Newsletter- 20th 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 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B, the readings at Mass call us to live with wisdom and understanding. They encourage us to seek true nourishment from Jesus, the Bread of Life, and live in a way that pleases God.
The first reading from Proverbs invites us to leave behind foolishness and choose the way of understanding. Wisdom offers us true life and peace and fulfilment. In the second reading St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reminds us to live with wisdom, understanding God’s will for our lives. St Paul urges us to be careful in how we live, making the most of every opportunity. He then encourages us all to always give thanks to God. Being truly thankful helps us to live joyfully and gratefully, recognising God’s many blessings in our lives. Jesus in the Gospel offers himself as the living bread from heaven. When we come to receive Him in the Eucharist, we are reminded that Jesus promises eternal life to those who believe in Him. This promise is a central theme of our faith, reminding us too that true life is always to be found in Jesus.
The themes in our readings at Mass this Sunday can really help to guide us to live wisely, as we nourish our spirits with Christ in the Eucharist, and as we turn outwards away from self and live joyfully and thankfully for all that we have received on trust from God. Let us during the week ahead try to place all our trust and hope in God and live lives open to His Love, Mercy and Truth. Then we will be truly joyful and fulfilled!
With prayers for you and for your families during the holiday season,
Father Jonathan
Parish Priest
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