Our Faith - Religion - Prayer
St Patrick's Church Walcha
For Baptism or Marriage enquiries phone Monsignor Ted Wilkes 67784070.
Monsignor Ted Wilkes would like to invite parishioners to Sunday Mass 10am.
Term 4 Mass Dates
Friday 28th November: Mass at 11.30am
Friday 12th December: End of Year and Year 6 Graduation Mass at 12.00pm
Reflection
On Tuesday, November 11th, we honoured two important figures: Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy who established our school, and St Martin of Tours, whose feast day it is. St Martin led a truly remarkable life and is one of Mr Hyatt's favourite saints.
St Martin of Tours (c. 316–397 AD) is a highly revered saint known for transitioning from a Roman soldier to a pioneering monk and influential bishop. Born in Pannonia (modern-day Hungary), he was forced to join the Roman army at age 15 despite his Christian leanings. While stationed in Gaul, Martin had his most famous encounter: he used his sword to cut his military cloak in half and gave it to a shivering beggar . That night, he had a vision of Jesus wearing the half-cloak, which led him to be baptised at 18.
Soon after, Martin refused to fight, declaring himself a "soldier of Christ," making him one of history's earliest recorded conscientious objectors. After his discharge, he became a disciple of Bishop Hilary of Poitiers and dedicated himself to a religious life. Around 361 AD, Martin established a monastic community at Ligugé, considered the oldest monastery in Europe. He spent years as a tireless missionary, travelling the countryside to preach and evangelise.
In 371 AD, the people of Tours wanted him as their bishop, but his humility caused him to try and hide—a famous story says he hid in a shed full of geese, whose squawking gave him away. Once consecrated, he established the monastic community of Marmoutier just outside the city, continuing to live a simple, prayerful life while serving as bishop. St Martin of Tours died in 397 AD and remains a patron saint of France, soldiers, and the poor.
Prayer
O Glorious St. Martin,
Soldier of Christ
and servant of the poor,
you showed us the path of true charity
by sharing your cloak with the needy.
Inspire us to see Christ
in all who suffer,
and to act with
compassion and generosity.
Help us to be instruments of God's love
and justice in our world today.
Amen.
Year of Jubilee
2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church.
A Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Universal Church every 25 years. It is a particular year set aside to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, to repent of their sins and forgive the sins of others, and to renew a focus on spiritual life.
The theme is Pilgrims of Hope. Pope Francis has invited Catholics to renew our hope and discover a vision that can "restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone". We are also invited to rediscover a spirituality of God's creation in which we understand ourselves as "pilgrims on the earth" rather than masters of the world.
You will see this logo often this year...
The logo symbolises unity and fraternity among all of humanity, with four stylised figures from different corners of the earth embracing each other. The leading figure holds a cross, representing faith and hope. The rough waves beneath the figures symbolise life's challenges, emphasising the need for hope in difficult times. The elongated lower part of the cross forms an anchor, a well-known symbol of hope. This image depicts the pilgrimage as a communal journey towards the cross, which reaches out dynamically to offer presence and hope.
Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope (Youtube)
The Jubilee Prayer
To pray and download the Prayer for the 2025 Jubilee, click here. Copies of the Jubilee Prayer are available in Braille. Please contact the Office of Deaf and Disabilities Ministry for a copy: specialneedsministry@adw.org or 301-853-4560.