Bishops’ message
Dear friends,
Many thanks to those of you who have given me their thoughts as to how we may celebrate appropriately when we can meet again on a Saturday evening or Sunday. I invite anyone who has suggestions to make to send them to me, by email or post or phone. We may hear next week about when and how the current regime may be eased, but I suspect that it will still be some time before we can meet again in Church. The longer our enforced separation lasts, the more important it will be that we celebrate our community life appropriately when we can all meet together, and celebrate also the many inspiring stories we have heard of those who have served the common good in so many ways during the pandemic.
During the week I was sent a photocopy of an item in the Leicester Mercury for Monday 17th April 1939 (81 years ago!). It was just a small paragraph on page 10, which read “Mass was said in the village of Narborough on Sunday for the first time since the Reformation. Father Anthony Kaas SS, of the Blessed Sacrament Father, Braunstone, was the celebrant in a house on Leicester Road. This was made possible through the efforts of several residents. There were 36 present. Mass will in future be held every Sunday, and will be served by the Fathers from Braunstone.”
I knew that before Christmas 1957, when St. Pius X Church was opened, Mass used to be celebrated in an upper room (how appropriate!) in the Narborough Arms, and before that in the Old Bakery on Church Lane. Was Mass celebrated in a house on Leicester Road before that, or is this a reference to the Old Bakery, which was just off Leicester Road? If anyone knows the answer, I would be glad if you would tell me.
This serves as a reminder that there was a time when we could not meet together easily for reasons of persecution rather than illness. The Holy Spirit guided us through those times, and we pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us, and the whole people, through these times as well.
On Tuesday this week I will again celebrate Mass ‘in time of pandemic’. I included the prayers, which have been specially written for this purpose, in last week’s message. If you would like me to send them again please let me know and I will do so.
Please pray for Mary Dunne, Ranjit Mann, Juanita Zaman, Ian Cahill, and Francis and Sally Watters (all relatives of parishioners) who are seriously ill; and for Pauline Grummett, Peter Gibbon, Joyce King, Jessica Lowndes, Anne Murray, Maureen Condon, and Assumpta Cummins, and all who have died recently.
This week I will celebrate Mass at approximately 9am each day for the following intentions:
Sunday Maureen Condon RIP ; Monday Douglas Murray RIP; Tuesday for the people of the parish (Mass in time of pandemic); Wednesday Emmanuel Armeni RIP; Thursday Intentions of Mary Smith; Friday Monsignor Frederick Miles RIP; Saturday Annette Elsmore RIP; next Sunday Dermot O’Gorman RIP. Please also pray for Tony Bate, Betty Harte, and Christine Buide, whose funerals will all take place this week.
The five Archbishops of England and Wales have sent a message: ‘A People Who Hope in Christ’, which I will add to the end of this message. Please also remember that Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday, and traditionally a day of special prayer for vocations. Please do remember to pray for vocations this weekend, that God who calls us all to follow him will enable us all to understand and follow his call.
Meanwhile, please know that I am thinking of you all and looking forward to meeting you again in person. I pray for you, and ask that you pray for me and for all members of our two communities.
I hope you are all keeping well, happy, and virus free. If there is any way that I can help, please do let me know. Please also pass on these messages and my best wishes to those who may not receive emails from me.
Father John
A People who Hope in Christ
A Message from the Metropolitan Archbishops
of the Catholic Church in England and Wales
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The radiance of the risen Lord shines upon us. At a time when so many shadows are cast into our lives, and upon our world, the light of the resurrection shines forever to renew and restore our hope. In the words of our Holy Father, Pope Francis: ‘In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet up, and we experience the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: he is risen and is living by our side.’ (27 March 2020)
The impact of Covid-19, both nationally and internationally, has been immense. So much of what we take for granted has changed. Our health and physical interaction, our capacity to travel and gather, have all been affected. There is uncertainty in our future, especially with work and the country’s economy. As we know, very sadly, large numbers of people have died because of the coronavirus, and others have been or remain seriously ill. Keyworkers, not least in the National Health Service and care sectors, are serving selflessly to sustain the life of our nation. Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone who is suffering because of Covid-19, and to all those battling to overcome its effects. May those who have died rest in peace and those who are bereaved find comfort.
When the Prime Minister announced the lockdown, this included places of worship and therefore Catholic churches. These measures were put in place to stem the general transmission of the virus. It is right that the Catholic community fulfils its role in contributing to the preservation of life and the common good of society. This must continue until the restrictions applied by the Government are lifted.
None of us would want to be in the situation in which we find ourselves. While the live-streaming of the Mass and other devotions is playing an important part in maintaining the life of faith, there is no substitute for Catholics being able to physically attend and participate in the celebration of the Mass and the other sacraments. Our faith is expressed powerfully and beautifully though ‘seeing, touching, and tasting.’ We know that every bishop and every priest recognises the pain of Catholics who, at present, cannot pray in church or receive the sacraments. This weighs heavily on our hearts. We are deeply moved by the Eucharistic yearning expressed by so many members of the faithful. We thank you sincerely for your love for the Lord Jesus, present in the sacraments and supremely so in the Holy Sacrifice 2 of the Mass. The bishops and priests of every diocese are remembering you and your loved ones at Mass each day in our churches as we pray ‘in hope of health and wellbeing.’ We thank our priests for this faithfulness to their calling.
As the Government’s restrictions are relaxed step by step, we look forward to opening our churches and resuming our liturgical, spiritual, catechetical and pastoral life step by step. This will also be of service to those beyond the Catholic Church who depend on our charitable activity and outreach through which much goodness is shared by so many volunteers from our communities.
None of us knows, as yet, how or when the lockdown will end. There is likely to be a phased return to travelling and gathering. As a church, we are now planning for this time and our discussions with the statutory public health agencies and Government representatives are ongoing. Together with Catholics across England and Wales we desire the opening of our churches and access to the sacraments. Until then, we are continuing to pray and prepare.
We want to acknowledge with gratitude the service of our fellow bishops and priests, our deacons and religious, our families and lay faithful, together with all our parish and school communities, for the wonderful ways the life of the faith is being nourished at this time, especially in the home. We also pay tribute to the Catholic organisations and networks that are working to support the vulnerable and needy.
On that first Easter day, the disciples were in lockdown and the doors were closed. In their isolation the Lord Jesus came among them and said ‘Peace be with you.’ May the peace of the risen Lord reign in our hearts and homes as we look forward to the day we can enter church again and gather around the altar to offer together the Sacrifice of Praise.
We unite in asking the intercession of Our Blessed Lady and assure you of our prayers and blessing.
Yours devotedly in Christ,
✠ Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster
✠ Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool
✠ Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham
✠ George Stack, Archbishop of Cardiff
✠ John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark
