St Catherine's Masses for the New Year

 

A Happy New Year to all - or perhaps a Happy New Tier! We certainly pray for a better one.

Despite the new tier 4 here, please note that public worship continues as before with all the Covid 19 safety measures in place. In fact, although you cannot meet your family and friends indoors, you can celebrate the Banquet of the Eucharist together with them.

On New Year's Day we have Mass at 9.30am to keep the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. A great way to being the New Year, asking our Blessed Mother to come to our aid.

Sunday Masses are at 8.30am and 10am.

Wednesday is the feast of the Epiphany. Technically a Holy Day of Obligation but the Obligation is still suspended under the Church's Covid measures for those who feel unable to attend.

There will be only one Mass on the Epiphany at 9.30am.

The rest of the weekly schedule is as usual:

Monday Mass at 9.30am

Tuesday Mass (EF) at 12 noon

Wednesday Epiphany Mass at 9.30am

Thursday Mass at 9.30am

Friday Mass at 9.30am

Saturday Mass (EF) at 12 noon with Confessions between 11.30am & 11.50am.

Christmas Masses

Masses at St Catherine's.

Please note that the 7pm Mass on Christmas Eve is now fully booked. Carols from 6.40pm sung by the Schola, please arrive in for this. Please do not arrive without a booking in the hope of being able to attend.

There are a few places left at the 8.30am Mass on Christmas Day and 

quite a few places left for the 10am Mass on Christmas Day.

Please contact me to book your place.

You may not be able to have Christmas Dinner with all your family and friends but you can attend the Banquet of Heaven together!

Christmas week

MASSES this week.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

With a Retiring Collection in aid of the virtual Carol Concert for those affected by leprosy SUROL and for our own St Catherine's Hospice. 

Watch HERE and donate HERE.

8.30am & 10am Mass

Monday 9.30am Mass

Tuesday 12 noon EF Mass

Wednesday 9.30am Mass

                    11.15am Funeral Service for Eric Clayton

Thursday Christmas Eve 

Carols at 6.40pm: Solemn Mass at 7pm (by booking only)

Music with the Schola singing:

Missa "Princeps Pacis" by William Lloyd Webber

Credo I

Traditional Carols

Friday Christmas Day:

8.30am Said Mass (by booking only)

10am Sung Mass (by booking only)

Saturday. Feast of St Stephen 12 noon EF Mass

Sunday 27th December: Solemnity of the Holy Family

8.30am & 10 am Mass

 

Masses for Gaudete Sunday

 
Gaudete Sunday Masses

8.30am

10am

(The 11.30am EF Mass remains suspended at this time)

Weekdays

Monday 9.30am

Tuesday 12 noon (EF)

Wednesday 9.30am

Thursday  (Novena & Benediction are suspended until after Christmas)

Friday 9.30am

Saturday 12 noon (EF)

We are still taking bookings for Christmas Masses 

but the Christmas Eve Mass at 7pm is now almost full.

Masses on Christmas Day are at 8.30am & 10am.

Christmas Charity Carol Concert

Click on picture to enlarge

This week would have been our much loved Carol Concert held here at St Catherine's but sadly, with Covid 19 restrictions, it has not been possible to go ahead with it this year. However, the Octavius Choir have put together an online performance, which you can watch and also donate: 

What we raise is being divided between:

1. St Catherine’s Hospice here in Leyland and to SUROL - those suffering from leprosy in Sri Lanka. This year aimed particularly at providing fresh water there.

We don’t expect that it will enable us to support them in the usual way this Christmas but please do have a look online and share it as widely as you can, so that we can send SUROL in Sri Lanka and St Catherine's Hospice something this Christmas. 

Thank you!

To find it the 30 minute online concert on Youtube and donate as well, please go to 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuevh3kNkFw&feature=youtu.be

The JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/oslj-christmas-2020

AND this is the link for scanning from a phone: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/oslj-christmas-2020/qrcode 

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo and Patron of SUROL wrote to us: 

“My sincere thanks to all those who continue to support SUROL, especially the Order of St Lazarus in Great Britain, enabling SUROL to bring a ray of happiness to these people, who sometimes feel estranged from society.”

