God, our loving Father, we thank you for blessing our parish WELCOME WITAMY KAABO BEMVINDO with all we need to respond to our vocation to be a missionary parish in our community. THE PARISH OF OUR LADY AND ST. , HEYWOOD, We thank you for all our parish members who, in response to your call, SUNDAY 23rd AUGUST 2020 , give of themselves so freely to enrich our parish life partner parish St. Martin’s, Ganye, Nigeria in ways of love and service.

Pour out afresh the gifts of your Spirit upon each of us that we may be inspired to serve you in new and creative ways as missionary disciples, St Joseph’s Presbytery, Mary St, OL10 1EG bringing your Light to the world. Tel: 01706 369777 We ask your blessing as we journey together in hope through Christ Our Lord. AMEN Fr Paul Daly This Week’s : Mon: St. Bartholomew, born at Cana in Galilee, known as Nathanael, [email protected] was led to Jesus by the apostle Philip, and preached the Gospel in India Fr. Bob Hayes where he was flayed alive. [email protected] Parish Office Mon—Fri 9am-1pm Tue: St. Louis, King Louis IX of France, famed for humility and love of the [email protected] Church, died in Carthage in 1270. St. Joseph Calasanz, born in Spain in 1557, worked as a priest in Rome educating poor children, founding a con- Livestreamed Masses on parish facebook gregation. He was tried by the Holy Office; the reinstated the con- page. You don’t have to be a FB member; gregation after his death. google Our Lady and St. Joseph’s Parish, Heywood, Facebook, and click on the link. Wed: Bl. Dominic of the Mother of God, born in Italy 1792, became www.catholicheywood.com a Passionist, travelled to England in Twitter @CatholicHeywood 1841 and brought many into the Instagram catholicheywood Church by his preaching; he re- (FB) Our Lady and St. Joseph’s Parish Heywood ceived St. John Henry Newman into www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk the Church and Ven. Elizabeth At all public Masses capacity is 80. Baptisms, Prout, foundress of the Sisters of weddings, funerals the capacity is 30. the Cross and Passion (Srs. Anne and Annette). He col- Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time lapsed on Reading Station and died in the Station Hotel in 1849. He, Elizabeth Prout and Fr. Ig- Church opens 8.30am, MASS 9am natius Spencer, CP, related to Winston Churchill and Princess Diana), are buried in St. Helens. MASS 11am with First Communion of Mitchel and Rukeme Church opens, 5.30pm, MASS 6pm Thu: St. Monica, born in North Africa in 333 , married a pagan and bore 3 children; one was Augustine. Thanks to MONDAY BARTHOLEMEW her patience and prayer, her husband was baptised. Church opens 6.15pm, MASS 6.30pm, church closes after Mass Monica prayed for Augustine, living a wild life; after his TUESDAY St. Louis, St. Joseph Calasanz baptism, as he returned with Monica to Ostia to sail to Af- Church opens 8.45am, MASS 9am, church closes after Mass rica she fell ill and died. Bl. Roger Cadwallador, born in , ordained priest in Spain, worked for 16 years WEDNESDAY Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God undercover until he was executed in in 1610. Church opens 8.45am, MASS 9am, church closes after Mass St. Lewis was born in Abergavenney in 1616.

