Mission

The Month of May is a particularly special time in the season of our Church, when we honour our mothers; both spiritual and maternal with love and devotion. 

We frequently regard our mothers as our sacred place of comfort and shelter; where we feel most ‘at home’. There is no one like our mothers, carers and guardians. They carried each of us; we didn’t pay, we didn’t do chores, we couldn’t initially offer our thanks; though we were nurtured and freely offered the gift of life and love.

During the month of May, we highlight and celebrate the particular gifts of our mothers and mother-figures, and we remember the role and significance of Mary, in the life of our saviour, Jesus.

The love of our mothers, and mother figures invoke a sense of God’s immense love for us. There are also beautiful images of God as our mother; creator, pastor and shepherd beckoning us into the fullness of life. Just like our mothers; God carries us and wraps us freely in life and love.

As we celebrated our Mothers early in May, I encourage our community to utilise the remainder of this month to contemplate the experience of women around the world; especially those persecuted and vulnerable. The strength and courage of the Blessed Virgin Mary calls us into solidarity, to encourage those who need our prayers by saying the Rosary. 

The Rosary is a powerful prayer. In Fatima, Our Lady prayed the Rosary every day for peace in the world. This is a poignant reminder of our ability to seek harmony within our world today. By undertaking a Rosary prayer and meditation we discover how we can pray with and for those oppressed by situations of health and humanitarian crisis; using the life of Jesus and Mary as an example of healing and hope!  

Pope Francis encourages us during May…

“I would like to invite all the faithful and communities to pray the Rosary for peace every day in May. My thought goes to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, “Mary’s city,” barbarically bombed and destroyed. 

Once again, from here, I renew my request that safe humanitarian corridors be arranged for the people trapped in the steelworks in that city. I suffer and weep, thinking of the sufferings of the Ukrainian people, and in particular, the weakest, the elderly and children. There are even terrible reports of children being expelled and deported.

And while we are witnessing a macabre regression of humanity, I wonder, along with so many anguished people, if peace is truly being sought; whether there is the will to avoid a continued military and verbal escalation; whether everything possible is being done to silence the weapons.

I beg you, let us not surrender to the logic of violence, to the perverse spiral of weapons. May the path of dialogue and peace be taken! Let us pray”

(Pope Francis, Regina Caeli: May 1, 2022)

Maternal God, your care for us never ends. 

Move us to offer our thanks and show your care in return. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN

Mrs Amelia Bright | Acting Leader of Mission