Catholic Education: A new Catholic School. St Peter's International College

During the course of this year, I have been working away at a new and exciting project in France, as part of the founding team of a new International Catholic School. 

Since it's conception we had chosen the name of Saint Peter as the Patron, giving expression to the bedrock on which it was to be built - our Catholic Faith. After looking at various sites, it can only have been Divine Providence that led us to a village of the same name: Saint Pierre de Maillé nestling in the beautiful region of Poitou deep in the heart of France, an the former Convent of the Daughters of the Cross, founded by the village's very own saint, Saint André-Hubert Fournet. 

In the aftermath of the French Revolution ‘Le Bon Père’, as he was known, sought to educate children and care for the sick. His Daughters of the Cross still care for the elderly and infirm, and now Saint Peter’s is continuing his work of catechising the young. In his life Saint André-Hubert persevered despite great trials, including exile and arrest, we want our students to learn to trust God in all things. Our task is to lead them to a closer knowledge of God and themselves. Indeed, in founding the school, such trials have already beset us and yet we have already come so far.

Pope Benedict taught that faith must be “tangible in our schools” and “given fervent expression liturgically, sacramentally, through prayer, acts of charity, a concern for justice, and respect for God’s creation”. Through our daily cycle of prayer, we seek to instill in our boys a rhythm of prayer that will stay with them for life. But we also emphasize that action can also be prayer. They are encouraged to care for one another, and perform acts of charity both within and without the College. Saint André-Hubert often said to his Sisters: “Have courage! You work for Heaven!” Two centuries later, we make this our message of hope to the young people under our care. 

Although the school this year only took on boys as we started up, we hope very much to be welcoming girls, on a separate site, as soon as possible. 

You can see more of our fascinating project on our website at:

Saint Peter's International College, France (stpetersfr.com)

A view of our chapel - Our Lady of the Rosary - from across the River Gartempe.

It's been a very challenging process to move so quickly from conception to reality, especially in this Covid year but we can only believe that it has been through God's Providence that we managed it. We received such a warm welcome from the village; from the good Sisters who still have a small house next door and from the Archbishop. The whole project has only been possible with the support of generous benefactors and investors, as well as our patrons, governors and advisors. 

We still have great challenges ahead, to grow our numbers, to get the Girl's School up and running and to continue the refurbishment of the main House (long named St André, with the statue of the Sacred Heart surmounting the front door). The next stage will be upon us immediately after Christmas, so we are reaching out to those who share the vision of a truly Catholic education who may be interested in either donating or who might consider joining our other investors who have seen the potential growth in building a school for the future.

The courtyard by night.

I will post some more about various aspects of school life and our journey on this amazing project. Despite the challenges, it's been a great jolt of joy for my own personal faith: to be part of building and growing something with other like-minded Catholics in these days, when so much in the Church seems to be shrinking and closing, has been an inspiration. I'd like to say a huge thank you to all those who I have worked beside over these months of preparation for their support, their generosity and the example of their faith. We have laboured together with the words of Saint Edmund Campion in our hearts:

“The expense is reckoned, the enterprise is begun; 

it is of God, 

it cannot be withstood. 

So the Faith was planted: so it must be restored.”

Christmas Masses

With Advent joy we resume the public worship of the Church this Sunday at St Catherine's for the Second Sunday of Advent.

Masses at 8.30am and 10am only for the time being.

BOOKING FOR CHRISTMAS MASS

We need to look forward to some practical necessities for Christmas this year. Barring any re-imposition of restrictions, I am presuming we will be able to celebrate the Christ-MASS!

Because of the Covid 19 restrictions, our seating capacity is limited to 50 people at any one Mass. That has not been a problem for us so far, as only half our usual attendance has so far returned on any one Sunday. That may not be the case for Christmas. Looking back to last year, although on Christmas day itself numbers at each Mass were just under 50, Mass on Christmas Eve was filled to overcapacity with 130 people. That will not be possible this year, so we will need a booking system.

If I find we are vastly oversubscribed, I will consider putting on another Mass.

I invite you to apply to book your place at one of the three available Masses, which will be done on a first come, first served basis. 

But PLEASE if you book make sure you come; if you change your mind, please let me know. Otherwise, you will be depriving someone else of a chance to attend.

