Family Life Catholic Gifts

12/05/2026

Today, May 13th, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, 109 years ago, commemorating the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. The apparitions, which occurred over a small oak tree, are characterized by a lady dressed in white, "more brilliant than the sun".

23/04/2026

If you enter a Catholic church, you will nearly always spot a sanctuary lamp burning near the tabernacle, which is where the communion hosts are reserved after Mass. They are kept in this way for two reasons: first, so that Holy Communion can be taken to the sick and housebound when necessary; and second, so we can continue to worship Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

Jesus Christ remains present here in the communion hosts, in what we call the Blessed Sacrament. This is not just a metaphor or a symbol. He is truly present – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – in all His Power and Glory and Majesty. So if a church appears to be empty, we know that we are never alone.

Whenever we come near to the tabernacle, even if the Blessed Sacrament is not exposed, we come into His hidden but powerful presence; Heaven is laid open before us; and we can adore Him and share our lives with him in a most intimate and profound way. We can speak to Him, heart to heart. It is like Moses meeting the Lord in the burning bush, or the disciples walking up the mountain with Christ at the time of his Transfiguration.

This is such a consolation, knowing that he is with us in this way. When we go to Mass on Sundays, it makes us want to be more reverent – from the moment we enter the church to the moment we leave. We want to be more and more conscious of His loving presence. We genuflect to Him as we enter and leave our places. We pray to Him as we prepare for Mass and after it has ended. We remember that we are in the Court of Heaven, in the presence of our King, in the company of this visible community, and with the hidden presence of all the angels and saints.
We unite ourselves with Christ, through the Holy Spirit, in his praise and thanksgiving to the Father.

14/04/2026

Divine Mercy Sunday having just passed, we still recite the Chaplet and remember the great Mercy and Love of God, daily, especially for poor sinners...

20/03/2026

PASSION SUNDAY - PASSION WEEK
This tradition of covering statues during Lent is more than merely a superficial alteration of our surroundings. It carries profound spiritual significance, inviting us to delve deeper into the mystery of Christ's sacrifice and our journey of conversion. When we walk into church and notice everything is covered, we immediately know something is different. These last two weeks of Lent are meant to be a time of immediate preparation for the Sacred Triduum, and these veils are a forceful reminder to get ready. The Church uses veils to produce a heightened anticipation for Easter Sunday. This is further actualized when you attend daily Mass and see the veils each day.

But even as we contemplate the tomb's darkness, we do so with the hope of Easter on the horizon. The veiling of the statues is but a temporary measure, a prelude to the joyous celebration of Christ's Resurrection. Just as the covering will be removed on Easter Sunday, so will the light of Christ pierce through the darkness of sin and death, bringing new life and hope to all who believe.

As we journey through this season of Lent, may we embrace the symbolism of the covered statues as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice and our call to conversion. May we strip away the world's distractions and enter a deeper relationship with our crucified and risen Lord. May we eagerly anticipate the joy of Easter, when the veil will be lifted, and we will behold the glory of our Resurrected Savior.

10/02/2026

11th February 2026 - 167th anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions at Lourdes. Thanks be to God for sending His Holy Mother.

23/12/2025

23/12/2025

.."BUT EMPTIED HIMSELF, TAKING THE FORM OF A SERVANT, BEING BORN IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN'...Philippians 2:7

23/12/2025

A REFLECTION ON ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS

The days of Advent are drawing to a close and we are now one day away from the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World.

Indeed, God chose to send His Son into the world at a very dark time in history.

The Jews lived under the oppression of the Roman empire. They hadn’t heard a word from God through His prophets in 400 years. The promised Messiah seemed to be nowhere in sight.

But then…

God brought His Kingdom to earth.
God spoke through the Word made flesh.
God illuminated the darkness of our sin with the light of His grace.

In these final days before Christmas, take a few quiet moments to contemplate these mysteries. Bask in the light of Christ. Then, share that light with someone who needs it.

21/12/2025

❗️Don't miss out on our Christmas flash sale! In store - one day only! Open to 7pm. Incredible savings - 10% off books and 20% off almost everything else. Great savings for gifts that put Christ at the centre of Christmas.