Friday is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and it’s a Holy Day of Obligation: A day when Catholics are asked to show their commitment to the faith by coming to Mass. Mass times in the parish can be found here. It’s also a day when feasting is to be encouraged and so the normal practise of abstaining from meat need not be observed.
The SPUC National Conference takes place from 5th – 7th September, 2014 at
Swanwick, Derbyshire. Bishop Philip Egan, Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth, has this to say:
“This is a golden opportunity to receive updates regarding new
legislation, research and other news on life and family issues.
It is also a great opportunity to recharge our batteries for
the year ahead and socialise with other enthusiastic
pro-lifers.”
For more information see their website.
Today is the feast day of St Clare, the founder of the Poor Clares and patron saint of radio and television broadcasters. It is also the day on which the community of Cistercian sisters at Whitland celebrate the Golden Anniversary of one of their community. For more information on St Clare, here’s the Wiki page.
Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP
Sir, over the past few days I have watched with horror at the events unfolding in Iraq. Only this morning I saw a video from the Iraqi parliament of a Yazidi MP making an impassioned plea for help for her community (link below).
The Yazidi and Christian populations, among others, are facing slaughter by IS (formerly ISIS).
Recently the Papal Nuncio issued a letter to Cardinal Vincent Nichols asking for him to offer assistance in spreading a request from Pope Francis that initiatives be undertaken to highlight the plight of these people, and to offer them help and support.
Mr Crabb, please, I urge you, speak out on their behalf in our parliament, that something may be done to rescue, protect or offer humanitarian support to these most vulnerable people.
Many of my parishioners are also duly concerned, and I am sure would welcome a statement from you on this matter.
I look forward to your reply and I offer you my prayers and support for your ministry of service.
I am, yours faithfully,
Fr Liam Bradley.
And here’s the reply:
Dear Father Liam,
Thank you for your recent email regarding the current situation in Iraq.
I too am appalled by the persecution of minority groups in the country and the desperate situation many of them face. The Prime Minister has strongly condemned the treatment of the minority Yazidi community who have been trapped on Mount Sinjar. The brutal events we have seen just in the last 48 hours underline again what an abhorrent force is at work in Iraq.
You may be aware that we are already providing humanitarian aid to the region. UK advisers have also been sent to cities under threat of occupation. We fully support the decision of the United States to agree to the Iraqi Government’s request for help in the form of targeted airstrikes. They have already destroyed some arms and equipment belonging to Islamic State, and have provided supplies to Kurdish forces who are opening a road for trapped Yazidis. While we are not joining the United States in a military capacity, we will be providing logistical support in terms of refuelling and surveillance.
Please be assured that my Ministerial colleagues will be monitoring the developing situation in Iraq very closely.
Thank you again for your email. If you would like to discuss this important matter further, please get in touch.
Kind regards
Stephen
The Chaldean Patriarch has issued an appeal for urgent help for those Christians under attack from ISIS. Pope Francis yesterday issued a statement calling for worldwide efforts to assist those affected by increasing violence. Let us not be ignorant of the plight of our brothers and sisters.
Aid to the Church in Need is an international Catholic charity under the guidance of the Holy See, providing assistance to the suffering and persecuted Church in more than 140 countries.
If you’re on holiday here in Pembrokeshire, then welcome to the gem that is South West Wales! We hope you’ll have fun here, that you’ll take away lasting memories, make new friends and be kept safe and well.
You’ll find a warm welcome in our parish; please do call in to visit us and to pray with us. Mass times can be found Here.
Sponsor forms have now been sent out across the diocese – that’s about 51 separate churches. Keep watching this space as electronic sponsorship will soon be going live too! Fr Mansel and Fr Liam will jump from 12,000 feet – about 2.3miles – and will fall back to the earth at speeds approaching 120mph; The free-fall will take almost a minute….aghhhhh Scary stuff!
St David and St Patrick Catholic Church 
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