MESSAGE ON THE 5TH SUNDAY OF LENT (YR B)
Friday 15th March 2024
My dear people,
A gentle reminder that the Mass times change option chosen by most people was Option 2 – 8.30am, 10.30am & 12.30pm and this change will take effect from Sunday 7th April. Ann has also completed a review of the few additional comments given on the survey which mainly relate to us giving consideration to a Sunday evening Mass. Whilst this is not something we have considered for the foreseeable future; we will take the comments into consideration again when we review the effectiveness of the Mass times changes. Again, I would like to sincerely thank all of you for the wonderful way in which you participated in the survey. In the meantime, we continue our conversations between the Ministry Coordinators and members of ministries involved in the celebration of Mass as we prepare for the change. Please know that I am available for any questions you may have.
During this joyful Season of Lent, the following are some ways in which you can add to your prayer life:
- Join us in praying the Stations of the Cross every Friday at 10am (immediately following the 9:30am Mass) and at 7pm.
- Attend Bible Study on Tuesdays at 7:30pm in the meeting rooms.
The Holy Week and Easter Timetable for 2024 has been published in this weekend’s bulletin and on our website. You can also find it in the gathering space.
Our Second Men’s Group for this year will occur this evening Friday 15th March. We will start with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 7:30pm (immediately after the 7pm Stations of the Cross). There will be a period of Adoration when the Sacrament of Confession will be available, and Fr David Cartwright will be here for that. We will conclude with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 8:15pm and supper at the presbytery. Mr David Powick will be our guest speaker and he will speak to the men about healing, particularly during the Season of Lent.
Our parish will host the Novena to the Divine Mercy this year. The novena will start on Good Friday 29th March and conclude on Divine Mercy Sunday 7th April, with a special Mass at 3pm on that day (in addition to our regular Sunday Masses). Further details are on the poster in the gathering space, in the bulletin and on the website. There will also be a sign-up sheet for required ministries for Divine Mercy Sunday for which you are invited to put your name down.
On Good Friday, at 7:30pm, we will pray Tenebrae, which is the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer of Holy Saturday. Bishops, priests, deacons, and all in religious life must pray the Divine Office, also known as the Liturgy of the Hours every day. On Good Friday in the evening, it is customary to combine these two offices in Tenebrae and the whole church is invited to participate. It is a wonderful way to pray and meditate on the death of Jesus, a death which he underwent for the forgiveness of our sins.
All of you on the mailing list received a PLT Update on Tuesday. It highlighted for you what we, as a PLT, are doing and aiming to achieve for the parish in terms of missionary renewal. For those of you not on the mailing list, please be advised that the update is on the notice board in the gathering space. We had a most fruitful Leadership Summit with all ministry coordinators and two of their members last night where we discussed shaping the culture of all ministries in such a way that a missionary culture permeates all our ministries and groups.
We continue turning to our patron saint and we ask for her intercession.
St Catherine of Siena, Pray for us.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Fr Richard Rosse PP