Today is the Nativity of our Lady, born to Ss Joachim and Ann: parents of our Lady and the grandparents of the Lord. Whilst Rome decided since 1969 that Sunday Masses take precendence over lesser feasts, it would be remiss of us not to mark our Lady’s birthday: to ask her prayers and to ask the prayers of her mother and father, too. In doing so we rememeber the Fourth Commandment: Honour your father and your mother. Our Lady was given by the Lord as our mother also, when she stood at the foot of the Cross. Let’s ask her prayers as we celebrate her Nativity - our Lady’s birth (in God’s Providence) made the Lord’s own Nativity possible.

Meanwhile, as the schools return for their new academic year, the Masses this week are celebrated in each of our four primary schools in turn, at the schools’ request. Please pray for the staff, children, and families of our five schools as they embark on a new year of learning. Finally, our group of pilgrims carried all your intentions to Rome this past week and we returned safely, thank God. May the prayers of the new-born baby Mary support us in the week ahead.