Weekend message June 17

Our Lady of Victories

St. Pius X,                                               & St. Alphonsus,

Narborough                                        Lutterworth

 

Dear friends,

 

First Holy Communion This weekend (in Lutterworth) and next weekend (in Narborough) our young people who have been preparing since last autumn will make their First Holy Communion – a great day for them, for their families, and for the parishes.

 

We are called into a Holy Communion with Our Lord himself, who died for us, and rose again from the dead, so that we can look forward to eternal life with him. He gave us the sacrament of his Body and Blood to be our nourishment.

 

The practical effect of this Holy Communion which we share with Our Lord is that we should become a closer faithful and loving Communion of hope between ourselves. Our Lord prayed that his disciples would be one in him, as he was one in and with his heavenly Father; and if we are pleased to receive Our Lord in this way, to be received into Communion with him, then we are committed to being in communion with one another.

 

One way in which we may come closer together in this communion is by reflecting on another word we use – Eucharist, which means ‘thanksgiving’. When we receive Holy Communion, we are thanking Our Lord for all that he has done for us, and through him also thanking our heavenly Father. Perhaps in our preparation for holy Communion, and even more in our thanksgiving after Holy Communion, it would be a good idea for us to reflect on how much we have to be thankful for. One important aspect of our thanksgiving will be the families and friends that we have enjoyed, and our friendship in the parish community and in other communities in which we have shared.

 

Understanding how important we are for each other in God’s sight – how much we all have to be thankful for – may help us to be united more closely in holy friendship.

 

Confirmation I would like to meet with our young people who have been preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation. I will be available after Mass on Saturday morning 2^nd July in Narborough (about 11 o’clock) in the parish hall; and after Mass on Sunday morning 3^rd July in Lutterworth (about 12 o’clock) in the parish hall; and about 6pm in Narborough on Thursday and Friday (7^th and 8^th July). If any of you can’t make any of those times please let me know.

 

Parish Handbook I will be trying to prepare a parish handbook for both parishes over the next few weeks. To do this I will need to include:

• Names of members and officers of the parish committees
• Names of members and officers of the parish finance committees
• Names of those who prepare young people or adults for sacraments or help with explaining the gospel or the faith to them
• Names of those who visit people who are ill or housebound, and those who care for the poor
• Names of those who administer – compile the newsletter, keep accounts, count money, bank money, pay bills, administer the websites,…
• Names of those who arrange the rotas for readers, singers, Church and/or hall cleaners, flower arrangers, provide refreshments after Mass and at other times, compile bidding prayers, Eucharistic ministers, welcomers, and many other ministries

I’m sure there are many others who should also be included in the handbook. Please let me know who should be included from each of the parishes.

 

A reminder that our Bishops have decided that the ‘Sunday Obligation’ to attend Mass is in force again from the Feast of Pentecost (5^th June)

 

Many parishes have relaxed the restrictions that were in force after the lockdown. In our parishes we have kept most of them in place, because we wish to provide a safe environment for everyone who wishes to worship in our Churches. That means that  until further notice:

 

• 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 while in Church, to protect themselves and others.
• Hand sanitizers are available to 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.
• Anyone who feels unwell or tests positive for covid-19 should not attend Church or any social activity in the parish.

Since face coverings are no longer required in most indoor public spaces, and social distance regulations have also been removed, it has been suggested that we should also no longer require face coverings in Church.

I have also been asked whether the kneelers should be put back down in Church, and people be allowed to kneel during Mass.

Do we need still to sanitize the benches etc after every celebration in our Churches?

What do you think? If you think we should keep these requirements, please let me know.

Some may well wish to avoid the greater crowd of people who attend on Sunday, and the longer time that Sunday Mass lasts. So I still celebrate Mass in Narborough on Saturday morning (10am) and at Lutterworth on Saturday evening (5.30pm) – those celebrations being less well attended, so greater ‘social distance’ can still be kept; and Mass on Saturday rarely last longer than 45 minutes. There are also (usually) weekday celebrations – 10am on Monday at Narborough, and 10.30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Lutterworth, for those who wish to have more space and a shorter time still, usually no more than 30 minutes.

I hope that everyone will feel able to celebrate Mass again in our Churches.

Parishes’ Trip to Marlow I have booked a coach for Saturday 6^th August, leaving from Our Lady of Victories’ car park at 8am (there is plenty of parking space), and returning at 7pm. If anyone who has booked to go on the trip needs a lift to and from Lutterworth to catch the coach, please let me know.

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

 

Our young people who have been preparing at Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus will make their First Holy Communion during the 11am Mass this Sunday 19^th June (the Feast of Corpus Christi). Our young people who have been preparing at St. Pius X will make their First Holy Communion during Mass at 10.30am next Sunday 26^th June. Please note that Mass will be an hour later that day.

 

This Sunday is the Feast of The Body and Blood of Our Lord (Corpus Christi)  

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 this week & next weekend:

At St. Pius X, Narborough:

• 10am Saturday18^th;
• 9.30am Sunday 19^th;
• 10am Monday 20^th.
• 10am Saturday 25^th;
• 10.30am Sunday 26^th First Holy Communion Day. Please note tha later time for Mass today.
• 10am Monday 27^th.

