Weekend message October 24

Dear friends,

 

November: Month of Special Prayer for those who have died: On Monday November 2^nd the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed, Mass will be celebrated at10am at St. Pius X, Narborough and at 10.30am at Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus. The intention of this Mass will be ‘for deceased parishioners, deceased relatives, and those buried in the cemetery’. We are very grateful to Father John Joe Maloney for agreeing to celebrate this Mass, which is an addition to the normal routine because Monday is ‘All Souls’ Day’. After Mass there will be a visit to the cemetery where prayers can be said for Canon Hazeland and all who are buried there. You will be able to see the great work that Father John Joe Maloney has been doing in the cemetery.

 

If you would like a Mass to be celebrated for those who have died, please write down the names of any who you wish to be remembered in prayer during this month, and enclose it in an envelope together with any donation you wish to make for a Mass to be celebrated. This envelope can be dropped in at Church any weekend – in the collection box, or in the special ‘November List’ box when that is available, or in the Church post box (Lutterworth) or the presbytery (Narborough).

 

Despite the difficulties in celebrating Mass together in public, we can still all pray at home, and during this month of special prayer for those who have died, it will be a ‘spiritual work of mercy’ for us all to remember in prayer those of our families, our friends, and our parishioners and benefactors who have died.

 

TOGETHER, WE ARE CARITAS: Building social action in the Diocese of Nottingham – Saturday 7 November 2020 by Zoom (with a telephone option). Nottingham Diocese is joining Caritas, the Church’s worldwide ministry of charity.  Soon our parish will be part of one of the biggest humanitarian organisations on the planet – and you are invited to be part of it.  Join Bishop Patrick, Caritas Social Action Network, the diocesan Justice & Peace Commission and Catholics from all round our diocese.  In two 90-minute online sessions at 11.00 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. we’ll take practical steps, in parishes and chaplaincies across the diocese, to bring the Gospel to life, locally and globally.  For details and booking visit dioceseofnottingham.uk/faithintoaction or call 07470 907656 for further information.

 

We have been advised to stop celebrating the Saturday evening Mass at Our Lady of Victories, so for the time being the only Mass on a Saturday will be 10am at St. Pius X, Narborough (which will be the Sunday Mass).

 

Each week we hope to be able to accommodate everyone who wishes to attend Church. However, I would ask that you all use the booking system, and do so in good time, so that if there is pressure due to the number of persons who wish to attend, it may still be possible to find a way to accommodate everyone.

 

This week Mass will be celebrated in public at Our Lady of Victories and St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth, at 11am on Sunday, and at 10.30am on Tuesday; and at St. Pius X Narborough at 10am on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Mass will also be celebrated privately (the Church doors will not be open) at about 9am on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

 

At Lutterworth the intentions of these Masses will be: Sunday 25^th Paul Luke RIP; Sunday 1^st November Francis D’Mello RIP.  At Narborough the intentions will be: Saturday (24^th October) 10am People of the Parish; Sunday (25^th October) 10am Doug Partridge RIP; Monday (26^th October) 10am Mary Tyers RIP. During the week the intentions will be: Tuesday Mass in time of pandemic, for the people of the Parishes; Wednesday Christopher Doyle RIP; Thursday the Intentions of Kema Elsley; Friday Anthony Rogers RIP. Next weekend Saturday (31^st October) 10am People of the Parish; Sunday (1^st November) 10am Jean Hodgkinson RIP; Monday (2^nd November) 10am The Faithful Departed.

 

Booking Arrangements for next weekend:

 

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 Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus:

 

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 26^th October between 9.30am and 10.30am or between 6pm and 7pm

Wednesday 28^th October between 9.30am and 10.30am or between 6pm and 7pm

Friday 30^th October between 9.30am and 10.30am or between 6pm and 7pm

 

Times of Mass next weekend:

• 11am on Sunday 1^st November ;
• 10.30am on Monday 2^nd November;
• 10.30am on Tuesday 3^rd November.

 

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 6pm and 7pm on Monday 26^th October;
• between 6pm and 7pm on Tuesday 27^th October;
• between 5pm and 6pm on Thursday 29^th October.
• between 5pm and 6pm on Friday 30^th October.

 

 

Times of Mass next weekend:

• 10am on Saturday 31^st October;
• 10am on Sunday 1^st November;
• 10am on Monday 2^nd November.

 

Holy Communion at Home for the Housebound: We are now permitted to administer the sacrament of Holy Communion to those at home, but under very strict conditions. If anyone who is housebound would like Holy Communion, please let me know and I will try to make suitable arrangements.

 

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, and certainly before the start of December, of any candidates for these sacraments. So far I have heard of two possible candidates for First Confession and Holy Communion.

 

Please pray for Joseph Armeni, Dave Knapper, Michael Maloney, Teresa Maugham, Debbie Bourke,Elizabeth Fullerton, Mary Dunne, Ranjit Mann, Juanita Zaman, (all parishioners or relatives of parishioners), and Father Michael Horrax (retired priest of this Diocese) who are seriously ill; and for Father Terry Fellows, Dennis Mansell, Hugh Mellor, Sheila Knight, and all who have died recently. Please let me know of any others who have died, or anyone who is ill and asks for prayers.

During October we are invited to contribute to special causes: Special collection boxes will be available in the Church porches for the weekend of 24^th and 25^th October for the support of the Church’s missionary activity. If you are unable to come to Church but wish to contribute to any of these causes, please send your contribution to Father John.

 

Recycling Textiles: At the moment the firm are no longer collecting in the Leicester area and have no plans to restart collections. If anyone knows of any other organization willing to collect clothes and other textiles in our area, please let me know.

 

Reminders from previous weeks:

 

The ‘Sunday Obligation’ remains suspended until further notice. The Bishops remind us that people who have been ‘shielding’, or who are caring for anyone who is extremely vulnerable, should not attend Church. Those who are ‘vulnerable’, including those who are over 70 years of age, should think carefully before attending, to make sure that they feel they can do so safely. Children younger than 16 years old, and persons who are physically disabled or who have learning difficulties, must not attend Church unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult, who will be expected to look after them and ensure that safe practice is maintained. Toilets will not normally be open.

 

When Attending Mass in any Catholic Church:

 

Face masks must be worn. When you arrive at Mass, a steward will check that you have pre-booked. You will be asked to sanitize your hands in the porch, and to wear your face mask. There is no holy water in the porch.

 

If you have brought an offering for the parish collection, please put it into the box which will be available in the porch. The collection will not be taken during Mass in the usual way. There will also be a box in the porch for items for the foodbank or for Mary’s Meals, and during October, an extra box for the special collections we have been asked to take, and during November for the ‘Prayers for the Faithful Departed’.

 

A steward will show you where you can sit. Places are marked on the benches or chairs, to ensure that all persons keep a safe ‘social distance’. Couples from the same household may occupy a single place. Families may sit together. If the Church is full to (Covid related) capacity, the steward may need to keep certain benches available for families.

 

Holy Communion will be distributed at the usual time during Mass. The host must be received in the hand. There will be no ‘dialogue’ at that time. The chalice cannot be shared. Those receiving Holy Communion are requested to maintain the social distance in the main aisle waiting to receive; and to come up to the line marked on the floor of the Church.

 

At the end of Mass, please do not stop in the porch. If you wish to talk to anyone, please wait until you are outside the Church building. This is to avoid causing an obstruction for those wishing to leave.

 

Contributions to the parish funds: I know that many of you who used the planned giving envelopes to make your contributions would like to continue to do so. The boxes of envelopes are available for those who use them. If you would like your box of envelopes, please let me know and I can produce it for you.

 

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