Aged 16, visiting Paris, he became Catholic and went to THURSDAY St. Monica the English College in Rome where he was ordained. He Church opens 8.45am, MASS 9am, church closes after Mass worked secretly as a priest until martyred at Usk in 1679. Requiem Mass for Agnes Deboeck 12noon FRIDAY St. Augustine Abstinence from meat Fri: St. Augustine was born in 354; thanks to the pray- Church opens 8.45am, MASS 9am, church closes after Mass ers of his mother St Monica, he was baptised in 387 by St Livestreamed Mass (church closed) 6.30pm ; he was chosen as bishop of Hippo, in N. Africa. He died in 430, leaving many works; the most famous are his “confessions”. Bl. William Dean SATURDAY The Passion of St. and companions, a Yorkshireman and 7 others, executed in 1588 in London. 11am Confessions & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament till Benediction at 12noon Church opens at 5.30pm, First Mass of Sunday 6pm (livestreamed) Sat: The Beheading of St. John the Baptist, St. Sebb, King of East Saxons til 693, when TWENTY SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME he became a monk. He founded Westminster Abbey. Bl Richard Herst, farmer and dad, falsely Church opens 8.30am, MASS 9am accused of killing one of the men pursuing him; he was executed at Lancaster in 1618. Bl Ed- MASS 11am with First Communion of Mischa Parkinson mund Rice, born 1762 in Ireland, was a successful businessman. Following an accident which Baptism of Paisley Fox 1pm killed his wife and left his daughter disabled, he began to teach the poor. He died in Waterford Baptism of Thomas Jack Johnson and Paige Louise Pomfret 3pm in 1844. Church opens, 5.30pm, MASS 6pm

The God Who Speaks About Creation This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Karol Wojtyla, Pope St. John Paul II. We are reading his words during his Visit to Great Britain in 1982. This week we read his ad- Our Diocesan Department for Formation, of which Fr. Paul is dress to religious women and men (ie those in religious life, nuns, sisters, monks, friars etc) . Head, is delighted to welcome Sr. Margaret Atkins, CRSA, to present a Talk on The God who speaks through creation on On the eve of Pentecost you are her to renew your religious vows. With the th Wednesday 26 August at 7pm. This talk will be delivered via Pope, the Successor of Peter, you will proclaim before the whole Church that Zoom as part of the series The God who speaks which was to be you believe in your consecration; that it is your call to follow Christ which in- hosted at the Hidden Gem but postponed due to the pandemic. spires your joy and your peace. “Rejoice in the Lord always”. We hope this will lead to a resumption of some of the other planned evenings. You worthily continue a tradition that goes back to the dawn of English Chris- tian history. Augustine and his companions were Benedictine monks. The Sister Margaret Atkins is a Canoness of St Augustine in the com- great monasteries of Anglo-Saxon and mediaeval times were not just the munity at Boarbank Hall, Cumbria. She is a lecturer and author staging posts for evangelization; they were also centres of learning and seed- in Theology with special interest, amongst other things, in the beds of culture and civilization. Places such as Canterbury, Jarrow, Glaston- ethics of the environment. bury and St Albans are indicative of the role monasticism played in English history. Men like of Jarrow, Boniface of Devon who became Apostle of the Germans, and Dunstan of Glanstonbury If you wish to hear Sr. Margaret please email [email protected] and mark it who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 960; women such as Hilda of Whitby, Walburga and Li- ‘God who speaks’ in the subject line. You will receive a link for the zoom meeting on the morn- oba, and many others - these are famous names in English history. Nor can we forget Anselm, or th ing of 26 August. Please, for security reasons, do not pass this link on to anyone else but ask Nicholas Breakspear, born at Abbots Langley, who became Pope Adrian IV in 1154. them to contact us. In Norman times this army of Christ reached new splendour with the foundation of monaster- ies of Cistercians, Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites and Augustinians.

The Pope’s prayer intention for August 2020, for all those Later, religious life suffered greatly. English religious communities were scattered and destroyed, who live and work on the sea, among them sailors, fisher- or fled to foreign lands. It is impossible here to name all the men and women religious of this pe- men and families. riod who followed our Lord to the point of giving their lives in defence of their faith. To that un-

happy age belonged also an extraordinary Yorkshire woman, Mary Ward, who became a pioneer We pray for the people of the parish of St. Winifred, Heaton Mer- of the active unenclosed congregations for women. sey, Mgr Michael Quinlan their parish priest, their primary school The last century saw an amazing rebirth of religious life. Hundreds of religious houses, & Stella Maris school & the Sisters of Charity of St. Paul. schools, orphanages, hospitals and other social services

were established. Missionary congregations spread the For all who live on Huntley Way, Lanark Cl and Fr Ryan Drive. faith in distant lands.

In our own time the Second Vatican Council has ad- For all with Coronavirus, and all the sick dressed to you a call for appropriate renewal of religious

life through a return to the original charism of each insti- For Agnes Deboeck, Rita Heselwood and all who have died re- tute and through a healthy adaptation to meet the cently and Betty Redding, Joseph Kierans, Bob Howarth, Vera changed conditions of the times. Navesey, John Morrison and all remembered at this time. We see what the Church, and society, expects from you

today. The people of our time look to you and repeat what

the Greek-speaking visitors to Jerusalem said to Philip:

“We wish to see Jesus”. In you the world wishes to see Je- sus . Your public profession of the evangelical counsels is a Want to be a Catholic? These radical response to the Lord’s call to follow him. Your lives strange times made you think about life, its meaning, its offer clear witness to the reality of the Kingdom of God purpose? already present in the affairs of people and nations. Speak to Fr. Paul or Fr. Bob. We hope to get RCIA/ Journey on Faith started again, at least via Zoom, as soon To most people you are known for what you do . Visitors to your abbeys and religious houses see as possible. you celebrate the liturgy, or follow you in prayer and contemplation. People of all ages and condi- tions benefit directly from your many different services to ecclesial and civil society. You teach; If you would like to arrange a Baptism please you care for the sick; you look after the poor, the old, the handicapped; you bring the word of contact Fr. Paul or Fr. Bob. The next Baptism God to those near and far; you lead the young to human and Christian maturity. preparation meeting will be on Sunday 27th September at 4pm. The meeting will be held via Most people know what you do, and admire and appreciate you for it. Your true greatness, Zoom and parents will be emailed the zoom link though, comes from what you are . Perhaps what you are is less known and understood. In fact, beforehand. You do not need to have a zoom what you are can only be grasped in the light of the “newness of life” revealed by the Risen Lord. account to take part. In Christ you are a “new creation”.

From the Catechism of the (CCC2113-20) Face coverings are now LEGALLY REQUIRED in church, unless Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idola- • You are a child under 11. Children under 3 try consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honours and re- should NOT wear any face covering. veres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, satanism), pow- • You are unable to put on, wear or remove a er, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, "You cannot serve God and face covering. mammon." Many martyrs died for not adoring "the Beast" refusing even to simulate such wor- • You would be severely distressed wearing one. ship. Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is incompatible with communion with God. • You are with someone who relies on lip reading to communicate. Human life finds its unity in the adoration of the one God. The commandment to worship the Lord alone integrates man and saves him from an endless disintegration. Idolatry is a perversion Please remove your face covering (and gloves if of man's innate religious sense. An idolater is someone who "transfers his indestructible notion you are wearing them) before receiving the Sacred of God to anything other than God." Host into your hands. Please note that Holy Communion MUST be received God can reveal the future to his prophets or other saints. A sound Christian attitude consists in in the hands. putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it. Improvidence can constitute a lack of responsibility. It is not the role of stewards or parishioners or clergy to challenge anyone not wearing a mask. If someone is not All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to wearing one, we presume they have a valid reason for this. Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other prac- tices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future. Consulting The obligation on Catholics to attend Mass on Sundays is suspended. horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of Numbers are limited to c80 people for Sunday Mass. omens and lots, clairvoyance, recourse to mediums Government restrictions only allow 30 people at baptisms, weddings, conceal a desire for power over time, history, and other funerals. human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden If you display symptoms or are self-isolating, you should NOT attend. powers. They contradict the honour, respect, and loving If you are vulnerable, please make a careful decision as to whether to fear that we owe to God alone. attend or not.

