Weekend message Mar 12
Dear friends,
Mothering Sunday: The Fourth Sunday of Lent was the day for parish communities to make a pilgrimage to their ‘mother Church’, as a way of marking our heritage, and at the same time reminding us that we are all ‘parts of the one Body of Christ’. At the moment we cannot make any physical pilgrimage, but perhaps we could see our progress through the coronavirus restrictions as, in its own way, a pilgrimage. When we are able to meet together in more normal fashion – perhaps in the summer, if the government’s route map proves possible – it will be important for us all to reflect on our journey over the past year and all that has happened, thank God for enabling us to come together again, thank all those who have worked so hard to bring the virus and its effects under control, and ensure that we have all made spiritual progress during the enforced restrictions on our physical movements.
Holy Week Instructions: The Bishops’ Conference has issued some instructions for celebrating Holy Week and the Easter Vigil. Firstly, they remind us of the continued importance of wearing face coverings in Church, maintaining social distance, frequent hand washing and sanitizing, ventilation of the Church, one way systems in Church, avoiding congregating even outside; stewarding of all public celebrations and cleansing after each celebration. We are also reminded that the length of celebrations should be kept as short as possible, and that the congregation are not permitted to sing.
Palm Sunday: No procession; the palms should be blessed at the start of Mass; the short form of the Passion according to St. Mark should be read, without any congregation participation; the palms are to be distributed by glove-wearing assistants at the end of Mass as people leave.
Maundy Thursday: The Evening Mass commemorating the Last Supper may be held in the evening as a public celebration; however, there will be no washing of feet, no procession, no altar of repose, and no ‘stripping the altar’.
Good Friday: The Passion According to St. John should be read ‘in a dignified manner’ without any participation by the congregation. The Cross may not be venerated in the normal manner. Holy Communion may be distributed as normal.
The Easter Vigil: The ‘new fire’ is not to be lit or blessed; the Paschal Candle should be lit at the start; the congregation are not permitted to hold candles. The Easter Water should be blessed, and the congregation renew their baptismal promises, but they should not be sprinkled, and the holy water stoups are not to be filled.
Easter Sunday: the congregation may be invited to renew their baptismal promises, but they must not be sprinkled with holy water.
HOLY WEEK ARRANGEMENTS
Palm Sunday Mass will be celebrated at St. Pius X, Narborough at 10am on Saturday and Sunday, and at Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth at 10.30am on Sunday. I will also celebrate Mass at 10am on Monday of Holy Week at St. Pius X Narborough.
Chrism Mass: Only priests may attend. (Father John will attend representing the Leicester Deanery.)
Maundy Thursday Mass will be celebrated at 6pm at St. Pius X Narborough and at 7pm at Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth.
Good Friday The reading of the Passion, prayers of the Faithful, presentation of the Cross (without the usual veneration) and Holy Communion will be in the early afternoon at St. Pius X, Narborough (exact time to be determined) and at 3pm at Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth.
Easter Vigil A shortened form of the Easter Vigil will be celebrated at St. Pius X Narborough at 6pm on Holy Saturday.
Easter Sunday Mass will be celebrated at 10am at St. Pius X Narborough and at 10.30am at Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus Lutterworth. . I will also celebrate Mass at 10am on Easter Monday at St. Pius X Narborough.
Please remember that it will be necessary to book to attend any of these ceremonies. Booking arrangements will be published next weekend.
Bishop Patrick’s Lenten Talks – You are invited to join Bishop Patrick and people from across the diocese this Lent in reflecting on our relationship with God. To be a disciple of Jesus means to know and love him, but to also know we are known and loved by him too. Knowing the Love of God (understanding our identity as God’s sons and daughters) – Thursday 25th March, at 7pm. The talk will include input from Bishop Patrick, a time for questions and answers, and small group discussion. You can register for the talk on the diocesan website: www.dioceseofnottingham.uk
Ways for us to show practical charity during Lent:
Walk for Water: Sharon Burman and Claire Harrold are walking 10 miles per week in support of CAFOD’s ‘Walk for Water’ appeal. If any parishioner would like to support their endeavour, please hand your donation to Sharon in person, or leave it in the ‘parish collection’ box in the St. Pius X Church porch, or put it through the presbytery letterbox.
The corporal works of mercy: feed the hungry (and thirsty), clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, give shelter to the homeless, bury the dead.
The spiritual works of mercy: counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish the sinner, comfort the afflicted, forgive offences, bear wrongs patiently, and pray for the living and for the dead.
Decorating the Church during the Easter Season: If anyone would like to contribute to decorating the Churches during the Easter season in memory of their loved ones who have died, please write the names of those to be remembered (by name, or ‘friends and relations of…’, as you wish) together with your contribution, and leave it in the box provided at St. Pius X, Narborough, or drop it into the letter box at Our Lady of Victories, Lutterworth. I will try to ensure that lists of those for whom we are praying are prepared.
Arrangements for attending Church for Mass: 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.
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 15th;
- between 7pm and 8pm on Tuesday 16th;
- between 7pm and 8pm on Thursday 18th:
- between 7pm and 8pm on Friday 19th.
Times of Mass for next weekend:
- 10am Saturday 20th;
- 10am Sunday 21st;
- 10am Monday 22nd.
At Narborough the intentions for Mass this week will be: Saturday (13th March) Maxwell Corby RIP; Sunday (14th March) Diana & Clive Jayes RIP; Monday (15th March) Deceased members of the Dinsdale family. Tuesday For the people of the parishes in time of pandemic; Wednesday Father Enda Keenan RIP; Thursday Deacon Robin Pollard RIP; Friday Deceased members of the Hadley family. Next weekend Saturday (20th March) Martin Brookes RIP; Sunday (21st March) Deceased members of the Mears family; Monday (22nd March) Stuart Tomlinson RIP.
Stations of the Cross:
7pm on Fridays during Lent. At present, no advance booking, but all who attend must provide the stewards with names and contact details (email or telephone); must wear a mask or face covering and maintain social distance. This is experimental, and if we are unable to maintain safe practice it will have to be discontinued.
Please note that if, in the opinion of the stewards and safeguarding officer, safety cannot be maintained, the Church will have to close for public worship.
Prayers for the living and the dead: please pray for Deacon Robin Pollard (of the parish of St. Peter’s, Hinckley), Susan Moore, Bob Dorward, Ranjit Mann, Maria Olga dos Santos, Sister Assumpta Mulroe, and all who have died recently.
Please also pray for Jim Oxley, Beulah Blomfield, Canon Owen O’Neill, Tom McDermott, Freda Williams, Andrew Madden, Joseph Armeni, Dave Knapper, Teresa Maugham, Debbie Bourke, 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.
Reminders from previous weeks:
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.
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.
With best wishes to you all, and assuring you all of my prayers, Father John
