Thought for All Saints' Day

A fortnight ago, I visited the Church of the Beatitudes overlooking Galilee. It marks the traditional location of the Sermon on the Mount, which starts with the "Beatitudes" - "Blessed (happy) are those who..." We hear these words at Mass this weekend as we celebrate those blessed ones who lived the way Jesus taught and share his glory in heaven.
The Church of the Beatitudes is octagonal in shape, each interior wall displaying the text of one of the eight beatitudes.
I spent a little time trying to reflect on the beatitudes, and the challenging way of life to which they point.

As I left the Church, I spotted, high up over a door, another "Beatitude". Over a picture of our Lady I saw the words "Blessed is she who believed". Our blessedness is not found in gritting our teeth and working hard to achieve the standard of the traditional eight beatitudes. Rather, like Mary, we need to believe and trust in God's grace to achieve within us what lies beyond our striving.

Newsletter for 31 October/1 November - All Saints

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Please note that Saturday evening's Prayer Vigil for the planet, advertised in last week's newsletter has been cancelled. However, there is nothing to stop any of us reflecting on Pope Francis' Laudato Si’- On Care for Our Common Home  this weekend. This "map" to the document provides a very useful summary.

More pictures of our Holy Land Pilgrimage

Here are some more pictures of our Holy Land Pilgrimage.

It would be too time consuming to label each one but the following sequence may help:

• Friday 9th October: Across the Jordan and wilderness to Petra, Jordan
• Saturday 10th October: Day in Petra visiting the ancient city.
• Sunday 11th October: Journey across the wilderness to Madeba, visiting Iraqi refugees in a Catholic Parish near Amman on the way. Evening Mass at St John the Baptist, Madeba.
• Monday 12th October: Mount Nebo (death of Moses), renewal of Baptism Vows at River Jordan, and visit to Dead Sea.
• Tuesday 13th October: Across the Jordan to Ein Karem (Visitation and Birth of St John Baptist), and on to Abu Ghosh, probable location of Emmaus.
• Wednesday 14th October: Time of reflection at Abu Ghosh and visit to Benedictine Monastery in the town.
• Thursday 15th October: Viewpoint to see Jerusalem. Sadly we could not visit the city because of violence there. Mass in Shepherds' Fields and on to Bethlehem. 
• Friday 16th October: Journey via Beit Jimal (various spellings! - associated with Gamaliel and burial of St Stephen) to Mount Tabor (Transfiguration).
• Saturday 17th October: Nazareth, then Cana for renewal of marriage vows, and on to Galilee.
• Sunday 18th October: Mass on shore of Galilee near site of feeding of 5000. Visits to place on shore where Peter confessed his love of Jesus. Boat on Galilee. Church of the Beatitudes. Capernaum.
• Monday 19th October: Magdala and Mount Carmel and so to airport.

Newsletter for 24/25 October - Sunday 30(B)

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Our Pilgrimage

Father Colin & Cyndy had a wonderful time in the Holy Land. We travelled with 5th Gospel Retreats. We can recommend them unreservedly.

Because of the troubled situation in Jerusalem we were unable to visit the holy sites there. We went everywhere else one would expect, as well as plenty of other wonderful places.

We had opportunity to meet local people, and people working in the Holy Land. We met a group of Chaldean Catholics who are living in a Church car park in Jordan - up to eight people in a tiny portakabin, using the Church Hall for kitchen and bathroom facilities. These people worship in Aramaic, the language of Jesus, and would have been put to death for their faith by ISIS if they had remained in their native Iraq.

Here are some pictures, newest first. By scrolling and clicking where you get the opportunity to load more you will be able to find more than come up to start with.

If you click the #pateypilgrims link at the top you might be able to see the pictures in an easier format and find even more!


#pateypilgrims Tweets

Vacancies in Catholic Schools

The governors of The Trinity School, Nottingham are seeking to appoint a headteacher. For more details please contact Mrs Birchnall,  tel. 0115 9296251  or visit www.trinity.nottingham.sch.uk   Closing Date for applications 9th November.

The Governing Body of St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary and Nursery, Nottingham are seeking to appoint a Site Manager . For further details please contact the school, tel: 0115 9150296. Closing date 2nd November 2015

Sundays 28 & 29 - double issue of the newsletter

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Community Harvest Festival - Change of Venue

CHANGE OF VENUE TONIGHT
If you were planning to come to the Ashby Churches harvest community celebration this evening please note we have a change of venue.  It will be from 6.00pm.to.8.00pm now at the ROYAL HOTEL on Tamworth Road, Ashby. (Come when you can, leave when you must)

More Confirmation Photos.

Here are some more. Please keep them coming to remind us to pray for our young people and to relive the joy of last Friday.

Some Confirmation Photos

Here are some photos taken after Friday's celebration. Please send me more, individuals or groups. They will be added!

Pray for the Synod on the Family

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, 

in you we contemplate the splendour of true love, 

to you we turn with trust. 

Holy Family of Nazareth, 

grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer,  

authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic Churches. 

Holy Family of Nazareth, 

may families never again experience violence, rejection and division; 

may all who have been hurt or scandalised 

find ready comfort and healing. 

Holy Family of Nazareth, 

may the Synod of Bishops make us more mindful 

of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, 

and its beauty in God’s plan. 

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, 

graciously hear our prayer. 

Amen. 

Newsletter for 3/4 October - Sunday 27(B)

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The Fourteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops takes place from 4 - 25 October 2015. Its theme is "The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World." Bishop Peter Doyle, Northampton, is Chair of the Bishops' Committee for Marriage and Family Life and will attend alongside Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops' Conference.

Pope Francis has asked us to pray for the Synod using this prayer, which you will also find in the newsletter:

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, 

in you we contemplate the splendour of true love, 

to you we turn with trust. 

Holy Family of Nazareth, 

grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer,  

authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic Churches. 

Holy Family of Nazareth, 

may families never again experience violence, rejection and division; 

may all who have been hurt or scandalised 

find ready comfort and healing. 

Holy Family of Nazareth, 

may the approaching Synod of Bishops make us more mindful 

of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, 

and its beauty in God’s plan. 

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, 

graciously hear our prayer. 

Amen.