Welcome to our website.
We are the parish which includes Immaculate Conception and St. Dominic, Stone; Sacred Heart, Eccleshall; Holy Michael Archangel, Aston-by-Stone. We hope to keep you well informed during these strange times and offer some thoughts and prayers.
____________________
Dear Parishioners,
This Sunday we celebrate the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother Mary into Heaven. The Church is filled with joy at the belief that Mary completed God’s plan for her and went to Heaven to reign as Queen and Mother of all believers. It was appropriate that death could not hold Mary as she had been the Mother of Jesus. The Assumption also states that Mary’s ministry was ongoing after her earthly life had concluded. If Mary was not assumed, then Mary’s contribution to our salvation would be the wonderful but singular task as the Mother of Jesus and spouse of St. Joseph. But as she was assumed into Heaven, she becomes also the Mother of all God’s People in Heaven and on Earth. From her place in Heaven, Mary lovingly watches over us, faithfully accompanies us and intercedes for us. Jesus gave Mary to the Church when He was dying on the cross. Jesus wanted us to know Mary’s love and care in our pilgrimage through life. We indeed need help. The first reading from Revelation describes the battle between good and evil, with the ultimate triumph of God. Mary and her Child were at the heart of this conflict. This tells us that no matter what evil throws our way, we will come through in the victory of Jesus, the power of the Spirit and with Mary’s encouragement. The second reading from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians tells us that Jesus is the New Adam who will undo all the harm caused by the disobedience of the first Adam in the Garden of Eden. The Church sees Mary as the New Eve whose obedience takes away the harm of the disobedience of the first Eve. In the Gospel from St. Luke, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth and sings a hymn of praise to God for His goodness to her and His Chosen People. We can take great encouragement from the readings and the feast of Mary’s going home to God the Father to be near her Son. All we need do is emulate Mary, Model Disciple, to keep going, trusting, loving, serving, praying and caring and we will be disposed to go to God at the end of our lives. It is not about results but simple faithfulness. Today we celebrate that Mary has gone where we hope to follow. Let our sense of a glorious future lift our spirits as we do our daily duty and all life requires of us. Personally, I reflect on Mary’s words at the Wedding feast in Cana. She spoke to the servants telling them to “Do whatever he tells you”. The servants did so without query. All we can do at times is to just admit we are not in control, we do not understand and we feel out of our depth. Then we put all our trust in the Lord. This attitude helped the miracle at Cana to happen.
We pray for the eternal rest of all who have died. We remember especially Sister Mary Henry OP who have gone to her reward in Heaven. She was a wonderful servant of God as a religious Sister, teacher and parishioner. We were blessed to have her in our community for so many years.
God bless,
Fr. Gerard
____________________
Links to latest news and events
Comments are closed.
