Coming Together

In a week’s time our parish of All Saints, will gather as one. We sincerely hope that you will be there at Trinity School to celebrate this important and momentous occasion. Our three communities of St Teresa of Lisieux, Aspley, St Hugh of Lincoln, Bilbborough and St Thomas More, Wollaton have long and proud histories, each stretching back well over half a century of catholic witness in this area of west Nottingham. We want to celebrate that proud history in the best way we know, by coming together next Sunday, to actively participate in the Mass which will inaugurate the next stage in the future of our communities. This coming together does not mean that we lose that history. On the contrary, it means that the example of those dedicated and committed parishioners who created and established the catholic presence in this area, can become the inspiration for us, as the generation charged with the task of ensuring that the presence of the gospel continues to shine forth in this place. Their example can animate us to reach out beyond our catholic community and bring the message of Christ anew to others who have not yet heard it or who have lost touch with it. This celebration is both a thanksgiving for what we have received from our forebears as well as a launchpad for what we are inspired by them to build and to hand on.

This work cannot be done without you. Your role in actively participating in the living out of your catholic faith is the only way in which it can be achieved. It means being alive in the life of the Church, showing through your witness that the gospel message continues to shine forth from our Churches, from our schools, from our homes and in our families. We know that we can do this because of what we have already achieved. Coming together as one parish is the next step in this process. Recognising each other as co-workers in the vineyard of the Lord is now our identity. We are called by Jesus to embrace the moment.

In the gospel today the challenge is laid down. “Lord, when did I see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison and did not come to your help?” All we have to do is to look around and we see the issue laid out before us. This is the vineyard in which we are called to work. With God’s grace and with each other’s encouragement and support we can achieve so much. Together let us aspire to make this parish of All Saints a place where the kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace become the fruits of our union.

Come to our celebration!