Saturday 4 April 2020

Palm Sunday Update


Dear Friends,

"O Lord, keep not Thy face far from me: look to my defence; deliver me from the lion's mouth."

So says the Introit for the Mass for Palm Sunday in the words taken from Psalm 21 and we can join with the Psalmist in most fervent prayer this year in asking the Father for deliverance from these times.

I am gradually trying to contact parishioners either by social media or with a phone call as these days of lockdown pass by; just as I am in contact with many priests here in the diocese and beyond and have received calls from the Dean and from Archbishop Emeritus, Patrick.

You can access a message from Archbishop Malcolm here:

https://youtu.be/7Q6P2xZ3XrI

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You might also like to read the Bishop of Portsmouth's letter, which I'm sure reflects the sentiments of many bishops as they made the difficult decision to suspend the public celebration of the Mass during this time of crisis.

https://mailchi.mp/portsmouthdiocese/from-bishop-philip

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Your Mass intentions will still be offered as requested and you may continue to send them in: this week for...

Clive Benson.Fr B Kevill, Anniv., Margaret Dickinson, RIP. Louise Beardsmore and family. Fr Gerard Dunn.  Deceased members and friends of the Lancashire Infirm Clergy Fund.  
For the people of the parish.
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


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 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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Most especially at the start of this Holy Week I do encourage you to set up a prayer corner or little home altar and to find a prayer book, a missal, a Bible, your Rosary or an on-line resource to pray there each day. For the many of us who are looking for things to do at home in these days, let's not overlook spending time with Our Heavenly Father in prayer. We can turn to our extended Heavenly family of all the Angels and Saints to pray for our own loved ones, for all those who are ill and for those who care for them.

God keep you,

Fr Simon.

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