Foundation stones, are built to last.
This week we celebrate the solemnity (a holy day of obligation where all Christians are expected to attend mass) of Saints Peter and Paul.
Solemnities are the most important days in the Christian calendar and when they come along we should pay particular attention to them (even if we don’t make it to mass).
Peter and Paul are the foundations on which Jesus built the Church as we know it. They were instrumental in creating the body of Christ here on earth.
Each year we are called to remember them, to remember their great sacrifices (neither met a particular wonderful end), but more importantly, to remember their great examples.
St. Peter was a fisherman from Galilee. He (along with Andrew) were the first to be invited to follow Jesus.
Peter was an enthusiastic disciple and very human – he would often get things wrong and make dreadful mistakes that Jesus had to explain.
But his enthusiasm and love for Jesus is what led to him being given the keys of heaven, to him being the first Pope.
Paul on the other hand was on the wrong path. Persecuting the followers of Jesus in the most horrible ways. But, he had his eyes opened and in that instant he followed Jesus and became one of the greatest evangelists of all time – baptising thousands of people at once.
St. Peter – our rock, St. Paul – our evangelist, are both examples that we are called to follow today.
Are you a rock that someone can rely on to pray for them? Are you the evangelist that will bring your neighbour to Jesus?
Fr. Matthew
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Other news
We will be hosting Deanery Synod on Tuesday this week. If you could help by serving refreshments I would be grateful.
Our new Sunday School is up and running and is an hour after mass every other Sunday. Our next Sunday school is THIS WEEK at 11:30am-12:30pm. Please invite and encourage your children to come.
We’ll be updating the prayer list on the first week of July. If you would like somebody to stay on the list, or if you’d like to add or remove somebody please do speak to Susan.
We’re looking for readers for the coming couple of months. Please see the rota at the entrance or speak to Susan. It’s been so lovely to hear new voices over the last few months and to hear from the children as well. Let’s do more!
Please sign up for Parish Giving (which is a wonderful way to support St. Anselm and helps us claim more money from the government) Go to www.stanselm.co.uk/giving or call the Parish Giving Team directly on 0333 002 1271 quoting our parish number, which is: 230 623 503.
Live Streaming of Daily Prayer & Mass is now fully back – you can tune in live each day, or catch up, all via the dedicated page on our website. https://www.stanselm.co.uk/live