All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts TRACK AND TRACE is optional to tame occult powers, to place them at one's service in church. However, it is in eve- and have a supernatural power over others, even if this ryone’s interest, if someone is were for the sake of restoring their health, are gravely tested positive, that those at contrary to religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the that particular Mass be contacted. Of course, given the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wear- two metre social distancing and the hygiene regime in ing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the force, it is unlikely that the virus will be passed on in Church warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either church. But it is better to be prudent. the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity. Therefore, if you use the offertory envelopes, please write on the envelope your phone number and the Mass time God's first commandment condemns the main sins of irreligion: tempting God, in words or you attend. If you don’t use the envelopes, or at weekday Mass, write your name and phone deeds, sacrilege, and simony. number on a piece of paper together with the date and Mass you attend. In both cases, please place the piece of paper in one of the collection baskets at the church Tempting God consists in putting his goodness and almighty power to the test by word or deed. doors or on the altar rails. Satan tried to induce Jesus to throw himself down from the Temple and, by this gesture, force God to act. Jesus opposed Satan with the word of God: "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test." The challenge contained in such tempting Together with time, talent, treasure Many thanks for your generosity of God wounds the respect and trust we owe our last Sunday and throughout this time. Last weekend you gave £471 (giftaided), Creator and Lord. It always harbours doubt about £539 (loose) and £112.75 (Developing World Fund). his love, his providence, and power. Please post your offerings through the Presbytery Door or in the baskets at Sacrilege consists in profaning or treating un- Mass in church. Please take out a Standing Order or ask how to do it; email worthily the sacraments and other liturgical ac- the parish office. Given the Fire Detection system work and the drop in income tions, as well as persons, things, or places conse- our parish is now in debt of £52 000. crated to God. Sacrilege is a grave sin especially when committed against the Eucharist, for in this Alternatively you can donate via the Diocese of Salford website. Click on the sacrament the true Body of Christ is made sub- site www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk and in the top right corner you will see a stantially present for us. button marked DONATE. Click on that, scroll down to the parish name and go from there.

Pope Francis to young people (Christus Vivit 233-45) A Sonnet for today’s Gospel by Malcolm Guite Pope Francis’ words on our re- sponse to the pandemic, continued

