Fifth Week of Easter

April 27th, 2024 by Dave Heywood

Thursday 2 May 2024 – St Athanasius

Please VOTE today

Ahead of today’s local elections, Cardinal Vincent Nichols encourages all to vote as ‘another way in which we exercise responsibility’ for the good of society:

 

Prayer 

Lord, we give thanks for the privileges and responsibilities of living in a democratic society.

Give us wisdom to play our part at election time,
that, through the exercise of each vote,
your Kingdom may come closer.

Protect us from the sins of despair and cynicism,
guard us against the idols of false utopias
and strengthen us to make politics a noble calling
that serves the common good of all.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.

(Church of England)

 

Wednesday 1 May 2024 – St Joseph the Worker

Three special days today:

First, it’s the feast of St Joseph the Worker.  We pray for God’s blessing on our work.  We pray too for those who are searching for work, and for those who are unhappy in the work they have.

Secondly, on this day in 2018, the parishes of St Benedict’s, St Mary’s and St Oswald’s came together as one new parish under the patronage of the Warrington martyr, Blessed James Bell.

Finally, on this day ten years ago, Archbishop Malcolm was installed as our new Archbishop.  Spare a prayer for him today and let’s give thanks to God for his love and care for the flock entrusted to him.

 

Tuesday 30 April 2024

Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse

Today, the Catholic Church in England & Wales is keeping a National Day of Prayer for those in our families and communities who carry within themselves the deep and traumatic wounds inflicted by abuse.

We’ve all been horrified by the accounts of abuse in the Church that have emerged in recent years and angered by the subsequent coverups.  Words fail us in the face of such evil perpetrated against children and those who are vulnerable.

The Church must be the one place that is safe for everyone.  That’s the responsibility of us all.  Today, we pledge again to make this a reality in our own parish, and to support those who’ve been hurt by members of the Church or members of their families or others.

Father,
since your mercy has been revealed
in the tenderness of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who said to his disciples:
“Let the little children come to me”,
we pray that your Church may be a secure home
where all are brought closer to your Beloved Son.
May all those who have been abused be respected
and accompanied by justice and reparation
so that they may be healed by the balm of your grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For more information, check out the Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales website which has a dedicated page for today:

Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse 2024 – Catholic Bishops’ Conference (cbcew.org.uk)

For local information, help and support, see the Safeguarding page on this website under ‘Information’ above.

 

5th Sunday of Easter (B) – 28 April 2024

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

Bidding Prayers:    Bidding Prayers (Easter 5B) 2024

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

 

Some Funnies

 

 

 

God bless,
Fr Dave 

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Fourth Week of Easter

April 20th, 2024 by Dave Heywood

Thursday 25 April 2024 – Feast of St Mark

Pastoral Reflection on Gender

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have issued a pastoral reflection on gender entitled, Intricately Woven by the Lord: A Pastoral Reflection on Gender.

Bishop David Oakley, Bishop of Northampton, said:  “We have published this document because we know that those working in pastoral settings can find this issue complex. It is also an issue that needs to be handled sensitively.

“Accompaniment is crucial to the journey of faith, and we wish to emphasise that everyone is welcome in the Church. It is vital that as followers of Christ we imitate the boundless mercy and compassion of God as we deal with the complexity of another’s life.

“But this needs to be done with a clear understanding of the Catholic vision and understanding of the human person and a holistic view of human sexuality.”

To read or download the document:

Bishops issue pastoral reflection on gender  – Catholic Bishops’ Conference (cbcew.org.uk)

 

Wednesday 24 April 2024

Enjoy what you have

“We live with constant pressure, from without and from within, to see more, consume more, buy more, and drink in more of life. The pressure to increase the dosage is constant and unrelenting. But this is precisely where a deliberate, willful, and hard asceticism is demanded of us. To quote Canadian theologian and author Mary Jo Leddy, we must, at some point say this, mean it, and live it: It’s enough. I have enough. I am enough. Life is enough. I need to gratefully enjoy what I have.”

Fr Ron Rolheiser, OMI

 

Tuesday 23 April 2024 – Solemnity of St George, Patron of England

Happy Feast Day!

Today is the Solemnity of St George, Patron and Protector of England.

St George was a Roman soldier who was martyred on this day in 303 AD during the persecution of Christians in what is now present day Israel.  He became a favourite saint for the Crusades and his feast day has been kept in England since 1222.

Let us ask St George to pray for us and for all the people of our country.  Here is the prayer for today’s feast in the Roman Missal:

God of hosts,
who so kindled the fire of charity
in the heart of Saint George your martyr,
that he bore witness to the risen Lord
both by his life and by his death;
grant us through his intercession, we pray,
the same faith and power of love,
that we who rejoice in his triumph
may be led to share with him
in the fullness of the resurrection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

 

Monday 22 April 2024

Earth Day

Heavenly Father,
you have taught us, through your servant St Francis,
that all creation is your handiwork.
Grant us your grace that we may
exercise wise stewardship of this Earth;
tread lightly upon it;
and cherish its resources;
that our children may enjoy its riches, throughout all generations,
and your name be glorified through all that you have made.
Amen.

