Weekend Message Jan 04

Dear friends,

 

Day of Special Prayer for those who are ill (Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, 11^th February) St. Paul wrote to the Colossians that he was happy to suffer for them, as he was then doing, ‘and in my own body to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church’. (Col 1:24). He does not mean that in some way the sacrifice of Our Blessed Lord was insufficient for our salvation – such an idea would be quite impossible. But he suffered imprisonment and other hardships – and eventually death – for the sake of Jesus Christ, and just as Jesus suffered death for us all, so Paul suffered for Christ and for his body, the Church.

Suffering is part of our world, part of human life, as we all know. We have a choice: we can experience illness and hardship as merely a feature of human life, or we can unite these sufferings to those of Our Lord. In my younger days, when something went wrong, or I was prevented from experiencing something I had looked forward to, we called it ‘offering it up’. It was seen as a penance, because we all knew we had done wrong.

St. Paul’s idea goes further than this. It is not accepting a loss of enjoyment as a penance, but as a share in the work of Our Lord for the salvation of the world. We are together the body of Christ, as St. Paul often reminds us, and every one of us is a member of it. Suffering and illness are an important way in which we play a part in being the body of Christ for the salvation of ourselves and of our brothers and sisters.

When we care for those who are ill or suffering in any way, we care for members of the body of Christ, who are joined with Christ in his suffering for our salvation. On the day of special prayer for those who are ill, we pray for those who suffer, and we pray for those who care for them.

Synod Preparation Following the recent deanery discussion of the Synodal Journey, the next phase is the visit to the Cathedral on Tuesday 22 February 2022 from 7 – 8.15 pm. The diocesan guidelines suggest that we come to the Cathedral as a deanery group. Two representatives are required from each parish. Father Raphael needs to know who will be attending by 10^th February so that he can decide on transport. Please let Father John know if you would like to represent the parishes at the Cathedral on the evening of Tuesday 22^nd February.

Government Easing of Plan B restrictions In response, and after consulting the insurers, the Bishops of England and Wales have updated their guidance for the use of Churches and other places of worship and for the use of parish halls.

• All are encouraged to be fully vaccinated (double vaccination and booster).
• All (except those who are exempt) are still required to wear masks or face coverings, to protect themselves and others.
• We are now permitted to sing; however, masks or face coverings must be worn during singing.
• Hand sanitizers must still be used on entry into the Church or hall.
• The windows must be open for ventilation whenever the Church or hall is being used by a number of people.
• It is no longer necessary to take the names of all who attend (and advance booking is also not needed).
• Holy water may be provided at the entrance once again – but needs to be refreshed at least once a week.
• Anyone who feels unwell or tests positive for covid-19 should not attend Church or any social activity in the parish.

Please think very carefully about whether you should attend Church if you are feeling unwell; and please do not attend if you may be infectious or if you have been in contact with anyone who has had a positive Covid test.

Please let me know if there are other measures which we should adopt, or if any of these measures are unclear.

This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year C). 

Confessions: I will hear confessions from 9 until 9.30am on Saturdays at St. Pius X, Narborough; and from 4.30pm to 5.00pm on the first Saturday of the month at Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth.

At St. Pius X, Narborough:

Times of Mass for next weekend:

• 10am Saturday 12^th February;
• 9.30am Sunday 13^th;
• 10am Monday 14^th.

 

At Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth:

Mass will also be celebrated on Thursday morning at 10.30am. We are grateful to Father Maloney for agreeing to celebrate this Mass.

Times of Mass next Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday:

• 5.30pm on Saturday 12^th February;
• 11am on Sunday 13^th;
• 10.30am Tuesday 15^th;
• 10.30am Thursday 17^th.

 

At Narborough the intentions for Mass this week will be Saturday (5^th February) Maxwell Corby RIP; Sunday (6^th) Bridget Eliseou and  Dolores Consadine RIP; Monday (7^th) Deceased family & friends of AM Burton. Wednesday Sally Gray RIP; Thursday Deceased members of the Rose & Bolsover families. Next weekend Saturday (12^th February) Deceased friends & relations of M Tobin; Sunday (13^th) Marie Almey RIP; Monday (14^th) Deceased friends & relations of J Dennison.

 

At Lutterworth the intentions for Mass will be: Saturday (5^th) Wellbeing of Eileen Phillips; Sunday (6^th) People of the Parishes; Tuesday (8^th) Holy Souls; Thursday (10^th) Holy Souls. Next Saturday (12^th) John McManus RIP; Sunday (13^th) Tiberia D’Mello RIP; Tuesday (15^th) People of the Parishes; Thursday (17^th) Holy Souls.

 

Prayers for the living and the dead:

 

Please pray for Marie Almey, Philip Jacques, Ian Benson, Mario Maneggio, Father Isidore Clarke OP, Brigid Davies, Vincent Roe, and for all who have died recently.

 

Please also pray for Beulah Blomfield, Diana Coughlin, Tony Thorlby, Hayley & Kaci Dunnill, John Southern, Monica Teeling, Peggy Merrell, Jane Bolsover, Suzanne Foxon, Jim Oxley, John Burns-Sweeney, Tom McDermott, Dave Knapper, Teresa Maugham, 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.

 

Confirmation: Please will all those who wish to be confirmed collect a book from me to help with preparation.

 

Social Activities: can resume. However, “It is strongly recommended that a risk assessment for both the activity and the space is completed for the gathering.”

Shared Table at Lutterworth: The Lutterworth Parish will be celebrating Father John’s 50 years of being a priest on Sunday 6th February 2022 after the 11.00 am mass with a shared table.   The notice is in the foyer of the church so please add your name.   Any questions please contact Eileen Fox 07988605763.

 

Scrabble Group: Mondays 2pm – 4 pm  for relaxed scrabble. At Lutterworth Catholic Church hall. No winners ,beginners welcome ,  just fun playing scrabble  cake and hot drink. Please contact Jo 01455 554298

 Next weekend is the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Parish Priest’s contact details address 52 Leicester Road, Narborough. Leicester. LE19 2DF; telephone (0116) 2863676; email johnhadley1971@gmail.com

Reminders from previous weeks:

 

Home Visits, including Confession, Holy Communion, Sacrament of Anointing,  for housebound people: These are now permitted, but anyone visiting a housebound person (whether to administer Holy Communion or just a visit) should not visit anyone else during the same morning or afternoon. Visits should be short (in order to minimize the likelihood of passing on an infection) and hand sanitization must be used before and after the visit. If you would like a home visit, or know anyone who would like to be visited, please let Father John know. Please also let Father John know if anyone wishes to make confession or would like to receive the sacrament of anointing for the sick.

Financial matters:

 

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.

 

Recycling Textiles: At the moment the firm are no longer collecting in the Leicester area and has no plans to restart collections here. I hope to have better news soon.

 

**Important notice concerning car parking** Please park in the Church car parks whenever possible. If that is not possible, for whatever reason, please ensure that you are not causing an obstruction of the roadway or driveways to properties, and please remember that homeowners may wish to park outside their own homes. Please exercise Christian Charity when parking your car.

 

With my prayers for your wellbeing and salvation, Father John