Weekend Message Mar 18

Our Lady of Victories

St. Pius X, & St. Alphonsus,
Narborough Lutterworth

Dear friends,

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.

Pray for Peace The news from the Ukraine is very bad, and we have no idea how much worse it will get. It is very important that we all pray for peace, pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire the aggressors with thoughts of peace, and above all pray for the people of Ukraine at this devastating time.

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

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

Bishop Patrick’s Plans As I wrote in the past two email messages, Bishop Patrick arranged a meeting at St. Teresa’s, Birstall, for priests and a member of the parish committees and finance committees. This took place as intended on Monday 14th March, and our two parishes were represented. Bishop Patrick spoke about the need for new parish structures in order to serve the people better. The number of priests is much smaller than a few decades ago, as is the number of people attending Mass each weekend. Father Joe Wheat, one of the two vicars general, told us that the average age of a priest working in the diocese is 63.

The changed structures will be intended to ensure that the people of the diocese receive the best pastoral care in the parishes and other communities, able to celebrate the sacraments worthily, and focussed on the mission of the Church to bring Christ to everyone. It would be important that all of us accept our shared responsibility for the life and the mission of the Church. Bishop Patrick commented on ‘green shoots’ – so many people committed to the gospel of Christ, so many young people in our schools, so may signs of Christian life. At the end, Father John Daley also commented on the generosity and commitment of those who attended the meeting.

Bishop Patrick suggests that our two parishes would merge and become one parish. This would make no difference to the number of Churches (two) and the number of weekend Masses (four) which are currently celebrated in those two Churches. There would still be one parish priest for the whole area, as there is now. The major changes are that there would only be one Bank account instead of two, one parish finance committee instead of two, and one parish committee for the merged parish. The parish would have a new name, and would still have a parish priest.

Bishop Patrick has not yet asked for our comments on the proposals, but we need to think about them to be ready for the time when we are asked for our opinion. We were asked: what do we need to do, to ‘make it work’, and to be more outward-looking?

I would value your suggestions. A meeting of the Lutterworth parish committee has been arranged for Tuesday, 22nd March, starting at 7pm, in the Lutterworth parish hall. All parishioners are invited to attend this meeting, and all will be welcome. I have three suggestions at this time, and I would be very pleased to receive many more ideas from yourselves. My own ideas are:

· We need to compile and publish a combined ‘parish handbook’ for our two parishes, detailing who is responsible for the various aspects of parish life;

· We need to arrange a joint meeting of the two parish finance committees, to review our finances and resources, and to consider the spending priorities over the next five years;

· We need to consider how to form a parish committee covering both parishes.

Stations of the Cross Sundays 4pm (with Benediction) at Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth; Fridays 7pm at St. Pius X, Narborough

Lenten Studies on Tuesday 22nd March and 5th April at Cosby Community Church at 7.30pm, the theme is “Sacrifice and Hope for Lent”.

LACY Outdoor Stations of the Cross – 3rd April 2022 – at the Rosmini Centre, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, LE7 4SJ. Calling ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, families and friends – come and share some time with us taking a “Journey with Jesus” as we make the Stations of the Cross outside in the grounds of the Rosmini Centre, commencing at 1.30 p.m. This will be followed by a Celebration of Mass at 3.15pm, and light refreshments. With LACY support and help we are hoping that young people will lead the Stations and feel they can be involved in the Celebration of Mass through Music and readings. Let us know if you can be with us and would like to be involved. Contact paulinepayne@hotmail.com or claudiacoxon@googlemail.com.

How could our parishes improve our care for our members who are unable to join with us in our regular worshipping community because of the lasting effects of the pandemic?

The ‘pre-synod’ discussions before Christmas raised this issue and some suggestions were made. For our care for our brothers and sisters to be more effective, volunteers will be needed. Can you help in one of the following ways?

· Regular (once a month) telephone contact with those who are unable to join us at Mass at present. The suggestion was that a group of telephonists would be needed.

· Regular visits to our members who are elderly, ill, or housebound.

· Join the parish Society of St. Vincent de Paul or other ‘outreach’ groups.

Please let me know if you are able and willing to help in any of these ways.

How could our two parishes work together in caring for those less fortunate?