 

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

Times of Mass this week & next weekend:

• 5.30pm on Saturday 18^th;
• 11am on Sunday 19^th. First Holy Communion Day
• 10.30am Tuesday 21^st;
• 10.30am Thursday 23^rd;
• 5.30pm on Saturday 25^th;
• 11am on Sunday 26^th.

 

Mass Intentions: At Narborough the intentions for Mass this week will be Saturday (18^th) Deceased members of the Ginnerty family; Sunday (19^th) Deceased members of the O’Connor family; Monday (20^th) Conn Smyth RIP. Wednesday Father Kevin Eastell RIP, Thursday Deceased benefactors of the Johnson Fund ; Friday Mary Smith RIP. Next weekend Saturday (25^th) Nancy Hirrell RIP; Sunday (26^th) People of the Parishes. First Holy Communion. ; Monday (27^th) Lesley Hudson RIP.

 

At Lutterworth the intentions for Mass will be: Saturday (18^th) People of the Parishes; Sunday (19^th) Holy Souls. Tuesday (21^st) Holy Souls. Thursday (23^rd) Private Intention. Next Saturday (25^th) Holy Souls; Sunday (26^th) People of the Parishes. Tuesday (28^th) Holy Souls.

 

Prayers for the living and the dead:

 

Please pray for Malcolm Lowe, Martyn Leader, Willow Coates, Suzanne Cole, Adam & Jennie Reed, Bernadette Stean, David Janssens, and for all who have died recently.

 

Please also pray for Maria Matkovits, Tara Viljoen, John Mather, Gerald Bolsover, Cathy Mansell, Vivian Kettle, Ann Spurrier, Beulah Blomfield, Diana Coughlin, Tony Thorlby, Hayley & Kaci Dunnill, John Southern, Monica Teeling, Peggy Merrell, 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.

 

A prayer for Ukraine

 

Loving God, we pray for the people of Ukraine,

for all those suffering or afraid,

that you will be close to them and protect them.

We pray for world leaders,

for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.

We pray for the world that in this moment of crisis,

we may reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters in need.

May we walk in your ways so that peace and justice

become a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world. Amen.

 

The following link is for the Leicester Ukrainian Community website set up to advise how to help:

 

https://linktr.ee/KalynaHome?fbclid=IwAR1276GMobH47ddWizyn5Mj6vlP89le1XB5JNuhoHjS1p5r0J0Or_Lji0jQ

 

Events for Families this June To celebrate the World Meeting of Families the diocese has organised: a talk on Tuesday 21st June at 8pm: ‘Parenting as a Way to Sainthood: What We Can Learn from Ss Louis and Zelie Martin’; exploring the lives St Therese of Lisieux’s parents and how we grow in faith as a family; a second talk on Thursday 23rd at 8pm ‘Evangelising your Children’; looking at how to pass the faith on to your children; thirdly on Saturday 25th at 4pm there will be a Diocesan Mass for Families followed by BBQ and Social Gathering at Our Lady of Lincoln Church, Lincoln. To register for any of the three events visit www.dioceseofnottingham.uk/events.

 

Hidden Treasure: Catholic Churches in England and Wales The Friends of Nottingham Cathedral invite everyone to their inaugural Summer Lecture on Thursday 30th June at 7pm, in the Cathedral, and given by Sophie Andreae, architectural historian. It will explore Catholic architecture from around the country, with particular attention to our Cathedral, St Mary’s, Derby; Good Shepherd, Woodthorpe; and All Saints, Hassop. Tickets (£10, including a glass of wine) can be purchased at friendsofnottinghamcathedral.eventbrite.co.uk All proceeds to the work of The Friends.

 

Caritas Social Action Network: 1. Poverty Challenge Following the pandemic, many households now face new hardships as prices rise. Caritas Social Action Network, the Catholic agency addressing poverty and injustice in England and Wales, has released a new booklet to increase awareness of Catholic Social Teaching on poverty, and to inform local responses. This can be downloaded from www.csan.org.uk

 

2. Refugees from Ukraine CSAN is in close contact with the UK government on responding to the war in Ukraine. Guidance on how Catholic households and groups can support refugees from Ukraine is available on the CSAN website and updated as new information becomes available. www.csan.org.uk/ukraine

 

Tools With A Mission is a charity which has succeeded in transforming the lives of many people in Africa, offering them the means to support themselves and their families. But the charity needs lots more volunteer tool collectors. To find out more please visit their website www.timefortwam.uk or contact the volunteer co-ordinator Paul Daley by email pauld@twam.uk

 

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.

Evergreens: Bingo on Tuesdays from 1.30 pm until 4pm approx., in St. Pius X  Narborough Parish Hall. Entry £2. All welcome.

Next Sunday is the Thirteenth Sunday of the Year   

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

With my prayers for every blessing, Father John