17 May 2020
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK – Both parishes
Parishioners
Fr Kevin Ashton RIP
Kathleen & Bert Edwardson RIP
LISCF
Martin O’Connor RIP
Richard & Mary Singleton RIP
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OUR LADY’S and Ss PETER & PAUL’S – No Masses or services. Church can no longer open for private prayer. Fr Anders will continue to say Mass for the intentions listed above. |
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E. Minister | Reader |
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JOINT PARISH NEWSLETTER
BURIAL: Martin O’Connor RIP will be buried at Ss Peter & Paul on Wednesday 20 May.
CAFOD THANK YOU TO PARISHIONERS AT Ss PETER &PAUL
Generous parishioners raised a total of £345 during Lent, to help fund pharmacists in Zimbabwe. CAFOD has sent a letter, thanking everyone for their kindness.
PRAY WITH ARCHBISHOP McMAHON, OP
God Our Father, each person is precious to You. You are the Giver of life.
Have mercy on us and protect us at this time, as the coronavirus threatens health and life.
You are an ever-present Helper in time of trouble.
Watch over those who are suffering, give strength to those who are aiding the sick and give courage to all in this time of anxiety.
We ask this of you in the name of your Son. Jesus Christ.
Amen
THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL REFLECTION: by Fr Chris Thomas
My Dad was the youngest of four brothers, the eldest of whom was born in the 19th century and died in the First World War. All my cousins on my Dad’s side are much older than me and as a child I always felt very insignificant and very frightened when I had to go to either of his two remaining brother’s houses. I do
not know whether you can imagine what it was like to be four or five and to be surrounded by adults, none of whom were particularly good with children. I used to spend most of my time in silence crouched on the floor ready to run for cover behind the sofa whenever I was noticed. It was agony.
To help me get through it, I invented a friend called Billy, who only ever came out when I went to my uncle’s houses. He was the brave one who would speak for me when I couldn’t, or would play with me when I felt alone. The reality was that Billy was simply part of me but a part of me that enabled me to cope in a lonely frightening situation. I guess most of us have strategies to deal with the times when we feel most alone, strategies to deal with our fear.
In today’s Gospel we find Jesus telling his disciples that their greatest strategy is to trust in his presence. The Advocate he tells them will come to be with them. In Greek the word we translate as Advocate is Paraclete. Paraclete was one who stood by the little person who was unable to speak for themselves, the one who was powerless and voiceless. The Paraclete fought their case in a court of law. The disciples were going to be those little ones and the Spirit of Jesus would be the Paraclete, to be with them and to help them as they face the world.
What’s Jesus saying to us? It is really very simple. We are never alone because he is with us. Whenever we have to face difficult times, whenever we feel alone or afraid, believe the truth that his Spirit is within us. We are incredibly special people. God loves us enough to enter into real intimacy with us. That is why Jesus reminds us that he becomes part of us, and we part of him. It is the coming together of the human and the divine. It is what our Baptism and Confirmation tells us is true, that God is within us. We do not have to look outside ourselves for strength, the Spirit is present and if, in our times of crisis, we can only spend a moment drawing on the strength that comes from the Spirit, I think we would be amazed at how real that Spirit is. I guess that is why I find some religious practices difficult to handle because they can point us away from the mystery of the God who has chosen to live within our hearts. God has given us all we need to journey through life and lives within us.
I don’t know about you but whenever I am faced with difficult times, I look to God to change the things that I find difficult. I suppose it is a natural response. I think the reality is that the Spirit within will change us and strengthen us, so that we can cope with difficult situations. The situation may never change but we do and the strength is somehow given.
In just a couple of weeks we will celebrate Pentecost. Maybe we could pray that we would become aware of the presence of the Advocate within us, so that when we come to celebrate that feast, it won’t be empty ritual but a real celebration of the gift of the God, who promises to be with us always.
READINGS FOR 17 MAY
1st Reading: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 – They laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit
Psalm 65: Cry out with joy to God all the earth
2nd Reading: 1 Peter 3: 15-18 – In the body he was put to death, in the Spirit he was raised to life
Gospel: John 14:15 – 21 – I shall ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus says, ‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we shall come to him. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: If you love me, keep my commandments, says the Lord, and I will ask the Father, and he will send you another Paraclete to abide with you forever. Alleluia.
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 COLLECTIONS DURING THE LOCKDOWN
The Archdiocese has now issued a set of guidelines for priests and parishioners – and also set up a direct online-giving facility.
They advise against offertory envelopes being posted through presbytery doors because this increases the number of non-essential journeys being made by vulnerable people. It also requires the counting and retaining of cash in the presbytery and subsequent trips to banks / post offices – all increasing the likelihood of spreading infection.
The Archdiocese therefore recommends that parishioners who are able to and who wish to continue with their offertory donations can do one of the following:
1. Wait until the crisis is over and then write out 1 cheque only, payable to the parish, and place in that particular week’s offertory envelope / an envelope with your offertory number on (so that it can be identified for Gift Aid, if appropriate)
2. Take out a standing order with your bank. You will need the parish account name, sort code and account number. Please either email the parish office for this information, or phone the Tarleton presbytery on 01772 812242 and we will send you (mail / email) a Standing Order Mandate form. You may wish to make your offering to the parish on a monthly basis, rather than weekly in this instance.
3. Via Liverpool Archdiocese’s online giving website: Each parish has its own unique link on the website and a photograph of your church is shown to provide additional reassurance to donors that they are donating to their parish. All donations will go to the parish selected by the donor.
Here is the link for Our Lady’s in Tarleton: https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/our-lady-help-of-christians-tarleton
Here is the link for Ss Peter & Paul, Mawdesley: https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/ss-peter-and-paul-mawdesley
4. Text Giving: Text OLOCPRAY to 70085 to donate £2. Texts cost £2 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £2 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text OLOCPRAYNOINFO to 70085.
Text OLOCPRAY to 70450 to donate £3. Texts cost £3 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £3 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text OLOCPRAYNOINFO to 70450. Text OLOCPRAY to 70460 to donate £5. Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £5 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text OLOCPRAYNOINFO to 70460.
Text OLOCPRAY to 70470 to donate £10. Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text OLOCPRAYNOINFO to 70470.
MASSES ONLINE Thoughts from Mgr John Devine on live streaming of masses during the lockdown
These last weeks have witnessed an amazing response to our daily Mass. I celebrate Mass each day in St Mary’s, on my own behind closed doors, with a much wider group of people than I ever did when the church was open.
Each day I receive emails, not just from our own parishioners, but from all over the world: from Cincinnati, Chicago, Indiana, Maryland and Maine in the US, but also from Canada, Kenya, S Africa, India, Australia and from all parts of the UK. It’s a surprising example of how, in God’s economy, loss becomes gain.
We are all part of God’s family. The human spirit cannot be crushed. As St Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans ‘Neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come… can ever come between us and the love of God, made visible through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!’
Daily Mass can be viewed from Bishop Barron’s Chapel at 1.15pm on You Tube
Locally, there is St Clare’s, Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood: www.stclares.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)
Sky Channel 588 – for daily Mass at 1pm
Use the website links to EWTN, 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/
EASTER TALK ON ACTS OF THE APOSTLES: Fr Andrew at St Clare’s in Fulwood delivered a really interesting and thoughtful presentation on the Acts of the Apostles – our Easter readings – last Tuesday on You Tube. You can access his talk (with illustrative slides) on:-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_bWOfGsCD4
It lasts 1 hour exactly and is well worth it. It helps if you have a copy of Acts with you, but is not essential by any means. Enjoy!
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.
POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER FOR THE END OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC – He is asking people to recite the rosary and say this prayer afterwards (a second, much longer prayer is in this week’s Universe – www.the catholicuniverse.com )
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross
were united with Jesus’ suffering, yet persevered in your faith.
‘Protectress of the Roman people’, you know our needs
and we know that you will provide so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebrations may return after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering and burdened himself with our sorrows,
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen
We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions, in our time of need,
But deliver us always from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen
Part of the 2nd prayer includes the following invocations:
Beloved Mother, help us to realise that we are all members of one great family, and to recognise the bond that unites us, so that in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need.
Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.
Mary, Consolation of the Afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.
To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary.
Amen
CHILDREN’S LITURGY WITH CAFOD / REDEMPTORISTS
cafod.org.uk/parishes – provides tips for CHILDREN’S activities
They also have a programme of online talks about their response work as well as a weekly live-streamed Mass and Sunday Children’s Liturgy.
Redemptorist Publications: the weekly worksheet for children can be accessed and downloaded on line by emailing marketing@rpbooks.co.uk
Tapestry Starter Kits for Children: Try contacting Hayes & Finch for some tapestry starter kits for children…http://www.hfltd.com/category/jacksons-of-hebden-bridge/
SYNOD 2020
The Synod Office is open for further thoughts and reflections from parishioners, as a consequence of this pandemic and the closure of churches. Your thoughts are most welcome. Please contact the Synod Office and check online materials for this on: https://synod2020.co.uk/themes/proposals/reflections
THE DEADLINE HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED TO MONDAY 18 MAY
USEFUL CONTACTS: GETTING HELP – WEST LANCS PARTNERSHIP
Everyone should have received leaflets from WLBC outlining the help and support being offered to vulnerable families and individuals during this crisis.
If you haven’t received anything, then please ring 0800 616 667 between 7am and 7pm.
West Lancs Together can help with food deliveries, collecting prescriptions, financial help, social isolation (loneliness and anxiety).
Other specific helplines include:
Victim /Domestic Abuse – 0300 323 0085
Macmillan Care – 01695 402164
Dial-a-Ride, for wheelchair users – 0845 121 7686
Alzheimer’s Society – 01772 788700
Foodbank referrals – 0800 616 667 / info@ormskirk.foodbank.org.uk – emails are checked daily
Minor injuries requiring medical attention – 01695 402180
Southport & Ormskirk , Preston Royal A & E – open as usual; please don’t be put off by fears of contracting the virus: they use completely different areas of the hospital. Also, don’t forget to have children immunised against deadly diseases like Measle, Mumps, Rubella.
THE ARCHDIOCESE ALSO RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING HELP LINES
Hub of Hope (www.hubofhope.co.uk) – using a web browser or mobile, this cloud-based web application allows anyone, anywhere, to find the nearest source of support for any mental health issue, as well as providing a ‘talk now’ button, connecting users directly to the Samaritans (tel. 116 123)
Silver Line (www.thesilverline.org.uk/ or 0800 470 80 90) – a free confidential helpline offering information, friendship and advice to older people. Available 24 /7.
Domestic Abuse – 0808 2000 247; if you are in immediate danger, ring 999. If you call 999 from a mobile and cannot speak, press 55 to Make Yourself Heard. Police can track your location and come to assist.
Childline – 0800 1111
LOCAL SHOPS / BUSINESSES THAT DELIVER
Spar, Tarleton – 01772 814175
Creme de la Creme Delicatessen, Tarleton – 01772 816052
Olive Tree Cafe, Tarleton – 01772 812000
The Vestry Tap Room, Tarleton – order on their website thevestrybar.co.uk
Booths Hesketh Bank – 01772 811493
Taylor Produce Hesketh Bank 07771661846 / 01616272520 or message them on Facebook. Also 01772 815733
GIVING HELP
Some parishioners and their friends / family have been – and still are – helping to shop for food for those who are vulnerable, as well as collecting prescriptions for them. If you know of a neighbour or friend who needs this sort of help, please contact Diane on 01772 815508. For more specialist help, please contact WLBC – see above.
NHS Volunteers: Of the 750,000 who signed up in March, 889 came from the North West region. Many will be helping the agencies listed above, acting as delivery drivers, dog-walkers, telephone support
BE ALERT – BE SCAM SMART!
a. Don’t give credit / debit card PIN numbers to anyone you don’t know and trust
b. Don’t believe anyone who rings and tells you they’re from your bank / building society / telephone provider etc
c. Don’t order medicines on-line without checking with family / friends first
d. Don’t give cash to anyone you don’t know, who says they’ll get shopping in for you
e. Don’t give your pension book to anyone other than a family member / known friend
f. Finally, if in doubt, say you need to check with family / friends to any caller you don’t know
NEWS ITEMS FEATURED IN THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSE THIS WEEK:
• The Catholic Church has urged the government to ensure that gipsy and traveller communities have access to information and essential medical services during the pandemic.
• Small charities are at risk of collapse
• New norms of Mass as churches around Europe take small steps to re-open: keep your distance – and no singing!
• Brazil’s Amazon region faces a major crisis and bishops slam President Bolsonaro for being uncaring and inactive
• The poor in the US are being left to carry the cost of the lockdown
• Catholic and Lutheran priests targeted by the Third Reich
• This week in 1536, Anne Boleyn (second wife of Henry VIII) was condemned and executed for adultery, treason and incest
CATHOLIC PIC – Monthly Archdiocesan Magazine for May
Please access this month’s copy via www.catholicpic.co.uk
Items featured in May’s edition include:
• Message from Bishop McMahon: ‘My prayer is that when we all get back to (some kind of) normal, we will be in a better place, where all those acts of selfless love and neighbourliness we have witnessed, somehow become a fixed part of how we behave. My hope is that our post-coronavirus world will be a safer, calmer and kinder place, where God’s love is visible for all to see.’
• Remembering 1980 and the National Pastoral Congress – 40 years ago this month
• Cathedral bells ring out for NHS and other key workers every Thursday at 8pm
• The Archdiocese donates £20,000 for PPE.
AS ALWAYS, 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