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

Holy Week 2024

March 23rd, 2024 by Dave Heywood

Easter Sunday – 31 March 2024

“This is the day that God has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”
(Psalm 117)

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Christus resurrexit! Resurrexit vere!
Chrystus zmartwychwstał! Prawdziwie zmartwychwstał!
Khristos voskrese! Voistinu voskrese!
Le Christ est ressuscité! En verité il est ressuscité!
Tá Críost éirithe! Go deimhin, tá sé éirithe!
Atgyfododd Crist! Yn wir atgyfododd!

A very happy Easter to you all!

May the joy of this day – the greatest day of the year for Christians – lift your spirits, renew your hope, and bring peace to your hearts.

Mass Sheet we will be using in church: Easter Sunday Mass Sheet 2024

Reflection on the Readings: prego-easter-sunday-year-b-2024

Some Funnies

God bless,
Fr Dave

Holy Saturday – 30 March 2024

The Easter Vigil

On this Holy Saturday night, the holiest night of the year, we keep the ‘mother of all vigils’ (St Augustine). The Vigil begins with the lighting of the big Easter candle proclaiming “The Light of Christ”. Then, in the light of the candle, we will listen to stories of what God has done for his people through the ages. After the Gospel of the Resurrection, we will renew our Baptism and welcome new members into the Church. Finally, we will celebrate Christ’s risen presence with us always in the Eucharist.

The Easter Vigil will take place at 8.00 pm at St Oswald’s.

If you’re not able to join us in church this evening, you might like to join in one of the many celebrations online.

Good Friday – 29 March 2023

Today, all over the world at 3.00 pm, Christians stop whatever they are doing (if they can) to celebrate the Passion of the Lord. In a very simple but ancient liturgy, we listen to St John’s account of the Passion of the Lord, pray for the needs of the Church and the world, and venerate the Cross.

The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord will take place at 3.00 pm at St Oswald’s.

In addition, there will be Stations of the Cross for Children at 11.00 am at St Benedict’s and Stations of the Cross at 12.00 noon at St Oswald’s.

If you’re not able to join us in church today, you might like to use this little prayer service at home:

Good Friday at Home 2024

Holy Thursday – 28 March 2024

This evening, we enter into the Easter Triduum – a three-day celebration of our Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. We begin by recalling what Jesus did on the night before he died – how he washed the feet of his disciples and shared the Last Supper with them.

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper will take place at St Benedict’s at 7.30 pm, followed by ‘Watching’ until 9.30 pm.

Mass Sheet we will be using in church: Holy Thursday Mass Sheet 2024

Wednesday of Holy Week – 27 March 2024

Coach leaves St Oswald’s at 6.10 pm and St Benedict’s at 6.20 pm. Places still available.

Tuesday of Holy Week – 26 March 2024

Holy Week Penance Service

Service of Reconciliation at St Oswald’s this evening at 7.30 pm

“God never tires of waiting for us. When we turn away, he comes looking for us; when we fall, he lifts us to our feet; when we return to him after losing our way, he waits for us with open arms. His love is not weighed in the balance of our human calculations, but unstintingly gives us the courage to start anew. This teaches us resilience, the courage always to start again, each day. Always to start over after our falls. God is patient.”

From ‘Custodians of Wonder – Daily Pope Francis’, edited by Joseph Halldorf (Silentium, 2023).

Monday of Holy Week – 25 March 2024

Hope in the midst of despair

Yesterday, Vatican News reported: “The Catholic community in Gaza continues to show the world an incredible testimony of faith. Today, despite the war and its dangers, the Holy Family Parish celebrated Palm Sunday in the most solemn way. May their courage be an example to everyone.”

