"Christ is the Morning Star,
who, when the night of this world is past,
gives to his saints the promise of the light of life,
and opens everlasting day."
gives to his saints the promise of the light of life,
and opens everlasting day."
St Bede the Venerable: Feastday on Monday 25th May
Dear Friends,
Our exile from the House of God continues and a grievous exile it is. I see that the secular authorities lump the Mass in with "leisure activities" for the prescriptions of when we might open our door again. A sad reflection on these godless times.
Our sufferings come in many forms. I've discovered this week that there are no dental services available anywhere in the country. If your toothache gets too much to endure or dosing yourself up on painkillers for endless days isn't working, then you are to present yourself at A and E for an extraction. I can only hope that my offerings have alleviated much misery in Purgatory. (I've resisted the emergency extraction so far!)
On Monday there falls the feast of a great English Saint - Bede the Venerable. His "History of the English People" is the main source of much of our early knowledge of England. You can read something of him here. He is one of the few pre-reformation saints still buried in their ancient shrines in this country after the ravages of that destructive time. In this case, in the Galilee Chapel of Durham Cathedral, pictured below.
NEXT SUNDAY is Pentecost Sunday – May 31st 2020
National Rosary Rally 9am to 9pm – England, Wales, Scotland
Pope Francis is encouraging Catholics to pray the Rosary in their family homes during the month of May, especially when the Pandemic is making us aware of the value of our families and making it possible for us to pray together in lockdown at home. He encourages simple Rosaries and joining online Rosary initiatives to pray to Our Lady for deliverance from Covid-19 and he has composed two prayers for this intention. I invite you to join in an initiative that follows on the Pope’s request, the Pentecost Sunday National Rosary Rally, from 9.00am to 9.00pm across Scotland England and Wales.
At 9pm the Rosary Rally will end with a Rosary being led by Bishop John Keenan from St. Mirin’s Cathedral in Paisley. You can read further here. Although particular times are suggested around the country, I think it would be more important to pray whenever you can.
Come Holy Spirit & Renew the Face of the Earth
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us
We also pray for the repose of the soul of our retired Auxiliary Bishop, Vincent Malone, who succumbed to Covid 19 earlier this week. You can read an obitury for him here.
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Your Mass intentions will still be offered as requested and you may continue to send them in: this week for...
For the people of the parish
Margaret Dickinson, RIP. First Anniversary
Margaret Dickinson, RIP. First Anniversary
For those suffering addictions
Simon Gardner and Family
Pat Leach, RIP
Thanksgiving for prayers answered
Simon Gardner and Family
Pat Leach, RIP
Thanksgiving for prayers answered
Your Prayers are asked for all the sick, including: Rita Sarbrick, Rosena Stacey, Vivienne Lee, Tom Miller, Paul Casey, Linda Melling, Tilly Gee, Kathleen Ward, Clare Butler, Maureen MacDonald, Louie Baines, Maureen O'Brien, Margaret McNiff, Elle Miller, Mark Duncan, Hild Gibbons, Bill Sutton, Barbara Fow, Mary Ann Monaghan, Bernard Lawson, Mick Marshall, Carol Parkinson, Margaret Cheston, Eric Neilson, Alan Cottam, Seámus McLoughlin.
We pray for those who are housebound and for those who love and care for them.
O Mary conceived without sin - Pray for us who have recourse to thee.
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If you would like to pray through the Mass online or via TV here are some links below. Some people find it a way of preparing in some fitting way to make a Spiritual Communion in these times when the actual Mass is not available:
If you have access to Facebook, the beautiful little church of Corpus Christi on Maiden Lane in London has Mass each day. https://www.facebook.com/corpuschristimaidenlane
Also on Facebook, the Canons at St Walburge's in Preston stream many Masses and Devotions: https://www.facebook.com/icksp.preston/
If you have Sky TV or you can also access EWTN at: https://www.ewtn.com/
With many other programmes that you might find useful.
The Oratorians at Cardiff: http://cardifforatory.co.uk/live-stream/
The Fathers of the Fraternity of St Peter also stream their Masses and devotions from Warrington St Mary's at: http://s3.amazonaws.com/livemass/warrington/index.html
You can even join in Mass live from Westminster Cathedral: http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk/index.php
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Please do continue to keep in touch via our Parish Facebook page and my blog. I continue to be in touch with parishioners via phone calls and emails.
May I ask that, if you are able, please continue to put aside your weekly offering each Sunday and bring it with you when things return to some normality. If you would like a Standing Order form, please contact me.
God keep you,
Fr Simon.
