St Benedict's, St Mary's and St Oswald's Warrington

Fourth Week of Lent

March 26th, 2022 by Dave Heywood

Friday 1 April 2022

Thursday 31 March 2022

Thought for the Day

St Porphyrios (1906-1991) is an Eastern Orthodox Saint.

Wednesday 30 March 2022

Your Donations Have Arrived!

Yesterday, after travelling for three days, for 1400 miles and through six countries, our drivers arrived at the Polish border and successfully delivered the donated goods for the people of Ukraine.

Our four drivers – Mike Sharkey, Andy Coley, Dave Lyon and Chris Joynt – met Bishop Gregory Komar, and students for the priesthood from the Holy Spirit Seminary in the Ukrainian diocese of Sambir-Drohobych, who will take the goods for distribution in the Lviv region of western Ukraine.

Watch the videos which include a thank you message from Bishop Gregory to the people of the Archdiocese:

#Liverpool4Ukraine appeal – arrival at the border. – YouTube

#Liverpool4Ukraine appeal – unloading the boxes – YouTube

Tuesday 29 March 2022

“Why doesn’t someone do something?”

This question has been voiced by many parishioners as we grieve over the situation in Ukraine. Yes, we’ve donated money and an enormous amount of practical items, but it does nothing to assuage our desperate feelings for what is happening to so many innocent men, women and children in Ukraine.

An Irish priest, Fr Brendan Hoban, wrote an article last week entitled, “We cannot be neutral in this outrageous war”. It’s worth reading. Here’s the link:

Brendan Hoban: We cannot be neutral in this outrageous war . Association of Catholic Priests

Monday 28 March 2022

Yesterday, Pope Francis renewed his appeal for peace in Ukraine:

(click on text to enlarge)

4th Sunday of Lent (C) – 27 March 2022

Mass Sheet we will be using in church: Mass Sheet (Lent 4C) 2022

Act of Consecration: Act of Consecration 25 March 2022

Reflection on the Readings: prego-lent-4-year-c-2022

CAFOD’s 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.

Some Funnies

God bless,
Fr Dave

Third Week of Lent

March 19th, 2022 by Dave Heywood

Friday 25 March 2022

Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Today, Pope Francis invites us to consecrate Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The Act of Consecration is a way for the whole Church to urgently pray to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and to demonstrate her closeness to those directly affected by the conflict.

In our parish, we will pray the Act of Consecration during the 11.00 am Mass at St Benedict’s. If you can’t come to Mass, you can pray the prayer at home, or at work, or wherever you are, anytime during the day.

Here is the text Pope Francis will be using at 5.30 pm (UK time):

Act of Consecration 25 March 2022

Thursday 24 March 2022

Memorial of St Oscar Romero

St Oscar Romero was martyred while celebrating Mass 42 years ago today, 24 March 1980.

St Oscar Romero, pray for us.

Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Pope Francis invites bishops, priests, religious and faithful to assemble in their churches and places of prayer on 25 March 2022 to consecrate Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

“This Act of Consecration is meant to be a gesture of the universal Church, which in this dramatic moment lifts up to God, through his Mother and ours, the cry of pain of all those who suffer and implore an end to the violence, and to entrust the future of our human family to the Queen of Peace”, said Pope Francis.

The Act of Consecration is a way for the whole Church to urgently pray to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and to demonstrate her closeness to those directly affected by the conflict.

In our parish, we will pray the Act of Consecration during the 11.00 am Mass on Friday at St Benedict’s. If you can’t come to Mass, you can pray the prayer at home, or at work, or wherever you are, anytime during the day.

Here is the text Pope Francis will be using at 5.30 pm (UK time) on Friday:

Act of Consecration 25 March 2022

Wednesday 23 March 2022

National Day of Prayer and Reflection

Two years ago today, the Prime Minister asked us all to “stay at home”. Covid-19 had reached the UK and we entered the first lockdown to try and stop the spread of the virus. Two years on and, sadly, the pandemic is still very much with us. Today, if you can, take a moment to reflect on the last two years and perhaps pray the prayer below.

(click on image to enlarge)

Tuesday 22 March 2022

A Prayer for Peace in Ukraine

How do we pray for peace from half a world away?
How can words salve and soothe real wounds,
assuage real fears, wipe tears from real eyes?

God of endless compassion, transform our prayers
from words into bridges, that span the distances
between us, uniting our hearts in yours.

Every time we turn our keys in a lock,
may we remember all who are losing their homes.

Every time we step into our cars,
may we remember all who are having to flee.

Every time we embrace our children,
may we remember all who are trying to shield theirs from war.

May our besieged sisters and brothers
be drawn into the arms of the suffering Christ,

And may our cry be heard as one voice,
ringing out from every corner of the earth:
God of endless mercy, grant us peace.

