Faith in Focus: Church.

 On the outskirts of a small French village during World War II, some soldiers took the body of their friend to the local cemetery.   When the priest saw them he stopped them and said, "You cannot bury your friend here if he is not a Catholic." Discouraged but not defeated, the boys buried their fellow soldier just outside the cemetery fence.   When they came to pay their respects the next morning, they could not find the grave.   They questioned the priest about it, and he said, "The first part of the night I stayed awake disturbed by what I had told you.   The second part of the night I spent moving the fence."

  The fellowship of the Church provides a oneness in Christ Jesus that overcomes our individual differences.   It has become fashionable these days to criticise the Church and there is no doubt that those of us who are members of the Church often give others good reason to do so.   The world seems to be divided into uncritical lovers of the Church and unloving critics of it.   Many even claim that the days of the Church are numbered.   It is true that the Church has made mistakes throughout history and continues to do so.   Thank God they are not irreversible.   It is also true that we have given bad example.

 Thank God the Church is not simply human.   For the Church is founded not on a set of rules or ideals but on a person: Jesus Christ.   And Jesus' only wish is that we should know the sort of God that we have and enjoy the promises that our God makes to us.   The role of the Church is not to possess power or to exercise control.   The function of the Church is to evangelise, to proclaim the best piece of news ever to hit the cosmos: that we are loved by our maker and saved by his Son.

  The Church, when Christ is allowed to speak, transforms lives and draws people into a communion of love and compassion that respects no one's origin or status, going beyond its own members to embrace all God's creation.   The Church is born anew every day.   It needs you and me to cooperate with God's grace so that all people might know the glory of God and share in the happiness of being called by him to a life that knows no bounds.   And not even the gates of hell can hold out against it.

  Holy Hour - every Tuesday at 7.30pm. at Our Lady of Peace with Exposition and Prayers.

  Parish Patotoral Council - meet on Tuesday, 1st July at 7.30pm. at Our Lady of Peace infant School.

  St Joseph's Catholic High School - Summer Fete Saturday 5th July, 12 noon - 4 pm.   Past & Present Pupils!   Bring the family, all profits to buy equipment for the School.   Stalls include football, netball, a fun day for all.

  St Vincent de Paul - District meeting on 9th July as St. Anthony's at 8pm.

  Parish Fest! - Sunday, 13th July.   Come and join us for our Parish Day starting with 11am. Mass at Our Lady of Peace and the Parish Pastoral Council AGM, followed by food and a celebration in the Presbytery garden, a Licensed bar, games for the children and a raffle.   Meet the Parish Pastoral Council members and hear what they have been working on throughout the last year and what is proposed for the coming year.   Leaflets are available if you are able to provide food, please sign up and return by next weekend.   There will be no 9.45am. Mass, and no 11.30am. Mass at St Andrew's on Sunday 13th July.

  Burnham Lighthouse 2008 - Monday 28th July - Friday 1st August Burnham Lighthouse is a week long Christian Holiday club which is open to all children aged 4-11 in Burnham and the surrounding area.   Helen who is a parishioner from Our Lady of Peace is heading up craft this year and is seeking volunteers to help in the craft tent.   Full training is provided.   Please call 01628 667337 for more details.   Application forms for children and helpers available in church porch.

  Lighthouse is a very inclusive event involving people of all ages (from 0 to 90), backgrounds and abilities.   Last year we registered nearly 800 but we cannot offer children places until we register our volunteers.  If you can spare a day during the week please get in touch there is a crèche available for helpers with children under 4.   WEBSITE: www.lighthouseburnham.org.uk

  Friends of Northampton Cathedral - The Cathedral is the Mother Church of our Diocese and as such is worthy of our special love.   By joining the Friends you will be preserving it, promoting its work and helping to progress the work of the Cathedral through fundraising for future projects.   For further details contact 01604 714556, email: office@northamptoncathedral.org, or visit the website www.northamptoncathedral.org