Weekend message May 22

Dear friends,

 

Caritas Diocese of Nottingham – Environment Workshop: At today’s Masses, we hear a Pastoral letter about the urgent need for us all to protect and care for God’s gift of Creation.  Our new diocesan Caritas network, also launched this weekend, is hosting a workshop ‘Renewing the face of the Earth’. It is online and will help us explore the many ways in which we can respond, as individuals, as parishes and as a diocese:  Tuesday 8 June, 7.00 – 8.30 p.m.  Please Register at:  dioceseofnottingham.uk/environment.

Bishop Patrick asks that you join the online workshops mentioned in the insert above.

Pastoral Letter for Pentecost 2021

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Solemnity of Pentecost reminds us that everything which exists, every person and the whole of creation, is a gift of “God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” God our loving Father creates and continues to give life to the world through His Word, Jesus Christ, in the power of His Holy Spirit. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church, which we celebrate at Pentecost, is not something separate from Creation. God’s revelation of himself in Creation is inseparable from the revelation of his love for us in Christ and in his desire to live in us through his Holy Spirit.

‘God’s Spirit is always and everywhere “the Lord, the Giver of Life”, and the voice of Pentecost is echoed in the voice of creation being transformed into the glorious liberty of God’s children.’ In this liberty, as God’s children, we call on the Spirit to ‘renew the face of the Earth’, and to help us to use this liberty for the good of creation and for the good of all that brings life. Our world, God’s creation, is a precious gift to us. It is our common home entrusted to each generation. But how have we used that glorious liberty? How do we honour this precious gift? Are we really demonstrating love, care and respect for our common home?

As we celebrate Pentecost this year, we are acutely aware of the damage that continues to be inflicted on the Earth, and the repercussions for the well-being of our brothers and sisters, both here in our own countries and, more especially, in the poorest countries of our world. Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have both taught us that everything is interconnected and interdependent. The way we live our everyday lives has an impact on everyone and on the earth. The urgency of the situation, and the enormity of the challenges we face, have spurred us to speak out together, as bishops of England, Wales and Scotland, about the role that the Catholic Church and our faith must play in our shared care for God’s gift to us.

For all too long we have either been ignorant of, or ignored, the systematic exploitation of our planet and the unsustainable consumption of its resources. While accepting the crucial need and demand for energy for the benefit of the poorest of our brothers and sisters, the provision of our energy must, nonetheless, be by means which radically reduce the use of carbon-based fuels. In our political thinking, there must be a new global understanding of our world, where nations recognise our common responsibility for the dignity of all people and their rights to sustainable livelihoods, in authentic freedom. Pope Francis speaks of a global politics that looks beyond our own needs to the needs of all, most especially the poor and the marginalised.

But we cannot leave the healing of our common home and the wellbeing and care of our brothers and sisters merely to a response from industry and governments. We all have a part to play, each and every one of us, in the routines, choices and decisions of our everyday lives and our aspirations for the future. The actions of parishes, families, schools, and individuals have a significant impact on our efforts to restore our common home. Bishop Patrick writes: ‘I am very encouraged by the good work going on in our schools and many of our parishes. There are now many resources available, to advise us on our choice of food, saving of water and electricity, suggestions about travel, waste, and re-use. These are measures that everyone can employ, in some degree, with minimal inconvenience and change. In a few months’ time a diocesan environmental policy will be launched in an effort to help us to deepen our commitment to be stewards of creation and so make it a lived reality in our homes, parishes and schools’.

This Pentecost comes at a time of remarkable challenge and opportunity. We are gradually emerging from the tragedies and restrictions of the pandemic. We have the ability to make changes. Our countries are also hosting two most important meetings this year, the G7 in June and COP26 in November. These meetings will gather together men and women who have the power to make defining choices and policies which will help us build back better, provide for our brothers and sisters, and take care of our common home.

In all our human endeavours, we need the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit, “the Lord, the Giver of Life”, whose gift to the Church and the world we celebrate again at Pentecost. Let us keep this Feast with the enduring hope that we can begin to repair the damage we have done and provide a healthy home for future generations. Our hope will be strengthened by our prayer. May our constant request be that the Holy Spirit guide us, strengthen our resolve, and ‘renew the face of the earth’. Amen!

 

MORE NEWS FROM LACY :  CELEBRATING PENTECOST!  

Leicestershire Active Catholic Youth extend a warm invitation to all young people, their families and friends to share a Celebration with them on the Feast of Pentecost, Sunday 23^rd May, via Zoom at 7.00 p.m.  Fr. Simon Gillespie will lead us in the celebration.  Youth is a flame!  Youth is a fire!  Bring with you a balloon, pen and candle!  Be inspired by The Holy Spirit.  See our poster!  We’re looking forward to hearing from you! Link in details: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84125113074?pwd=VWhYV0RBNmVKMTA2Yy9iK0RkcndQZz09  Contact claudiacoxon@googlemail.com or paulinepayne@hotmail.com for further information. All young people under the age of 18 present on Zoom should be accompanied by an adult.

 

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 24^th May;
• between 7pm and 8pm on Tuesday 25^th.
• between 7pm and 8pm on Tuesday 27^th.
• between 7pm and 8pm on Friday 28^th.

 

Times of Mass next weekend:

• 10am Saturday 29^th;
• 10am Sunday 30^th;
• 10am Monday 31^st.

 

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

Please ring 079 0113 4564 on the following days, and at these times. It is not possible to leave a message outside these times:

 

• Monday 24^th May between 9.30am and 10.30am or between 6pm and 7pm
• Wednesday 26^th between 9.30am and 10.30am or between 6pm and 7pm
• Friday 28^th between 9.30am and 10.30am or between 6pm and 7pm

 

Times of Mass next Sunday and Tuesday:

• 11am on Sunday 30^th;
• 10.30am Tuesday 1^st June.

 

Arrangements for attending Church for Mass and other services: For the time being – until we receive further information – these arrangements are still in force. More guidance from Public Health England is expected before the Step 4 relaxation is reached on 21^st June. 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 other 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 (22^nd May) Mehall Ginnerty RIP; Sunday (23^rd May) Deceased family & friends of Monica Moore; Monday (24^th May) People of the Parish. Wednesday Gerry Bannister RIP; Thursday Robert & Margaret Callister RIP; Friday. Next weekend Saturday (29^th May) Jim O’Donnell RIP; Sunday (30^th May) Pauge Carty RIP; Monday (31^st May) Paddy Callan RIP.

 

At Lutterworth the intentions for Mass will be: Sunday (23^rd May) The People of the Parishes; Tuesday (25^th May) Holy Souls.

 

Prayers for the living and the dead:

 

Please pray for Doreen Sullivan, Father Anthony Colebrook, Canon Owen O’Neill, and all who have died recently.

 

Please also pray for Jane Bolsover, Suzanne Foxon, Jim Oxley, Beulah Blomfield, Tom McDermott, Freda Williams, 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.

 

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:

 

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