Fr. Graham Writes: 11th January 2025

Webmaster • January 12, 2026

What has been the highlight of Christmas for you so far? Have you noticed any change in your prayer or devotion to Jesus? Each church season has a grace of its own. We might experience the joy of the angels, the haste to get to Mass like the shepherds or the silence of Saint Joseph as he gazed upon Jesus.


We are still in the Christmas season at least until 11 January (The Baptism of the Lord) or even to 2 February (Candlemas). Our crib stays in place until then. So, the celebration of Christmas continues even though life begins or seems to have returned to normal.


The shepherds went back to work after they left the manger. But their life was never the same again, they were changed by seeing Jesus. Our lives are changed if we have worshipped Him as we celebrate the same event of His birth. Our everyday normal life is where our faith is put into practice. Just as Saint Augustine said, "We are an Easter people and alleluia is our song", I think we can also say, "We are a Christmas people and gloria is our song." To give glory to God in everything, whether we are poor shepherds or wise Magi. Ordinary days are transformed into extra-ordinary days and the same goes for us. It was an ordinary day when John baptised Jesus, but John never forgot it, nor do we. Baptism proclaims a sound from heaven invoking our vocation from God. Our corporate vocation is to give glory to God by listening to His voice and pleasing Him in all we do. This is our gift to Him. Christmas can then continue all year.


May God bless you in 2026.


With my prayer for you.

Fr Graham

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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.
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SVP Cake Sale: Sunday 1st March, CTK Cuthman Room (after 11am mass) All proceeds to our local SVP, supporting the elderly, homeless, refugees and those struggling financially in our area. See poster for details.