There is a signing up list in the hall (Please note the Covid safety precautions)

OR

You may take away a form on Sunday and return it by post or by hand

OR 

you can email me 

OR 

telephone if none of the above are available to you.

For this I will need the name of each person attending 

The Mass you would like to attend:

7pm Christmas Eve

 8.30am Christmas Day

10am Christmas Day

Please note that although I would very much like to, I am not intending to celebrate an EF Mass this Christmas, unless enough requests make it viable.

Advent in the Parish

This First Sunday of Advent, 29th November, we are still under the lockdown restrictions, and so Mass continues only with me in private for your intentions.

However, on 6th December, the second Sunday of Advent, our Masses will resume, as they have been previously at 8.30am and 10am only, with the Covid 19 safety measures in place. A reminder that if you do have any symptoms, you should stay at home.

Today is also our parish festal day: St Catherine and the Miraculous Medal. Let us ask Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal for an end to the pandemic and the return of all Catholics to Holy Mass.

We also need to look forward to Christmas itself. Barring any re-imposition of restrictions, I am presuming we will be able to celebrate the Christ-MASS!

However, due to the numbers usually attending at Christmas, we will have to have a booking system in place. I will explain how this will work next week and provide details of how you can book. Please wait until then to do so.

I leave you with these words of Pope Benedict (for whom you might offer a prayer for, as it is said he is now very poorly).

Advent begins this Sunday. It is a very evocative religious season because it is interwoven with hope and spiritual expectation: every time the Christian community prepares to commemorate the Redeemer's birth, it feels a quiver of joy which to a certain extent it communicates to the whole of society.

In Advent, Christians relive a dual impulse of the spirit: on the one hand, they raise their eyes towards the final destination of their pilgrimage through history, which is the glorious return of the Lord Jesus; on the other, remembering with emotion his birth in Bethlehem, they kneel before the Crib.

The hope of Christians is turned to the future but remains firmly rooted in an event of the past. In the fullness of time, the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary: "Born of a woman, born under the law", as the Apostle Paul writes (Gal 4:4).

Today's Gospel invites us to stay on guard as we await the final coming of Christ. "Look around you!", Jesus says. "You do not know when the master of the house is coming" (Mk 13:35). The short parable of the master who went on a journey and the servants responsible for acting in his place highlights how important it is to be ready to welcome the Lord when he suddenly returns.

The Christian community waits anxiously for his "manifestation", and the Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians, urges them to trust in God's fidelity and to live so as to be found "blameless" (cf. I Cor 1:7-9) on the day of the Lord. Most appropriately, therefore, the liturgy at the beginning of Advent puts on our lips the Psalm: "Show us, O Lord, your kindness, and grant us your salvation" (cf. Ps 85[84]:8).

We might say that Advent is the season in which Christians must rekindle in their hearts the hope that they will be able with God's help to renew the world.

Indeed, we will find the good fruits of our hard work when Christ delivers to the Father his eternal and universal Kingdom. May Mary Most Holy, Virgin of Advent, obtain that we live this time of grace in a watchful and hardworking way while we await the Lord.

Mass today

 We have received official communication that from Thursday churches will be closed again. A heartbreaking decision, just when we need the consolation of gathering together as God's people to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass most.

It is a sad reflection on our times that special allowance is made for food poverty, for educational poverty but spiritual poverty is not given any recognition at all. Surely it is this greater poverty that needs to be tackled more than any other, as it underlies the very principles of fighting all other forms of poverty. The whole building will fall without this foundation.

I see that Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark feels the same.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/382715068876250/permalink/984370278710723/

Mass today for the glorious fest of All the Saints 

will be celebrated as announced at 8.30am and 10am.

Mass for  All Souls will also continue at 7pm on Monday.

Mass on Tuesday at 12nnoon and on Wednesday at 9.30am will also be offered. 

After that the public celebration of Mass is once again suspended.

All Saints and All Souls

On Thursday morning at the Basilica of Our Lady at Nice in southern France, there was a terrible attack on those attending Mass. Three people, the sacristan, Vincent, who was 55 years old and a father of two daughters, who had served the basilica as sacristan for 10 years, and two women Mass goers, one 44, the other 60 years old. It appears to have been a terrorist attack and the murders targeted those going to Mass - a clear case of their deaths being “in odium fidei”, which is to say, carried out in hatred of the faith. This is one of the attributes of a death that carries with it the idea of martyrdom and is one of the conditions accepted in the beatification process.

On All Saints Day this Sunday we celebrate all those who are in the presence of God whose names we do not know. We only know for certain those in Heaven, when they are raised to the altar at canonization. But surely we can have a strong hope that these three people are among those we celebrate today and give praise to God for.

We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
The noble army of Martyrs praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee.

This Monday 2nd November is the Feast of All Souls - the Commemoration of all the faithful departed. The soul of a person who dies can go to one of three places. The first is heaven, where a person who dies in a state of perfect grace and communion with God goes. The second is hell, where those who die in a state of mortal sin are naturally condemned by their choice. The third option is purgatory, which is where most people, free of mortal sin, but still in a state of lesser (venial) sin, must go.

Purgatory is necessary so that souls can be cleansed and perfected before they enter into heaven. Made fir to see God face to face. There is scriptural basis for this belief. The primary reference is in 2 Maccabees, 12:26 and 12:32. "Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out... Thus made atonement for the dead that they might be free from sin."

We will celebrate a Missa Cantata at 7pm on Monday. 

The rest of the week sees Masses and services as usual - providing that there are no new restrictions imposed by the State or the Archdiocese in relation to Covid 19.

Fiftieth Anniversary of the canonization of the English Martyrs

I first became aware of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales when I was at the Jesuit run Seminary of Campion House, Osterley, in London. There had been a great devotion to the Martyrs there especially since Fr Clement Tiger (always known as Clem Tiger) had been the Rector from 1936-66. He initiated "Campion Day" when all the students would go to Tyburn Convent on the feast of Edmund Campion to celebrate Mass close to the spot of the Tyburn Gallows. He had thousands of copies of the famous painting above printed and wrote extensively about them. When he finally left Osterley he worked on the cause of the 40 Martyrs in the Office of the Vice-Postulation at the Jesuit church of the Immaculate Conception at Farm Street in London.

That tradition of a love of the Martyrs stayed with me and many others over the years. On this fiftieth anniversary of them being raised to the altar, we will thank God for their witness and honour their memory at Masses this weekend. It is, perhaps, an incongruity that the Mass they gave their lives to be able to celebrate has been so curtailed in this Covid year. May they intercede for that Mass to once again flourish in our nation and bring all peoples to God's salvation.

“The expense is reckoned; 

The enterprise is begun. 

It is of God. It cannot be withstood. 

So the Faith was planted, so it must be restored”.

St Edmund Campion

There is some information on each one of them here: 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2614440/posts

We have the normal full week of Masses and services this week and Sunday Mass at

8.30am and 10am.

A roller coaster Synod

 

The Synod 2020 here in the Archdiocese of Liverpool should have taken place last weekend. The Covid 19 crisis put paid to that and it is now postponed to next June. However, the process marches on, or perhaps meanders on. We now have sight of the Proposals under the four Synod themes. You can read them through the links at the bottom of the following page: https://synod2020.co.uk/proposals

I'm afraid that I'm rather disappointed. 

It's a bit self-referential and closed in on iself. There is no reference to any teaching or document outside itself, except these: "Laudato Si"; Live simply communities, (a CAFOD initiative) and the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool's programme of spiritual direction. A little thin on drawing on the centuries of humankind's wisdom.

You might say that it is a Synod for our times, a Synod for our day, and like the daily newspaper, it's ephemeral. For there are no references to the rich history and tradition of the Church (except one to Catholic Social Teaching - which understood in a properly Catholic context is to be welcomed), nothing quoted or referenced from any papal teaching (apart from "Laudato Si"), nothing from the writings of the Saints or the Scriptures.

For myself, I find that the proposals are rather wordy and generalized - enabling each person to interpret them by their own lights. In my own humble opinion, this is not terribly helpful and rather dangerous, as it could mean you think, “Ah yes, that’s a good idea” but to someone else it means something totally different, which you may not agree with at all. Politicians - even ecclesiastical ones - work in mysterious ways, their wonders to perform! There is a vision behind it but it's not one that I really want to be forming my faith.

It's also interesting and rather worrying that although there are many words and phrases that you might find in any government or corporate company mission statement I can’t find any of the following in any of it's eleven pages: 

Our Lord, Salvation, Heaven, Hell, Priesthood, Religious Life, Blessed Sacrament, Saints, Martyrs, Our Lady, sacrifice, hierarchy, devotion, authority, convert, eternity, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, divine, redemption, supernatural, grace, Tradition, Bible, Scripture, Gospel, Body of Christ (referring to either the Church or the Eucharist).

Though “Jesus” does appear at twice!

It seems to my mind that it's a very horizontal Synod, we're looking around but not upwards. Like Oscar Wilde, I think we should be looking at the stars - that is to say, up to Heaven - to get us out of the mess we're in. It appears to be all community and no divinity. Jesus gets a quick look in as social guru but it does seem a bit of a gap that God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are AWOL.

Surely, we cannot fix our broken Church with the flimsy models of secular coproratism and political spin? And at a human level our Church is broken (the Covid restrictions are hacking away at what's left). Which is why we can't look to the merely human to rescue us. More of the same medicine that's been killing us off is hardly likely to help. It feels like a Synod for today, literally, this day and no other, with no reference outside itself, no reference to Tradition and nothing solid on which to build hope for the future. It's bang on trend to fit in with the fashion of the moment. But, as we know, nothing ages more quickly than the fashion of the day.

We need a great engineering endeavor like the steam trains of the nineteenth century, cutting through mountains and forging mighty rivers. A thrilling project that will take us somewhere and open up our horizons. What we seem to have is a roller-coaster ride, which can only provide a few cheap thrills and then it's all over. 

And you end up back where you started.

Open for business!

 

Thursday is the feast day of Pope St John Paul II

Despite the Lancashire area going into tier 3 of Covid 19 regulations, places of worship are not affected. Like shops and businesses, we have Covid 19 precautions in place and ask that you note them and take care. So, while you cannot visit the pub or visit the homes of your relatives this Sunday, you can come to Mass (with the caveat of those in special situations who are sheltering for particular reasons).

Sunday 8.30am Mass (said in English)

Sunday 10am Mass with Latin chant

Monday 9.30am Mass

Tuesday 12 noon EF Mass

Wednesday 9.30am Mass

Thursday 7pm Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Benediction

Friday 9.30am Mass

Saturday 11.30-11.50 Confessions

Saturday 12 noon EF Mass

Sunday 10th October: "All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies."

 Pope Francis declares Carlo Acutis Blessed today in Assisi. 

 "All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies." 

You can read about his short but extraordinary life here: 

https://www.thescottsmithblog.com/2018/01/blessed-biographies-carlo-acutis-future.html

Here at St Catherine's, our Masses and Services are as usual this week, apart from our temporarily suspended 11.30am Mass on Sunday.

Sunday 8.30am Mass (said in English)

Sunday 10am Mass with Latin chant

Monday 9.30am Mass

Tuesday 12 noon EF Mass

Wednesday 9.30am Mass

Thursday 7pm Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Benediction

Friday 9.30am Mass

Saturday 11.30-11.50 Confessions

Saturday 12 noon EF Mass

Come Back to me!

 The Feast day of Saint John Henry Newman falls this Friday.

“We can believe what we choose. We are answerable for what we choose to believe.”

Our Masses and Services are as usual this week, apart from our temporarily suspended 11.30am Mass on Sunday.

Sunday 8.30am Mass (said in English)

Sunday 10am Mass with Latin chant

Monday 9.30am Mass

Tuesday 12 noon EF Mass

Wednesday 9.30am Mass

Thursday 7pm Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Benediction

Friday 9.30am Mass

Saturday 11.30-11.50 Confessions

Saturday 12 noon EF Mass

_______________________________________________

I was heartened to read Bishop Philip Egan's Pastoral letter on returning to Mass. 

You can read it and watch it on video on the Portmouth website: https://www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/pastoral-letters

but I thought it worth reproducing here as well. 

