Fifth Week of Lent

March 25th, 2023 by Dave Heywood

Friday 31 March 2023

Image (c) Vatican News

Pope Francis – Health Update

Last night, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis has an infectious bronchitis requiring antibiotics to which he is responding well, but he’ll need a few days before he can be discharged.

Pope Francis said:  “I am touched by the many messages received in these hours and I express my gratitude for the closeness and prayer.”

Thank you so much for keeping the Holy Father in your prayers.

UPDATE

Pope Francis is doing well.  He ate pizza last night with those who are caring for him, visited the children’s ward in the hospital, is getting on with work, and is expected to be discharged in time for Palm Sunday.

 

Thursday 30 March 2023

Asylum Seekers

Yesterday, the Jesuit Refugee Service released a report on the inhumane conditions of detention for asylum-seekers at Napier Barracks in Kent.  Given that the Government plans to extend such accommodation, we need to speak up for the dignity of those who arrive in our country seeking asylum.

You can read the report here:

JRS-UK-Report-Napier-Barracks-the-inhumane-reality-March-2023

 

Wednesday 29 March 2023

Prayers for Pope Francis

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

With the news this evening that the Holy Father has been hospitalised at the Gemelli Polyclinic with a pulmonary infection and has experienced difficulty breathing in these last days, we commend his health and continued ministry among us to Our Blessed mother for a speedy recovery as Holy Week approaches.

With my prayers for you,
+ Malcolm

 

Tuesday 28 March 2023

A simple but thought provoking Stations of the Cross:

Stations of the Cross (Shrewsbury J&P) A5

 

Monday 27 March 2023

 

5th Sunday of Lent (A) – 26 March 2023

 

 

Mass sheet we will be using in church:    Mass Sheet (Lent 5A)

Bidding Prayers:    Bidding Prayers (Lent 5A)

Reflection on the Readings:    prego-lent-5-year-a-2023

Pastoral Letter:    Pastoral_Letter_26_March_23

Accompanying Brochure:    Update from your priests

 

 

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

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Fourth Week of Lent

March 18th, 2023 by Dave Heywood

Thursday 23 March 2023

 

Wednesday 22 March 2023

Real Presence

“God is everywhere, in everything. When you see something beautiful – a sunset, a mountain, a stream – these are reminders of God’s presence, revealing his beauty. But when we talk about the real presence, his sacramental presence, that is a very, very important concept.

“The real presence is the consecrated bread and wine. When I go into a church I always genuflect. Why? Because I believe that in a marvellous way, far beyond our understanding, Christ is truly present in the Tabernacle. If you ask me how this is, then that is theology. But you genuflect because Christ has said it is so. If you try to work out how and why it is, you will never get there. You receive that truth from him. As in friendship, love between two people, you don’t work out why you love them – it would kill the spark between you if you analysed it. But once you love a person, then you grow in the knowledge of them. That is what faith is like, the beginning of a love story. The more you get involved then the more you begin to trust.”

Cardinal Basil Hume OSB in his book, “The Mystery of Love” (Darton, Longman & Todd, 2000).

 

Tuesday 21 March 2023

 

Monday 20 March 2023

Solemnity of St Joseph, Husband of Mary
(transferred from 19 March)

The Inaugural Mass of the Pontificate for Pope Francis took place ten years ago on 19 March 2013, the Solemnity of St Joseph, Husband of Mary.  Joseph is one of  Pope Francis’ favourite saints.  He explained why during his trip to the Philippines in January 2015:

“I have great love for Saint Joseph, because he is a man of silence and strength. On my table I have an image of Saint Joseph sleeping. Even when he is asleep, he is taking care of the Church!”

Pope Francis advised people to leave a “note” under the image of the saint for help whenever they have a problem.

The image above comes from Vatican News.  It’s a picture of the image of St Joseph sleeping in Pope Francis’ room with notes underneath.

 

4th Sunday of Lent (A) – 19 March 2023

 

 

Mass sheet we will be using in church:    Mass Sheet (Lent 4A)

Bidding Prayers:    Bidding Prayers (Lent 4A)

Reflection on the Readings:    prego-lent-4-year-a-2023

 

 

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 11th, 2023 by Dave Heywood

Thursday 16 March 2023

Through Lent with Pope Francis

“Is your faith tired? Do you want to reinvigorate it? Look for God’s gaze: sit in adoration, allow yourself to be forgiven in Confession, stand before the Crucified One. In short, let him love you.”

(Twitter, 16 March 2023)

 

Wednesday 15 March 2023

Love the Stranger

In 2023, people making dangerous journeys across the Channel to reach the UK are called by various names: ‘refugees’, ‘asylum seekers’, ‘migrants’, and often by more derogatory terms.

‘Love the Stranger’ is a new publication by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales’ Department for International Affairs that articulates our Christian duty to look beyond such labels and see the person who has left their homeland in search of a better life.

You can download the document here:

CBCEW-Love-the-Stranger-A4

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, welcomed the publication:

“Love the Stranger draws together more than one hundred years of Catholic teaching to guide our response to migration in England and Wales today. While it does not propose detailed solutions to complex problems, it clearly calls for procedures which permit safe and controlled access and a fair hearing to those seeking asylum. Present arrangements in this country are dramatically lacking in both of these requirements.”

