9 May 2021 – 6th Sunday of Easter
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
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Holy Souls NDL
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PARISH NEWSLETTER
THIS WEEK’S NOTICES & MASS READINGS / REFLECTIONS
MAY IS THE MONTH OF MARY!
This is a great time to invoke Our Lady’s prayers by reciting the Rosary – a favourite prayer of many of the saints for hundreds of years. More recently, St Pope John Paul II included five additional mysteries of Light – between the Joyful and Sorrowful mysteries, which are followed by the five Glorious mysteries.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
OPENING CHURCH FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP
The same Covid-secure measures still need to be in place for some time yet, in order to protect everyone, so please bear with us by booking a place(s) on Fridays, between 10.30am and 3pm ONLY. No other time / day
READINGS FOR 9 MAY
1st Reading: Acts 9:1010:25-48, The Holy Spirit has been poured out on the pagans, too.
Psalm 97: The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations
2nd Reading: 1 John 34:7-10, God is love
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus said, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him and we shall come to him.’ Alleluia!
Gospel: John 15:9-17, A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends
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.
REFLECTION FOR THIS SUNDAY – OUR FAITH ON SUNDAY
Today’s Gospel reinforces that of last Sunday and takes it a step further. Here Jesus talks about ‘his’ commandment, “love ne another as I have loved you.” And how did Jesus love us? He actually gave his life for us.
As we can see from the news, there are still plenty of places in the world where Christians are literally giving their lives, or where their lives are being taken from them. But there are many ways in which we can give our lives out of love for our brothers and sisters, not in a literal sense, but still in a meaningful way. So, how can we do this – and on a daily basis?
We can do it in so many different ways: with our children, when they want us to play with them, but we feel exhausted; we can put down a newspaper or mobile when our partner wants to talk to us; we can offer to do household chores when really, we just want to sit down and have a bit of time to ourselves.
The more we deny ourselves in order to show our love for others, the deeper our relationship with God.
If we live our lives in the service of our brothers and sisters, we are truly following in the footsteps of Jesus. We might even become able to welcome the opportunity to make these ‘sacrifices’ for the love of God and others (with a smile, rather than a frown!). Then we really shall be getting close to understanding the depth of God’s love for us. Alleluia!
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
12 May – Ss Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs / St Pancras, child martyr
13 May – Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord / Dedication of Liverpool Cathedral of Christ the King
14 May – St Matthias, apostle and martyr
15 May – Our Lady of Fatima: a call to repentance, conversion and dedication
ASCENSION DAY: Thursday 13 May – Readings
1st Reading: Acts of Apostles 1:1-11, He was lifted up while they looked on
Psalm 46: God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
2nd Reading: Ephesians 4:1-13, Fully mature with the fullness of Christ
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Go, make disciples of all the nations; I am with you always, yes, to the end of time. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 16:15-20, He was taken up into heaven, there at the right hand of God he took his place.
Communion antiphon: I, the Lord, am with you always, until the end of the world, alleluia.
SYNOD 2021
As we approach our Archdiocesan Synod, taking place online on 19th June, Synod Members are currently discerning how they will vote on the recommendations that have emerged. If you haven’t seen them yet, there are three places you can find them:
1. Printed in the April edition of the Catholic Pic (www.catholicpic.co.uk)
2. On the Synod Recommendations Website (www.synod2020recommendations.org.uk) alongside theological reflections on the topics
3. Printed in the Synod book ‘Together on the Road’ which also includes resources for discernment and the theological reflections (available for £3 from Pauline Books and Media, and the Synod Office, email: synod2020@rcaol.co.uk, tel: 0151 486 1206).
Please continue to keep the Synod in your prayers in the coming months.
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 published on 19 June.
Paper copies are available from the narthex if you come to Mass and can be delivered to your home, if you wish. Please contact the Office on Fridays if you’d like to arrange this.
Deadline for replies: Sunday 30 May (Trinity Sunday)
Copies will be emailed out to parishioners this week so please let us know if you’ve not received one by the end of the week.
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.
WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY – 16 MAY
Theme:“Come and See” (Jn 1:46)
Communicating by Encountering People as They Are
The theme for the 2021 World Day of Social Communications, chosen by Pope Francis, echoes the words of the Apostle Philip, recognising that authentic communication leads to “encountering people as and where they are”.
Taken from the Bible, John 1: 46, the words “Come and see” are central to the Gospel. Before the Gospel is proclaimed, prior to words, there are “looks, testimonies, experiences, encounters and closeness. In a word – life.”
Pope Francis provides the subtitle: “Communicating, encountering people as and where they are”.
A MESSAGE FROM PAX CHRISTI
In the week from 15 to 21 May, Pax Christi, the Catholic Peace organisation, will be trying to raise funds to make up for lost income due to Covid19. Fausta is having a dance-a-thon, Bruce is delivering a peace message to foreign embassies in London, Matt is cycling 50 miles visiting peace sites, Pat is going on a walk from Victoria to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park, Rachel will be cycling for 75 miles, to celebrate Pax Christi’s 75th anniversary. More fundraisers are joining the fun.
Please go to their website www.paxchristi.org.uk/register-you-interest/ for details on how you can sponsor them.
MUSICAL TREATS FOR THE WEEK
Something very special this week – performed by a global ‘Stay-at-Home’ choir of tens of thousands
Stay at Home Choir: Sogno di Volare by Christopher Tin – YouTube
The Stay At Home Choir presents Christopher Tin’s ‘Sogno di Volare’, performed by 3600 members and accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This ‘Sogno di Volare’ project ran for four weeks at the start of 2021 and involved singers from all over the world. This epic final performance is the culmination of online rehearsals, masterclasses, and global socials led by composer Christopher Tin, choirmaster Graham Bier, Italian language coach Matteo Della Fratte, and Stay At Home Choir co-founders Tori Longdon and Jamie Wright.
IF YOU’D LIKE TO JOIN THE STAY AT HOME CHOIR…..The Stay At Home Choir is a global community of over 26,000 members from 75+ countries. They welcome all singers with any level of experience. To learn more and join their next project, visit https://www.stayathomechoir.com. They provide opportunities for members to learn from, and perform with, some of the best artists in the world. They’ve collaborated with Gareth Malone, The King’s Singers, VOCES8, John Rutter, Marin Alsop, The Sixteen, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
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