Newsletter 13th July 2025

12 July 2025

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 13 July 2025

Theme: “Go and Do Likewise” – Living the Mercy of the Good Samaritan

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that being a neighbour means responding with compassion and action. The story of the Good Samaritan challenges us to see beyond labels and boundaries. Wherever there is suffering, there is a call for mercy.

Parish Feast of St Ann – Sunday, 27 July at 10:30 am

Join us for our Parish Feast Day beginning with 10:30 am Mass, followed by a joyful celebration in the garden including:

Barbecue
Raffle
Live music and dancing
International food

We also invite you to attend the three-day Novena leading up to the feast:

Friday, 25 July at 7:00 pm – for Expectant Mothers
Saturday, 26 July at 6:00 pm – for Grandchildren and Youth
Sunday, 27 July at 10:30 am – Feast Day Mass for all Families

Let’s come together as one family of faith!

Thank You – Cappagh Group

We offer our sincere thanks to the Cappagh Group of Companies for their generous and professional support in renovating the church entrance and garden area. The transformation reflects the Gospel spirit of service and kindness. Work will be completed next week, and we look forward to sharing photos soon.

Church Maintenance – Double Glazing Appeal

We are upgrading the presbytery’s windows for better insulation. Kindly support this project:
Account Name: RCAS Kingston Hill
Sort Code: 60-50-01
Account Number: 79124429
Reference: Double Glazing

NL July 13 St Ann 25 Download

Homily – Gospel: Luke 10:25–37 – The Good Samaritan

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

Today we meet a man who knows the law – a lawyer – coming to Jesus not to test Him only, but because something is missing in his own life. He asks:
“Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
(Luke 10:25)

A man of law, a man of arguments, used to justifying, reasoning, measuring. But something in him realises – the law alone cannot give life. Logic alone cannot bring love. Knowledge alone cannot save.

Jesus turns the question back to him – “What is written in the law?”
He answers well:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind… and your neighbour as yourself.”

Still… he is not satisfied. He presses on – “Who is my neighbour?”
And this opens the door to one of the greatest stories ever told – the story of the Good Samaritan.

Let us go deeper, my dear friends. This parable is not just a story. It’s a mirror. It’s a window into our own journey.

As Shakespeare says in his writing, “The world is a stage… and all the men and women merely players.” (cf. Shakespeare, As You Like It)

We come in, we go out. We journey through life. And on the way – we meet people. God places souls on our path – not by accident, but by purpose.

As Paulo Coelho writes in The Alchemist,
“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”
Each encounter is an invitation. Each moment, a mission.

Now, pause for a moment and think with me:

Who is this Samaritan?

He is not a priest. He is not a Levite. He is not recognised or celebrated by religion. In fact, he is looked down upon by the Jews. A half-believer, a sinner, unclean. Yet Jesus calls him “Good”.
Not because of what he believed, but because of what he did.

That one act of kindness – to stop, to stoop, to lift, to care – that one act elevated his whole community. Today we call it the Samaritan Act.
An entire people who were looked down upon – lifted up because of the compassion of one man.

Let me ask you – how many people have we passed by?
How many have we ignored, saying, “Not today… I’m busy… someone else will help”?

The Levite crosses the road.
The priest turns away.
But the Samaritan – perhaps a travelling merchant, with places to go – he stops.
He pours oil and wine. He bandages the wounds.
He carries him, pays for him, promises to return.

He goes the extra mile.

And now, dear brothers and sisters… let me come closer to home.

Last week, I met a man named Andre, here in our parish, with his wife and cousin. After Mass, we had a beautiful conversation – warm, joyful, thoughtful. I noticed the book in his hand, a man of depth.
A man of faith, humility, sincerity.
And this week, he is no longer with us.

How fragile is life! How sudden the journey turns!

I thank God that I had the grace to meet him, to speak to him, even briefly.
“Maybe tomorrow” is not always given to us.
What we can do today – to love, to care, to bless – we must not delay.

So I ask you again:

Who is your neighbour?

Not the one who lives next door…
But the one whom God places on your path.
The one who needs your hand, your time, your kindness.

Because every time you stop to help a wounded soul,
Every time you refuse to cross to the other side,
You become a Good Samaritan.
And in doing so, you inherit eternal life.

As St. Mother Teresa once said:
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

May the Lord give us the grace to see with His eyes,
to love with His heart,
and to act with His hands.