Tag Archives: Christ the King

Christ the King

Our 3 Churches celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year. It’s not been an easy year, for us as for everyone. Still coming out of Covid, we have all been hit by the effects of the situation in Ukraine and politics in our own country too.

So, against this background, what does this feast mean? The answer surely lies in asking ourselves another question – what kind of king was Jesus? A man of earthly power, of politics or of war? No, clearly not. A very different king emerges week by week as we watch and listen while the Gospel unfolds at Mass. He is at ease with everyone, has no earthly power, washes his followers’ feet, wears a crown of thorns and dies on a Cross.

What does it mean to you for Christ to be King? Here is a poem / prayer by Chris Thorpe from his 2019 book of liturgical ideas and prayers “Dancers and Wayfarers”

Christ the King,
You became poor that many might become rich; You emptied yourself of all power
That we might be empowered to choose.
You show us God’s kingdom in our midst
And invite us to kneel with you,
To humble ourselves, to serve those in need,
To find you here with us now.
As we gather in your name, fill us with your Spirit; Open our hearts to worship you,
Jesus the Servant King. Amen.

A happy feast day to our Christ the King community!

Fr Matthew

Parish Advisory Council vacancy

We have a vacancy on the Christ the King Parish Advisory Council.

The Council exists to reflect on, advise and make recommendations to the parish priest on the pastoral activity of the parish.

If you feel that you could contribute to this rewarding opportunity, please do consider seeking nomination. You can find forms at the back of Christ the King church or you can download the form in Microsoft Word format.

Nominations closed Sunday 23 October. Email completed forms to Llanishen@rcadc.org or post in the parish centre to the right of the main door.

Election will be held at mass on 5 and 6 November 2022.

The King’s people

Happy feast day for today, Christ the King parish and school! Happy 50th anniversary for eight days’ time, St Brigid’s!

Celebration is an important part of our faith, as it is in life itself. I have always believed in marking the patron saint’s feast day in parishes, and Christ the King has a spectacular one this weekend. A few decades ago, the Church moved this feast from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in the liturgical year. It’s as if we wanted to go out with a bang. The universal kingdom of Jesus is such a powerful theme. Our Lord lived his kingship in an extraordinarily hidden and serving way. Yet when challenged in his last hours during his trial he affirmed that he is indeed a king – ‘So you are a king then?’ asked Pilate. ‘It is you who say it’ answered Jesus. ‘Yes, I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.’ So feel free to celebrate this beautiful feast of Christ the King!

Our celebrations for the 50th anniversary of St Brigid’s Church reach their climax with the visit of the Archbishop on Monday 1st December to celebrate Mass with us. And here also we have every reason to celebrate, as the building both houses and in a certain way symbolizes the real Church – the people. We are marking not just bricks and mortar, but flesh and blood, those who have gone before us and those with whom we continue to journey onwards as the People of God. Please make every effort to join the parish family, with our bishop and some former priests, to celebrate this important birthday.

So there you have it – two very different causes for joy. On the horizon lies Christmas, with its season of preparation starting next Sunday. We will publish a full list of Advent and Christmas services and information in next week’s newsletter.

Fr Matthew

Christ the King bidding prayers, 18 May 2014

Prayer of the Faithful – 5th Sunday of Easter  May 17/18

Priest  We lay our prayers before the Lord as we ask for hope and strength  to follow in His Way.

The response is ……..fill the earth with your love

We pray for wisdom for those in the Church in positions of authority.  May they exercise their powers with justice and right.   (Pause)

Lord…………fill the earth with your love.

St Peter told us that we are a chosen people.  So we pray that men and women will be found to spread the word and to build up the church.

(Pause)

Lord ………..fill the earth with your love

We pray for the children making their first communion this weekend and for their parents who are their first teachers    (Pause)

Lord…………fill the earth with your love

Like Thomas we do not always know the way.  We ask to be guided along the path of truth and life.      (Pause)

Lord ……….fill the earth with your love.

In a quiet moment we ask the Lord to hear our unspoken needs

( Longer pause)

Let us remember in this month of May that all generations call Mary blessed as we say

Hail Mary ………….

Priest    Father God we make our prayers to you trusting in your Son and with the Holy Spirit for ever Amen