Parish of St Wilfrid, Widnes
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Parish of St Wilfrid, Widnes ` th 7 April 2019 Fifth Sunday of Lent (C) Thirs Mrs Jessy Mottram-Noé 0151 422 1778 St Wilfrid’s Parish Office “Listen! Parish Pastoral Associate St Bede’s Presbytery I am Fr Bill Murphy 0151 495 1854 Appleton Village Fr Michael Fitzsimons 0151 424 2738 Widnes, WA8 6EL standing at Fr Joe Bibby 0151 424 6641 Opening hours this week Monday to Friday the door Bishop John Rawsthorne 0151 424 4021 9:00am until 5:00pm knocking.” Fr Carl Mugan 0151 422 1774 0151 422 1772 Rev 3:20 [email protected] PARISH WEBSITE: Newsletter items: catholicchurches-widnes.org.uk [email protected] Parish Administrators Confessions: Susan Warburton Each Saturday 10:30am -11:30am Shelagh Hindley St Bede’s Church (and upon request) Shelagh Murphy Response to the Psalm What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad. Gospel Acclamation Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory Seek good and not evil so that we may live, and that the Lord God of hosts may really be with you. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory SYNOD Prayer – we will pray this together at the end of the bidding prayers Father, we thank you for the love you have shown us in the gift of Jesus, your Son. We thank you for the gift of the Church, through which you show us that you are always with us and are always at work in our lives. As we journey together to Synod 2020 help us to become the Church that you are calling us to be. May your Holy Spirit be powerfully at work among us. Strengthen each of us and guide Francis, our Pope and Malcolm, our Archbishop. Help us to respond to the challenges of our times in new ways to bring your love to all our sisters and brothers. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ Our Lord. AMEN This Week’s Reflection Last weekend we reached ‘Laetare Sunday’ the mid-point in our Lenten journey, so well done to all those who have given something up for Lent, not long to go now. Many of us don’t always look forward to Lent, simply because of childhood memories like giving up chocolate and the thought of sitting through endless Stations of the Cross. Those words like “sacrifice” and “denial” often pop into mind, suggesting that Lent has to be endured like a survival course, rather than a time of renewal and growth. Few times in the Christian year offer us the opportunity to reflect properly on our lives, but in this season of Lent and Springtime we are reminded of rebirth, new beginnings, and new growth. Too often are we tempted to race through Lent towards Easter without fully reflecting on the opportunity we have, let’s embrace the Lenten process that leads us to resurrection. Lent leads us into wilderness, it challenges us, but it also prepares us, it deepens our spirituality and strengthens our resolve. So if you have given something up, or decided pray more or be more charitable, let these things change you, let them be the way you prioritise your life. So if you’ve wandered away from the path that the Lord wants you to go down, let these things steer you back. So instead of craving that beer or that bar of chocolate, let’s crave God’s grace to help us complete the journey. Fr Carl Baptisms We pray for . We welcome Those who have recently died Bobbie Lee Bate Mary Tollet (nee Rodgerson) Anne Brown Ivy Elizabeth Duckett And for those who are sick Margaret Cain Paul Moss Brian McCann Aura Josie Allen Val Rose Melvin Castillo Kath Woodward Max Thomas Bentham Nev Conroy Josie Conroy Flo Reid who are to be baptised this weekend. If you know of someone who is sick & would appreciate their name being placed on the list, please contact the Baptism Enquiries Parish Office on 422 1772. Please phone Parish Office 422 1772. The name of the sick person will appear for 6 weeks, this Baptism Certificates can be renewed by contacting the Parish Office. We can The suggested donation for certificates only place names in the Newsletter with the consent of is £5; please call the Parish Office – the sick person. 