· Lutterworth & Villages Foodbank: Our two parishes have been supporting the foodbank generously for eight years. This is always a difficult time of year for many poor families, and steeply rising fuel costs are making this much worse. The foodbank has these shortages which it would be delighted if we could help to fill:

Soap Hand Wash Shampoo Pasta Sauce Pasta Snacks

Coffee Hot Chocolate Tinned Rice Pudding Rice Snacks

Tinned Meat (not corned beef) Tinned Potatoes Instant Mash

Tinned Soup Tinned Spaghetti Tinned Custard Breakfast Cereal

All donations can be left in either of the two Churches.

· Tools With A Mission. “We have a mission to empower people in Africa living in extreme poverty to create their own livelihoods. We do this by sending trade kits full of tools that are used in skills training centres, offering the trainees a way to put poverty in the past for good and begin their own sustainable careers.”

The charity has collectors in the Leicester area. They are looking for:

agricultural tools, builders’ tools, carpenters’ tools, electricians’ tools, motor mechanic’s tools, plumbers’ tools, power tools, sewing machines, knitting machines, haberdashery, fully working IT equipment (minimum Windows 7), and Bibles in modern English.

They are unable to take broken tools (but will sharpen and clean off rust), lawn rakes, long handled shears, lawnmowers, printers, scanners, typewriters, disability aids, clothes and shoes, bikes, books, embroidery and curtain materials, or kitchen tools.

A member of our congregation, Veronica Smyth, is the local collecting point for TWAM and her garage holds all donations until there is sufficient for the area rep to take them to the headquarters. Please contact Mrs Smyth by phone or by email. Phone : 0116 2777556. Email: vas58@btinternet.com

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 Third Sunday of Lent (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. Our young people at Lutterworth will make their First Confessions on Saturday 2nd April at 4.30pm. There will also be confessions on Tuesday 5th April in the evening (exact time of start will be published later); our young people preparing to make their first Holy Communion will make their First Confessions at that time.

At St. Pius X, Narborough:

Times of Mass this week & next weekend:

· 10am Saturday 19th;

· 9.30am Sunday 20th;

· 10am Monday 21st.

· 10am Saturday 26th;

· 9.30am Sunday 27th;

· 10am Monday 28th.

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 this week & next weekend:

· 5.30pm on Saturday 19th;

· 11am on Sunday 20th;

· 10.30am Tuesday 22nd;

· 10.30am Thursday 24th;

· 5.30pm on Saturday 26th;

· 11am on Sunday 27th;

At Narborough the intentions for Mass this week will Saturday (19th) Jit & Dolly Ramoutar RIP; Sunday (20th) Elizabeth Thorpe RIP; Monday (21st) Welfare of Malcolm McMillan. Wednesday Intentions of Eva & Milan Zankar; Thursday Michael Daly RIP. Next weekend Saturday (26th) Stuart Tomlinson RIP; Sunday (27th) Terry Barber RIP; Monday (28th) Deceased friends & relations of P&A Ramoutar.

At Lutterworth the intentions for Mass will be: Saturday (19th) People of the Parishes; Sunday (20th) David Sygrove RIP; Tuesday (22nd) Holy Souls; Thursday (24th) Holy Souls. Next Saturday (19th) People of the Parishes; Sunday (20th) Gerry Danaher RIP; Tuesday (22nd March) Holy Souls; Thursday (24th) Holy Souls.

Prayers for the living and the dead:

Please pray for David Sygrove, Noreen Merrion, Marie Almey, and for all who have died recently.

Requiem Mass for Noreen Merrion will be at 11am on Thursday 31st March at St. Pius X, Narborough, followed by burial at Enderby. Noreen will be received into Church the previous evening (Wednesday 30th March) at 6pm.

Requiem Mass for David Sygrove will be at 10.30am on Tuesday 19th April at Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth, followed by burial.

Please also pray for David Janssens, 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.

Wedding in Italy Mariano Giovannoni, who currently resides in the parish of St. Pius X Narborough and attends Mass at St. Pius X, intends to marry Alessandra Barbone, who currently lives in Italy, at the parish of Santa Maria dell’Arendola, Monte San Giovanni Campano, in the Diocese of Frosinone – Veroli –Ferentino. As they prepare for married life together, we support them with our prayers. If anyone knows of any reason why they should not marry in the Catholic Church, please inform Father John without delay.

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

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 £1. All welcome.

Next Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Lent

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