the visit and to meeting as many of the parishioners of St. Theodore's as possible. Let us pray that the weather will be clement and the trees still golden.

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"SHARING HIS LIFE"

The promotion of Faith groups within the Diocese is being regarded as a priority. The diocesan - Agency for Evangelization - is organising over 20 sessions around the diocese for this purpose. Locally there will be a meeting Monday 1st. October at St. Edmund's, Whitton (7.30 - 9pm) Copies of the booklet 'Sharing his Life' for discussion groups in this parish have been ordered and will soon be available to everyone.

Please see the notices in the Church Porch and in the Parish Centre or visit the website: www.rcdow.org.uk/evangalisation.