_______________________________________________

‘COME BACK TO ME’ SAYS THE LORD 

Dear Friends, 

I am writing to everyone in our Diocese of Portsmouth, to every baptised Catholic, to all the clergy, religious and lay faithful, and to all members of our parishes, schools and communities. I write too to everyone of good will, to those ‘with ears to hear’, to anyone searching for God, and to all who wish to meet His Son, Jesus Christ and to know more about His Gospel. I say to you all: Come back! Come back to Mass! Come back to church for private prayer! Come back to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament! You are truly welcome - we have missed you! 

These last months have been extraordinary. The pandemic has caused great harm, physical, mental, emotional and financial. Sadly, many have fallen sick and some have lost their lives. At the same time, medical staff and key workers have responded with remarkable generosity and courage. Across our Diocese, parishes and schools, clergy and faithful have been highly creative. Priests have done all they can to serve their parishioners: live-streaming Masses, hearing Confessions in gardens, keeping in touch by email, phone and Zoom meetings. Parishioners have generously continued their financial support. Hospital chaplains have selflessly served the dying, ensuring they receive the Last Sacraments, Absolution and the Apostolic Pardon. 

Schools have sent out food parcels to the housebound. Our diocesan Caritas has adapted their projects to continue supporting the needy.. Now that schools and many others are returning to work, let us keep up this good work. Let us keep safe. And let us ask the Lord for an end to the pandemic, the invention of a vaccine and the restoration of ordinary life. 

In inviting you back to Mass, I am aware that in some places and for some of you - those self-shielding, the sick, the vulnerable – this will not yet be possible. Moreover, we are aware too that the infection-rate is varying, and we might even face a local lockdown. Indeed, for everyone it will require care, prudence and adjustments. It might mean attending Mass on a weekday instead of a Sunday. But as we enter the autumn and our schools return, rather than focusing on what we cannot do, let us focus on what we can, so that the great mission of our Diocese of Portsmouth can go forward: Bringing People Closer to Jesus Christ through His Church. 

Most of our churches are now open, with very stringent safety procedures in place. I thank our clergy and parishioners for their massive efforts. If you can, please do volunteer your time, help and support so we can keep up this good work. The pandemic has shown us how fragile modern life is. It has caused us to review our priorities. It has made us face our mortality and the question of God. For weeks, by government mandate, our churches were closed and the public celebration of the Liturgy suspended. I know that many felt hurt by this. As human beings we have not only bodily needs but spiritual needs too. Moreover, it is in our churches that the Lord sanctifies, teaches and guides us, uniting us together, giving us the Sacraments of eternal life, and sending us out on mission and service. Many followed Mass online and spoke of their hunger and thirst for God. Online has its place and we thank God for all the work done to enable this. But online is not the same as ‘inline’ and being there. It’s not the same as actually receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. It’s not the same as participating in the presence of the eucharistic community. 

This is why I say: Come back to the Lord to be nourished by His Word and His Sacraments! True, the canonical obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days is still suspended. But what about the Lord Who calls to us in our hearts: “The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice: I know them and they follow me” (John 10: 27)? What about His promise: “Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I in him” (John 6: 56)? What about His invitation: “Come follow me” (Mark 1: 17)? His offer: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10: 10)? Surely, we do not follow Jesus our Lord and Master simply out of habit or duty? No, we follow Him because we love Him. We follow Him because He has called us. We follow Him because He is our Saviour: He has laid down His life for us. May our diocesan patrons Mary Immaculate, St. Edmund and Bl. Pier Giorgio, pray for you and protect you. May they obtain for you freedom from fear. May they inspire in you a generous response to the Lord’s call. 

Thank you for listening – and please be assured of my prayers. 

In Corde Iesu, 

+Philip Bishop of Portsmouth

Sunday 27th September

 

Dear Friends,

Just a reminder of our Masses this Sunday and for the rest of the week.

