23 May 2021 – Pentecost

 

MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

Alan Silcock RIP

Dec. members of the Molyneux family

Maureen Greene RIP

Parishioners

 

LATEST  UP-DATE 

WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE FOR SS PETER & PAUL, MAWDELSEY!

Church is now open for public Masses / Service.  Please ring or email to book places for weekend Masses on Fridays, 10.30am to 3.00pm.  Thank you.

 


 

 
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PARISH NEWSLETTER

THIS WEEK’S NOTICES & MASS READINGS / REFLECTIONS

WELCOME TO MGR BUTCHARD
It’s lovely to be able to welcome Mgr Butchard to our parishes this weekend – and to thank him for leading our Masses and bringing communion to us – especially on this feast of Pentecost.  Thank you and God bless you!

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE REGARDING THE RECENT LIFTING OF COVID RESTRICTIONS
As a consequence of the prevalence of the Indian variant of the virus – and with so much uncertainty about its ultimate impact on hospital admissions – the Archdiocese has advised that there will be only minor changes to our current practices.

  • Places will still be limited, depending on the size of the church, so booking on Fridays (10.30am to 3pm) is still a requirement.
  • Sanitising, wearing face masks and remaining socially distant still apply
  • No singing of hymns – responses should continue to be made quietly

Minor changes however include:

  • Bidding prayers may be re-instated

MAY IS THE MONTH OF MARY!
THE ROSARY IN MAY
“You must know that when you ‘hail’ Mary, she immediately greets you.  She is utterly courteous and pleasant.  If you greet her, she will answer you right away and converse with you.”  St Bernadine of Siena
Pope Francis has asked all the faithful during the month of May to unite in the recitation of the Holy Rosary and to ask for an end to the pandemic.
Join Bishop Barron, the Word on Fire team, and millions of Catholics around the world in praying the Rosary this month at: https://www.wordonfire.org/rosary.

READINGS FOR  23 MAY
1st Reading: Acts 2:1-11, They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak
Psalm 103: Send forth your Spirit O Lord, and renew the face of the earth
2nd Reading: Galatians 5:16-25, The fruit of the Spirit
Gospel: John 15:26-27; 16:12-15, The Spirit of the truth will lead you to the complete truth
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: They were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke of the marvels of God, alleluia.

REFLECTION FOR PENTECOST– OUR FAITH ON SUNDAY
Today’s Gospel is very brief, which may seem strange for such an amazingly important event.  The disciples were huddled together in a room, because they were afraid to go out.  Then Jesus, sent by the Father appears as he had promised and gives them the Holy Spirit.  In doing so, Jesus talks about the forgiveness of sins – something that was regarded with far more seriousness and significance than is sometimes the case today.  Two thousand years ago sin was regarded as a rejection of God, so until the rejection was removed, there could be no relationship between God and the sinner.
Therefore in giving his disciples the power to forgive (or retain) sins, Jesus was giving them to power to help sinners start their relationship with God again – a new start that leads to a new life walking with God, talking and listening with God, just as friends do.  This miraculous transformation can only happen if we have faith in the supremely loving power of the Holy Spirit, which is Love itself. 

PRAYER INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Archbishop Malcolm has asked us to pray the following at this time of crisis:
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.

We join Pope Francis in his prayer intention for May:
We pray that those in charge of finance will work with governments to regulate the financial sphere and protect citizens from its dangers.

Let us pray…
That all Christians may strive for holiness by repenting of past sins;
That all who doubt or distrust the Gospel message may recognise the risen Christ in the goodness and kindness of others and learn to turn to God in faith and love;
That the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ for all people may teach us that there is no such thing as a worthless life, or a person God does not love;
That as Covid restrictions are lifted and more people receive their vaccinations, may the bonds of our relationships be renewed and strengthened

We pray now in the words Jesus gave us:
Our Father, who art in heaven…

SPECIAL FEASTS THIS WEEK
24 May – Our Lady, Mother of the Church (est. 2018)
25 May – St Bede the Venerable
26 May – St Philip Neri
27 May – Our Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest
29 May – St (Pope) Paul VI

SYNOD 2021 – DEADLINE NEXT WEEK!
It is important that parishioners hear and see what the Synod is recommending for us in our archdiocese.  You have another chance to provide feedback / thoughts / reflections, which will be taken in to account, ready for the Archbishop’s final ‘Pastoral Plan’, when it is discussed on 19 June.
Paper copies are available from the porch if you come to Mass.
Deadline for feedback: Sunday 30 May (by email / post through the presbytery door)
SYNOD PRAYER FOR PENTECOST
On this great Feast of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church we thank God for the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the life of the Church.
We pray for our Synod which will take place next month, and ask God to guide all those who will take part.
May this be a moment of blessing and renewal for all the members of the Church in the Archdiocese:
Merciful Father, Faithful God,
our Church has never lacked the life-giving presence of your Holy Spirit.
May your Holy Spirit always be at work among us, 
helping us to be more like Christ in our love of you and of our neighbour.
We ask your blessing upon our Synod.
May we be truly open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Help us to become ever more fully
the Church that you are calling us to be.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen

MARY’S MEALS ‘PRAY IN MAY’ CAMPAIGN
Our Archdiocese is supporting this campaign in aid of Mary’s Meals, which aims to encourage us all to unite in prayer so that 1.8m children can be fed a decent meal every day.  There are lots of activities and ideas available on their website for May and there will be further up-dates next week on how we can support this essential work.
www.marysmeals.org.uk/prayinmay 
Prayer for Mary’s Meals
Our Father give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us for the times
when we take more than our share
of the bread that belongs to all.
Let us help You fill the starving with good things,
not with scraps from our table.
Teach us how to share what is not ours to keep.
Clothe us with Your love
that we may complete each good work
you created us to do.
Place in our hearts Your compassion
for each starving child and
use our little acts of love
so that they starve no more.
Amen.
PRAYER CARDS
Special prayers cards are available from church / the parish office.
Church will be open on Fridays from 11am to 1pm during May for any parishioners who wish to come in for private prayer.
OPENING FOR PRIVATE PRAYER DURING MAY, FRIDAYS 11am to 1pm
In order to remain Covid-secure, please observe the following rules when you come:

  • No need to book
  • Wear a face mask, as usual
  • Sanitise hands when you come in
  • Sign in – a sheet will be on the table in the porch. (Use your own pen but if you have to borrow one, please ensure you’ve sanitised your hands before using the pen)
  • Take a sheet with a ‘X’ on it
  • Observe social distancing (1m-2m) at all times
  • Sit in an empty pew (no ‘X’ sheet)
  • When you leave, place the sheet with a ‘X’ on the spot where you were sitting, to warn others that they cannot sit there

MASS INTENTIONS
Mass intentions are welcome, not just for our dear departed, but for any other occasion eg in thanksgiving, successful outcome (exams / operation), wedding blessings etc..
Please write your name and intention, with the preferred date – if applicable –  on a piece of paper and place in an envelope, along with your offering, either in the weekly offertory basket or through the presbytery door.  Every effort will be made to ensure that a Mass is said on the day requested, or as close to it as possible, should that date have already been booked. 

A MESSAGE FROM CAFOD REGARDING THE COVID EMERGENCY IN INDIA
As Covid-19 brings devastation across India, CAFOD is working with experienced local Church agency, Caritas India, to provide vital support to poor and marginalised communities. Donations to CAFOD’s Coronavirus Appeal will help Caritas India distribute PPE kits to frontline health workers, promote COVID & vaccine awareness campaigns, and set up safely run isolation & quarantine centres. You can donate online here: cafod.org.uk/give.  Please keep praying for the people of India and all those affected by the pandemic.

NEW CHORISTERS NEEDED FOR THE CATHEDRAL
Do you know a child who would like to be a chorister at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King here in Liverpool?
The search is now on for the next generation of Boy and Girl choristers.
They are recruiting
– BOYS currently in year 2 & 3
– GIRLS currently in year 5
All choristers are educated at Runnymede St Edward’s Catholic Primary School (Boys, year 3-6) and St Edward’s College (Boys & Girls, year 7-10.)
If you know of a Catholic family who might be interested in this wonderful opportunity, please share this information with them.
Full details of choristerships at the Metropolitan Cathedral, alongside application forms and voice trial booking slots can be found at: https://www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk/music/joining-the-choirs/?fbclid=IwAR3OSMT-8nrX5X1NIMpJ9vcqlxOJWyVpleQzCLYtgT3BzFry7AGxMz0w7Xs

MUSICAL TREATS FOR THE WEEK
The Blessing | Aotearoa/New Zealand Churches join together to sing “The Blessing” – YouTube
A musical treat from New Zealand this week: Aotearoa – Māori name for New Zealand, literally “land of the long white cloud”.
In addition to the wonderful music there’s also a visual treat offered by the stunning views of New Zealand.

 


 REGULAR WEEKLY NOTICES

MASS ON SUNDAYS
As you may be aware, our Bishops have lifted the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
To keep Sundays holy, it might be helpful to spend some time reading the Scriptures.  Besides your Bible, the Magnificat publication can be a wonderful aid to prayer and of course, you also get the readings for Mass for every day of the week!  At a cost of less than £1 a week, you may be interested in subscribing now: tel. 020 7448 3618; email: uk@magnificat.com or visit the website: www.catholic-herald.myshopify.com
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. 
If you have any queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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.

MASSES ONLINE
Locally, there is St Clare’s, Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood: www.saintclares.co.uk which streams Mass daily at 9.30am.  Please follow the easy links on the website. 
https://www.vaticannews.va/enPope Francis
https://www.churchservices.tv/whats-on-now/  Great selection of Masses and other Church serviceshttps://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 (Sky Channel 588)) or the Archdiocese to access daily Masses
On the radio: Catholic Radio Sky 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.

YEAR OF ST JOSEPH
With his apostolic letter, ‘Patris Corde’ (‘With a Father’s heart’), Pope Francis has proclaimed a ‘Year of St Joseph’ running from 8 December 2020 (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception) to December 2021.
At the end of the letter, he asks us to pray the following prayer to St Joseph:

Hail Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you, God entrusted his only Son,
In you, Mary placed her trust,
With you, Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
Show yourself a father
And guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage
And defend us from every evil.
Amen
PRAYER CARDS FOR THE YEAR OF ST JOSEPH: Prayer cards are available – please notify the Parish Office and we will send one out to you so that you can say the prayer to St Joseph during the week.  We know we can rely on his guidance and protection in every difficulty and challenge.  And his intercessions are certainly much-needed by us all at the moment!

CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS: These are available to order directly from the publisher (www.thecatholicuniverse.com  or 0161 820 5722). It can be posted to you each week. Introductory offers: printed copies for three months – £25; twelve months – £99; or digital copy £55 for twelve months.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY – SEE THIS NEW INITIATIVE! ‘The Mark 10 Mission’
Please click on the link below and identify this Sunday’s video.
https://www.themark10mission.co.uk/theepisodes/seriestwo
The Mark 10 Mission team is passionate to see the Gospel shared with children and to help them grow in their relationship with Christ. The website is updated each Friday morning with a new episode, so happy viewing!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OFFERTORY DONATIONS DURING THE LOCKDOWN
Many thanks to generous parishioners who continue to support the parish during this extremely challenging year.
Instead of putting money in offertory envelopes each week, those who are able to make an offering are asked to either:

  • Write a monthly cheque (payable to ‘Ss Peter & Paul Church’) and post to the presbytery with a covering letter and one offertory envelope for gift aid purposes.
  • Contact the office (by phone or email) to request a Standing Order mandate for your bank –

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to discuss this further.

CAFOD & CLIMATE CHANGE 2021 – POPE FRANCIS’ PLEA TO THE WORLD
This year, two very important world conferences will be taking place, against the backdrop of the pandemic and the spiralling crisis of our global environment that is struggling to survive the demands imposed on it by us.
CAFOD is pledging to help us make our voices heard at these conferences, both conferences are being hosted by the UK:
11 – 13 June – the G7 Summit, when heads of government from seven of the world’s richest countries will meet to discuss plans for a global recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. 
The G7 meeting will be a key moment for world leaders to cancel unjust debts and tackle the climate crisis.
1 – 12 November – The UN Climate Conference or COP26.  A ‘COP’ means ‘conference of parties’.
Governments and negotiators from across the world will travel to the meeting to discuss how to keep temperature rises below dangerous levels and prevent the climate crisis from causing even worse catastrophes for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
What can we do?
Go to the CAFOD website and click on the Latest News links which will take to on-line petitions / letters, urging Boris Johnson and his government to speak up for the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged.
The Pope has urged us not to forget the plight of the poor in our rush to get back to ‘normal’ life after the pandemic.  He wants us to remain focussed on helping our spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ, wherever they may be.  We have a duty of care for all of God’s creation.
Why 2021 is a huge year for a green recovery from coronavirus | CAFOD

 


 HELP DURING THE PANDEMIC

Check out the government website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home to find out what the restrictions (and exceptions) are, and to keep abreast of changes in the future

Many residents have now received their first dose of the vaccine, but it is important to note that protection doesn’t kick in for a number of weeks after the vaccine, so it is vital that everyone remains vigilant and ensures that they follow all the rules to keep themselves and everyone else safe.
The number of positive cases in the NW has increased in recent weeks.

COVID TESTING
Residents can book an appointment if they are experiencing symptoms of Covid19 via www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

COVID VACCINES – IMPORTANT
Many parishioners have already received notification about their vaccine – or have received the first dose.
Please contact your local surgery if you are over 40 and have not yet been given a date for your vaccination.
Please also note that the Catholic Church has given its full support to the vaccine (all three of them) and is keen to assure Catholics that there are no moral issues linked to the science of the vaccines, whatsoever.  The vaccines are safe. The Archbishop of Liverpool is anxious to dispel any myths and urges Catholics to have the vaccines.  Cardinal Vin Nichols has had his first vaccine.  So has the Pope  – and hospital chaplains have also received their first doses.

Unfortunately some people are trying to exploit the fears of others, so be on the alert for so-called vaccine scammers, who will try and charge you for a vaccine. 
There is NO CHARGE.
The vaccines are free. 
GP surgeries are not paid.  The government is paying for the whole programme.

Please also note that there are some scammers pretending to be the NHS.  There is only one official NHS email address, which is www.nhs.uk

The NHS will never ask for details like family maiden names of bank accounts / credit & debit cards.  Nor will they require you to pay anything for the vaccines.  If you are contacted by a group claiming to be the NHS and they’ve asked for these details, it is a scam and you must ignore it.  Then report it!

It is essential to continue to observe the ‘basics’: hand hygiene, face masks, social-distancing – and lots of good ventilation – at all times

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR NEED ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT FR ANDERS AT THE PRESBYTERY IN TARLETON ON 01772 812242, OR EMAIL THE MAWDESLEY OFFICE (ssppm@rcaol.org.uk)

WISHING ALL PARISHIONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES EVERY BLESSING FOR THE COMING WEEK