Amen.

(From Redemptorist Publications)

Monday 21 March 2022

3rd Sunday of Lent (C) – 20 March 2022

Mass Sheet we will be using in church: Mass Sheet (Lent 3C) 2022

Bidding Prayers: Bidding Prayers (Lent 3C) 2022

Reflection on the Readings: prego-lent-3-year-c-2022

Today, 20 March, is the anniversary of the bombing in Warrington in 1993. We remember especially Tim Parry and Jonathan Ball who were killed, their families, and the many who were injured.

CAFOD’s 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.

Some Funnies

God bless,
Fr Dave

Second Week of Lent

March 12th, 2022 by Dave Heywood

Thursday 17 March 2022

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

Covid-19 Update

The rate of infection in the UK is now at the highest since the pandemic began. This is partly due to the Omicron variant BA2 which is much more infectious than the first Omicron variant BA1, but also because there are now no mitigations in place to prevent the spread of the virus.

While the Government and the media ignore the danger to public health, most of us can’t afford to because we don’t want to spread the virus to our loved ones and because we recognise our responsibility to the wider community.

Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College in London, provides this simple and wise update on the current situation:

Highest COVID rates ever recorded as cases in elderly rocket – YouTube

Wednesday 16 March 2022

On his twitter today, Pope Francis shared this prayer:

(click on image to enlarge)

Tuesday 15 March 2022

This week is Dementia Prayer Week.

You will find lots of information and resources at Redemptorist Publications, including free downloads:

Dementia Prayer Week | RP Books

There are other resources on the front page of this website under ‘News & Information’ (scroll down).

Prayer

Loving God, Healer and Comforter,
we pray for those who suffer from the anxiety,
ambiguity and confusion of dementia,
and in a special way for their caregivers.

Give them patience as they work through familiar daily scripts
and questions asked, answered and asked again.
Give them long memories to recall the fullness of their loved one’s life
beyond these moments of forgetting.
Give them the grace to let go of what was and embrace what is in love.

When the pain of being forgotten and the grinding trials become too much,
comfort them with the promise of your Resurrection
where every tear shall be wiped away
and we shall know each other once more.

God of all mercies,
sustain those who care for others.
Grant them what they need for the moments ahead.
We ask this through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes,
Amen.

Monday 14 March 2022

Ukraine

Yesterday, Pope Francis spoke about the war in Ukraine (click on image to enlarge):

Covid-19

As you may have heard in the media, the new form of Omicron has led to a massive rise in the number of infections across the UK to a level unparalleled since the pandemic began. Hospitalisations are also on the rise – mainly in older people. We all want Covid-19 to go away but, as I’ve said before, if we ignore the virus and don’t have mitigations (i.e. sanitising, wearing a face covering, social distancing, ventilation for indoor gatherings) it will simply continue to spread.

2nd Sunday of Lent (C) – 13 March 2022

Mass Sheet we will be using in church: Mass Sheet (Lent 2C) 2022

Bidding Prayers: Bidding Prayers (Lent 2C) 2022

Reflection on the Readings: prego-lent-2-year-c-2022

CAFOD’s 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.

Some Funnies

God bless,
Fr Dave

First Week of Lent

March 5th, 2022 by Dave Heywood

Thursday 10 March 2022

Covid-19 Update

I’m afraid the pandemic isn’t over. In fact, the Government’s removal of all mitigations has led to a predictable rise in infections, hospitalisations and deaths.

As I’ve said before, pretending the pandemic is over when it isn’t simply keeps it going. Consequently, with no modelling of mitigations by those in positions of leadership, and little information in the media, people are now acting as if it is all over. For example, you will have noticed few people wearing face coverings in indoor settings such as supermarkets or anywhere else for that matter. The Government says it is relying on the common sense of the British people. While that may sound very laudable, any psychologist will tell you that human behaviour simply doesn’t work like that.

The Government’s daily update of infections and deaths is pretty skewed and unreliable now that people are no longer encouraged to get PCR tests and LF tests are increasingly not reported. Apart from the ONS, the only reliable source of information which is tracking the virus is the Zoe Covid App. Today, the Government announced that it is withdrawing the funding for this project in the next few weeks. This will leave the UK completely in the dark about the spread of the virus, new variants, and solid advice about how to go about daily lives safely.

‘Zoe’ is the Greek word for ‘life’, and the App does so much more than track Covid-19. Please watch this video:

COVID climbs again as UK Govt slashes ZOE surveillance – YouTube

Wednesday 9 March 2022

Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, one of Pope Francis’ envoys to Ukraine, said today:

“Whether they arrive in Lesbos from North Africa or Syria, or to Hungary fleeing Ukraine at war, refugees are the face of Christ on the Cross. We are called to make their pain our own.”