 

Tuesday 14 March 2023

Happy Anniversary, Pope Francis!

Yesterday marked ten years since the election of Pope Francis on 13 March 2013.

Let us give thanks to God for this faithful and humble servant.  He has shown us the mercy of the Father.  He has called us to be the Church Christ wants us to be – a Church which welcomes everyone, a Church of love and mercy, a Church which is the face of Christ.  He has led by example.

May the Holy Spirit continue to uphold him, inspire him and guide him.

(Image from Vatican News)

 

Monday 13 March 2023

Dementia Prayer Week

Dementia Prayer Week begins today.  The week is dedicated to sufferers of Dementia and those who care for them.

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.

Resources:

Dementia Prayer Week | RP Books

 

3rd Sunday of Lent (A) – 12 March 2023

 

 

Mass sheet we will be using in church:    Mass Sheet (Lent 3A)

Bidding Prayers:    Bidding Prayers (Lent 3A)

Reflection on the Readings:    prego-lent-3-year-a-2023

 

 

FINAL CALL FOR CONFIRMATION 2023

 

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 4th, 2023 by Dave Heywood

Friday 10 March 2023

 

Thursday 9 March 2023

Bishop comments on Illegal Migration Bill

The Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees, Bishop Paul McAleenan, has commented on the government’s Illegal Migration Bill:

“Everyone who makes a dangerous journey across the Channel to build a better life here has a name, a face, and a story.

People are driven from their homes by poverty, conflict, persecution, natural disasters, or other factors that prevent their flourishing. Many have links to the UK or family members already living here. Yet, far too often, there are no safe routes open to them.

While we all wish to end dangerous Channel crossings, this new legislation treats migrants and refugees as a problem to be solved rather than brothers and sisters towards whom we have responsibilities. Establishing more safe routes, and genuinely understanding people’s individual circumstances are essential to meeting these.

As Christians we call for the human person, made in the image and likeness of God, to be put at the heart of public policy.”

 

Wednesday 8 March 2023

Following on from yesterday’s post…

Brother Sister Let Me Serve You – YouTube

Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey,
and companions on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you
in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow
till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven
we shall find such harmony,
born of all we’ve known together
of Christ’s love and agony.

Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.

Richard Gillard © 1977 Scripture in Song.
CCL Licence No 241734.

 

Tuesday 7 March 2023

Illegal Migration Bill

At a news conference today, the Prime Minister stood behind a lectern bearing the words, ‘Stop the Boats’.  It reminded me of Donald Trump’s populist slogan, ‘Build the Wall’.  Is this the way to treat human beings – children, women and men – who have suffered war, violence, persecution, hunger or desperate poverty?

Three things.  First, why not go after the smugglers – most of whom live in the UK and invest their money here?  Secondly, why not reinstate safe and legal routes for asylum seekers and refugees to come to the UK?  Thirdly, work with the people of France by having a processing centre in Calais as France has been offering for years.

The proposed Bill put before parliament today dangerously stokes the fires of ignorance, prejudice and hatred among those in our country who are happy to lap up the rhetoric and then protest outside places housing asylum seekers and refugees.  What a way for a country to respond to those who are already afraid and in fear of their lives!

There is so much ignorance about immigration…  “We’re overrun”, “They just come for the benefits”, “They get a house for free”, “Scroungers”, etc., none of which are true.

Having worked with asylum seekers and refugees for many years, I feel deeply ashamed of my home country today.  Do we not have a duty of care, of compassion, for our fellow human beings who are crying out to us?  How would we feel if we were in their shoes?

Fr Dave

 

Monday 6 March 2023

Prime Minister’s Plan for Channel Migrants

Sarah Teather, Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service UK said: “This proposed bill is the latest measure aiming to punish refugees for the realities of being forcibly displaced. Refugees travel however they can and there are vanishingly few formal routes for them. To deny sanctuary to people who need it based on their mode of arrival is grotesquely cruel and cravenly dishonest. Furthermore, these proposals are unworkable and are not a rational response to those seeking asylum on our shores. A more productive approach would be to create safe, accessible routes whilst embedding a culture of protection in our asylum system.

As the former coalition Children and Families Minister, I’m particularly appalled by the reported plans to begin wholesale detention of children. Once upon a time the Conservative Party recognised that this policy inflicted long term damage on young lives and vowed to stop the practice. If this commitment is abandoned now for headlines, it will mark a dark day indeed.”

(Source:  www.indcatholicnews.com)

 

2nd Sunday of Lent (A) – 5 March 2023

Mass sheet we will be using in church:    Mass Sheet (Lent 2A)

Bidding Prayers:    Bidding Prayers (Lent 2A)

Reflection on the Readings:    prego-lent-2-year-a-2023

 

Prayer for Turkey & Syria

We pray for the people of Turkey and Syria,
whose lives have been devastated by the earthquake.
Be present, O Lord, our Good Shepherd,
to bring comfort, relief, shelter and human kindness.
Shield the people who suffer,
console those who are bereaved,
prosper the provision of relief,
strengthen the work of emergency teams,
and shine your light and hope
in the midst of despair.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

(Prayer from the Diocese of Europe)

 

CONFIRMATION 2023

 

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

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