26th Sunday. Year A. 27th Sept         8.30am  

                                                                10am  

Mon. 28th Sept: St Wenceslaus            9.30am  

Tues 29th Sept: 

Ss Michael the Archangel                 EF     12 noon  

Wed 30th Sept: St Jerome                     9.30am   

Thur 1st Oct: St Therese of the Child Jesus 7pm   

NOVENA & BENEDICTION

Fri 2nd Oct: Guardian Angels             9.30am   

Sat 3rd Oct: St Therese                         

11.30-11.50  CONFESSIONS

                                                             EF   12 noon   

27th Sunday. Year A. 4th October

                                                                8.30am

                                                        10am

Sunday 20th September. Masses this week

The workers in the vineyard

Masses this Sunday and this week are more or less back to normal.

Please note that there is still no 11.30am EF Mass this Sunday, as the numbers attending were so small as to make this unviable for the moment. 

At the Sunday Masses so far, only about half the usual number of people have been attending. 

Please remember to bring your mask!

25th Sunday. Year A. 20th Sept Masses 8.30am and 10am

Mon. 21st Sept: St Matthew, Apostle Mass at 9.30am

Tues 22nd Sept: St Thomas of Villanova. Traditional Form Mass at 12 noon

Wed 23rd Sept: St Pio of Pietrelcina  Mass at 9.30am

Thur 24th Sept: Our Lady of Walsingham NOVENA & BENEDICTION at 7pm

Fri 25th Sept: Feria Mass at 9.30am

Sat 26th Sept: 11.30-11.50 Confessions

Ember Day. Traditional Form Mass at 12 noon

 

Sunday 13th September: OPEN FOR MASS!

ST CATHERINE LABOURÉ

OPENING AGAIN FOR PUBLIC MASS 

THIS COMING SUNDAY

13th SEPTEMBER

8.30am

10am

 

Sunday 6th September

Tuesday sees the beautiful feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her parents, Ss Joachim and Anna are much honoured amongst our Orthodox brothers and sisters. A feastday that reminds us also of grandparents. Perhaps a little reminder to pray for out parents and grandparents (whether they be alive or dead) and to offer a gift to Our Lady on her birthday. From her various apparitions, we know that the only things Mary asks for are our prayers and for conversion of life, so that we may be able to join her in the glory of Heaven.

Because of Covid related difficulties spoken of in earlier posts, there will be no public Masses at St Catherine's this Sunday. HOWEVER, I hope to have some better news shortly for within the next couple of weeks.

Sunday 30th August. 22nd Sunday of the Year.

Matt 16:21-27

If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself, take up his cross and follow me.

These words from the Gospel of St Matthew this Sunday seem particularly apt on a societal scale in these times. Our Lord walks with us but let us also minister to one another, as kind souls did for him: Veronica with her cloth and Simon with his strength, Mary Magdalene with her tears and John with his steadfastness. And of course, Our Lady with her Immaculate and loving Heart.

Our public Masses remain suspended for the moment at St Catherine's but let us pray for one another.

Sunday 23rd August. Parish news.

 

Gospel of St Matthew this Sunday 16:13-20

You are Peter, 

and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Regrettably, due to Covid 19 restrictions,

we are once again without public Mass at St Catherine's this Sunday.

Sadly, No Masses this Sunday

I write with a heavy heart as I will have to cancel Masses for this coming Sunday at St Catherine's due to the strange times forced upon us all by Coronavirus. 

As many parishioners will know, I have been in France for a few days this week. However, I have been caught out by the sudden imposition of 14 day quarantine for those returning from France. I have made desperate attempts to arrange a booking to allow me to return before the deadline tomorrow but to no avail, as everyone else seems to have had the same idea! So although I may be able to return tomorrow, it will not be possible for me to celebrate public Mass for 14 days.

I have been unable to find a priest to cover at this short notice - many of those who might usually do so as retired priests throughout the diocese are also in age and health circumstances that restrict them from doing so.

With the uncertainty surrounding all this, I cannot say for definite when Masses might resume but I will keep parishioners informed via email and here on the Blog as soon as I can be certain.

We would have been celebrating the beautiful feast of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven this Sunday. I hope you will still honour this lovely feast in the best way you can and I will be offering my Mass for all your intentions.

 

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year

 

We restarted public Masses last week but numbers were about half of what we might have expected on a usual Sunday. This seems to be the experience of others who have opened up as well. Not surprising as many will still be shielding for various reasons and others will not have heard that we are open again. Though I fear that there will be a number who have gotten out of the habit and may never return to Sunday Mass. We shall see. 

