Words such as care, love, support, kindness, tolerance, patience are so important to hear in this time of pandemic. What\u2019s more essential is the action! Due to the fact, more people are staying at home, sometimes in overcrowded spaces families are living closer together. This brings challenges. \u00a0The world is educating itself to a new way of life whether people are aware or not. God\u2019s people believe that God is present in every situation and brings hope. The communities of family, parish and school celebrate the spirit of faith, hope, and love during this Catholic Schools Week.<\/p>\n
Today during this special week assigned by the Church, Catholic Schools Week 2021, the Church remembers St Angela Merici (1470-1540) who founded the Ursuline Sisters in 1535 in Brescia, Italy. She formed a group of women to teach poor girls to become good Christians. She wanted to inculcate the virtues of love and charity in this group of women she gathered. She said to them,<\/p>\n
\u2018I ask you please to try to bring them up with love, with a gentle and kindly hand, not\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 overbearingly or harshly. Try to be kind always. Notice what Jesus Christ says, \u2018Learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart.\u2019<\/p>\n
The Gospel proclaimed at Mass today tells of the Parable of the Sower (Mk 4:1-20). Jesus teaches about the Word of God and the manner it takes root in a person\u2019s life. Just as the seed falls in different places, somewhere it cannot grow due to bad conditions, in other places the seed thrives because of the nourishment it receives. God will nourish the Word in our lives as disciples if we take time to read the Word, reflect on it and pray.\u00a0 The Holy Spirit will help us as disciples to follow Jesus\u2019 way of love and kindness.<\/p>\n
Pope Francis in his Encyclical Letter on Fraternity and Social Friendship<\/em> speaks about kindness saying, \u2018\u2026because it entails esteem and respect for others,\u00a0 once kindness becomes a culture within society it transforms lifestyles, relationships and the way ideas are discussed and compared. Kindness\u2026 opens new paths where hostility and conflict would burn all bridges.<\/p>\n The Parable of the Sower is accessible online in the Grow in Love\/ I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/em> Religious Education programme.<\/p>\n INVITATION<\/u><\/p>\n