OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE

"What do you ask of God's Church for your child?" This is the question asked of parents before their child is baptised. They respond, "Baptism" or "Faith!" The gift of faith is a beautiful gift to be treasured and nurtured. It needs to grow through prayer, the sacraments and action. The Samaritan women at Jacob's well made this transition. Her practical need moved to a thirst and request for faith from Jesus who is the Well of eternal life. Her questioning of Jesus was her catechesis from the Master. She moved from foreigner to disciple. Her fear gave way to her being an evangelist to her fellow villagers. She left behind the jar of water having found the Living Water and purpose of her life, the One who knew her every thought. What are we looking for? Faith. It was this increase of faith that was the first fruit in the child seers of Fatima in 1917. They encountered the Mother of God and were likewise transformed by grace to believe more deeply. Their faith grew very quickly. So can ours. With God nothing is impossible. In our days of war (as in 1917), Our Lady comes to us with the same message she gave to the children: pray for peace. As Pope Benedict XVI said: "We would be mistaken to think that Fatima’s prophetic mission is complete. ... Mankind has succeeded in unleashing a cycle of death and terror, but failed in bringing it to an end… " (Fatima 13 May 2010), In the end Our Lady's Immaculate Heart will triumph. With my prayer for you and your intentions each day. May God bless you.  Fr Graham

We are honoured to be the first parish in 2026 to host a visit of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, along with the Relics of Saints Jacinta and Francisco. This is a wonderful opportunity to have an insight into Fatima. There will be mass, rosary, meditation, confessions, divine mercy, films and items to buy. 9.45am until 4.45pm (please bring a packed lunch; tea & coffee will be available). To learn more, email: patsydaniels@gmail.com , or see poster/flyers in the porch. If you are able to help on the day please speak to Fr Graham or email the office.

Our Lenten Alms collections and donations will be distributed equally between our local SVP project at St Charles Borromeo and also Let the Children Live, a priest helping Columbian street children, see here . Collections throughout Lent.

Please bring items for ‘Personal Hygiene’ this week. Next week will be ‘Meal in a Tin’. Thank you for your support.

Calling all mothers, including spiritual mothers, godmothers and grandmothers. You are invited to come and prayer for our children. Every First Friday of the Month, 10.00-11.00am, in the Parish Room at St Peter’s.

The SVP offers friendship & practical help to those in need - whoever they are & whatever the need. You may be housebound, simply need someone to chat to or need help with a small task. You may have a crisis where a little help with the cost of something essential could make a big difference. You may need advice. If we can’t provide the particular help you are looking for we will try to find someone who can.  For SVP help, or if you are thinking of joining us, please talk to one of us after Mass on the Appeal weekend. Thank you for your continued support.

We are hosting this year’s service at St Peter’s, which has been prepared by the women of Nigeria and the theme is " I will give you rest, come..."  The service will be followed by light refreshments in the Parish Room afterwards. All are welcome.

At a station we wait or we stop. It is a pause on our journey. The last earthly journey that Jesus made, His Via Dolorosa, was marked with moments where Jesus paused carrying His cross. It is where the disciples recalled that certain things happened - a fall, a tender moment, a helping hand, a horrific blow or painful cry. Afterwards, the disciples would walk the same path along the narrow streets of Jerusalem in a way to remind them but bring them closer to their Saviour. These pauses were filled with prayer and in time song, in groups or individually. As believers spread from Jerusalem these moments and prayers came with them to our buildings. We can join Jesus on His last journey to Calvary. Stations of the Cross: Tuesday (CTK) 09.30; Wednesday (SP) 10.00; Friday (SP) 09.00; Friday (TT) 18.00

God has a special task for you. This task comes with a promise. For Abram it was to leave his country and go to the promised land. God chose prophets, men and women with messages and tasks to complete in His name. Jesus chooses apostles and disciples and equips them for the missionary task that still continues today. Jesus chose three apostles: Peter, James and John (by themselves), to witness special moments of healing or revelation. The Transfiguration is one of them. They see who Jesus really is in all His glory - a vision of heaven. They didn't understand it fully, how could they? It took time to reflect on its meaning. But they didn't forget. It took the traumatic events of the Passion of Jesus for them to realise that the revelation was to strengthen them and give understanding as to the purpose of Jesus' and their suffering.  Similarly, three children: Lucia, Jacinta and Fancisco were chosen to see and hear our Heavenly Mother in Fatima in 1917. The purpose? To warn the world of the consequences of not listening and responding to Jesus. The message is still urgent, if not more so, today. This heavenly encounter with the Mother of God changed their lives. They all completed their tasks given to them and the promise too. Jesus has chosen this parish and YOU with the task of being apostles of this urgent message. PLEASE come and bring someone to next weekend's Fatima visit. It comes with a promise. With my prayer for you every day this Lent. May God bless you. Fr Graham.