In the light of the numbers, we are reducing to two Masses, which still leaves plenty of space for the social distancing rules in place. So please make a note that for the time being - Sundays in Covid time, as it were, our Masses will be at 8.30am and 10am only. Actually our 10am Mass was particularly prayerful with just the Latin chant being sung (properly distanced and shielded) by a cantor, very calm and gentle. 

For all the difficulties and tragedies of this time, we trust in the Lord, hearing his words in the Gospel:

Courage! Do not be afraid!

Mass times for this coming Sunday changes

Just a note to give advance warning that this coming Sunday and following we will reduce to two Masses. Simply, there are not enough people returning as yet to warrant three Masses.

SUNDAY 

(both Masses in the Ordinary Form)

Mass at 8.30am

Mass at 10am

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For the rest of this week:

Thursday 7pm - Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Friday 9.30am - Mass (OF)

Saturday 12 noon - Mass (EF)

Return of public Masses

We return to the public celebration of Mass 

here at St Catherine's tomorrow Sunday 2nd August.

8.30am - 

10am - with music but no congregational singing

11.30am - EF

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Eighteenth Sunday. Year A in the Ordinary Form

  9th Sunday after Pentecost in the Traditional Form

Return of public worship next Sunday: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary time

Dear Friends,

The Parable in the Gospel this week reminds us that the Kingdom of Heaven is worth a great deal. The closest we get to it in this life is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and it is with great joy that I can affirm that St Catherine's will re-open for public worship next Sunday, 2nd August. Please do disseminate this new to as many people as possible, as not everyone is online.

Masses at the usual times of
8.30am
10am
11.30am - EF


We now have all the necessary PPE to prepare the church building and volunteers who must assist with each Mass.

Stewards at the door will direct people in and to monitor social distancing and cleanse the church after each Mass (disinfecting door handles, light switches, benches etc.) Each volunteer will be provided with an identifying lanyard.

You will know that the lockdown has produced a severe reduction in our finances. If you have been putting aside your collection money each week, please do remember to bring it along. Although quite a few people give by direct debit, we have probably lost about £6,000 in the eighteen weeks of lockdown.

You may also use the Archdiocesan website to contribute to the parish online by going to:

https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/st-catherine-laboure-farington

With joy I now look forward to seeing as many as possible of you next Sunday. Let us pray with the saints (these here are especially associated with relief in times of epidemic and illness)  for an end to these troubles.

Saint Sebastian - pray for us
Saint Camillus de Lellis - pray for us
St Lazarus - pray for us
St Damien of Moloki - pray for us
St Catherine - pray for us


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As we open, here are some of the rules which will be in force:

GENERAL PRINCIPLES:

A reminder that when we do open, those who are socially self-isolating must continue to do so.

Social distancing guidelines are still in force. One metre.

Ever second bench will be roped off and distanced seating arranged on the remaining benches.

Church doors and windows should be left open.

Volunteer stewards are required to be on hand to direct hand sanitising on arriving and leaving, to

direct people to benches and to encourage worshippers to maintain reasonable social distancing.

Votive candles may be lit (but only from a lit candle.)

Single use newsletters, Mass sheets, or other papers may be used but must be taken home. Please bring a Missal if you have one.

Only the priest should be on the sanctuary – without deacons, servers, readers etc. 

There will be no Sign of Peace.

There should be no handshakes or hugs etc. after services.

Collections should be in a basket on the way in and the way out.

Lingering clusters of conversation in the porch or outside the church are to be avoided.

Volunteers are required to sanitise bench surfaces and doors etc. after each Mass. That may mean

the number of Masses needs to reduced.

To avoid volunteers having to sanitise toilets after each individual use, they must remain closed and

only be used in a genuine emergency.

You will enter by the main door but leave by the emergency exit in the Confessional Room.

There will be no refreshments after Mass.

Communal singing is not allowed.

You must wear a face mask. Please bring yours with you.

HOLY COMMUNION is not allowed to be distributed during Mass.

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Your Mass intentions are still offered as requested and you may continue to send them in.  Mass is offered each day for all who live in the parish and for all our intentions each day.

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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God keep you,

Fr Simon.