Instead of overwhelming young people with rules that make from the previous page: Christianity seem reductive and moralistic, we are to invest Impulsive master of misunderstanding in their fearlessness and train them to take up responsibili- You comfort me with all your big mistakes; Human dignity is inalienable, because ties, in sure knowledge that error, failure and crisis are ex- Jumping the ship before you make the landing, it was created to the image of God. It periences that strengthen their humanity. Placing the bet before you know the stakes. is foundation of all social life and de- termines its principles. In modern cul- We need a youth ministry capable of being inclusive, with I love the way you step out without knowing, ture, the closest reference to the prin- room for all kinds of young people, to show that we are a The way you sometimes speak before you think, ciple of the inalienable dignity of the Church with open doors. Nor does one have to accept fully The way your broken faith is always growing, person is the Universal Declaration of all the teachings of the Church to take part in certain of our The way he holds you even when you sink. Human Rights, which St John Paul II activities for young people. It is enough to have an open defined as milestone on the long and mind towards all those who have the desire and willingness to be encountered by God’s revealed Born to a world that always tried to shame you, difficult path of the human race, and truth. Some of our pastoral activities can assume that a journey of faith has already begun, but Your shaky ego vulnerable to shame, one of the highest expressions of the we need a “popular” youth ministry that can open doors and make room for everyone, with their I love the way that Jesus chose to name you, human conscience. Rights are not only doubts and frustrations, problems and efforts to find themselves, their past errors, their experi- Before you knew how to deserve that name. individual, but social; they are of peo- ences of sin and all their difficulties. ples, nations. The human being, in And in the end your Saviour let you prove their personal dignity, is a social be- Room should also be made for “all those who have other visions of life, who belong to other reli- That each denial is undone by love. ing, created in the image of God, One gions or who distance themselves from religion altogether. All the young, without exception, are and Triune. We are social beings; we in God’s heart and thus in the Church’s heart. We recognize frankly that this statement on our live in this social harmony, but when lips does not always find real expression in our pastoral actions: often we remain closed in our there is selfishness, our outlook does not reach others, the community, but focuses on our- environments, where their voice does not penetrate, or else we dedicate ourselves to less de- selves, and makes us ugly, nasty, selfish, destroying harmony. manding and more enjoyable activities, suppressing that healthy pastoral restlessness that would urge us to move out from our supposed security. The Gospel also asks us to be daring, This renewed awareness of the dignity of every human being and we want to be so, without presumption and without proselytizing, testifying to the love of has serious social, economic and political implications. Looking the Lord and stretching out our hands to all the young people in the world”. at our brother and sister and the whole of creation as a gift re- ceived from the love of the Father inspires attentive behaviour, Youth ministry, when it ceases to be elitist and is willing to be “popular”, is a process that is care and wonder. In this way the believer, contemplating his or gradual, respectful, patient, hopeful, tireless and compassionate. The Synod proposed the exam- her neighbour as a brother or sister, and not as a stranger, ple of the disciples of Emmaus as a model of what happens in youth ministry. looks at him or her compassionately and empathetically, not contemptuously or with hostility. Contemplating the world in “Jesus walks with two disciples who did not grasp the meaning of all that happened to him, and the light of faith, with the help of grace, we strive to develop are leaving Jerusalem and the community behind. Wanting to accompany them, he joins them our creativity and enthusiasm in order to resolve the ordeals of on the way. He asks them questions and listens patiently to their version of events, and in this the past. We understand and develop our abilities as responsi- way he helps them recognize what they were experiencing. Then, with affection and power, he bilities that arise from this faith, as gifts from God to be placed proclaims the word to them, leading them to interpret the events they had experienced in the at the service of humanity and of creation. light of the Scriptures. He accepts their invitation to stay with them as evening falls; he enters into their night. As they listen to him speak, their hearts burn within them and their minds are While we all work for a cure for a virus that strikes everyone without distinction, faith exhorts opened; they then recognize him in the breaking of the bread. They themselves choose to re- us to commit ourselves seriously and actively to combat indifference in the face of violations sume their journey at once in the opposite direction, to return to the community and to share of human dignity. This culture of indifference that accompanies the throwaway culture: things the experience of their encounter with the risen Lord”. that do not affect me, do not interest me. Faith always requires that we let ourselves be healed and converted from our individualism, whether personal or collective; party individual- Events such as pilgrimages, attract young people who do not readily feel at home in church ism, for example. structures, and represent a concrete sign of their trust in God. These ways of seeking God are seen particularly in young people who are poor, but also those in other sectors of society. They May the Lord “restore our sight” so as to rediscover what it means to be members of the hu- should not be looked down on but encouraged and promoted. Popular piety is a legitimate way man family. And may this sight be translated into concrete actions of compassion and respect of living the faith and an expression of the spontaneous missionary activity of the People of God. for every person and of care and safeguarding of our common home.

TO HEAL THE WORLD: The second Pope Francis to young people, continued from the previous page.

