Weekend message April 10

Dear friends,

 

Jesus Christ is Risen! Let us rejoice!

 

 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and its widespread effects, the academics who researched and recently published the ‘World Happiness Report 2021’ expected to find that people all over the world were less happy this year than when similar research was undertaken a few years ago. To their surprise, this was not universally true. In some countries people were, as expected, considerably less happy than previously; but in others the effect was less marked, and in some countries the overall level of happiness seemed to have increased over the past year or so.

 

In seeking to understand why this should have happened, these researchers noticed that happiness increased, or at least did not suffer a significant decrease, in countries where the population as a whole trust other people, and trust the national institutions, including the police, the legal system, the press, and the government.

 

The researchers then noticed another factor: countries such as the Scandinavian nations and New Zealand, which had coped better with covid than other similar countries, have widespread faith in institutions and strangers. It seems that trust works both ways: countries where people, on the whole, have greater trust in other people and in national institutions were better at coping with the pandemic, and the populations of those countries tended to increase in average happiness over the past year while fighting the disease.

 

While this research was being carried out and published, Mark Carney, who was Governor of the Bank of England from 2013-2020, and Minouche Shafik, who served as one of his Deputies, independently published books calling for business people and financial policymakers to have greater regard for human values in their decisions. They argue that such values are essential for the economic health of the nation. Trust is, of course, one of these important human values. (All the above information is to be found in The Economist, March 20^th)

 

We have just celebrated once again the great Feast of Easter, proclaiming our faith in Jesus Christ risen from the dead, and our faith in God’s call to us to Resurrection. In proclaiming our faith, we also proclaim the importance of trusting in God’s promises; and this trust is itself the basis for our life as a Christian community.

As Christians, we have always known that faith is important not only for those who believe, but as the bedrock for social cohesion. Perhaps these researchers and economists are starting to recognize this fact as well.

 

A VERY HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL

FROM DEACON KEVIN, FATHER JOHN JOE, AND FATHER JOHN

 

Booking Arrangements for next weekend:    

 

At St. Pius X, Narborough:

You may book by email: johnhadley1971@gmail.com  or by phone: (0116) – 2863676

at the following times on the following days:

 

• between 7pm and 8pm on Monday 12^th;
• between 7pm and 8pm on Tuesday 13^th.
• between 7pm and 8pm on Thursday 15^th;
• between 7pm and 8pm on Friday 16^th.

 

Times of Mass next weekend:

• 10am Saturday 17^th April;
• 10am Sunday 18^th April;
• 10am Monday 19^th April.

 

The Church of Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth will remain closed until windows which can be opened are installed, so that the Church can be ventilated while people are worshipping.

Arrangements for attending Church for Mass and other services: Masks or face coverings will be required for those attending Mass (except for those exempted from wearing them); it is necessary for those attending Church to sanitize their hands on entering; and all need to keep social distance from each other (unless they are members of the same household or family). Young persons under the age of sixteen years, and all persons who suffer from physical or mental disability, must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult. We are not allowed to kneel down while in Church: please stand or sit as appropriate, but please do not kneel. All who attend (except for the cleaners who remain behind to sanitize the building) should leave immediately after Mass has finished, not stopping in Church to talk to people; and please also maintain a social distance as you follow others out of Church, avoiding any ‘congregating’ in the porch, or the lobby, or at the back of Church. I am very grateful to the stewards & cleaners who support the public celebration of Mass.

 

Please remember that it will be essential to book a place at Mass on every occasion that you wish to attend. It is not permitted to book for every Sunday, or even for a number of weeks. Please also remember to bring a mask to wear when coming to Mass. 

 

At Narborough the intentions for Mass this week will be: Saturday (10^th April) Sid & Joan Simpkin RIP; Sunday (11^th April) Father Joseph McGovern RIP; Monday (12^th April) Christina Canavan RIP. Tuesday Mary Copson RIP; Wednesday Stewart & Teresa Wilkins RIP; Thursday Judith Gill RIP; Friday John Cooper RIP. Next weekend Saturday (17^th April) Deceased family & friends of C&R Willars; Sunday (18^th April) Patricia & Doug Partridge RIP; Monday (19^th April) Deceased members of the Coyle family.

 

Prayers for the living and the dead: please pray for Canon Owen O’Neill (who died this morning), Prince Philip, Debbie Bourke, Father James Earley, Deacon Robin Pollard (of the parish of St. Peter’s, Hinckley), Susan Moore, Bob Dorward, Ranjit Mann, Maria Olga dos Santos, and all who have died recently.

 

Please also pray for Jim Oxley, Beulah Blomfield, Tom McDermott, Freda Williams, Andrew Madden, Joseph Armeni, Dave Knapper, Teresa Maugham, Elizabeth Fullerton, Mary Dunne, and Juanita Zaman and for all who are ill.

