Sue's Church Page

  The strength to persevere, the courage to speak out, the faith to believe.' Sr Joan Chittister OSB    Welcome to this edition of my web newsletter July 2026  written as we experience a red alert weather warning in most of our diocese. It can be hard to feel motivated when it is so hot, so much easier just to switch off and park religion until the rain comes. But that is not what St Benedict would say. Whatever else you give up, continue to pray ….and pray!   Why am I mentioning St Benedict, because 2 series of events are from Benedictine communities: lay and monastic. With the feast of St Benedict coming in July you will see details, and full press release for the  Lay Community of St Benedict ‘LCSB’   AWAKEN! Study days. Showing that Benedictine communities are focused on formation for lay faithful as well as clergy and religious, there is a varied programme of talks and events not only from LCSB, but from our friends at Chilworth Abbey, so do p...

  The strength to persevere, the courage to speak out, the faith to believe.' Sr Joan Chittister OSB    Welcome to this edition of my web newsletter June 2026  written as we swelter under record breaking May temperatures  and very much hoping they will soon end!   In the liturgical year we now enter Ordinary Time  and return to the Gospel  according to Matthew. In our parishes this is a time of new entrants to the Sacraments. Perhaps also it is a time to  celebrate the anniversaries  of those  we welcomed to the Sacraments in 2025.   For summer reading,  Pope Leo X1V presents encyclical  "Magnifica Humanitas" as the Church’s response to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence   Do please participate in replying to the 2 questions set out below, and the replies of which will  be included in the NBCW annual report to Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales. Sue Petritz Diocesan Link for Aru...