Newsletter- 19th Week of Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners
During the month of August many of you will be away on holiday, taking time to travel and to rest and relax with your families and friends. I wish you a wonderful holiday! Safe travels too and a good rest! We shall look forward to welcoming you back to the parish after your holidays. A very warm welcome too to those who may be visiting St Marys during this month. Our office staff are also taking time away over the next two weeks with their families and so this Bulletin will have been printed in advance. Please listen out for announcements at Mass of deaths and such like as it may not have been possible to include up to date information in the Bulletin.
I shall myself be taking a short break during the last week of August. I shall be away from the parish from Saturday 24th August and will return to work again on Tuesday 3rd of September. I am very grateful for the generosity of Mgr. John Hadley in celebrating the weekend Masses and to Deacon Andrew for offering two Services of Word and Holy Communion, preaching at the weekend Masses and offering a period of Exposition and Benediction on the Tuesday whilst I am away.
Please note the Mass schedule and times the church will be open and closed during my absence:
Sunday Masses – 21st Sunday in ordinary Time – Year B
Saturday 24th August – Vigil Mass at 6 p.m.
Sunday 25th August – Parish Mass at 9.30 a.m.
Monday 26th August – Church closed all day- No Public Worship
Tuesday 27th August – Church closed during the day – open from 5.30 p.m.
Exposition at 6 pm – Benediction at 6.30 p.m.
Service of Word and Holy Communion at 7 p.m.
Wednesday 28th August – Church closed all day – No Public Worship
Thursday 29th August – Word and Holy Communion 11 am – Church closed after the Liturgy
Friday 30th August – Church closed all day – No Public Worship
Sunday Masses – 22nd Sunday in ordinary Time – Year B
Saturday 31st August – Vigil Mass at 6 p.m.
Sunday 1st September – Parish Mass at 9.30 a.m.
Monday 2nd September – Church closed all day – No Public Worship
Tuesday 3rd September – Church open from 8.30 a.m. – Normal Mass Schedule Resumes
On the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B, we reflect on God’s great love and support of us, the need to avoid negative behaviours in our lives, and the significance of Jesus as the Bread of Life.
The readings at Mass this weekend echo these themes as they remind us of God’s care of us, our call to live with kindness, and the importance of faith in Jesus. In the First Reading, we hear how Elijah was exhausted and wanted to die. An angel gave him food and water, showing God’s care and support. Elijah’s journey to Horeb needed God’s help. This reminds us that God provides what we need for our own spiritual journey. In the Second Reading this weekend St Paul tells us to avoid actions that grieve the Holy Spirit. Instead, we should be kind and forgiving. St Paul also encourages us to live like Jesus. We should love and forgive as He did. In the Gospel Jesus declares He is the living bread. We are reminded that through believing in Him we are brought to eternal life. Jesus also tells us that no one comes to Him unless drawn by the Father. This shows God’s active role in all our faith journey’s.
As we reflect on the themes of the readings this weekend let us allow them to help us to understand God’s care of us more fully and our call to live faithfully as his modern-day disciples in the world in which we live. Let us remember to the importance of love, kindness, and belief in Jesus as we carry out all we need to accomplish during the coming week ahead.
With prayers for you and for your families during the holiday season,
Father Jonathan
Parish Priest
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