Our Gospel today is John’s version of the Baptism of Jesus by John. This fleshes out a bit more of this extraordinary event which we use to make the Liturgical Ordinary Time extraordinary because, in line with the Gospel, we are the ones upon whom the Holy Spirit has been sent. We must testify in this Holy Spirit to Jesus as the Son of God; that is our “Ordinary” task! After the High Season we settle into our regular parish activities. The Faith Formation programs are up and running, our first communion children are preparing to make their first confessions at the beginning of February, our Confirmandii are getting closer to their sacrament too. This weekend at the 11.30 am Mass we have the belated joy of honoring the contribution to life of the parish of Alonzo and Sandra Talamantes, who organize and run our excellent marriage pre-Cana course, are bedrocks of the chapel to church half-marathon and other activities in the parish. Keep your schedules free for our mini Choral Concert Festival. In the week of 17-21 February, two choirs will be offering wonderful concerts at SLdM. Peterborough Cathedral Choir from England and the Petit Chanteurs (Boys choir) from France. These are wonderful choirs. The boy’s choir has been here before. The Peterborough Cathedral Choir (one of the UK’s finest) is new to us, though their director is not – it is Tansy Castledine who used to be the director of music at St George’s College, the Josephite School in England, who brought that award winning choir here twice in the last few years. Thank you for the little notes and emails of personal support for me. I am now away until Saturday 8th of February. Pray for me as I will pray for you. God bless, Fr Aidan-Peter CJ
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter