Theotokos Prayer Group - Passion Sunday, 29 March 2026 - Palm Sunday

 

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
Christ became for us obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

Gospel:    Matthew 21:1-11

‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’
When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, “The Lord needs them”, and he will send them at once.’ This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘Say to the daughter of Sion, “Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” ’
  The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’ And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, ‘Who is this?’ And the crowds said, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.’

Notes from meeting on 24 March:

Picture of  a large Cross, all that can be seen in the centre is the suffering Sacred Heart of Jesus. His Heart is pulsating and every so often convulsing in great pain and a large globule of His Blood erupts and falls onto what looks like a granite rock. When His Blood hits the rock it softens and becomes malleable and pliable.

"My People,
Do not walk away from Me, come be with Me, harden not your hearts, let My great Love, the Love of My Blood poured out for you, draw you to Me.

Let My Blood soften and warm you, you my people gather round Me, I Myself draw you to Me, let My Blood be not wasted for it is too much to bear.

See how my Heart convulses and bleeds for Love of You. You that love Me bring to Me those in prayer that cause My Heart so much pain. Together let us draw them to My burning throbbing Heart, this Heart that is annihilated by Love for those who ignore my most heartfelt Love.

You My Lambs become living sacrifices of love and so draw to My Heart those I most desire, let not My Blood be wasted dear ones. I LOVE YOU!
Your Jesus"

Psalm 46, 1 to 7

___________________________

LEO XIV

GENERAL AUDIENCE

St Peter's Square

Wednesday, 25 March 2026

_________________

Catechesis. The Documents of the Second Vatican Council. II. Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium. 5. On the foundation of the Apostles. The Church in her hierarchical dimension

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

We will continue our catecheses on the Documents of the Second Vatican Council, commenting on the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium on the Church (LG). After presenting her as the People of God, today we will consider her hierarchical form.

The Catholic Church is founded on the Apostles, whom Christ appointed as the living pillars of His mystical Body, and possesses a hierarchical structure that works in the service of the unity, mission and sanctification of all her members. This sacred Order is permanently founded on the Apostles (cf. Eph 2:20; Rev 21:14), as authoritative witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus (cf. Acts 1:22; 1 Cor 15:7) and sent by the Lord Himself on mission into the world (cf. Mk 16:15; Mt 28:19). Since the Apostles are called to faithfully preserve the Master’s salvific teaching (cf. 2 Tim 1:13–14), they hand on their ministry to men who, until Christ’s return, continue to sanctify, guide and instruct the Church “through their successors in pastoral office” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 857).

This apostolic succession, founded on the Gospel and in the Tradition, is explored further in Chapter III of Lumen gentium, entitled “On the hierarchical structure of the Church and in particular on the Episcopate”. The Council teaches that the hierarchical structure is not a human construct, functional to the internal organization of the Church as a social body (cf. LG, 8), but a divine institution whose purpose is to perpetuate the mission given by Christ to the Apostles until the end of time.

The fact that this theme is addressed in Chapter III, after the first two chapters have considered the very essence of the Church (cf. Acta Synodalia III/1, 209–210), does not imply that the hierarchical constitution is a subsequent element with respect to the People of God: as the Decree Ad gentes notes, “the Apostles were the first budding-forth of the New Israel, and at the same time the beginning of the sacred hierarchy” (no. 5), inasmuch as they were the community of those redeemed by Christ’s Paschal Mystery, established as a means of salvation for the world.

To understand the Council’s intention, it is advisable to read carefully the title of Chapter III of Lumen gentium, which explains the fundamental structure of the Church, received from God the Father through the Son and brought to fulfilment by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Council Fathers did not want to present the institutional elements of the Church, as the noun “constitution” might imply if understood in the modern sense. The Document concentrates instead on the “ministerial or hierarchical priesthood”, which differs “in essence and not only in degree” from the common priesthood of the faithful, recalling that the latter are “nonetheless interrelated: each of them in its own special way is a participation in the one priesthood of Christ” (LG, 10). The Council thus addresses the ministry conferred upon men endowed with sacra potestas, sacred power (cf. LG, 18) for service in the Church: it focuses in particular on the episcopate (LG, 18–27), then on the priesthood (LG, 28) and the diaconate (LG, 29) as degrees of the one sacrament of Holy Orders.

By the adjective “hierarchical”, therefore, the Council intends to indicate the sacred origin of the apostolic ministry in the action of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, as well as its internal relationships. The Bishops, first and foremost, and through them the priests and deacons, have received tasks (in Latin munera), which lead them to the service of “all those who belong to the People of God”, so that, “working toward a common goal freely and in an orderly way, [they] may arrive at salvation” (LG, 18).

Lumen gentium repeatedly and effectively recalls the collegial and communal nature of this apostolic mission, reaffirming that the “duty which the Lord committed to the shepherds of His people is a true service, which in sacred literature is significantly called ‘diakonia’ or ministry” (LG, 24). We can therefore understand why Saint Paul VI presented the hierarchy as a reality “born of the charity of Christ, to fulfil, spread and ensure the intact and fruitful transmission of the wealth of faith, examples, precepts and charisms bequeathed by Christ to His Church” (Address, 14 September 1964, in Acta Synodalia III/1, 147).

