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Parish Groups

Ascent Group

Life Ascending – A Catholic movement of the Church. Life Ascending is a Catholic movement for men and women in their middle …
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Hear God’s Voice – The Gospel of Mark

This is a special form of Scripture meeting and allows the Holy Spirit to guide us in our greater understanding …
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Living Rosary Group

[masterslider alias=”ms-video-candles-2″] Part of the Beacon Project is Our Lady of Fatima Living Rosary Group. This group of 20 people, …
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Portsmouth University Students – Catholic Society

Welcome to the University of Portsmouth’s Catholic Society! ‘Vivere pro dei Gloria’ Who are we? If you are Catholic, Christian …
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St Swithun’s Parents and Toddlers Group

Baby and toddler groups are a great place to meet mums with children your child’s age, and your child can …
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The Beacon Project

[masterslider alias=”ms-video-candles-2″] The Beacon Project is a prayer group with a focus on prayer formation for mission. It’s vision, to be a light …
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Parish News & Updates

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8 hours ago

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Congratulations Kathleen on your wonderful achievement as Mayor of Gosport. May the Holy Spirit guide and help you along the way. Love and prayers, Catherine x

May Our Lord Jesus keep Kath strong in Heart, mind body and Soul blessing her and Kevin in their many duties for the good of all. Amen.

CHRISTIAN MORNING MEDITATION:Lectio Divina: John 14:27-31a Tuesday, May 21, 2019 Easter Season1) Opening prayerLord our God, almighty Father,You have absolute power over the world,and yet You respect the freedom of people,even of those who persecute Your faithful.Make us realize that our faithdoes not protect us against the evilwhich people bring upon one another,but that You want us to build according to Your plana kingdom of justice, love and peace.Help our faith to stand the testwhen our meager efforts fail.We ask You this through Christ our Lord.2) Gospel Reading - John 14:27-31aJesus said to his disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me."3) Reflection• Here begins the farewell of Jesus, in John 14:27. At the end of chapter 14 He ends the conversation, saying, “Come now, let us go!” (Jn 14:31). But instead of leaving the room, Jesus continues to speak for three more chapters: 15, 16, and 17. At the beginning of chapter 18, we see the following phrase: “After He had said all this, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron valley where there was a garden which He entered with His disciples.” (Jn 18:1). In Jn 18:1, there is the continuation of Jn 14:31. The Gospel of John is like a beautiful building constructed slowly, rock on top of rock, brick upon brick. Here and there, there are signs of rearrangement or adaptation. In some way, all the texts, all the bricks, form part of a building and are the Word of God for us.• John 14:27: The gift of Peace. Jesus communicates His peace to the disciples. The same peace will be given after the Resurrection (Jn 20:29). This peace is an expression of the manifestation of the Father, as Jesus had said before (Jn 14:21). The peace of Jesus is the source of joy that He communicates to us (Jn 15:11; 16:20,22,24; 17:13). It is a peace which is different from the peace which the world gives us. It is different from Pax Romana. At the end of the first century the Pax Romana was maintained by force and violent repression against the rebellious movements. Pax Romana, as a policy of the Roman government, guaranteed institutionalized inequality between the Roman citizens and the slaves. This is not the peace of the Kingdom of God. The peace which Jesus communicates is what in the Old Testament is called “shalom.” It is the complete organization of all life around the values of justice, fraternity and equality.• John 14:28-29: The reason why Jesus returns to the Father. Jesus returns to the Father in order to be able to return immediately. He will say to Mary Magdalene, “Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father” (Jn 20:17). Going up to the Father, He will return through the Holy Spirit which He will send (cf. Jn 20; 22). Without the return to the Father, He will not be able to stay with us through the Spirit.• John 14:30-31a: That the world may know that I love the Father. Jesus had ended the last conversation with the disciples. The prince of this world wanted to impose himself on the destiny of Jesus. Jesus will die. In reality, the prince of this world, the Tempter, the Devil, has no power over Jesus. The world will know that Jesus loves the Father. This is the great witness of Jesus which impels the world to believe in Him. In proclaiming the Good News, it is not a question of spreading doctrine or imposing Canon Law, or of uniting all in one organization. It is above all a question of living and radiating what the human being desires and has deeper in his heart through intimacy with God: love. Without this, the doctrine, the Law, the celebration, will only be a wig on a bald head.• John 14:31b: Come now, let us go. These are the last words of Jesus and the expression of His decision to be obedient to the Father, revealing His love. In the Eucharist, at the moment of the consecration, in some countries, it is said, “On the day before His passion, voluntarily accepted.” In another place Jesus says, “This is why the Father loves Me: because I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own free will. I have power to lay it down so I have power to take it up again, and this is the command that I have received from My Father.” (Jn 10:17-18)4) Personal questions• Jesus says, “I give you My peace.” How do I contribute to the building of peace in my family and in my community?• Looking into the mirror of the obedience of Jesus toward the Father, how could I improve my obedience to the Father?• Jesus told His disciples beforehand so that they would believe. Do I need to “see” beforehand in order to believe, or do I see everything with faith and trust?• We also have choices to lay down our “life” for others every day – in charity and denial of self in order to serve others in our daily “life”. Do I volunteer my “life” every day, all day, or only sometimes or only when asked?5) Concluding PrayerAll Your creatures shall thank You, Yahweh,and Your faithful shall bless You.They shall speak of the glory of Your kingshipand tell of Your might. (Ps 145:10-11)#dailymeditations www.stswithuns.org.uk/event/dr-21052019 ... See MoreSee Less

21 hours ago

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Old Testament God vs. New Testament God

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2 days ago

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The New Jerusalem

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3 days ago

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stswithuns.org.uk/newsletter-NL_19052019 Join us for Sunday Mass at St Swithun's RC Church Southsea. Mass Times today are 8:30am 10:15am (family mass followed by Sunday School) and 1pm (Mass in Polish). Have a blest and peaceful Sunday from all at St Swithun's and OLOL Parish. ... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago

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