The 25th Sunday of the Year
23rd September 2007

Mon - Our Lady of Walsingham
Wed - Ss Cosmas & Damian
Thur - St Vincent de Paul.

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Gospel Reflection:
Worldly Christians

Who are the 'children of the world' spoken of in Luke's Gospel? The children of the world are all around us. The children of the world leave for the city every morning in their BMW's. The children of the world work through their lunch break and cart a suitcase of work home with them in order to keep ahead of the game. The children of the world use all their business acumen to amass wealth and influence. Better still they will use other people's money and other people's influence to ensure their future.

As Jesus' disciples, how do we, the 'children of the light' look after our future? Are we as anxious to ensure our future with God, as the dishonest manager was to ensure his future in this world? When the day of reckoning comes, will there be a place that welcomes us? What if we were prepared to put in the same amount of effort into discipleship as the 'children of the world' put into their work? What if the children of the light were as single minded about God as the 'children of the world' are about money?

The dishonest manager in today's parable embezzles money to ensure his future. Curiously Jesus appears to commend the rogue's acumen. It's a puzzling story with aspects that are difficult to understand, but one thing is for sure, Jesus cannot be condoning dishonesty. Perhaps he is pointing out that the swift acting manager is successful because he is single minded in his pursuit of money. Do we fall down because we are not single mined, because we try to serve two masters, money and God? Today's reading is an invitation for us to look at how we apportion our energies. Where do our priorities lie? Who or what are we really serving?

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"SHARING HIS LIFE" - BOOKLETS AVAILABLE

Daily Meditations and Group Reflections

A Booklet providing reading material produced by the 'Diocesan Agency for Evangelisation' has arrived in the parishes. They follow the pattern that we have become used to giving the gospel texts, some questions that arise and reflective prayers suitable for use in the group. As is customary we are asked to donate £1.00 per copy to defray the costs of production

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Check Out The Chaplaincy!!

Some of our young parishioners are leaving for university soon. This is a big move but one thing is for sure - as a Catholic, you will instantly have something in common with fellow Catholics. First of all check whether there is a Chaplaincy. The Catholic Chaplaincy is somewhere you will find Mass, spiritual guidance, support and friendship. Chaplaincies of course vary. Some organise student and staff events, others are simply a place where you can drop in, make a cup of tea, read the papers and watch your favourite soap. The Catholic Chaplaincy could become your second home, so remember to check it out. Fr. B

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THE WORLD'S BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING

Join in and help create a big stir!

Next Friday (28th Sept)
Parish Centre 10.00am - 12 noon

Make a note in the diary and come along and support this event. We will have a selection of cakes on sale with a bring and buy sale to raise funds for the Macmillan nurses
Every year 270,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK. Macmillan wants to support every one of those people and their friends and families too.

Register your own support online at www.macmillan.org.uk.

K. Wren

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MASS FOR THE ELDERLY

The monthly Mass for the elderly of the parish will resume on Thursday of this week at 2.30pm with Tea to follow in the Centre

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C A F O D - HARVEST FAST DAY

Friday 5th October