The New Year gives us the opportunity to visit Our Lord, incarnate and revealed to the nations, at His Epiphany. Unlike the Magi bringing their gifts, He is not expecting Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, but ourselves – offered without attachment to other things, but empty-handed, with only love and desire stirring our soul and the joy of His presence. It is this joy we carry in our lives that will be an attraction to others to want to come and see too. The Holy Spirit is always active and will be our guide and support to work at evangelising (simply calling or telling) others to see Him for themselves. Many will resist and have excuses but at least they were invited.
The Diocese is hoping to rebuild the activities and programmes Covid has prevented for such a long time. The ‘Coming Home’ invitation is a start to refresh and re-build our parishes, so there is a real need for fresh, younger volunteers to support the exhausted and more vulnerable who have been slowed down recently. Much work is done online so those with a talent for technology have become a vital resource in all our parishes. Volunteering is a great way to give back in thanksgiving or simply sharing some of what we have to others. Other skills are also valued and there is always a need for those who feel they have nothing to offer. Nobody is useless, it’s discovering the hidden value each of us has that makes the church flourish; so let’s all grow in the light of the Lord.
Calendar for January, Ordinary time II, Year C
6th Epiphany of Our Lord Holy Day of Obligation
9th Ordinary Time begins
12th Aelred of Riveaux National Calendar
17th St Anthony
Unity Week begins 18th – 25th January
21st St Agnes Martyr
22nd St Vincent Martyr
25th Conversion of St Paul
26th Sts Timothy & Titus
27th St Angela Merici
28th St Thomas Aquinas
31st St John Bosco
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
18th – 25th January 2022
It first started among Christian Denominations in 1908. The theme for 2022 is:
We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him (Mt 2:2).
It is supported by our local Churches Together groups who are planning events open to all. Materials have been prepared by the churches of the Middle East.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022 (ctbi.org.uk)