Newsletter - 21 December
Hope During this Festive Season
On Christmas Day last year, in his Urbi et Orbi message, Pope Francis was opening a Jubilee year of hope. Many things have happened since: Pope Francis is no longer with us and is now resting in peace. We can be grateful how the Lord is taking care of his flock by sending the shepherd it needs; indeed Pope Leo is revealing how good a shepherd he is.
Pope Francis wrote last year in his letter: “The door of God’s heart is always open; let us return to him! Let us be forgiven by him; let us be reconciled with him! God always forgives! God forgives everything. Let us allow ourselves to be forgiven by him. This is the meaning of the Holy Door of the Jubilee, which I opened last night here in Saint Peter’s Basilica: it represents Jesus, the Door of salvation open for all. The Door is open! There is no need to knock on the door. It is open. Often we halt at the threshold of that Door; we lack the courage to cross it, because it challenges us to examine our lives. Each of us is called to forgive those who have trespassed against us, because the Son of God, born in the cold and darkness of the night, has forgiven our own. As pilgrims of hope, let us go out to meet him!”
For many of us, this year of Jubilee has been a year of hope and new beginning. With the Lord there is always hope of something new: forgiving and asking for forgiveness – which is the only way to follow the Lord.
But probably for others, we may feel that we have missed the door or have not seized this opportunity, remaining on the threshold: lack courage or willpower, a feeling that we are too weak to go through this or it is not yet the right time... With the Lord, it is never too late. The door remains open and the Lord’s mercy never fails. Pope Leo will close the Holy door on January 6 on the feast of Epiphany. It is still time to consider how we can journey on this pilgrimage of hope.
Brothers and sisters, I wish you a very happy feast of the Nativity and a holy New Year of hope.
Fr Pascal
Focus of the week
ADORATION
The last day for Adoration will be on Tuesday 23 December. It will recommence on Monday 12 January 2026.
CHURCH OPENING TIMES
The Church will open at 9am and close at 1pm from 26 December until 2 January 2026.
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