of Pope Francis’ addresses on our response to Coronavirus in the light It doesn’t take much to make young people missionaries. Even those who are frail, limited, trou- of the Church’s Social Teaching bled can be missionaries, for goodness can always be shared, even alongside many limitations. (General Audience 12th August) A young person who makes a pilgrimage to ask Our Lady for help, and invites a friend or com- panion along, by that gesture is being missionary. Inseparable from a “popular” youth ministry Dear brothers and sisters, good morn- is an irrepressible “popular” missionary activity that breaks through our customary models and ing! The pandemic has highlighted how ways of thinking. Let us accompany and encourage it, but not presume to overly regulate it. vulnerable and interconnected every- one is. If we do not take care of one If we hear what the Spirit is saying, we realize that youth ministry is always missionary. Young another, starting with the least, with people are enriched when they overcome their reticence and dare to make contact with people’s those who are most impacted, including lives. They learn how to look beyond their family and friends, and gain a broader vision of life. At creation, we cannot heal the world. the same time, their faith and their sense of being part of the Church grow stronger. Youth mis- sions, which usually take place during school holidays after a period of preparation, can lead to a Commendable is the effort of so many renewed experience of faith and even serious thoughts about a vocation. people who have been offering evi- dence of human and Christian love for Young people can find new fields for mission in the most varied settings. For example, since they neighbour, dedicating themselves to are already so familiar with social networks, they should be encouraged to fill them with God, the sick even at the risk of their own fraternity and commitment. health. They are heroes! However, the coronavirus is not the only disease to Young people need to have their freedom respected, yet they also need to be accompanied. The be fought, but rather, the pandemic family should be the first place of accompaniment. Youth ministry can present the ideal of life in has shed light on broader social ills, Christ as the process of building a house on rock. For most young people, that house, their life, such as a distorted view of the person will be built on marriage and married love. That is why youth ministry and the pastoral care of that ignores the dignity and relational nature of the person. At times we look at others as ob- families should be coordinated and integrated, with the aim of ensuring a continuous and suita- jects, to be used and discarded. This type of perspective blinds and fosters an individualistic and ble accompaniment of the vocational process. aggressive throw-away culture, which transforms the human being into a consumer good. The community has an important role in the accompaniment of young people; it should feel col- In the light of faith we know God looks at a man and a woman in another manner. He created lectively responsible for accepting, motivating, encouraging and challenging them. All should re- us not as objects but as people loved and capable of loving; He created us in His image and like- gard young people with understanding, appreciation and affection, and avoid constantly judging ness. He has given us a unique dignity, calling us to live in communion with Him, in communion them or demanding of them a perfection beyond their years. with our sisters and our brothers, with respect for all creation. In communion, in harmony, we might say. Creation is the harmony in which we are called to live. In this communion, this har- At the Synod, “many pointed to the shortage of qualified people devoted to accompaniment. Be- mony that is communion, God gives us the ability to procreate and safeguard life, to till and lief in the theological and pastoral value of listening entails rethinking and renewing the ways keep the land. One cannot procreate and safeguard life without harmony; it will be destroyed. that priestly ministry is ordinarily exercised, and reviewing its priorities. The Synod also recog- nized the need to train consecrated persons and laypeople, male and female, to accompany We have an example of that individualistic perspective, not harmony, in the Gospels, in the re- young people. The charism of listening that the Holy Spirit calls forth within the communities quest made to Jesus by the mother of James and John. She wanted her sons to sit at the right might also receive institutional recognition as a form of ecclesial service”. and the left of the new king. But Jesus proposes another type of vision: that of service and of giving one’s life for others, and He confirms it by immediately restoring sight to two blind men There is a need to accompany young men and women showing leadership potential, so that they and making them His disciples. Seeking to climb in life, to be superior to others, destroys har- can receive training and the necessary qualifications. The young people who met before the Syn- mony. It is the logic of dominion, of dominating others. Harmony is something else: it is service. od called for “programmes for the formation and continued development of young leaders. Some young women feel that there is a lack of leading female role models within the Church and they Let us ask the Lord to give us eyes attentive to our brothers and sisters, especially those who too wish to give their intellectual and professional gifts to the Church. We also believe that semi- are suffering. As Jesus’s disciples we do not want to be indifferent or individualistic. These are narians and religious should have an even greater ability to accompany young leaders”. the two unpleasant attitudes that run counter to harmony. Indifferent: I look the other way. In- dividualist: looking out only for one’s own interest. The harmony created by God asks that we look at others, their needs, problems, in communion. We want to recognise the human dignity in every person, whatever his or her race, language or condition might be. Harmony leads you to recognise human dignity, that harmony created by God, with humanity at the centre.