NEWSLETTER INSERTS FOR THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

'Every person needs a ‘centre’ for his or her own life, a source of truth and goodness to draw upon in the events, situations and struggles of daily existence. All of us, when we pause in silence, need to feel not only the beating of our own heart, but deeper still, the beating of a trustworthy presence, perceptible with faith’s senses and yet much more real: the presence of Christ, the heart of the world'.

Pope Francis, Dilexit Nos, 211.

'Christ asks you never to be ashamed to tell others, with all due discretion and respect, about your friendship with him. He asks that you dare to tell others how good and beautiful it is that you found him. “Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven” (Mt 10:32). For a heart that loves, this is not a duty but an irrepressible need: “Woe to me if I do not proclaim the Gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16). “Within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot” (Jer 20:9)'.

Pope Francis, Dilexit Nos, 211.

'Jesus is calling you and sending you forth to spread goodness in our world. His call is one of service, a summons to do good, perhaps as a physician, a mother, a teacher or a priest. Wherever you may be, you can hear his call and realize that he is sending you forth to carry out that mission. He himself told us, “I am sending you out” (Lk 10:3). It is part of our being friends with him. For this friendship to mature, however, it is up to you to let him send you forth on a mission in this world, and to carry it out confidently, generously, freely and fearlessly. If you stay trapped in your own comfort zone, you will never really find security; doubts and fears, sorrow and anxiety will always loom on the horizon. Those who do not carry out their mission on this earth will find not happiness, but disappointment. Never forget that Jesus is at your side at every step of the way. He will not cast you into the abyss, or leave you to your own devices. He will always be there to encourage and accompany you. He has promised, and he will do it: “For I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20)'.

Pope Francis, Dilexit Nos, 215.

'To anyone standing on the edge of faith – uncertain, hesitant, or searching – the invitation is not to have all the answers before you begin.  Throughout Scripture, we see that obedience often comes before understanding'.

Fr Mike Schmitz, 20th July 2026, Dublin.

“Mary is a fantastic example of this.  The Archangel Gabriel appears to her and says, ‘You are going to be the mother of the Messiah.’  She then asks, ‘How can this be?’  He gives her a clarifying answer and she says,  ‘Let it be done to me.’

Fr Mike Schmitz, 20th July 2026, Dublin.

'He does not give her understanding;  He does not give her a plan;  He does not give her a roadmap.  He simply gives her enough information to take the next step.  That is the invitation for every one of us.  God always gives us enough light and enough information to take the next step, and we can trust Him with that next step.'

Fr Mike Schmitz, 20th July 2026, Dublin.

'Every one of us needs a change of heart; we must set our gaze on the whole world and look to those tasks we can all perform together in order to bring about the betterment of our race'.

Gaudium et Spes, 82.