Dear sisters, dear brothers, let us pray to the Lord that He may send to His Church ministers who are ardent with evangelical charity, dedicated to the good of all the baptized, and courageous missionaries in every part of the world.

____________________________________________

Special greetings:

I extend a warm welcome to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those coming from England, Ireland, Tanzania, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States of America. I greet in particular the students of the University of Dallas Rome Program. As we continue our Lenten journey, let us ask the Lord to grant us the grace to imitate Our Blessed Mother in her total “yes” to the Lord, and so open our hearts to his will for our lives. Upon all of you and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!

_____________________________

Summary of the Holy Father's words:

Dear brothers and sisters,

In our ongoing catechesis on the Second Vatican Council, today we reflect on the teachings of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium concerning the hierarchical structure of the Church. In this regard, it is helpful to bear in mind that the Church is not something we invented, but is a divine institution established by Jesus himself. Christ appointed the apostles, placing Peter at their head, and sent them out to continue his salvific mission until his return in glory. To perpetuate this same mission, ministers were invested with sacred power to be the successors of the Apostles as Bishops, in whose ministry priests and deacons likewise participate through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Sharing in the ministry of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, they are consecrated to serve the faithful, build up the Church and ensure the fruitful transmission of the faith. Let us therefore ask the Lord to continue to bless his Church with shepherds after his own heart.

______________________________________________

Intercessions

I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. Should they cry to me in any distress, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever...

We pray in reparation for all offences against the life and dignity of the human person from conception until natural death. Lord have mercy on us!

Pray for our new Pope, Leo XIV, that he may shepherd the Church and proclaim Christ to the World.

Pope’s Prayer Intention – March 2026
For disarmament and peace.
Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament,
and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus have Mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.

We pray for all who are ill in mind body or spirit and all those in any need or difficulty.

Pray for Christine awaiting CT scan results for suspected pancreatic cancer.

Pray for Marcin 

Pray for Jacob who is 6 years old he has been diagnosed with Perthes disease which affects his ability to walk.

Pray for John Morgan with pneumonia

Pray for upbuilding of Marriage and Family..

Pray for peace in our Country and our communities.

Pray for our young people that they may be protected from the evil one, that they may find a home in the loving Heart of Jesus.

Pray for all in our Parishes who are ill in body, mind or spirit.

Pray for Disha that he may find employment.

Pray for all those we have been asked and have promised to pray for.

Pray for all who are grieving give them strength, consolation and healing.

Pray for our Priests and for vocations to the Priesthood.

Pray for lost souls.

Pray for the conversion of the World.

Lord we continue to pray for Peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza and throughout the World.

Lord we pray for persecuted Christians throughout the World.

Lord we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all peoples and nations.

Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory may they be granted eternal rest.

Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos, pray for us.
Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Mary, Bride of the Spirit, pray for us.

If anyone has any prophecy, prayers, readings or intercessions I encourage you to please send them to
me. Let us share with one another the gifts and inspirations of the Spirit!
Also if there any changes necessary to the intercessions - please let me know

Resources
1.Theotokos Prayer Group:
https://www.facebook.com/Theotokos-Prayer-Group-142398089120415
/http://theotokosprayergroup.blogspot.co.uk/
2. Daily Mass readings can be found at:
https://universalis.com/mass.htm
3. Bishops Conference of England and Wales Website -
https://www.cbcew.org.uk
4. Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle Website:
Home - Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle (diocesehn.org.uk)
5. Catholic Charismatic Renewal International
https://www.charis.international/en/home/
6. Celebrate Conference website
https://www.celebratetrust.org/
7. CHARIS in England and Wales
https://www.charisuk.com/
8.CaFE - Catholic Faith Exploration (faithcafe.org)

9. The Holy See

https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html

Events

Our next meeting is on 31 March 2026 at 7.30pm in The Creche in St Patricks Church, Glenfield Road, Fairfield, Stockton TS19 7PL. All welcome. 

Stephen's fundraising page Big Lent Walk 2026 is fundraising for CAFOD -
https://walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/stephens-fundraising-page-2026
Please support if you can, thank you 😊

So far I have walked 189km of my 200km target and raised £285 of my £200 target !

Theotokos Prayer Group - Fifth Sunday of Lent - 22 March 2026

 

Glory to you, O Christ, Son of the living God.
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord.
Everyone who believes in me shall never die.
Glory to you, O Christ, Son of the living God.

Gospel:    John 11:1-45

‘I am the resurrection and the life.’
At that time: A certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary, who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’
  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.’ After saying these things, he said to them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.’ Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’ So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’
  Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’
  When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?’
  Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be a smell, for he has been dead four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’
  Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him.

Notes from meeting on 17 March:

Picture of Blessed Mother’s Immaculate Heart. It seems to grow larger and larger like a flower open in full bloom, it grows so large that people can enter through a door into a large Temple, in this Temple is Jesus who is pouring out His Precious Blood as a libation for sin throughout the World!
Those who enter find Sanctuary and comfort!

"My dear little children,
Things look very dire, and it is hard for you to keep praying with the onslaught of my adversary, but my little ones God the Most High can turn that which you think Is a disaster into a work of triumph, if you stay united to My Heart and that of My Son Jesus!
Keep up your prayers even when all seems lost.
When you feel you can’t go on turn to My Immaculate Heart there you will find succour and the strength to carry on. Pray my little ones pray for those who need soon to make their peace with My Son Jesus.
I Mary Your Mother call you to My Immaculate Heart that loves you and I thank you each for listening and obeying My call.
Mary"

Malachi 4:2 

“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.

One of the group shared this beautiful prayer - let us pray for the gift of discernment for ourselves, our families, our prayer groups, our parishes:

FOR FORMATION IN DISCERNMENT  
POPE LEO XIV 22ND JULY 25  
Let us pray that we might again learn how to  discern and how to choose paths of life and to reject  everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.  
Holy Spirit, you light of our understanding, gentle  breath that guides our decisions, grant me the grace to listen  attentively to your voice and to discern the hidden  paths of my heart that I may grasp what truly matters  to you and free my heart from the struggles and I ask  you for the grace to learn how to pause, to become aware of the way I act, of the feelings that grow within me and  of the thoughts that overwhelm me which so often I fail to notice I long for my choices to lead me to the joy of the Gospel even if I must go through moments of doubt and fatigue,  even if I must struggle, reflect, search and begin again.  Because at the end of the journey, your consolation  is the fruit of the decision.  

Grant me a deeper understanding of what moves me so that I may reject what draws me away from Christ and love Him and serve Him more fully.  Amen

Intercessions

I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. Should they cry to me in any distress, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever...

We pray in reparation for all offences against the life and dignity of the human person from conception until natural death. Lord have mercy on us!

Pray for our new Pope, Leo XIV, that he may shepherd the Church and proclaim Christ to the World.

Pope’s Prayer Intention – March 2026
For disarmament and peace.
Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament,
and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus have Mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.

We pray for all who are ill in mind body or spirit and all those in any need or difficulty.

(as we begin the new year, If you have any specific prayer intentions please let me know)

Pray for Christine awaiting CT scan results for suspected pancreatic cancer.

Pray for Marcin 

Pray for Jacob who is 6 years old he has been diagnosed with Perthes disease which affects his ability to walk.

Pray for John Morgan with pneumonia

Pray for upbuilding of Marriage and Family..

Pray for peace in our Country and our communities.

Pray for our young people that they may be protected from the evil one, that they may find a home in the loving Heart of Jesus.

Pray for all in our Parishes who are ill in body, mind or spirit.

Pray for Disha that he may find employment.

Pray for all those we have been asked and have promised to pray for.

Pray for all who are grieving give them strength, consolation and healing.

Pray for our Priests and for vocations to the Priesthood.

Pray for lost souls.

Pray for the conversion of the World.

Lord we continue to pray for Peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza and throughout the World.

Lord we pray for persecuted Christians throughout the World.

Lord we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all peoples and nations.

Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory may they be granted eternal rest.

Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos, pray for us.
Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Mary, Bride of the Spirit, pray for us.

If anyone has any prophecy, prayers, readings or intercessions I encourage you to please send them to
me. Let us share with one another the gifts and inspirations of the Spirit!
Also if there any changes necessary to the intercessions - please let me know

Resources
1.Theotokos Prayer Group:
https://www.facebook.com/Theotokos-Prayer-Group-142398089120415
/http://theotokosprayergroup.blogspot.co.uk/
2. Daily Mass readings can be found at:
https://universalis.com/mass.htm
3. Bishops Conference of England and Wales Website -
https://www.cbcew.org.uk
4. Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle Website:
Home - Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle (diocesehn.org.uk)
5. Catholic Charismatic Renewal International
https://www.charis.international/en/home/
6. Celebrate Conference website
https://www.celebratetrust.org/
7. CHARIS in England and Wales
https://www.charisuk.com/
8.CaFE - Catholic Faith Exploration (faithcafe.org)

9. The Holy See

https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html

Events

Our next meeting is on 24 March 2026 at 7.30pm in The Creche in St Patricks Church, Glenfield Road, Fairfield, Stockton TS19 7PL. All welcome. 

Stephen's fundraising page Big Lent Walk 2026 is fundraising for CAFOD -
https://walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/stephens-fundraising-page-2026
Please support if you can, thank you 😊

So far I have walked 155km of my 200km target and raised £265 of my £200 target !

Theotokos Prayer Group 4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday) 15 March 2026

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus.

Gospel:    John 9:1-41

‘He went and washed and received his sight.’
At that time: As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
  The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said, ‘It is he.’ Others said, ‘No, but he is like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’ So they said to him, ‘Then how were your eyes opened?’ He answered, ‘The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.” So I went and washed and received my sight.’ They said to him, ‘Where is he?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’
  They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, ‘He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.’ Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.’ But others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?’ And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, ‘What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’
  The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.’ His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’
  So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, ‘Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.’ He answered, ‘Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He answered them, ‘I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?’ And they reviled him, saying, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man answered, ‘Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.’ They answered him, ‘You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?’ And they cast him out.
  Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe’, and he worshipped him. Jesus said, ‘For judgement I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.’ Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, ‘Are we also blind?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, “We see”, your guilt remains.’

Lord that we may see!

Notes from meeting on 10 March:

Picture of Blessed Mother with Her Hands over the Earth, Above and Behind Her is Jesus He Is Hanging On His Cross.

From Blessed Mothers Hands Are Rays Of Light Penetrating the Hearts of Her Army!

Jesus’ Blood Flows Down Upon the Earth

"My dear little children,

I have prayed to the Almighty for graces of perseverance in prayer for you, to pray from deep within your hearts and that you would unite your prayers to mine and so cause the Holy Spirit to blow gently the Precious Blood of My Son Jesus to those parts of the Earth that are most in need of His Divine Mercy!

Pray, pray, pray My little ones, this really is the time to say your Rosary and make sacrifice to God the Father, let us together you ad I help to bring souls to My Son as Jesus thirsts for them from His Cross!

Let us together redouble our efforts, try to be Holy, set your face toward My Son and not look left or right at all that is put out to distract you.

Together we will be victorious for Jesus My Son.

My Maternal Heart is with you in all your efforts.

This Mother loves all her children, won’t you help Me?

Mary"

1 Corinthians 6 v 9 - 11

9 Do you not realise that people who do evil will never inherit the kingdom of God? Make no mistake -- the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, the self-indulgent, sodomites,
10 thieves, misers, drunkards, slanderers and swindlers, none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 Some of you used to be of that kind: but you have been washed clean, you have been sanctified, and you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and through the Spirit of our God.

Come Holy Spirit renew the face of the Earth!

Intercessions

I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. Should they cry to me in any distress, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever...

We pray in reparation for all offences against the life and dignity of the human person from conception until natural death. Lord have mercy on us!

Pray for our new Pope, Leo XIV, that he may shepherd the Church and proclaim Christ to the World.

Pope’s Prayer Intention – March 2026
For disarmament and peace.
Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament,
and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus have Mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.

We pray for all who are ill in mind body or spirit and all those in any need or difficulty.

(as we begin the new year, If you have any specific prayer intentions please let me know)

Pray for Christine awaiting CT scan results for suspected pancreatic cancer.

Pray for Marcin 

Pray for Jacob who is 6 years old he has been diagnosed with Perthes disease which affects his ability to walk.

Pray for John Morgan with pneumonia

Pray for upbuilding of Marriage and Family..

Pray for peace in our Country and our communities.

Pray for our young people that they may be protected from the evil one, that they may find a home in the loving Heart of Jesus.

Pray for all in our Parishes who are ill in body, mind or spirit.

Pray for Disha that he may find employment.

Pray for all those we have been asked and have promised to pray for.

Pray for all who are grieving give them strength, consolation and healing.

Pray for our Priests and for vocations to the Priesthood.

Pray for lost souls.

Pray for the conversion of the World.

Lord we continue to pray for Peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza and throughout the World.

Lord we pray for persecuted Christians throughout the World.

Lord we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all peoples and nations.

Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory may they be granted eternal rest.

Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos, pray for us.
Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Mary, Bride of the Spirit, pray for us.

If anyone has any prophecy, prayers, readings or intercessions I encourage you to please send them to
me. Let us share with one another the gifts and inspirations of the Spirit!
Also if there any changes necessary to the intercessions - please let me know

Resources
1.Theotokos Prayer Group:
https://www.facebook.com/Theotokos-Prayer-Group-142398089120415
/http://theotokosprayergroup.blogspot.co.uk/
2. Daily Mass readings can be found at:
https://universalis.com/mass.htm
3. Bishops Conference of England and Wales Website -
https://www.cbcew.org.uk
4. Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle Website:
Home - Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle (diocesehn.org.uk)
5. Catholic Charismatic Renewal International
https://www.charis.international/en/home/
6. Celebrate Conference website
https://www.celebratetrust.org/
7. CHARIS in England and Wales
https://www.charisuk.com/
8.CaFE - Catholic Faith Exploration (faithcafe.org)

9. The Holy See

https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html

Events

Our next meeting is on 17 March 2026 at 7.30pm in The Creche in St Patricks Church, Glenfield Road, Fairfield, Stockton TS19 7PL. All welcome. 

Feast of St Patrick Tuesday 17 March - St Patrick pray for us

Feast of St Joseph Thursday 19 March - St Joseph pray for us

Stephen's fundraising page Big Lent Walk 2026 is fundraising for CAFOD -
https://walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/stephens-fundraising-page-2026
Please support if you can, thank you 😊

So far I have walked 128km of my 200km target and raised £230 of my £200 target !

Sent by Stephen Allison on Saturday, March 14 at 4:04PM

Theotokos Prayer Group - Third Sunday of Lent, 8 March 2026

 

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God.
Lord, you are indeed the Saviour of the world;
give me living water, so that I will not be thirsty.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God.

Gospel:    John 4:5-42

‘A spring of water welling up to eternal life.’
At that time: Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
  A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?’ (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.’
  Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come here.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, “I have no husband”; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming — he who is called Christ. When he comes, he will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am he.’
  Just then his disciples came back. They marvelled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you seek?’ or, ‘Why are you talking with her?’ So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’ They went out of the town and were coming to him.
  Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, ‘Rabbi, eat.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Has anyone brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, “There are yet four months, then comes the harvest”? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’
  Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.’

God our Father,
in your infinite love and goodness you have shown us that prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are remedies for sin.
Accept the humble admission of our guilt, and when our conscience weighs us down let your unfailing mercy raise us up.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Notes from meetings:

24 February

Picture of World in all its beautiful rich colours as created by God, over the years the colours have become faded and some have disappeared!
At the base of the World is a coiled snake squeezing the very life out of the Planet!
Jesus appears His Heart is pulsing. Blessed Mother appears  above the World holding Her Rosary!

"My dear little children
I hold out My hand to you with My Rosary, this IS the weapon of every day to reverse and mitigate the adversary!
The more you pray, the more you receive the Sacraments, the more you make sacrifices, the more My Son’s Heart is softened and Mercy flows! 

NOW is the time for sustained prayers My little ones, keeping your families, your countries, your own hearts and especially your Church and Priests before My Sons Most Sacred Heart.
This is necessary to make up for the outrages against Him whose Heart is only Love.
This is necessary to overcome and lessen punishments.
My Son is always with His people, and I your Mother will act immediately when called on to protect His People.
May the Holy Spirit aid you in My request.
Mary Mother of Jesus and your Mother
Mary"

3 March

Picture of many people offering their heartfelt prayers to Jesus and Blessed Mother!
Jesus places in each heart a small white disc of bread which is truly His Body, in the disc can be seen the Face of Jesus!
Blessed Mother touches each heart with Her simple white Rosary, each heart seems to enclose these gifts.

"My dear little children My Son Jesus gives you Himself Body & Blood and places Himself In your hearts.

This children, is a magnificent gift that He gave to enhance your spiritual life, your prayer life and to help keep you looking always toward Him, for if HE is within you the adversary cannot be, If He Is within you, you can accomplish all that is required of you.
I speak as His Mother but also yours, pray My little ones, pray Rosaries, receive the Eucharist, My Son Jesus, keep yourselves as full of grace as possible by going to Confession to My Priest Sons, make sacrifices, this will please the Holy Trinity and will return to Them Their due, which is your love and worship and so graces will fall on many poor souls who in turn will come to know Jesus.
You are My Sons people the apple of His eye and He loves you and I love you.
Mary Mother of Jesus."

Hebrews 8 6-10

PRAY FOR PEACE!

Regarding the ongoing wars in the Middle East, Pope Leo XIV asked priests to immediately open the doors of churches, invite people to pray the Holy Rosary and humbly pray before the Blessed Sacrament. The American pope urged the faithful to go to their churches or the nearest church to pray. The pope also issued a warning to the world, saying: “The wars in the Middle East and now in Ukraine and Crimea are very serious and will spread. To stop them, we must pray to God to fill the world with his mercy, to enlighten rulers with the Holy Spirit, to distinguish good from evil, and to fight together for peace and love.” Pope Leo XIV asked priests to celebrate the Eucharist simply and lovingly, and repeated his appeal to all Christians: “Pray, pray, pray, unite in prayer every day. Wherever you are in the world, at any time you like, put aside everything and ask God to send the Holy Spirit to the earth!”

 Say the Our Father three times and the Hail Mary three times. A prayer to send the Holy Spirit to earth:

If you can, share this message with your loved ones.

The Pope writes and asks for our help in spreading it. For world peace

We are asked to repeat this prayer from today:

*Most Holy Trinity, Almighty God, Precious Blood of Christ, destroy Satan and nullify and paralyze the plots of those who control the whole world.*

*Immaculate Heart of Mary, destroy Satan and nullify and paralyze the plots of those who control the whole world.*

*Saint Michael the Archangel, bind Satan and nullify and paralyze the plots of those who control the whole world.  Amen!*

Recite this prayer once and share it with others; in a short time, many will repeat it.

We must believe in God and remember that prayer has power.

May God bless the world.🙏🏻

_____

From Ivan Dragicevic (Medjugorje visionary): 

People often call me these days and ask if Our Lady has anything to say about the Gulf War. My answer: Our Lady's message of peace in the context of today's wars.

Dear brothers and sisters,

We live in a time when the news almost daily speaks of wars, divisions and unrest. The names of countries, alliances, interests, powerful people are mentioned... but behind every piece of news there are people - families, children, mothers who cry.

Our Lady does not speak politically in her messages. She does not analyze strategies or military plans. Her message is simple but profound:

"Peace, peace, peace - and only peace."

This is not a slogan. It is the cry of the Mother.

⸻

1. War begins in the heart

Our Lady teaches us that war does not begin at borders, but in the human heart.

It begins when forgiveness disappears.

It begins when pride takes hold.

It begins when a person forgets God.

Today we see conflicts in the world – from the Middle East to Europe, from tensions between nations to divisions within families. But Our Lady takes us back to the beginning: peace begins within me.

If there is no peace within me, how will there be peace in the world?

⸻

2. Prayer and fasting – weapons of peace

On several occasions Our Lady has said that even wars can be stopped through prayer and fasting.

This is a spiritual logic that transcends politics.

The world believes in the power of weapons.

Heaven believes in the power of a kneeling heart.

When a family prays together, walls are torn down.

When a nation fasts and converts, the spiritual climate changes.

We may not be able to negotiate between countries, but we can:

   •   pray the rosary for peace

   •   fast for the conversion of the world

   •   forgive those who have hurt us

This is our responsibility.

⸻

3. Peace as a personal decision

Our Lady does not call us to be observers. She calls us to be bearers of peace.

In a world full of noise, she seeks silence.

In a world full of hatred, she seeks love.

In a world full of fear, she seeks trust in God.

Today's wars show how weak man is without God.

But they also show how hungry the world is for witnesses of peace.

⸻

4. What does this mean for us today?

This means:

   •   Not to spread hatred with words.

    •   Not to judge nations and people lightly.

    •   Pray for everyone – even for those we do not understand.

    •   Build a culture of forgiveness in our homes.

Because if peace reigns in our families, the world becomes different.

Intercessions

I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. Should they cry to me in any distress, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever...

We ask the Lord's Blessing on us at the start of a New Year.

We pray in reparation for all offences against the life and dignity of the human person from conception until natural death. Lord have mercy on us!

Pray for our new Pope, Leo XIV, that he may shepherd the Church and proclaim Christ to the World.

Pope’s Prayer Intention – March 2026
For disarmament and peace.
Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament,
and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus have Mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.

We pray for all who are ill in mind body or spirit and all those in any need or difficulty.

(as we begin the new year, If you have any specific prayer intentions please let me know)

Pray for Christine awaiting CT scan results for suspected pancreatic cancer.

Pray for Marcin 

Pray for Jacob who is 6 years old he has been diagnosed with Perthes disease which affects his ability to walk.

Pray for John Morgan with pneumonia

Pray for upbuilding of Marriage and Family..

Pray for peace in our Country and our communities.

Pray for our young people that they may be protected from the evil one, that they may find a home in the loving Heart of Jesus.

Pray for all in our Parishes who are ill in body, mind or spirit.

Pray for Disha that he may find employment.

Pray for all those we have been asked and have promised to pray for.

Pray for all who are grieving give them strength, consolation and healing.

Pray for our Priests and for vocations to the Priesthood.

Pray for lost souls.

Pray for the conversion of the World.

Lord we continue to pray for Peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza and throughout the World.

Lord we pray for persecuted Christians throughout the World.

Lord we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all peoples and nations.

Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory may they be granted eternal rest.

Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos, pray for us.
Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Mary, Bride of the Spirit, pray for us.

If anyone has any prophecy, prayers, readings or intercessions I encourage you to please send them to
me. Let us share with one another the gifts and inspirations of the Spirit!
Also if there any changes necessary to the intercessions - please let me know

Resources
1.Theotokos Prayer Group:
https://www.facebook.com/Theotokos-Prayer-Group-142398089120415
/http://theotokosprayergroup.blogspot.co.uk/
2. Daily Mass readings can be found at:
https://universalis.com/mass.htm
3. Bishops Conference of England and Wales Website -
https://www.cbcew.org.uk
4. Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle Website:
Home - Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle (diocesehn.org.uk)
5. Catholic Charismatic Renewal International
https://www.charis.international/en/home/
6. Celebrate Conference website
https://www.celebratetrust.org/
7. CHARIS in England and Wales
https://www.charisuk.com/
8.CaFE - Catholic Faith Exploration (faithcafe.org)

9. The Holy See

https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html

Events

Our next meeting is on 10 March 2026 at 7.30pm in The Creche in St Patricks Church, Glenfield Road, Fairfield, Stockton TS19 7PL. All welcome. 

Stephen's fundraising page Big Lent Walk 2026 is fundraising for CAFOD -
https://walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/stephens-fundraising-page-2026
Please support if you can, thank you 😊

So far I have walked 85km of my 200km target and raised £85 of my £200 target !

Theotokos Prayer Group - Ash Wednesday 18 February 2026

 

Support us, Lord, as with this Lenten fast we begin our Christian warfare, so that in doing battle against the spirit of evil
we may be armed with the weapon of self-denial.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Notes from meeting on 10th February 2026:

Picture of a huge white Temple, crystalline water flows from under it, forming a River of Life with many plants and fish of many colours shining in its midst.
A large line of people, led by Blessed Mother, come to the shore, They are dirty with tattered clothes and many have infirmities.
There are Angels helping them into the waters which are cleansing them and healing them.
Their tattered clothes are no more, when they come out of the river they are each clothed with white garments of light, and so can now enter the Temple.
Jesus is waiting with such Joy.

"My dear little children,
Together we continue to bring ourselves and lost souls to the River Of Life which is the Word made Flesh in my Son Jesus.
My little ones you don’t realise the power of your prayers when with my Motherly help they are magnified.
I lead you always to Him who is the Truth and the Life.
Your Maternal Mother Mary"

Notes from meeting on 17 February 2026

2 Corinthians 1 v 3-7

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father and the God who gives every possible encouragement;
4 he supports us in every hardship, so that we are able to come to the support of others, in every hardship of theirs because of the encouragement that we ourselves receive from God.
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow into our lives; so too does the encouragement we receive through Christ.
6 So if we have hardships to undergo, this will contribute to your encouragement and your salvation; if we receive encouragement, this is to gain for you the encouragement which enables you to bear with perseverance the same sufferings as we do.
7 So our hope for you is secure in the knowledge that you share the encouragement we receive, no less than the sufferings we bear.

I am away on holiday on and off over the next 3 weeks. There will be no Sunday bulletin for a little while.
Prayer meetings are scheduled for 24 February and 3 and 10 March at St Patricks, Fairfield.
 
God bless you all
Stephen 

Stephen's fundraising page Big Lent Walk 2026 is fundraising for CAFOD -
https://walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/stephens-fundraising-page-2026
Please support if you can, thank you 😊

Theotokos Prayer Group - 8 February 2026, 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
Alleluia.

Gospel:    Matthew 5:13-16

‘You are the light of the world.’
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
  ‘You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.’

Guard your family, Lord, with constant loving care,
for in your divine grace we place our only hope.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Notes from meeting on 3 February 2026

Picture of Our Lord, He is in deep sadness and His Heart is constricted.
He is mourning the loss of souls.
A beautiful small quiet woman comes to Him, she who is little and full of humility lifts her mantle and beneath is a praying army, This army together with the Magnification of Her Immaculate Heart draws poor souls to Her Son Jesus.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus meets Mary’s Immaculate Heart and they soar into the Heavens in great joy.

"My dear little children your prayers are always heard by the Almighty.
Your prayers bring change in the hearts of your brothers and sisters.
Many souls will be saved for my Son Jesus,
Your Mothers Heart and the Heart of Jesus are at one in this mission to save souls.
You my little children by your sacrifice and prayers alleviate the pangs of my Sons Sorrow.
Please continue with my help to bring souls to Him who is Love personified, together this is our mission.
I cover you with my Motherly Mantle of Protection.
Stand firm and quietly we shall do all that Jesus asks of us.
Mary Your Mother."

Intercessions

I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. Should they cry to me in any distress, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever...

We ask the Lord's Blessing on us at the start of a New Year.

We pray in reparation for all offences against the life and dignity of the human person from conception until natural death. Lord have mercy on us!

Pray for our new Pope, Leo XIV, that he may shepherd the Church and proclaim Christ to the World.

Pope’s Prayer Intention – February 2026
For children with incurable diseases.
Let us pray that children suffering from incurable diseases and their families receive the
necessary medical care and support, never losing strength and hope.

Sacred Heart of Jesus have Mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.

We pray for all who are ill in mind body or spirit and all those in any need or difficulty.

(as we begin the new year, If you have any specific prayer intentions please let me know)

Pray for Christine diagnosed with cancer.

Pray for Marcin 

Pray for Jacob who is 6 years old he has been diagnosed with Perthes disease which affects his ability to walk.

Pray for upbuilding of Marriage and Family..

Pray for peace in our Country and our communities.

Pray for our young people that they may be protected from the evil one, that they may find a home in the loving Heart of Jesus.

Pray for all in our Parishes who are ill in body, mind or spirit.

Pray for Disha that he may find employment.

Pray for all those we have been asked and have promised to pray for.

Pray for all who are grieving give them strength, consolation and healing.

Pray for our Priests and for vocations to the Priesthood.

Pray for lost souls.

Pray for the conversion of the World.

Lord we continue to pray for Peace in Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza and throughout the World.

Lord we pray for persecuted Christians throughout the World.

Lord we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all peoples and nations.

Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory may they be granted eternal rest.

Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos, pray for us.
Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Mary, Bride of the Spirit, pray for us.

If anyone has any prophecy, prayers, readings or intercessions I encourage you to please send them to
me. Let us share with one another the gifts and inspirations of the Spirit!
Also if there any changes necessary to the intercessions - please let me know

Resources
1.Theotokos Prayer Group:
https://www.facebook.com/Theotokos-Prayer-Group-142398089120415
/http://theotokosprayergroup.blogspot.co.uk/
2. Daily Mass readings can be found at:
https://universalis.com/mass.htm
3. Bishops Conference of England and Wales Website -
https://www.cbcew.org.uk
4. Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle Website:
Home - Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle (diocesehn.org.uk)
5. Catholic Charismatic Renewal International
https://www.charis.international/en/home/
6. Celebrate Conference website
https://www.celebratetrust.org/
7. CHARIS in England and Wales
https://www.charisuk.com/
8.CaFE - Catholic Faith Exploration (faithcafe.org)

9. The Holy See

https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html

Events

Our next meeting is on 10 February 2026 at 7.30pm in The Creche in St Patricks Church, Glenfield Road, Fairfield, Stockton TS19 7PL. All welcome. 

POPE LEO XIV

GENERAL AUDIENCE
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
____________________

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

The Conciliar Constitution Dei Verbum, on which we are reflecting during these weeks, indicates in the Sacred Scripture, read in the living Tradition of the Church, a privileged space for encounter where God continues to speak to the men and women of every time, so that, by listening, they can know him and love him. The biblical texts, however, were not written in a heavenly or superhuman language. Indeed, as daily life teaches us, two people who speak different languages cannot understand each other, cannot enter into dialogue, and are unable to establish a relationship. In some cases, making oneself understood to others is a first act of love. This is why God chooses to speak using human languages and thus, various authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit, have written the texts of Sacred Scripture. As the Conciliar document reminds us, “the words of God, expressed in human language, have been made like human discourse, just as the word of the eternal Father, when He took to Himself the flesh of human weakness, was in every way made like men” (DV, 13). Therefore, not only in its content, but also in its language, the Scripture reveals God’s merciful condescension towards men, and his desire to be close to them.

Throughout the course of Church history, the relationship between the divine Author and the human authors of the sacred texts has been studied. For several centuries, many theologians were concerned to defend the divine inspiration of the Sacred Scripture, almost considering the human authors merely as passive tools of the Holy Spirit. In more recent times, reflection has re-evaluated the contribution of hagiographers in the writing of sacred texts, to the point that the Conciliar document speaks of God as the principal “author” of Sacred Scripture, but also calls hagiographers “true authors” of the sacred books (cf.  DV, 11). As a keen exegete of the last century observed, “to reduce human activity to that of a mere amanuensis is not to glorify divine activity”. [1] God never mortifies human beings and their potential!

If, therefore, the Scripture is the word of God in human words, any approach to it that neglects or denies one of these two dimensions proves to be partial. It follows that a correct interpretation of the sacred texts cannot dispense with the historic environment in which they developed and the literary forms that were used; on the contrary, to renounce the study of the human words that God used risks leading to fundamentalist or spiritualist readings of the Scripture, which betray its meaning. This principle also applies to the proclamation of the Word of God: if it loses touch with reality, with human hopes and sufferings, if an incomprehensible language is used, uncommunicative or anachronistic, it is ineffective. In every age, the Church is called to re-propose the Word of God in a language capable of being embodied in history and reaching hearts. As  Pope Francis reminds us, “Whenever we make the effort to return to the source and to recover the original freshness of the Gospel, new avenues arise, new paths of creativity open up, with different forms of expression, more eloquent signs and words with new meaning for today’s world”.  [2]

Equally reductive, on the other hand, is a reading of Scripture that neglects its divine origin and ends up understanding it as a mere human teaching, as something to be studied simply from a technical point of view or as a text "only of the past”. [3]  Rather, especially when proclaimed in the context of the liturgy, Scripture is intended to speak to today's believers, to touch their present lives with their problems, to enlighten the steps to be taken and the decisions to be made. This becomes possible only when believers read and interpret the sacred texts under the guidance of the same Spirit who inspired them (cf.  DV, 12).

In this regard, the Scripture serves to nurture the life and charity of believers, as Saint Augustine recalls: “Whoever … thinks that he understands the Holy Scriptures … but puts such an interpretation upon them as does not tend to build up this twofold love of God and our neighbour, does not yet understand them as he ought”.  [4] The divine origin of the Scripture also recalls that the Gospel, entrusted to the witness of the baptized, despite embracing all the dimensions of life and reality, transcends them: it cannot be reduced to a mere philanthropic or social message, but is the joyful proclamation of the full and eternal life that God has given to us in Jesus.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us thank the Lord because, in his goodness, he ensures our lives do not lack the essential nourishment of his Word, and let us pray that our words, and even more so our lives, do not obscure the love of God that is narrated in them.

___________________________________________________________________

[1] L. Alonso Schökel,  La parola ispirata. La Bibbia alla luce della scienza del linguaggio ( The Inspired Word. The Scripture in the Light of Language and Literature), Brescia 1987, 70.

[2] Francis, Apostolic Exhortation  Evangelii gaudium (24 November 2013), 11.

[3] Benedict XVI, Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation  Verbum Domini (30 September 2010), 35.

[4] St. Augustine,  De doctrina christiana I, 36, 40.

***

APPEAL

I urge everyone to support with prayer our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, who are being severely tested by the consequences of the bombings which have resumed, also striking energy infrastructure. I would like to express my gratitude for the solidarity initiatives promoted by Catholic dioceses in Poland and other countries, which are working to help the people endure this time of extreme cold.

Tomorrow marks the expiry of the New START Treaty signed in 2010 by the Presidents of the United States and the Russian Federation, which represented a significant step in containing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. In renewing my encouragement for every constructive effort in favour of disarmament and mutual trust, I urgently call for this instrument not to be abandoned without seeking to ensure its concrete and effective follow-up. The current situation requires that everything possible be done to avert a new arms race that would further threaten peace among nations. It is more urgent than ever to substitute the logic of fear and distrust with a shared ethos capable of guiding choices towards the common good and to make peace a treasure to be cherished by all.

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Special greetings:

I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially the groups from Ireland, Denmark, Japan, South Korea and the United States of America. I greet in particular the students from the Junshin Junior and Senior High School and the students and faculty from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Upon all of you, and upon your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!

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Summary of the Holy Father's words:

Dear brothers and sisters, in our continuing catechesis on the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum, we reflect on the divine and human authorship of Scripture.  God is the principal author of Scripture and he chooses to reveal himself by using human language.  Indeed, the various authors of Scripture are not passive instruments, but are divinely inspired to communicate the word of God by utilizing literary forms and creative methods that incorporate images and examples of their time.  While Scripture is a text rooted in historical truth, it also contains a limitless spiritual depth that speaks to people of all times and places, communicating above all God’s love and God’s desire to save us. Let us thank God for his word that nourishes our lives, illumines our paths and reminds us of the promise of eternal life.

Pope Leo XIV proclaims Franciscan Jubilee Year for the 800th anniversary of the transit of St. Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis, our brother, you who eight hundred years ago went to meet Sister Death as a man at peace,
intercede for us before the Lord.
You recognized true peace in the Crucifix of San Damiano, teach us to seek in Him the source of all reconciliation that breaks down every wall.
You who, unarmed, crossed the lines of war
and misunderstanding, give us the courage to build bridges where the world raises up boundaries.
In this time afflicted by conflict and division, intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers:
unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ.

Amen
LEO PP. XIV