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Quotations from the 2021 World Peace Day Message

A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace

  • Peace, justice and care of creation are three inherently connected questions, which cannot be separated in such a way as to be treated individually …
  • We need to stop and ask ourselves what has led  our world to see conflict as something normal, and how our hearts can be converted and our ways of thinking changed, in order to work for true peace in solidarity and fraternity.
  • How many resources are spent on weaponry, especially nuclear weapons, that could be used for more significant priorities such as ensuring the safety of individuals, the promotion of peace and integral human development, the fight against poverty, and the provision of health care.
  • What a courageous decision it would be to establish a Global Fund with the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures, in order to permanently eliminate hunger and contribute to the development of the poorest countries.
  • There is… a need for peacemakers, men and women prepared to work boldly and creatively to initiate processes of healing and renewed encounter.
  • … may we strive daily, in concrete and practical ways, to form a community composed of brothers and sisters who accept and care for one another.
  • … everything is interconnected and genuine care for our own lives and our relationship with nature is inseparable from fraternity, justice and faithfulness to others.
  • … the need for relationships between nations to be inspired by fraternity, mutual respect, solidarity and the observance of international law.
  • At a time like this, when the barque of humanity, tossed by the storm of the current crisis, struggles to advance towards a calmer and more serene horizon, the "rudder" of human dignity and the "compass" of fundamental social principles can enable us together to steer a sure course.

More resources here:  https://paxchristi.org.uk/peace-sunday-2021/

Full message here: http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/peace/documents/papa-francesco_20201208_messaggio-54giornatamondiale-pace2021.html

In this short video you can listen to the Gospel reading and the be guided to imagine the Lord speaking your name, and saying these words to you.  If you live alone you might listen and bless yourself with water.  If you live with others or as a family you may use the prompts and speak the words for yourself and take it in turn to bless each other.

Ann-Marie Houghton - Visit theParish Blog >>>

Baptism of the Lord

YOU are my beloved Son with you I am well pleased. In today’s Gospel we hear Mark’s account of the story of Jesus’ baptism, this is such an important event it appears in all the four Gospels, although in John’s Gospel it is John who describes the amazing things that happened when he baptised Jesus and what this meant. It is described as a second Epiphany which means to reveal.

Jesus was baptised at the start of his public ministry before he had done anything His Father’s voice from heaven and the appearance of a dove and sign of the Holy Spirit reminds of the Trinity. Even though Jesus had not done anything, His Father was letting everyone know he was loved and that he was pleased with him. I don’t remember my own baptism, like many of you I was baptised as a child, but I know that it involved water, oil, a candle and white cloth and that during the baptism those present made promises on my behalf and together said the Our Father.

An action we remind our young people when they are preparing for confirmation. This time last year our young people and their parents gathered in the Baptistry and were each blessed with water as their parents made the sign of the cross on their foreheads and said You are my beloved Son / Daughter, with you I am well pleased. Perhaps at home this is an action each of us can do as we listen to the Gospel, so that as sons and daughters of God we can feel the water and hear the words that God Our Father is saying to us. And for those who live alone then say the words aloud or listen to a recording which will be on the Cathedral Blog. AMH