Newsletter- 25th Week of Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners
This Sunday, the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B we are reminded that throughout His ministry on earth, Jesus walked a path of compassion, humility and service. He embodied a true spirit of wisdom and understanding. Even when Jesus was aware that powerful forces were plotting against him and His death was imminent, He never lost sight of his desire to serve others. In today’s Gospel, Jesus gently challenges his disciples to abandon their self-importance and ambition and instead follow his example of solidarity alongside the weak and powerless. Jesus turns human power-values on their head: His greatness comes from putting the needs of others first. The First Reading from the book of Wisdom tells of how the godless are challenged by the truth. Their rejection of God’s law of love foretells the way in which Jesus will meet his death. The Psalm picks up this same theme and is a prayer for strength and resilience in the face of evil and ignorance. We can imagine Jesus praying this psalm as He faced His death. The words offer comfort and consolation to those who face oppression for their beliefs today. In the Second Reading, true wisdom is described as pure, gentle, kind and full of compassion. It directs us to become peacemakers. It is an antidote to the petty ambitions, jealousies and power-plays that were emerging in the early Christian community. A reminder to us that we would do well to heed these words of caution in our own faith communities today.
This week, let us pray for the grace to be true servants of the poor, weak and powerless. Let us reach out to all whom we encounter in our daily lives, who need our love, care and support. Let us offer to them the hand of friendship, with gentleness and compassion for their needs. In a world full of discord and fear, may we have the strength to stand up against injustice as we continue as Christs modern day disciples to sow lasting seeds of peace and harmony in the broken and fractured world in which we live today.
Changes to the Mass Schedule for the coming week:
Confirmation Mass at St Mary’s – Friday 27th September 2024 at 7 p.m. This Friday there will not be a 9.30 am Mass in the Parish. Instead, we welcome Bishop Patrick to celebrate Mass in the evening in our parish and to administer the sacrament of Confirmation to our 32 confirmandi who for the past year have been preparing to make this next important step in their journeys of faith. Please keep them in your prayers this coming week and if time will allow do come to join with our Confirmandi and their families and friends at this special Mass on Friday evening. Light refreshments will be served in the lower hall after Mass. A chance for us all to meet with bishop Patrick informally and to share in the joyful celebration of our Confirmandi.
Mrs Mary Peeling – St Hugh of Lincoln Medal – At the end of the Confirmation Mass Bishop Patrick will present Mary Peeling with a special diocesan award The St Hugh of Lincoln Medal It is an award given by the Bishop on behalf of the Diocese of Nottingham to recognise an individual’s long-standing commitment to serving the people of God and His Church. Mary has over many years given considerable service in our parish in many and varied ways and continues to do so. I have asked for this award to be presented to Mary particularly in recognition of her long service as a catechist for Confirmation preparation. Mary has been running or assisting with Confirmation preparation throughout the tenure of the past five parish priests! Thank you, Mary, for all you have done and continue to do for our community. Be assured of our prayers as you receive this well-deserved diocesan award from Bishop Patrick this Friday.
Looking Ahead:
I shall be away in Walsingham – Monday 30th September – Wednesday 2nd October at the “Under 10’s gathering with the bishop and those priests who have been ordained for less than ten years. This is an important opportunity for us to spend time away together, to pray and to reflect and is part of our ongoing clergy formation. The church will be closed from Monday 30th September until Wednesday 2ndOctober. There will be no public worship on Tuesday 1st nor Wednesday 2nd October. Normal Masses resume, and the church will be open again throughout the day from Thursday 3rd October. Please keep me in your prayers during my time away. If you have special prayer requests that you would like me to offer on your behalf at the Shrine, please give these to me by Sunday 29th September.
I shall be taking some annual leave away from the parish from Monday 7th October until Thursday 17th October. Deacon Andrew should be your first point of contact please in an emergency during my absence as he will be able to put you in touch with a priest. Mgr. John Hadley will be offering the normal weekend Masses during my time away and Deacon Andrew some services of The Word and Holy Communion and a Holy Hour with Benediction during the week.
Schedule of Liturgies – Monday 7th October – Thursday 17th October
Tuesday 8th October – 6 p.m. Exposition – 6.30 p.m. Benediction – 7 p.m. Service of Word and Holy Communion
Friday 11th October – 11 am Service of Word and Holy Communion
Saturday 12th October – 6 pm. Vigil Mass
Sunday 13th October – 9.30 a.m. Parish Mass
Tuesday 15th October – 6 p.m. Exposition – 6.30 p.m. Benediction – 7 p.m. Service of Word and Holy Communion
Friday 18th October Normal Mass times resume with Mass celebrated by me at 9.30 a.m.
Please note the church will be closed outside of the liturgies listed above. The church will be open again throughout the day from 8.30 a.m. until dusk from Friday 18th October.
With my prayers for you and for your families during the coming week,
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
2024 22nd September – Newsletter – Download