11 OCTOBER – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK – Both parishes
Evelyn Fletcher RIP
Mary Cobham RIP
Holy Souls NDL
Parishioners
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OUR LADY’S and Ss PETER & PAUL’S – Both churches are now open for Sunday Vigil and Sunday Masses only. There are no weekday Masses currently, nor are the churches able to open for private prayer as yet. Social distancing rules require all parishioners wishing to attend, to contact the relevant parish office in order to reserve their place at Mass each week. Please wear a mask. |
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JOINT NEWSLETTER
THE RE-OPENING OF OUR CHURCHES
Please continue to contact the parish office on Thursdays to reserve your place(s) at Our Lady’s on 01772 812242 between 10.30am and 3pm – or email olhct@rcaol.org.uk – and on Fridays to reserve your place(s) for Ss Peter & Paul on 01704 822618 between 10.30am and 3pm, or email ssppm@rcaol.org.uk
Please note that, due to social-distancing rules, stewards may struggle to accommodate anyone who has not reserved a place at Mass. Contact the parish office on Thursdays and Fridays (10.30am – 3pm).
Your help on this is greatly appreciated – it helps us to keep everyone safe.
MASS ON SUNDAYS
Don’t forget that Masses will continue to be live-streamed and televised for many months yet, so you can still take part in Sunday worship and the Act of Spiritual Communion will continue to be an important part of people’s worship for the foreseeable future. Please remember that the Sunday obligation remains lifted. This is especially important for those over 70 and those with underlying health issues, who may be wary of attending public events.
If you have any queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
READINGS FOR 11 OCTOBER
1st Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10 The Lord will prepare a banquet and will wipe away tears from every cheek
Psalm 22 In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell forever and ever.
2nd Reading: Philippians 4:12-20 There is nothing I cannot master with the help of the One who gives me strength
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 Invite everyone you can find to the wedding
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind so that we can see what hope his call holds for us. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: The rich suffer want and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing
SPIRITUAL REFLECTION FROM ‘OUR FAITH ON SUNDAY’ – 11 OCTOBER
Weddings are another favourite theme with God. Our Lord refers to himself several times as ‘the bridegroom’: he begins his public ministry at a wedding feast. The prophets speak frequently of God’s marriage bond with his people, the Jews: Ezekiel, Isaiah, the Book of Deuteronomy – where Moses shows that God’s covenant is a covenant of love and an invitation to respond with love. ‘Bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh!’ Adam exclaims of his ‘marriage covenant’ with Eve. It is a prefigurement of God’s final sealing of his covenant through his Son.
St Cyril of Alexandria writes of Holy Communion, ‘The power of the sacred flesh unites in one body all who receive it…therefore we are all one in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit – one in identity of relationship…’
Through the prophet Hosea, God says ‘I will betroth you to myself forever.’ Today’s parable tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is a wedding feast that awaits all those who wear the ‘wedding garment’ of baptism.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR OCTOBER: We pray that by the virtue of baptism, the laity, especially women, may participate more in areas of responsibility in the Church.
THE ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
OFFERTORY DONATIONS DURING THE LOCKDOWN
Many thanks to generous parishioners who have sent in donations to our churches. Your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated.
Instead of putting money in offertory envelopes each week, those who are able to make an offering are asked to complete a Standing Order Mandate for your bank, from either your parish office. We can email the document to you, if you wish, so that you can print off, complete and send to your bank.
Alternatively, you may still wish to write a cheque (payable to either ‘Our Lady Help of Christians Church’ or ‘Ss Peter & Paul Church Mawdesley’) and post to the presbytery with a covering letter and one offertory envelope for gift aid purposes.
Donating by text / online: Please check the May Newsletters and use the links provided
MASSES ONLINE WILL CONTINUE TO BE STREAMED INDEFINITELY
Locally, there is St Clare’s, Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood: www.saintclares.co.uk which streams Mass daily at 10am. Please follow the easy links on the website.
https://www.vaticannews.va/en Pope Francis
https://www.churchservices.tv/whats-on-now/ Great selection of Masses and other Church services https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/tv-lourdes/ Mass and daily at 2pm, the Rosary in English
https://www.livemass.org Extraordinary Form (1962 Missal)
Use the website links to EWTN, those who have Sky can tune in on Channel 588, or the Archdiocese to access daily Masses
On the radio: Catholic Radio Channel 0147
Also, you may wish to try the Pray as you Go phone app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.foxcode.prayasyougo&hl=en
PRAYERS from the Archdiocese, for Stations of the Cross etc: https://www.liverpoolcatholicresources.com/
Please email the Parish Office with details of any other online services you know of that may help parishioners at this very difficult time. We will try to include them in next week’s Newsletter.
CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY 9 OCTOBER: Survive, Rebuild, Heal
In this global crisis CAFOD is working hard to save lives and rebuild hope on the frontlines of this emergency.
Money raised by parishioners is already in action – setting up handwashing stations and providing PPE for health workers, and children with books and pencils so they can study from home while schools are closed, as well as delivering food parcels to city-dwellers.
On Family Fast Day (9 October) we can reach out to our global family by sharing a simple meal – virtually or physically.
Please give what you can to this month’s appeal and donate online at www.cafod.org.uk/give or via text: text CAFOD to 70085 to donate £10. Alternatively, if you are able to attend weekly Mass, please collect an envelope as you enter the church and remember to Gift Aid if you are able. Gift Aid makes a huge difference. Donations may be left in the basket.
OUR LADY’S RED MISSION BOXES: Red Mission Boxes can be brought in for counting. Please contact the office (phone or email) if you’d like your box to be collected. Many thanks to those who have already brought in their boxes.
HOLY SOULS: NOVEMBER DEAD LISTS: Please place your list and offering in an envelope and leave in the basket, before Mass or post it through the presbytery door. Several Masses in November will be offered for our faithful departed.
JOINT PARISH CALENDAR – COVER PAGE COMPETITION: You will be able to vote for all the beautiful photographs taken by parishioners from next week. Hard copies will be available if you are attending Mass and e-versions will also be emailed out. Please email the office if you would like to have the opportunity to vote.
HARVEST SEASON / PARISH FOODBANK: If you are able to donate non-perishable foodstuffs during the month of October, please bring them with you to Mass on Saturday or Sunday and leave in the labelled box in the porch / narthex.
SYNOD SUNDAY: Next weekend, 17 and 18 October, we celebrate the third Synod Sunday in the Archdiocese. Originally this was to be the weekend of our Synod 2020 event but the COVID-19 pandemic means this will now take place in June 2021. On Synod Sunday the summary proposals on our four Synod Themes will be published which you will be able to find on the Synod Website. Over the following weeks our local Synod Members will be inviting your responses to these proposals as we continue to discern the Church God is calling us to be. www.synod2020.co.uk
PRISONERS’ SUNDAY, 11 October: Cardinal Vincent Nichols asks us to support Prisoners’ Sunday with this prayer: Lord, you offer freedom to all people. We pray for those in prison. Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist. Support with your love, prisoners, their families and friends, prison staff and all who care. Heal those who have been wounded by the actions of others, especially the victims of crime. Help us to forgive one another, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ in his strength and in his Spirit, now and every day. Amen.
“God’s forgiveness is for all – no one is excluded.” – Cardinal Vincent Nichols
NHS COVID-19 APP: If possible, please use your phone app to scan in our QR code when you come to Mass.
SAINTS, SCHOLARS AND SPIRITUAL MASTERS: Free online talks organised by the Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst, taking place Thursdays at 7:30pm over the coming months. To register: https://christianheritagecentre.com/event/saints-scholars-spiritual-masters/ or by email to events@christianheritagecentre.com
RECOVERY FROM DIVORCE & SEPARATION
The Archdiocese is running a 6-week course, on Zoom to help anyone currently going though – or who has gone through – a relationship breakdown. Topics will cover facing the effects of what has happened, communication and conflict resolution, managing other relationships, legal issues, being single and moving forward. The course is in small groups and is confidential, informative and affirming. Dates: Monday 12 October to 16 November.
For further details and to book a place on the course, please email Maureen O’Brien on m.obrien@rcaol.org.uk
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR NEED ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT FR ANDERS AT THE PRESBYTERY IN TARLETON ON 01772 812242, OR EMAIL EITHER OFFICE.
WITH EVERY BLESSING FOR THE COMING WEEK