ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST
IMPORTANT PARISH OFFICE NOTICES
The Holy Father is currently giving a cycle of catechesis on the theme of Hope in this Jubilee Year. Anyone struggling at the moment to connect with Jesus, our Hope, may find power in this extract from one of his recent reflections, given on 25th June. Dear brothers and sisters, Today we will again consider the healings of Jesus as a sign of hope. In Him, there is a strength that we too can experience when we enter into a relationship with His Person. A very widespread ailment of our time is the fatigue of living: reality seems to us to be too complex, burdensome, difficult to face. And so we switch off, we fall asleep, in the delusion that, upon waking, things will be different. But reality has to be faced, and together with Jesus, we can do it well. At times we feel blocked by the judgment of those who claim to put labels on others. It seems to me that these situations can find an answer in a passage from the Gospel of Mark, where two stories intertwine: that of the twelve-year-old girl, who is sick in bed and is dying; and that of a woman who has been bleeding for precisely twelve years, and seeks out Jesus in order to be healed (cf. Mk 5:21-43). This woman, with great courage, made the decision that would change her life: everyone continued to tell her to keep her distance, to keep out of view. They had condemned her to stay hidden and isolated. At times, we too can be victims of the judgment of others, who presume to put a robe on us that is not our own. And then we suffer, and cannot come out of it. That woman embarks on the path of salvation when the faith that Jesus can heal her germinates: so, she finds the strength to come out and go in search of him. She wants to reach out and at least touch his garment. Around Jesus there is a large crowd, and therefore many people were touching him, and yet nothing happens to them. Instead, when this woman touches Jesus, she is healed. Where does the difference lie? In his commentary on this point of the text, Saint Augustine says – in Jesus’ name – “The crowd jostles, faith touches” (Sermon 243, 2, 2). It is thus: every time we perform an act of faith addressed to Jesus, contact is established with Him, and immediately his grace comes out from Him. At times we are unaware of it, but in a secret and real way, grace reaches us and gradually transforms our life from within.  Perhaps today too, many people approach Jesus in a superficial way, without truly believing in his power. We walk the surfaces of our churches, but maybe our heart is elsewhere! This woman, silent and anonymous, conquers her fears, touches the heart of Jesus with her hands, considered unclean because of her illness. And she is immediately healed. Jesus says to her: “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (Mk 5:34).
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As we celebrate the solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul, I invite you all to join me in prayer for Pope Leo, that he continues to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit in his task as shepherd of the flock entrusted to him. As our Holy Father, he brings particular gifts to the Church through his experience in Peru, where he served with some of the priests of our own Diocese; his times of leadership of the Augustinian Friars, and his service in the Dicastery for Bishops. He comes to the Petrine Office at a difficult time for the world. Let us join him in fervent prayer for peace – for which he has called so many times in these first weeks of his papacy. With him, and in the spirit of his predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, let us continue to strive for justice and promote the dignity of every person at every moment of life. St Peter, our first Pope, could not have imagined the steps he would be called to take in the service of the Lord. This is true of Pope Leo and, indeed, of every one of us. The life that is given to us in baptism – life lived in the love of the Holy Trinity – calls us to follow the Lord Himself, wherever he may lead us. As His disciples, we are called to learn from Him, to grow ever closer to Him, to be always faithful in our witness to Him. This is what it means to be a Pilgrim of Hope, for we journey towards the One who died and rose from the dead that we might have life – and whose first gift after the Resurrection was the gift of peace. As Pilgrims of Hope, may we – with Pope Leo – strive to share that gift with the world.  With every blessing,
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus speaks with clarity of the Father, Himself as the Son, and the Holy Spirit. His words express the unity that exists between the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. The Holy Spirit will speak what comes from the Son, who has all that belongs to the Father. We express this in the Creed when we speak about the Holy Spirit coming from the Father and the Son. The mystery of the Trinity is about relationships – the relationships that exist between Father, Son and Spirit, one God. The wonder of God, existing eternally – as we hear in the First Reading this Sunday – pours love into our hearts, as St Paul reminds us. It is truly wonderful for us to reflect that, through our baptism, we are brought to live our lives in the love that exists in the Trinity. We are enabled to live in relationship with a God who is all love and whose love we see and experience as it is lived between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As we rejoice in our relationship with the one God, three Persons, let us recall that it is God who gives us life and, in the coming days, pray very especially for respect for life in our own society as those in parliament prepare to vote on the “Assisted Dying Bill”. If you have not written to your MP, there is still time. May I thank all those who have written, for such action is a powerful witness to the wonder of life, given us by God. With every blessing,
Farewell and goodbye can often evoke feelings of sentiment, sadness, and departure, but they also mark an occasion of joy and the renewal of hope. We must trust in ourselves to move from the ordinary into the extraordinary, from this moment here in Horsham to every corner of the world. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to be available to all who wish to collaborate, share, and grow together. As I say goodbye, I carry with me all the cherished memories of your loving care, comforting hugs, and unwavering support. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, knowing that you will be there for me, even as I embark on my ministry and face times of need. A special thanks to Fr. Tristan for your kindness—you have made this year a memorable one for me. The portrayal of Pentecost in the Gospel is a vibrant and powerful image of the early church, awakened as an active missionary community. The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles, with tongues of fire alighting on their heads, breathing new life into this group. The transformation is nothing short of radical: once fearful and hiding in the upper room, they are now emboldened, inspired to go into the marketplaces and boldly proclaim the crucified Christ they believe in. They are no longer the trembling individuals they once were. They have been changed, transformed into a new creation—enthusiastic, eloquent, and with a profound sense of their vocation. The first Pentecost was indeed a striking and exciting moment in the life of the Church. However, the coming of the Holy Spirit is not a singular event confined to the Church’s foundation. The gift of the Holy Spirit, which was given at Pentecost, is still available to the worshipping community here in Horsham, provided we are open and willing to receive it. The Holy Spirit works through human beings like ourselves, depending on our willingness to respond to His promptings. This feast day offers us an excellent opportunity to reflect on how we are using the gifts God has entrusted to us. While our gifts may not always be as spectacular as those that amazed the onlookers at the first Pentecost, their value is no less significant. What matters most is how we use our talents for the benefit of others—whether we are a patient father, a loving mother, a good listener, a generous giver, or someone who takes time for the elderly and the needy. Let us all pray together: "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love." My contact details: Fr. Xavier Amirdasamy, PP and VF. St. Joseph’s RC Church, THIRUVALLUVAR NAGAR, LALGUDI S.O. TRICHY Dt-621702. Tamil Nadu, South India.  Mobile and WhatsApp +919443247835, Email xasun@yahoo.com.
Pope Francis
"From the open heart of the Crucified one, God’s love reaches each one of us. Let us allow His gaze to rest on us. We will understand that we are not alone, but loved, for the Lord does not abandon us and He never, ever forgets us"