Sunday January 13th. 2008
a highly regarded official of the Bank of Scotland, to take of the running of the finances of the diocese soon after his appointment. Roy completely reorganised the diocesan finances, and as a result the diocese is now in a very sound financial condition.
Spiritually, our diocese is no different from any other diocese in the country, or in Europe for that matter, for there are a large numbers of families who do not now come to mass or to the sacraments. They have been affected by the secularisation of the state. Our own country has one of the worst records in Europe in morality league table.
A new bishop, with the help of his priests and their flocks, will be able to face
the future with a certain confidence, assured of their support and their prayers,
to try to make each person more aware of his and her responsibility to fulfil their
baptismal vows by being totally faithful to Christ in a world that is becoming ever
more pagan.
Farewell to parishioners
Jack and Mary Beresford, the Knoll, who moved from Blackburn to Roy Bridge four years ago, have decided, with regret, to return to England for family health reasons.
Mary is Margaret and Peter’s sister, and we were delighted when we heard that another member of the Rose family and her husband had decided to come to live in Roy Bridge, and that the colony was rapidly increasing!
Mary and Jack are wonderful gardeners, and they have so enhanced the grounds around
their house, especially at the back, with decking, ponds and a glass house to bring
on their plants. Their lovely home, with its magnificent views and beautiful gardens,
must have been an immediate attraction to every prospective buyer.
Mary and Jack sang regularly in St. Margaret’s choir, and we will miss them for
this as well.
They had a particular attachment to Goa, where they spend their annual holiday, and have many friends there. They brought back a beautiful hymn from the church where they attend mass, and our choir sings it on occasions.
We are so sorry to see them leave us, and we wish them every blessing and happiness for the future, and they have our prayers for the continued good health of their family.
Baptism of Our Lord
Our Lord had joined the queue of sinners wishing to be baptised by John in the river Jordan. He was the Son of God, and was sinless, but he wanted humanity to be consecrated in the waters of the Jordan by the gift of the Holy Spirit, and so he insisted that John baptise him. At that moment, the heavens opened, and the Father’s voice was heard saying: This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him. Then, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove.
The seeds of the Christian life are sown in baptism which means we belong to God's family, are able to call God, 'Father' and Jesus Christ 'our brother', and so we are brothers and sisters in Christ, members of one great family. the Church
Like Christ, we have been chosen for a mission in the world of our time -
The truth is, baptism is not over and done with when the priest pours water over
our head and the sacred ceremony is completed. The sacrament is the planting of the
seed of Christian life which grows and bears fruit through the Holy Spirit as we
develop our life-