Xaverian Missionaries: Preston
“Making the World a Single Family"
News posts other than Sunday Reflections
Our Lectio group is once again in top form despite the inconveniences of our present times.
You can read some of their thought provoking reflections on the reading for this Sunday here.
Remember, it is never too late to join in. You do not need to offer your thoughts to the group, that is optional. If you want to join in then message the group leaders using the form at the bottom of this page.
The government has updated its guidelines for the use of multi-purpose spaces. You can access them here:
We also fall under the places of worship guidelines as well.
I hope you enjoy the read! It is proper government speak, but complicates how we can operate!
Once again our Lectio Group got together on the web and carefully considered the Gospel for Sunday. They have shared their thoughts with us.
The Faith and Justice Commission have published their monthly news letter. You can read it here.
Our Lectio Group has been delving into the reading for the SS Peter and Paul.
Matthew 16:13-23 ‘Jesus said to Peter, “You are the Rock!”‘
Read their thoughts here.
Continuing our theme of bringing you news from far and wide, this week we focus on the Centre for African Studies. Although their website is in French, Google can be terribly helpful to those of us who are perhaps a little rusty on that score.
Have a look around starting with their Blog.
Six of us met by Zoom on Wednesday to discuss ” Falling Upwards” by Richard Rohr.
Were joined by a new member for a few minutes. Unfortunately we could see her but not hear her! We look forward to her meeting with us soon.
The basic message of Falling Upward is simple: We all come to a crisis in our lives; with God’s help we can work through this crisis and come to a space of spiritual refreshment, peace and compassion that you could not have imagined before.
Rohr references many examples from the Bible of this. We grow spiritually much more by doing it wrong than by doing it right.
The falling will happen to all, but the growth in the second half of life doesn’t necessarily happen. If you welcome it then you will hear a deeper voice of God than you have heard before.
Our criticisms were: Rohr takes a long time to give this simple message; are there two distinct phases in life? and his view that many in the Church are stuck in the first phase of life.
We agreed the following programme for the autumn term:
All above should be on the 4th Wednesday of the month. I will confirm dates and venue nearer the time; I have emailed the Xaverian centre asking what their position is on opening.
We meet next by Zoom on Wednesday 22nd July at 1.30 to discuss ” Summer Poems “
Our wonderfully active Lectio Group has been considering the reading for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Matthew 10: 26-33 ‘Witness to the Gospel without fear’
You can read their thoughts here.
Just a word – these reflections as they arrive in the inbox are often accompanied with kind words of thanks and encouragement intended for the other members of the Lectio Group. I generally do not publish these as they are obviously intended particularly for group members.
If you want to become part of this lively group then please get in contact using the form at the bottom of this page.
Fr Paddy has been experimenting to see what the effect of 2m Social Distancing would be for The Centre. He has rearranged the seating to comply with the requirement and then taken photographs. You can see the photographs here.
You must make up your own mind but when I look at Paddy’s visual explanation it seems clear that a 2 metre separation is unworkable for our usual events. Much of the life of the Centre is about community and being together.
Perhaps the government will soon issue new and less restrictive guidelines on distancing but until then we shall wait.
Last week, at the time we would normally gather for the Community Mass, we posted a link to the Xaverian community website in the Philippines.
This week at the same time we encourage you to look at the website of the Xaverians in Sierra Leone. Have a look at what they are doing, their challenges, hopes and above all their generosity of spirit.