“Liberavit Dominus populum suum. Alleluia!”
The Lord has delivered his people. Alleluia!
Introit from the Mass of the Vigil of the Ascension.
Dear Friends,
The news this week indicates that it will be July at least before we may be together to celebrate Holy Mass once again. I know that for many of you, as for me, this is a great trial. The everyday things of the Faith can feel far from us. But Our Lord transcends all physical and human barriers. Some words of Pope Benedict on the Feast of the Ascension which falls this Thursday remind us of this.
From a homily in the Basilica of St John Lateran, Saturday, 7 May 2005.
"What does the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord mean for us? It does not mean that the Lord has departed to some place far from people and from the world. Christ’s Ascension is not a journey into space toward the most remote stars; for basically, the planets, like the earth, are also made of physical elements.
Christ’s Ascension means that he no longer belongs to the world of corruption and death that conditions our life. It means that he belongs entirely to God. He, the Eternal Son, led our human existence into God’s presence, taking with him flesh and blood in a transfigured form.
The human being finds room in God; through Christ, the human being was introduced into the very life of God. And since God embraces and sustains the entire cosmos, the Ascension of the Lord means that Christ has not departed from us, but that he is now, thanks to his being with the Father, close to each one of us for ever. Each one of us can be on intimate terms with him; each can call upon him. The Lord is always within hearing. We can inwardly draw away from him. We can live turning our backs on him. But he always waits for us and is always close to us."
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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
For the homeless
Louise Beardsmore and Family
Members of the Peake and Campbell families
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.
Please also pray for Bishop Vincent Malone, our retired Auxiliary bishop, who has tested positive for coronavirus. He has mild symptoms and is resting at home.
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 in particular.
Like many parts of society, the financial effect of the lockdown is also a concern for our parish. Although some people give through standing orders at the bank, our weekly cash income from various sources is around the £350 mark, so that is what we are losing each week at the moment. All the usual bills such as gas, electric and community charge continue to come in and other work is still undertaken. So, for example, the heating boilers have had their annual service and the annual check and inspection of the fire alarm system and emergency lighting have taken place in the last couple of weeks.
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.
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