I would like to take the opportunity, on behalf of St Columba’s parish, to say a big ‘thank you’ to all our altar servers. They do an excellent job and it is always good to see young people actively involved in the Church. - Well done, one and all.
One little criticism, though… It does not happen very frequently but on occasion there have been no altar servers at a Sunday Mass.
I am sure I am not alone in the parish in being a bit disappointed when that happens. What surprises me is that it happens despite there being a weekly rota with at least two and quite often three young people named as being ‘on duty’ for each of the four Sunday Masses
As I write, there are 34 young people in total on the Sunday Mass-servers’ rota. With a few exceptions, that means most servers are ‘on duty’ once every four or five weeks or so. Please do remember servers (and parents) that you need to arrange for someone else to ‘cover’ for you if you are unable to serve at any Mass at which you are ‘on duty’. (The names and phone numbers of all the servers are in the rota in order to enable you to do that.) Don’t forget either that all altar servers are welcome to serve, if they wish to or are needed, at any Sunday Mass they attend as well as the ones allocated on the rota.
Serving on the altar is an important ministry. As well as providing the means of serving God in a uniquely special way, it also gives the server an opportunity to participate in, and gain a special insight and understanding of, the Mass, which is after all the source and summit of our faith.
Thank you, all, for your commitment.
Deacon Philip
A letter from a parishioner who heard about the ‘Passion of the Christ’ video through David de Souza’s magazine contribution.This is just a quick note to congratulate you on the parish magazine. I have found it most enjoyable, easy to read and informative. (Please don’t be too modest to publish that opinion - it is well deserved). (Thanks, Marie—Ed)
We recently saw ‘The Passion of the Christ’. Thanks to David de Souza (Autumn edition) for pointing out that it was available to buy. It was a most harrowing experience and worth watching. Today we simply know that Christ ‘suffered’; that he was ‘flogged’; that he had a ‘crown of thorns’ placed upon his brow; and of course, that he was ‘crucified’. But few of us have any real idea of what this means and this film certainly gave me food for thought. We can undoubtedly say to the critics who have commented that they were not ‘converted’ or those who asked what point Mel Gibson was trying to make, that he was not aiming to convert anyone and he was not making any point. If Mr Gibson had been trying to convert non-Christians he would have focused on the miracles and the rising of Our Lord. It is simply a Christian film, made by Christians for Christians to bring home to us the suffering of Our Saviour.
Marie Lusty
All letters should be sent to the Editor, Tricia Steel at tricia_steel@hotmail.com, or via the Presbytery. All letters must be accompanied by the sender’s name and address, though we will not print the address, nor the name if requested