Rt Revd David Walker
Bishop of Manchester

 

4th Sunday of Easter (B) – 21 April 2024

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

Bidding Prayers:    Bidding Prayers (Easter 4B) 2024

Reflection on the Readings:    prego-easter-4-year-b-2024-1

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Pastoral Letter:    Pastoral letter Archbishop Malcolm 2024

Message from Fr Ron Johnson:    Message from Vocations’ Director

 

Some Funnies

 

God bless,
Fr Dave 

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Third Week of Easter

April 13th, 2024 by Dave Heywood

Wednesday 17 April 2024

Source unknown

 

Tuesday 16 April 2024

Forgiveness

“The ability to forgive is more contingent upon grace than upon willpower. What makes forgiveness so difficult, existentially impossible at times, is not primarily that our egos are bruised and wounded. Rather, the real difficulty is that a wound to the soul works the same as a wound to the body; it strips us of our strength.”

Fr Ron Rolheiser, OMI

 

Monday 15 April 2024

Hillsborough

Today, we remember all those who died at Hillsborough thirty-five years ago.  We remember especially Ian Whelan from St Oswald’s and his parents, Doris and Norman.

Lord,
comfort the families and the friends of the 97 who died
and all who feel their loss.
Hold them in the love that holds their loved ones.
Through Christ our Lord.

Pray for Peace

“I am following in prayer and with concern, even pain, the news that has reached us in the last few hours regarding the worsening of the situation in Israel, due to the intervention by Iran.  I make a heartfelt appeal to halt any action that might fuel a spiral of violence, with the risk of dragging the Middle East into an even greater military conflict.

No-one should threaten the existence of others.  May all the nations instead take the side of peace, and help Israelis and Palestinians live in two States, side by side, in safety.  It is their deep and legitimate desire, and it is their right!  Two neighbouring States.

Let there be a ceasefire in Gaza soon, and let us pursue the paths of negotiation, with determination.  Let us help that population, plunged into a humanitarian catastrophe; let the hostages kidnapped months ago be released!  So much suffering!  Let us pray for peace.  No more war, no more attacks, no more violence!  Yes to dialogue and yes to peace!”

Pope Francis, 14 April 2024

 

3rd Sunday of Easter (B) – 14 April 2024

Mass Sheet we will be using in church:    Mass Sheet (Easter 3B) 2024

Bidding Prayers:    Bidding Prayers (Easter 3B) 2024

Reflection on the Readings:    prego-easter-3-year-b-2024

 

Some Funnies

 

 

God bless,
Fr Dave 

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Second Week of Easter

April 6th, 2024 by Dave Heywood

Thursday 11 April 2024

 

Wednesday 10 April 2024

Holy Spirit
still me
in your presence,

sit with me
awhile in this
life of mine.

Spirit of God
what is your
desire for me?

Who do you
want me to be
that I ignore,

what do you
want me to do
that I resist?

Give me a heart
for the life you
want me to live.

(c) Raymond Friel

 

Tuesday 9 April 2024

Praying for Peace

Let us pray for peace, especially for martyred Ukraine and for Palestine and Israel. May the Spirit of the Risen Lord enlighten and support those who work to reduce tensions and encourage actions that make negotiations possible.

Pope Francis

 

Monday 8 April 2024

Words from our Lord in yesterday’s Gospel:

“Peace be with you”

“Receive the Holy Spirit”

“Give me your hand”

 

2nd Sunday of Easter (B) – 7 April 2024

 

Mass Sheet we will be using in church:    Mass Sheet (Easter 2B) 2024

Bidding Prayers:    Bidding Prayers (Easter 2B) 2024

Reflection on the Readings:    prego-year-b-easter-2-2024

 

Some Funnies

 

 

God bless,
Fr Dave 

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Easter Octave 2024

April 1st, 2024 by Dave Heywood

Easter Friday – 5 April 2024

“The joy of the Gospel consists in this: that God loves us with tenderness and mercy. We are called to make this joyful message resound throughout the world, testifying to it with our lives. May everyone discover the beauty of the love of God manifested in Jesus.”

Pope Francis

 

Easter Thursday – 4 April 2024

 

Easter Wednesday – 3 April 2024

Archbishop Malcolm writes:  “On 3 April 1984, Mgr Patrick Kelly was ordained bishop of Salford.  In 1996, he was translated to Liverpool to take up the pastoral leadership of our local church.  We give thanks for his 40 years of episcopal service and ministry to the church, particularly as our Archbishop and his service to the Holy Land and to the Catholic Deaf Association.  Please offer a prayer for him.”

 

Easter Tuesday – 2 April 2024

 

Easter Monday – 1 April 2024

Compassion

Someone sent me a little video over the weekend of a boy with down syndrome stepping out from a crowd to help Jesus during a Passion Play.  I don’t know the location and my apologies if posting this infringes copyright, but it lifted my heart.

Thank you to this little boy for reminding us of all the goodness that still exists in the world.

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