4 July 2021 – 14th in Ordinary Time

 

MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

Phyllis Edwards RIP

Richard & Josie Lamb RIP

Richard & Mary Singleton RIP

Parishioners

 

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PARISH NEWSLETTER

THIS WEEK’S NOTICES & MASS READINGS / REFLECTIONS

BOOKING FOR MASS
There is no change to our current arrangements for attending Mass, therefore please continue to contact the office on Fridays, 10.30am to 3pm in order to book your place.

READINGS FOR 4 JULY
1st Reading: Ezekiel 2:2-5, The sons are defiant and obstinate and they shall know there is a prophet among them
Psalm 122: Our eyes are on the Lord til he show us his mercy
2nd Reading: II Corinthians 12:7-10, I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boasts, so that the power of Christ may stay over me
Gospel: Mark 6:1-6, A prophet is only despised in his own country.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! The Lord has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: Come to me, all who labour and are burdened and I will refresh you, says the Lord.

REFLECTION FOR 14th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
“A prophet,” Jesus says, “is only despised in his own country, among his relations…”  History certainly shows this to be true: not only Old Testament history (Isaiah and Jeremiah), but the history of many of our saints.  Why is this so?
Is it that ‘familiarity breeds contempt’?  “This is the carpenter, isn’t it?”  In other words, ‘we know him well – and all his family, so how can we take him seriously!’
The every-day, the normal, we do not like to be jolted out of it, to be challenged by change.  Thus, it seems in today’s gospel reading a synagogue official was angry that the ‘normal’ Sabbath routine was disturbed when Jesus healed a crippled woman.  But the Jewish people had a tradition of prophecy – of prophets appearing from among themselves, called by God for a specific purpose.
True, there had been many self-made prophets (condemned by God).  The genuine prophets, called by God, demonstrated in their works and the words they used the closeness of their relationship with God.
If Jesus is “amazed” at the people’s lack of faith, surely it was because he expected his Father’s Chosen People to be alert and prepared for the word of God, for the works of God and for the fulfilment of the prophecies.  He was clearly disappointed that they were unwilling to be challenged to reject ‘normal’ and embrace the prophetic message he was giving them.

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.

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for July: Social Friendship
We pray that, in social, economic and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and passionate architects of dialogue and friendship.

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
5 July – St Anthony Mary Zaccaria, founder of the Barnabite Order
6 July – St Maria Goretti, child martyr
9 July – Ss Augustine Zhao Rong & Companions, martyrs

WORLD DAY OF GRANDPARENTS & THE ELDERLY – SUNDAY 25 JULY
This first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly is being celebrated midway through the year dedicated to family by the Holy Father on the fifth anniversary of the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia.
This is a deliberate choice that stems from awareness of how the elderly −all the elderly, including those who are not grandparents − need a family environment in which to live, and also how it is necessary for families to become aware of the role being played by their older members. 
The decision to hold a World Day for Grandparents and Older People has come at a time marked by a pandemic and by the suffering of our older generations in recent months in every part of the world. To be unable to be close to those who suffer is at odds with a Christian’s calling to show compassion.
This World Day is an opportunity to reaffirm that the Church can never remain distant from those who carry across. The theme chosen by the Holy Father, “I am with you always”, expresses clearly that, during the pandemic and in the better times that will hopefully follow, every ecclesial community wishes to be with the elderly always.

EWTN – GLOBAL CATHOLIC TV & RADIO
Getting connected is easier than you might think.  EWTN is free, there’s no subscription.  You can stream live and on demand via the website: www.ewtn.co.uk/get-ewtn or get the app for your mobile (EWTN APP), or Amazon’s Echo Auto.
Highlights for July include:
14 July, 8.00am / 15 July, 3.30am: Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity – the life and spiritual legacy of the young 19th century Carmelite
Every day: daily Mass at 1pm and Children’s Rosary every day, at 7.30pm

1st COMMUNION PREPARATION FOR 2021-22
We will be aiming to begin monthly preparation sessions for children (and their parents) in Yrs 4 and 5 in September.  Application forms are available at Mass / via email.  Deadline = 1 August 

SYNOD 2020-21 – MESSAGE FROM LIVERPOOL ARCHDIOCESE
The Synod took place recently and 420 people took part by zoom and at the Cathedral Mass.  Votes were taken on the 19 Synod Recommendations and the full results can be found in the July edition of the Catholic Pic and at synod2020recommendations.org.uk

COVID VACCINE POP-UPS FOR EVERYONE – PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!
Vaccination pop-up clinics / vaccine bus for over 18s will be held at these venues over the next few weeks: https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/news/get-vaccinated-at-the-covid-19-pop-up-sites-and-bus.aspx 
Locally, that includes:-

  1. 7 July (Vaccine Bus) at the clock tower in Ormskirk, between 10am and 5pm
  2. 10 July at St Mark’s Square, Tarleton between 10am and 4pm

HELP TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS: FREE COVID LATERAL FLOW TESTS KITS ARE AVAILABLE
Local councils are asking all residents to take 2 Covid tests a week so that they can accurately monitor the number of cases in the borough.  They are able to help people who test positive to self-isolate – and there is funding available to help if that means that someone is unable to go in to work for the required period.
Free test kits will be distributed at Mass over the next two weekends.  They can also be dropped off at your home if you’re unable to get to Mass.  Please contact the office.

MUSICAL TREATS FOR THE WEEK
It Is Well with My Soul | BYU Vocal Point (A Cappella) – YouTube
A 9-man acapella group recorded this old American hymn by Horatio Spafford, who experienced many tragedies during his life, yet still managed to pen these inspiring lyrics.

 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!

OPENING FOR PRIVATE PRAYER, 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

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.

 HELP DURING THE PANDEMIC

COVID TESTING
FREE test kits are available from your local chemist.  Each kit contains 7 tests (2 per week, plus 1 extra in case there’s a problem with one of the tests.
Residents can also book an appointment if they are experiencing symptoms of Covid19 via www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

COVID VACCINES – IMPORTANT
Please 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