Stage 3 Celebration Booklet
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Diocese of Salford H O E P R E U I T N T H E F U FORMING MISSIONARY DISCIPLES BUILDING MISSIONARY PARISHES STAGE 3 LIVING THE SUNDAY EUCHARIST OCTOBER 2019 - 2020 Introduction When we gathered in the Cathedral we want to renew and rebuild our on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi last sense of Church, parish and Faith. October to launch Stage 3 of Hope the Future, which focussed on the In September we began a period of celebration of the Eucharist, we could discernment and reflection to assess not have imagined that only a few what we have learnt during these months later we would be without challenging times and, drawing on easy access to the Sacrament itself. that knowledge, how we can plan for a brighter “new normal”. The closure of churches and inability to physically participate at Mass this On 4th October, the day we have year, due to restrictions imposed usually chosen to launch the next during the pandemic, has been felt stage of our Diocesan journey, we deeply by many parishioners. We held a Holy Hour praying for all those have been invited to join in spiritual who have died, suffered and are communion, a long-standing grieving because of the pandemic. tradition in the Church, where we We gave thanks to God for all the place ourselves in the Mass that is good works during this time and being offered, either by watching prayed for guidance for Stage 4. a live stream or in our own prayer When the time is right, we will launch “During these challenging days, we have time. While there have been many Stage 4 of our Hope in the Future had to be a missionary Church in different initiatives to celebrate our parish journey as we focus on ‘Proclaiming communities, the restricted access the Good News’. This will provide us ways. It has been wonderful to see so many to the Sacraments, our churches and with the space to ask ourselves how parishes live streaming Masses, offering the parish community events was a we can continue to be ambassadors time of loss for us all. for Christ in a world which is online formation, and providing acts of Many have seen the opportunity to everchanging. service to their communities. As churches reflect on their own faith journey and reopen, we have a wonderful challenge of how they could incorporate Church I look forward to continuing this at Home and strengthen a personal journey with all of you. welcoming newcomers to our parishes.” spirituality. With some restrictions easing, we Stay with us, Lord, on Our Journey. Bishop John Arnold need to be bold in reflecting on how +John “We can think again and absorb the enormity of what we do every time we Journeying Forward celebrate the Eucharist. It is a chance for us to see the importance. I believe this is a very important year for all of us, whoever we are. I see it as crucial A Celebration of Mission in developing Hope in the Future in this diocese, with the Eucharist at the centre of what we do.” In October parish representatives from around our diocese gathered for a Mass of Celebration to launch the Third Stage of Hope in the Future. This was You can listen to Bishop John’s Homily here or read the homily here. the first time that the launch of one of the stages has been celebrated by a Those present were given a Mass booklet that they could take away as a Mass, this is because the Third Stage focuses on Living the Sunday Eucharist. resource (you can view this here). Extra notes were provided to help us all During the launch, and through this stage, we reflected on how the weekend understand the structure and richness of the Mass. Other resources for Stage liturgy is, in a real sense, the shop window for the parish. Speaking ahead Three include a Children’s Mass Sheet and training days. All the resources of the launch Bishop John said: “I am certainly convinced that carefully and training dates can be found here. prepared and prayerfully celebrated Masses are of great benefit to people’s spiritual development and we owe it to ourselves to regularly review how we celebrate Mass and involve people both in their ministries and their participation.” The congregation were joined by a choir made up from members of the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage, English Martyrs Church in Urmston and pupils from Sacred Heart Primary, Westhoughton. The choir helped bring the cathedral to life with hymns. In his homily Bishop John reminded us that when we come together for Mass we are the Body of Christ come together. Bishop John went on to ask how we prepare for Mass: “If someone were to say ‘Would you like to meet Pope Francis?’ ‘Would you like to meet Queen Elizabeth?’, we would smarten up; we would be quite tense and ready for that. What an exciting occasion, something we prepare for. But we are not just meeting Pope Francis or the Queen. We are receiving the Lord himself. I know it, I say it, but does it make an impact in my life? Does it mean I am preparing as best I can to receive the Lord?” He then reminded us why Stage Three is so important to us all: Around the Parishes in Stage 3 Our Lady & St. Patrick’s, Oldham Across the Diocese of Salford, parishes have been embracing Stage 3 of - FAITH OF OUR FATHERS II Hope in the Future. Here are just a few examples of good practice from The parish of Our Lady & St. Patrick’s, parishes and deaneries in our diocese. Oldham produced a 150 year anniversary booklet celebrating all that they have achieved over that time which you can St Mary & St Philip Neri, Radcliffe view here. - MEETING JESUS IN OUR WELCOME The parish of St Mary and St Philip Neri made a display exploring the reflection St Cuthbert, Bolton questions on the first Pastoral Message & Worksheet on Meeting Jesus in our - ONLINE PRAYER & FORMATION Welcome, encouraging the assembly to During the lockdown, the parish continued think about the Introductory Rites of Mass. to reach out with daily live streaming of Mass and Exposition; with an online presence offering An Ignatian Parish St Michael and St Bernadette, Whitefield Retreat; three virtual Pilgrimages (Lourdes, - ONLINE & COMMUNITY PRESENCE Rome, The Holy Land) and daily prayers. Through video they shone a Light of The parish have strengthened their Hope by passing on a lighted candle online presence by developing a new from person to person. For the children parish website & Facebook page, both they produced online readings, messages incorporating the Hope In The Future and building a home prayer corner. Fr Initiative. Their Parish Pastoral Team has Chris with Joshua and Woolly engaged been a beacon of hope through these with the younger ones. For the Youth troubled times by delivering newsletters there were online special messages and to those who were shielding, organising guided meditation. Through Zoom there virtual coffee mornings and stewarding for were coffee mornings, a Quiz Night and a This rich resource will be the reopening of church which has given Talent Show. Funds were raised for Bolton available to help people pray parishioners the confidence in returning to Hospice from a home sale of hanging long after the lockdown. Mass. They also arranged for the children Hope in the future display to baskets and food donations continued to of the parish to read the Sunday Gospel keep parishioners up to date be collected to support Urban Outreach. You can view it here. and to decorate the church doors for with the programme. All this gave a strong link and a bond both the Month of Mary and the Month of the within the parish and beyond. Sacred Heart. Both churches also have a St John Vianney Deanery, Christ the Redeemer, Bolton - STRUNG SUNG SUPPER - ONLINE FORMATION, PRAYER & FELLOWSHIP A number of people from parishes in During lockdown, the parish moved their the Deanery of St John Vianney (Burnley weekly online prayer group virtually with Deanery) took part in the Strung Sung praise and worship, scripture study and Supper at St Joseph’s Hall Accrington discussion. They also arranged an online on 17th January 2020. Over 150 people Alpha course watching the weekly video from parishes in the Deanery attended together and going into breakout rooms to and thoroughly enjoyed singing an discuss. Each Saturday there was a virtual eclectic range of popular and folk songs coffee morning followed by the rosary on professionally accompanied by seminarian, Zoom. Luke Bradbury, Fr David Featherstone and a number of other musicians. The stars of the evening were the audience St Mary, Bamber Bridge as they all had been given song sheets to sustain the singing. Among the highlights - MEETING JESUS IN OUR WELCOME were two traditional Lancashire folk songs The mission team at St Mary’s in Bamber from the Burnley Cloggers as well as an Bridge asked parishioners to complete unforgettable rendition of “Bring me a questionnaire in response to the first sunshine” led on guitar by Fr Pat Tansey. pastoral message and worksheet on They also welcomed a group of adults with how we Meet Jesus in our Welcome. The additional needs from a local care home responses were compiled and shared with who were delighted to share in the evening. the rest of the parish to help with planning A wonderful hot supper was provided and to improve the parish’s welcome.