 

Please let me know of any others who have died, or anyone who is ill and asks for prayers.

 

Walk With Me Booklets for Easter season available free of charge from Church.

 

Walk for Water: Claire Harrold and Sharon Burman walked almost 65 miles for water during Lent, and sponsorship raised £470 for CAFOD. Many thanks indeed to them for their efforts, and to all of you who contributed so generously.

 

Information from the Diocese:

 

A Father’s Heart – A Podcast for Catholic Dads The Diocese of Nottingham has launched a new Podcast to celebrate the Year of St Joseph. A Father’s Heart takes its name from Patris Corde (Pope Francis’ letter that launched this special year). This letter is split into 7 sections, each highlighting a different characteristic of St Joseph’s fatherhood. Each month the podcast will pick a section for 2 dads, from around the diocese, to reflect on and discuss. Find out how to listen (and subscribe) by going to: www.dioceseofnottingham.uk/podcasts’

 

Being a Missionary Disciple– After the great success of Bishop Patrick’s Lent Talks on Discipleship, the Formation for Mission Team are offering two talks on Zoom in May on ‘being a Missionary Disciple’. The first talk ‘The Ascension & the Great Commission’ will be given by Canon Christopher Thomas (General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales) on Thursday 13^th May at 7pm. This talk will explore the importance of the Ascension and how we can live Jesus final instructions to us. The second talk ‘Pentecost & Mission’ will be given by Pippa Baker (A Catholic Missionary, Speaker & Musician) on Wednesday 19^th May at 7pm. This talk will examine the significance of Pentecost for us and how the Holy Spirit equips us for mission in our every day lives. To register visit: www.dioceseofnottingham.uk’

 

Helping people encounter Jesus – the Alpha Course is a highly successful way for people and parishes to help others encounter Jesus. Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa (Preacher to Popes St John Paul II, Benedict XVI & Francis) has said about it: ‘One of the advantages of Alpha is that it focuses on Kerygma [the Good News the Jesus desires on friendship]… faith in itself blossoms only by hearing the Kerygma.’ The Diocese of Nottingham has partnered with the Alpha in a Catholic Context team to deliver training on how to run Alpha to empower you to help others encounter (or re-encounter) Jesus. Visit: https://www.dioceseofnottingham.uk/information/diocesan-commissions/01_commission-adult-formation to register for the training dates on 13^th & 20^th April.’

 

Financial matters:

 

Planned Giving Envelopes (Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth): The new boxes of envelopes start in April. If you require your box, please ring June (01455 – 553730) or Ashley (01455 – 553493) or email Father John.

 

Planned Giving Envelopes (St. Pius X, Narborough): The new boxes of envelopes start in April. They are available from the sacristy in Church, or email Father John.

 

Standing Orders: I will provide the parish Bank details to anyone who would like to donate by Standing Order or similar electronic means – many of you already do so (and I am very grateful indeed). I can provide standing order mandates for anyone who wishes – please just ask.

 

Gift Aid: I have copies of the form to complete, so if you are a taxpayer and would like the tax paid on your contributions to be given to the parish, please ask me for a form.

 

Reminders from previous weeks:

 

Bishop Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham, asks us to complete a survey: My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

 

This past year of the Coronavirus pandemic has been a tough and challenging time for Catholics across our diocese. In our parishes, chaplaincies, schools, religious houses, as well as in our own homes, we have all had to learn to adapt to this new and unchartered situation. Some have managed fairly well, while others have struggled.

It is now necessary that we reflect together as a diocese on our varying experiences, positive and negative, of the living out our faith during this period. This will enable us to explore what can be learned for the immediate future. So, I invite you to complete this simple survey, (https://forms.rcaos.org.uk/covid-19-survey-form/) which won’t take much of your time. Your responses will help us to get a more informed overview of the strengths, lessons learnt, and weaknesses of our current situation as a diocese. They will, in turn, also help us to move forward more creatively and more realistically.

Thank you for taking part in this survey. I look forward to reading your responses. With prayer and good wishes, +Patrick

First Confession and Holy Communion: Candidates must be in Year 3 at school (or above). Confirmation: Candidates must be in secondary school (or later). Please let me know as soon as possible about any candidates for these sacraments. So far I have received four applications for First Confession and Holy Communion, and six applications for Confirmation. I have obtained the books for use in these preparations; we will see how we may be able to start preparation for these sacraments. Obviously no face to face preparation can possibly begin until April at the earliest.

 

Recycling Textiles: At the moment the firm are no longer collecting in the Leicester area and has no plans to restart collections here. If anyone knows of any other organization willing to collect clothes and other textiles in our area, please let me know.

 

With best wishes to you all, and assuring you all of my prayers, Father John