NEWS

Follow our video series with talks on St. Joseph by Fr. John Bland and Fr. Chris Fuse

After the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Joseph is the greatest of the saints. He is the one “into whose custody God entrusted his most precious treasures,” Jesus and Mary, out of all of the men who will ever live. The Church honors St Joseph on March 19th for his faithfulness to God and to his vocation as Custodian of the Redeemer. From St Joseph, we can learn about the importance of faith when we see how deeply he believed the message of the angel and took Mary home as his wife. We also understand what courage is when we hear about the flight into Egypt, and how St Joseph was obedient to God, even in the midst of great trials and danger. St Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church, unborn babies, families, fathers, immigrants, social justice, carpenters, those seeking employment, realtors, and a happy death. “Go to Joseph with extreme confidence, because I do not remember having asked anything from St. Joseph, without having obtained it readily.” ~ St. Padre Pio St Joseph, pray for us. ( Source: Catholic News Agency )

Laetare, taken from the first words of the Entrance Antiphon, “Laetare Jerusalem” which means “Rejoice, Jerusalem”. On this Sunday the Church expresses hope and joy in the midst of our Lenten fasts and penances. Laetare also reminds us of the event we look forward to at the end of the penitential season  and the joy in anticipation of the resurrection.

20th February Blessed Antonio Rosmini had wanted to write the Constitutions (the aims or purpose and way of life for his Institute of Brothers and Priests) in a secluded place, but what awaited him on the Sacred Mountain of Calvario was something more like a haunted castle. So what did Antonio Rosmini do? From this wilderness and disorder he created a humble home and wrote the Constitutions or foundations of his Order. In silence and prayer, and with great patience and trust, he set about his work. On the 20 February 1828, he spent the next two months writing the Constitutions in his small and simple room  called 'La Cella' or the Cell; hence the name of this feast and day of celebration.

Father Michael Hill has gone to the Lord. He passed away on Thursday 6th July in Christchurch, New Zealand. He worked most of his life in New Zealand. He was the editor of the international Catholic magazine Tui Motu InterIslands and he was the author of the book, Antonio Rosmini — Persecuted Prophet. We pray for his eternal rest.

With sadness we hear that Fr Jim has gone to celebrate Christ the King in the kingdom of the servants of God. The last 24 hours he was extremely weak and died at 5.00 am Saturday morning 20th November. The funeral will be in Dublin on Tuesday 23rd. . We will pray for him at holy Mass and in our divine Office. He will be praying for us as he has been, as don Marco Tanghetti, our new Father General told us when he went to visit him. May he Rest in Peace.

Follow our video series with talks on St. Joseph by Fr. John Bland and Fr. Chris Fuse

In 1828 Blessed Antonio Rosmini was given the monastery ruins on Sacro Mount Calvary above Domodossola, North Italy. With a few friends he began his Lent by making the place habitable and starting their life of prayer, study and a helping ministry to the local villages. TODAY the monastery is a lovely Retreat Centre with extensive walks and gardens. It is the novitiate for the Italian province and has an international group living there. There is preserved the original monastic ‘cell’ of Blessed Antonio and some of his writings are contained in a nearby library. Along the corridor is the Mission Centre focussing on the missions in Tanzania and Kenya which this year celebrate 75 years of activity with the Sisters and Fathers.

Our dear Fr. Jim McKnight (St. Peter's Cardiff) died on Thursday. When he did not come to prayers we found that he was saying them in heaven. Jim had been getting more frail and losing balance. He was due for a possible stent, and it was his heart that eventually gave up. He will be much missed but has now been called to be with the Lord. Arrangements later. Please remember him at Mass.