As indicated previously the Gift course is aimed at building our faith and developing a life in the Holy Spirit....
In this session David Payne - director of CaFE - considered and introduced the Father's loving plan, and how great it is to know we are loved so dearly by God the Father. We learned amongst other things that our faith can be summed up in two words.....  not to be reveal here. We also learnt that St Catherine of Siena - a doctor of the Catholic Church - reveled after spending three years in solatory pray that "God is intoxicated with love for us"....  If His love's so great for us then we should have no dificulty basking in that great love. We learned that St Terese of Lisiex - another great Doctor of the Church - revelaed that we don't need to climb the mountain of perfection we can burst in to the Father's presence right now and jump on his knee and embrace His great love for us or at any time and love Him.
We reflected upon how the Holy Spirit of Christ is with us and how He reveals that great love of God the Father. We considered how knowing more of Gods's love can help us in our every day life. WE finished the session in prayer for ourselves and those who need our help at this time.
All who attened really enjoyed this session and went home with five daily reflections to consider are looking forward to next Wednedsay when we consider "The Joy of the Gospel",

The Gift 

A six-week course entitled "The Gift" is commencing on Wednesday 18th Jan – 7.30-9:30 pm and is taking place at St Peter's Church meeting room.

Pope Francis’s challenge to us as practicing Catholics is to be ‘spirit filled evangelisers’.

Catholics are called to unpack and explore the greatest gift we have been given – the gift of our faith. The six session Gift course has been produced to help us to do just that.

It has been developed as a response to Pope Francis’s exhortation ‘The Joy of the Gospel’.

If you’d like to know more check out the introductory video below and if you're interested in attending a future session call 07751 625942:

 
The Gift: A Life in the Spirit Course - A New Resource From CaFE from CaFE on Vimeo.

Reflecting on the forthcoming vote, we recognise the historic nature of this referendum and its implications for future generations. The outcome will have consequences for the future not only of the United Kingdom, but for Europe and for the world.

In our view, three things are essential:

• that we pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit;

• that we all inform ourselves of the arguments on both sides of the debate;

• that we each exercise our vote with a view to the common good of all.

The coming together of European countries in the aftermath of a catastrophic war was designed to bind together former combatants and the contribution of the European project to peace in Western Europe should be recognised. Pope Francis reminds us, in his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 25 November 2014, that the ideals which shaped this European project from the beginning were peace, subsidiarity and solidarity. In the Treaty of Rome, trade was harnessed to peace. The peace achieved in Western Europe shows indeed how “our problems can become powerful forces for unity” (par 5). Our decision in the referendum should thus be taken in the context of how best we can promote justice and peace.

Our focus needs to be above all on the human person. We need to build a Europe “which revolves not around the economy but around the sacredness of the human person, around inalienable values” (par 37). We all have a responsibility to keep the dignity of the human person at the forefront of the debate. We must ask ourselves, in the face of every issue, what will best serve the dignity of all people both within Europe and beyond.

This referendum therefore is about much more than economics.

We must not forget the profoundly religious roots of European nations; that Europe has a two thousand year-old Christian culture that has shaped the continent and is a dynamic spiritual, moral and intellectual resource as we address the future. As Pope Francis reminds us, we need continually to ask ourselves: who is my neighbour? In response to grave challenges, we are called to be generous and welcoming to all others, especially the most vulnerable.

Each person will have their own views about the best political framework in which to realise these ideals. We acknowledge the justifiable concerns that many people have in relation to the European Union, its institutions and the implications of increasing integration.

This referendum is an opportunity to reflect on those values we cherish as a nation and as Catholics. High among these values are mutual respect and civility, vital in this national conversation about the very future of our nation within the world.

Prepare and Act

Before voting, ask yourself the following question:

How in the light of the Gospel, can my vote best serve the common good?

As you vote, you may wish to use this prayer:

“Lord, grant us wisdom that we may walk with integrity, guarding the path of justice, and knowing the protection of your loving care for all”.

Click here to see a little slideshow from Irena who asked me to pass this set of photo’s on to people. It’s a nice little memento for those who attended and possibly for those who missed it too.

In Bible Alive today, after discussing to day's gospel reading (Mark 10:1-12) in which Jesus rebuts the Pharisees' views of marriage, the following passage from Tertullian is quoted; I think it rather beautiful . . .

Chris

"How beautiful the marriage of two Christians, two who are one in hope, one in desire, one in the way of life they follow, one in the religion they practise. They are as brother and sister, both servants of the same Master. Nothing divides them, either in the flesh or the spirit. They pray together, they worship together; instructing one another, encouraging one another, strengthening one another. Side by side they visit God’s church and partake of God’s banquet; side by side they face difficulties and persecution, share their consolations. They have no secrets from one another; they never shun each other’s company; they never bring sorrow to each other’s hearts. Unembarrassed they visit the sick and assist the needy. They give alms without anxiety; they attend the Sacrifice without hindrance. They need not be furtive about making the sign of the cross, nor timorous in greeting the brethren, nor silent in asking a blessing of God. Psalms and hymns they sing to one another…Hearing and seeing this, Christ rejoices. To such as these he gives his peace. Where there are two together, there he is present; and where he is, evil is not."

If you're looking for a wonderful opportunity for some spiritual input and reflection during lent this year then  read the following....... Note: if you're from St. Peters and need a lift then contact Alban on 01767 681537.

Join us in praying and fasting for Syria. Pope Francis has called on all the faithful worldwide to join in a day of prayer and fasting on the 7th September, for peace in Syria and the Middle East. However the information came out too late for St Peter's Parish, Biggleswade, to respond so we've deferred it to Saturday 14th where Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Come and join us and show your solidarity with those suffering from this awful conflict. Prayer for peace in Syria O God of peace, who are peace itself and whom a spirit of discord cannot grasp, nor a violent mind receive, grant that those who are one in heart may persevere in what is good and that those in conflict may forget evil and so be healed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. St John Damascene, pray for us. The Pope said: “From the bottom of my heart, I would like to express my closeness in prayer and solidarity with all the victims of this conflict, with all those who suffer, especially children, and I invite you to keep alive the hope of peace.” If you can't make it then please join us at home and be in solidarity with the people of Syria. Say this prayer and share with family, friends and your local community. Download our intercessions for Syria > Explore CAFOD prayer resources > Prayer text from Roman Missal © 2010 ICEL Used with permission from the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales