26 April 2020
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK – Both parishes
Parishioners
Austin & Mary Roscoe
Holy Souls NDL
Dec. members of the Kelly family
Peter Mawdsely RIP
Mary Farrimond RIP
| UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE |
|---|
|
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. |
| This Week | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ministry |
E. Minister | Reader |
| Saturday | ||
| Sunday |
| Next Week | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ministry | E. Minister | Reader |
| Saturday | ||
| Sunday |
JOINT PARISH NEWSLETTER
THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL REFLECTION: Luke 24:13-35 They recognised him at the breaking of the bread
We should put ourselves in the shoes of the disciples in today’s gospel. Downcast and confused, they’re making their way to Emmaus, unable to take in or make sense of the things that have occurred.
They know what they have seen and heard: a great and mighty prophet, a Redeemer, but they don’t know what to make of his violent death only days before. So distracted are they in their own misery, that they can’t even recognise Jesus when he meets up with them and starts to walk with them.
So how does Jesus get through to his disciples? Firstly, he interprets the scriptures for them. In today’s first reading and the epistle, Peter also opens the Scriptures to proclaim the meaning of Christ’s death, according to the Father’s set ‘plan’ – before the foundation of the world. Jesus is described as a new Moses, and a new Passover Lamb. He is the One of whom David sang in today’s psalm.
After reminding the disciples of the Scriptures, Jesus takes bread, blesses and breaks it and gives it to them – replicating his actions at the Last Supper and it’s at that point, that the disciples see clearly for the first time – not only that Jesus, their risen Saviour is there amongst them, but also that he had given them a crucial understanding of the significance of the three years that he spent with them. Everything falls dramatically in to place: filled with this deeper understanding of God’s redeeming love for mankind, they abandon their meal and rush back to Jerusalem, full of energy and a sense of purpose, to begin the evangelising work that Jesus had called them to do.
We are also called to be his disciples – and share the responsibility of evangelising and spreading Christ’s love, especially where it is in short supply.
Adapted from Dr Scott Hahn, Catholic Times, 24 April
READINGS FOR 26 APRIL
Acts 2:22-33 It was impossible for him to be held in the power of Hades; Psalm 15 – Show us Lord, the path of life; I Peter 1:17-21 Your ransom was paid in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ; Gospel: Luke 24:13-35 – They recognised him at the breaking of the bread.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Lord Jesus explain the scriptures to us. Make our hearts burn within us as you talk to us. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: The disciples recognised the Lord Jesus in the breaking of the bread. Alleluia.
LETTER FROM FR ANDERS
Dear Parishioners,
Daily prayer is so important, especially at this time – and it is something that we can all do to help each other and ourselves! I know we will be supported by each other’s prayers. Let’s continue to pray each day for an end to this worldwide pandemic. You are all in my thoughts and prayers, especially at Holy Mass.
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass each morning at 6am (7am in Rome), which is televised live on EWTN (Sky Channel 588), with an English commentary.
PRAYER GROUP FOR BOTH PARISHES: ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst’.
Are you interested in keeping in touch with other parishioners through live prayer group meetings via Zoom?
Prayer has become increasingly important to many people as a result of the stresses and uncertainties we are all facing during this pandemic. We are therefore planning to launch a weekly prayer meeting (on Zoom) on Tuesdays from 7.15pm to 7.45pm. If you would like to take part and see what it’s all about, please email either parish office: Our Lady’s = olhct@rcaol.org.uk or St Peter & Paul’s = ssppm@rcaol.org.uk by next Friday 2 May. We will then contact you with further details, some preparatory reading and very importantly, your password and the link for the first of these live, streamed meetings on Tuesday 6 May.
MAKING AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Prayer of St Alphonsus
Alone or together with others in your household
Make the sign of the cross
You could read the Gospel of the day
Then share prayer intentions quietly or aloud
Say the Lord’s Prayer
Then make an 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.
Close with the sign of the cross
OFFERTORY COLLECTIONS DURING THE LOCKDOWN
The Archdiocese has now issued a set of guidelines for priests and parishioners.
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 ONE 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 a monthly payment, rather than a weekly one in this instance.
MASSES ONLINE
There are a huge number of churches that are live streaming Masses and other services.
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/
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.
SYNOD 2020 & CATHOLIC PICTORIAL for the Archdiocese of Liverpool: http://www.catholicpic.co.uk/
Articles in this month’s Pic feature up-dates on Synod 2020. Whilst the Preparatory Meetings due to be held in May have had to be cancelled, the Synod Office is still working hard, going through every parish’s responses to the four themed questions. We will hear from them in the next few weeks about the re-scheduling of the Synod meeting itself – originally planned for the end of October.
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
GETTING HELP – WEST LANCS PARTNERSHIP
Everyone should have received leaflets from WLDC 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
Minor injuries requiring medical attention – 01695 402180
Southport A & E – open as usual
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 WLDC – see above.
Make a Scrub Bag!
Another way of helping is to provide ‘scrub’ bags for medical staff and care home workers. These can be made from old pillow cases: just fold a hem around the top opening – about 2cm – and machine stitch round. Thread some sewing tape or ribbon through, to make a drawstring. Easy! Again, please contact Diane if you need help with this. She will arrange for collection and distribution around local hospitals, care homes and hospices, where they are in great demand!
NEWS ITEMS FEATURED IN THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSE & CATHOLIC TIMES THIS WEEK
• The Universe had called for a re-opening of churches, in a limited way, but this has been rejected by the government: ‘community spaces where people gather, including places of worship, must remain closed. The policy will be reviewed later in May.
• In Italy, despite a strict lockdown that has been in place for 6 weeks, churches are open for private prayer for individuals only, who pass that church on their way to or from, a valid excuse for being out of their homes eg going to buy food or to the pharmacy.
• In New Mexico (in the US), the Bishop of Las Cruces has organised a drive-thru communion: he wears a mask and gloves while giving communion to a passenger in a car park of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary!
• Migrants, including thousands of young children, are at great risk as no safe haven is available for them. Charity workers in Calais are forced to wear some form of protective clothing, yet struggle to provide basic foodstuffs and water. More info on how to help these people is at www.care4calais.org
• Society’s poorest are bearing the brunt of pandemic deaths. Residents in inner city tower blocks have no access to outside spaces, unlike those of us fortunate enough to have gardens to sit out in.
• Pope Francis has urged Christians to ‘be a witness to Christ’s victory over the virus’. Like the women at the abandoned tomb, whose sorrow turned to joy at Christ’s victory over death, we should strive to be joyful for the spices and oils that the women brought, in the form of doctors, medical staff, shop-workers, delivery drivers, transport workers, local volunteers – and so many others – angels in human form. We should remember that the sorrow and desolation of Good Friday is always followed by the joy and peace of Easter Sunday.
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