422 1772 – to make request. Cleaning at St Basil’s Church Wednesday Word There is already a group who clean St Basil’s church once a fortnight http://wednesdayword. with volunteers mainly from the All Saints parish community. org/parish/index.htm There is a need for more people to start a different group. We were A number of printed hoping that after the Tuesday 9.15 am Mass might be a good time for copies are available an hour or so possibly once a fortnight. If you could consider volunteering some time for a cleaning rota – at that time or indeed any each week at the back other times could you contact the parish office and we will arrange to of our churches should take things forward with those willing to help out. you like one. Day of Prayer for Victims of Sexual Abuse The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) has highlighted the importance of prayer and suggested to Pope Francis that the worldwide Catholic Church should join together in a day of prayer. The Holy Father has welcomed this initiative. Therefore, on Friday 12th April the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales is encouraging the Catholic community to take part in a day of prayer for survivors of sexual abuse. In our parish the 9.15am Mass that day will include prayers and intercessions for all those who have been victims of sexual abuse. A Prayer God of Compassion, You are teaching us to face truths that we would rather not see. You are showing us that some of those entrusted with authority have not followed the model of your Son but have abused their power. You are showing us that the hurts of abuse go far deeper than we had known and have wrecked countless lives. You are refusing to let us pretend any longer: - that we do not know what some of us have done - that we do not see the brokenness of the Body of Christ - that we do not hear the demands for justice - that the sufferings of the victims and survivors and the sins of the perpetrators have nothing to do with us. But by taking away the shrouds of pretence and denial, you unveil the possibilities of reparation and reconciliation of deepened compassion and heartfelt empathy. In this work you lay before us, may Christ be our model and guide, and the Holy Spirit our inspiration and Giver of the gifts your Church will need to bring healing to herself and to all your Children. Amen. Dates for your Diary Wednesday Evening Masses Lent Wednesday 10th April SVP Lent is the perfect time for reflection on the Wednesday 17th April Chrism Mass places in our lives where we can live more (at the Cathedral) - simply, even if only for a short time. Wednesday 24th April Vocations It is always lovely to see that even those in our Wednesday 1st May Bereavement community who may not be mass attenders and may be uncertain of their faith, often retain Parish Choir practices for Easter Liturgies the spirit of Lent to give something up, such as Monday 8th April 7:00pm St Bede’s chocolate or cigarettes, in tradition and Monday 15th April 7:00pm St Michael’s respect for Jesus’ great sacrifice. UCM Easter Bingo These can be great opportunities for solidarity Monday 8th April 1:30pm St John Fisher Hall with those who are most in need. Keep in mind that as we join our spirit with Jesus in this Archdiocesan Children’s Mass & Fun Day way, we also join ourselves with those who Sunday 30th June have no choice in their depravation. Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes Lord, during this time of Lent, let us join 19th - 26th July our hearts with those who are suffering and those who regard simple food and Parish Pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi safety as luxuries that they long for. 16th – 22nd September Amen. Rome/Assisi Pilgrimage 16th – 22nd September 2019 Booking Forms are now available from the office for all who have signed up to the trip, or those still wanting to come along. (Any queries please contact Fr. Carl – [email protected]). A Poster at the back of Church gives more details. Places are still available! We are running a parish pilgrimage in September 2019, spending 4 days in Rome and a following two days in the beautiful town of Assisi. The trip will include: • A visit to St Peter’s Basilica with an opportunity for Mass. • A chance to see Pope Francis at the Papal audience. • The main attractions in Rome; the Castel Sant Angelo and the Coliseum. • With lots of time to savour the Italian cuisine and wines. • Our time in Assisi will include a visit to The Basilica Santa Maria Degli Angeli, which houses the Portiuncola, where St Francis lived. With visits to St Francis Basilica, St Clare Basilica San Damiano, built in the 12th century, the first monastery of the Order of Saint Clare. • Prices are based on 20 people travelling, prices will reduce the more people we take. Prices are from: £1038 (half board) which includes flights, transfers and guided tours around Assisi and Rome. Staying at the Hotel Emmaus (Rome- close to St Peter’s) single room supplement will be £137:00.