Images (c) Vatican News

Palm Sunday (B) – 24 March 2023

Palm Sunday at Home: Palm Sunday at Home (B) 2024

Reflection on the Readings: prego-palm-sunday-year-b-2024

St Mark’s Passion: St Mark’s Passion

Some Funnies

God bless,
Fr Dave

Fifth Week of Lent

March 16th, 2024 by Dave Heywood

Monday 18 March 2024

“God is love. Jesus is love enfleshed. Disrespect, hatred, division, and revenge may never be preached in God’s or Jesus’ name, no matter the cause, no matter the anger, no matter the wrong. This doesn’t mean that we cannot have disagreements, spirited discussions, and bitter debates. But disrespect, hatred, division, and revenge (no matter how deeply they may in fact be felt inside us) may not be advocated in the name of goodness and Jesus.”

Fr Ron Rolheiser, OMI

5th Sunday of Lent (B) – 17 March 2024

Mass Sheet we will be using in church: Mass Sheet (Lent 5B) 2024

Bidding Prayers: Bidding Prayers (Lent 5B) 2024

Reflection on the Readings: prego-lent-5-year-b-2024

Some Funnies

God bless,
Fr Dave

Fourth Week of Lent

March 9th, 2024 by Dave Heywood

4th Sunday of Lent (B) – 10 March 2024

Mass Sheet we will be using in church: Mass Sheet (Lent 4B) 2024

Bidding Prayers: Bidding Prayers (Lent 4B) 2024

Reflection on the Readings: prego-lent-4-year-b-2024

Some Funnies

God bless,
Fr Dave

Third Week of Lent

March 2nd, 2024 by Dave Heywood

Friday 8 March 2024

Day of Prayer for the Holy Land

11.00 am Mass for Peace at St Benedict’s followed by Stations of the Cross.

5.00 pm Mass for Peace at the Cathedral preceded by Exposition at 3.00 pm.

A Prayer from Pope Francis for Peace

Let us pray with one heart and one soul:
Lord come to our aid, grant us peace, teach us peace,
guide our steps in the way of peace.

Open our eyes and our hearts and give us the courage to say:
‘Never again war’.

May the weapons be stopped: they will never lead to peace,
and may the conflict not widen!
Enough! Enough, brothers!
In Gaza, let the wounded be rescued immediately, let civilians be protected,
let far more humanitarian aid be allowed to reach that stricken population.
May the hostages be freed, including the elderly and children.
Every human being, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, of any people or religion,
every human being is sacred, is precious in the eyes of God
and has the right to live in peace.
Let us not lose hope: let us pray and work tirelessly
so that the sense of humanity may prevail over hardness of heart.”

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thursday 7 March 2024

This evening, the Archbishop will formally install Fr Matthew Goddard, FSSP, (above) as the new Rector of St Mary’s Shrine in Warrington.

Please pray for Fr Goddard, FSSP, and his assistant, Fr Gwilym Evans, FSSP (below).

I will be attending the Installation at St Mary’s along with other clergy from the Deanery. Parishioners are also very welcome. The service begins at 6.00 pm and will be followed by refreshments at the Salvation Army on Academy Street.

Wednesday 6 March 2024

“I desire neither death nor life. Were the Lord to offer me a choice, I would not choose. I will only do what he wills, and I am pleased with whatever he does. I have no fear of the last struggle, or of any pain, however great, which my illness may bring. God has always been my help; he has led me by the hand since I was a child, and I count on him now. Even though suffering should reach its furthest limits, I am certain he will never forsake me.”

St Therese of Lisieux

Day of Prayer for the Holy Land – Friday 8 March
11.00 am Mass for Peace at St Benedict’s,
followed by Stations of the Cross

Tuesday 5 March 2024

Day of Prayer for the Holy Land – Friday 8 March
11.00 am Mass for Peace at St Benedict’s,
followed by Stations of the Cross

Monday 4 March 2024

Friday 8 March has been set aside as a Day of Prayer for the Holy Land.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols writes:

“As we are all aware, the situation in the Holy Land has not improved, with failed negotiations, increasing humanitarian distress and a rising death toll…

I ask that, on Friday 8 March, there is a special focus of prayer for the Holy Land. This could take the form of a dedicated time of prayer, perhaps before the Blessed Sacrament, for peace in the Holy Land. It could be as simple as making any regular Lenten devotions you may be having on that day for this intention.”

3rd Sunday of Lent (B) – 3 March 2024