2 AUGUST – 18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK – Both parishes
Parishioners
The Taylor Family
Holy Souls NDL
Foundation Mass
In Thanksgiving
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OUR LADY’S and Ss PETER & PAUL’S – Both churches are opening for Sunday Vigil and Sunday Masses. Mas |
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JOINT NEWSLETTER
WEEKLY MESSAGE FROM FR ANDERS
This weekend we can finally open our churches and it is a great joy to be able to welcome parishioners back to church and to be able to offer them the Blessed Sacrament, after so many months.
The Sunday Vigil and Sunday morning Masses are now at the usual times ie
SS PETER & PAUL, MAWDESLEY: 5pm on Saturday and 11.15am on Sunday
OUR LADY’S TARLETON: 6.45pm on Saturday and 9.30am on Sunday
We are proceeding with caution – as advised by the Archdiocese – therefore there will be no midweek Masses at present.
In order to comply with the requirement to ensure social-distancing, parishioners will understand the necessity of limiting the number of parishioners who can attend Mass at any one time. Our smaller church in Tarleton means that we will only be able to accommodate 22 (including the stewards) and in Mawdesley, this will be 30 (including the stewards). It will therefore be necessary for parishioners to book a slot for either the Sunday Vigil, or the Sunday morning Mass.
Tarleton parishioners: please email (olhct@rcaol.org.uk) or ring the Tarleton office (01772 812242) on Thursday 6 August, between 10.30am and before 3.00pm.
Mawdesley parishioners: please email (ssppm@rcaol.org.uk) or ring the Mawdesley office ~(01704 822618) on Friday 7 August, between 10.30am and before 3.00pm.
It is important to note that we cannot accommodate anyone who does not book in advance.
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.
GDPR Forms: There are still some forms outstanding so please can you return them as quickly as possible, or you risk missing out! Our apologies if you’ve not received one of these forms. Please can you email / ring either the Tarleton or Mawdesley office and Diane will send one out to you asap.
PRAYER FOR GOD’S MERCY DURING THE PANDEMIC
Archbishop Malcolm invites us to pray together with him through these times
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
READINGS FOR 2 AUGUST
1st Reading: Isaiah 55:1-3 – Come and eat
Psalm 144 – You open wide your hand O Lord, and grant our desires
2nd Reading: Romans 8:35-39 – No created thing can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ
Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21 – They all ate as much as they wanted
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: You have given us Lord, bread from heaven, endowed with all delights and sweetness in every taste
PRAYER INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
For those bearing burdens: that the Lord will strengthen them and assist them in their needs at this difficult time,
Lord, in your mercy…
For those in our parishes who are shielding at home and unable to attend Masses, that the Spirit will reassure them of his continuing presence in their lives and God’s infinite love for them,
Lord, in your mercy….
The Holy Father’s Prayer Intention: We pray for all those who work and live from the sea – sailors, fishermen and their families,
Lord, in your mercy…
THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL REFLECTION
The reflection on the Gospel is provided by Eamonn Murphy, a parishioner in St Bartholomew’s Parish, Rainhill.
Words of compassion and comfort leap out from the page of today’s readings. ‘O come to the water all who are thirsty’.
‘You’re welcome, it’s good to see you.’ Isn’t it wonderful to know and to experience that another person is delighted to see you and be in your company? And then, to hear that the Lord is kind and full of compassion. He is close to all who call on him from their hearts. No condemnation for whatever it is you condemn yourself for, and then to hear that ‘Nothing can come between us and the Love of God made visible in Jesus.’ Such compassion! Even in the midst of grieving for his friend John the Baptist, he doesn’t turn his back on the people. He is not indifferent to the suffering of the people. His experience of God leads him to show compassion by alleviating the sufferings and the hunger of the people gathered around him.
The disciples want to send the people to the local villages. In other words, let them solve the problem themselves. What about those who cannot buy food? Jesus’ response: ‘You feed them. You give them something to eat.’ This is when the words of compassion, these wonderful words of comfort, become disturbing words: words inviting us to be compassionate; words inviting us to hear the cry of the refugee; words inviting us to accompany the young in their search for meaning. I am constantly amazed at the unselfish compassion of parents for their children even when they are adult children, helping them out of one crisis after another.
Then there are the multiple acts of compassion of those who reached out and continue to do so during this time of COVID-19. People are so good. Jesus’ words are still disturbing words because I think they are words you and I do not really want to hear. As someone who is reasonably comfortable financially, I even have a problem hearing the prayer ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ US and not ME ,but US – sisters and brothers. You give them something to eat, not send them to buy food but give food. So it’s about sharing our bounty. Sharing what we have. I believe that if we open ourselves to feel the pain of our brothers and sisters, opportunities to share responsibly will present themselves.
Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy great BOUNTY. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
As St Augustine wrote ‘Don’t scatter yourself around. Look to your intimate being. Truth resides in the inner person. ’Bono continued his song: ‘I believe in the kingdom come. Then all the colours bleed into one. Bleed into one. But yes still I’m running. ’As we return to the ‘new normal’, let us never give up this wonderful, intriguing, sometimes bewildering search. Life will never be sorted but that’s ok
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.
MAKING 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.
CALLING ALL CHILDREN! ‘CELEBRATE’ – THE KIDS’ MAGAZINE FROM REDEMPTORIST PUBLICATIONS
This magazine for 7 to 12 year olds is a perfect way for kids to celebrate summer: it’s full of cool activities and fun quizzes. Twenty-two pages packed full of ideas and activities to stimulate the imagination and deepen children’s faith. Available from http://www.rpbooks.co.uk or call 01420 88222
FEAST DAYS THIS COMING WEEK
4 August – St John Vianney, priest (1786-1859), he excelled in preaching and counselling and is the patron saint of priests throughout the world
5 August – dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome, 434AD – the largest Marian church in the world
6 August – Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord
7 August – St Sixtus II Pope and martyr + companions; also St Cajetan, Italian priest
8 August – St Dominic, priest 13th century Spain
SYNOD 2020
The Archdiocese has recently published a new timetable, which will allow for much greater consultation on the themed proposals by parishioners.
The Synod itself will now meet in June 2021.
The online portal for receiving proposals, in the light of the Covid pandemic remains open until 1 September.
18 October – Synod Sunday: the Archdiocese will send out a leaflet which includes new reflections based on the Covid experience
October to December: Parish meetings (Possibly via Zoom / Skype), to examine the lists of proposals and share responses.
March to June 2021: Further parish discussions on the proposals and a vote by parishioners
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSE & TIMES: SPECIAL OFFER! Weekly editions of The Universe (incorporating The Catholic Times) are on special offer at the moment: only £18 for 3 months! To order your own copy of The Universe/Catholic Times, please ring 0203 538 9753 or email: sales@bluemarketmedia.co.uk
CATHOLIC PICTORIAL: To order your own copy of the Catholic Pic please ring 0151 709 7567 or email Kim O’Brien at kim.obrien@cpmmmedia.comSt John Fisher, scholar and bishop
Please use this link to access July’s edition of the Pic: https://catholicpic.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0c53c885ba6459a91db50c18c&id=9a4891ad1a&e=be09e47358
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