SAINT PATRICK’S CHURCH 30 Park Lane, Corsham, SN13 9LG Parish Priest: Fr Fountaine Tel 01249 712136 [email protected] www.stpatricks-corsham.org.uk

St Patrick’s School Lacock Road, Corsham, SN13 9HS Tel 01249 713125 www.stpatricks-wilts.co.uk

LATEST NEWS th 17 MAY - SIXTH SUNDAY OF (YEAR A) YEAR OF COMMUNION ‘I will not leave you orphaned.’ At some 5.30pm (Sat) VIGIL MASS point we all want or even need to hear these words. They speak directly with Children’s Liturgy - Cancelled to some of our greatest fears and challenges, abandonment and 9.30am SOLEMN MASS isolation, loneliness, vulnerability. These words of Jesus remind us that Cancelled we do not stand alone, whatever our circumstances. We are living in a time of great uncertainty. We do not have all the answers and many of All Liturgies are cancelled until us are fearful. Our fear points to the deeper reality that by ourselves we further notice due to the Coronavirus are not enough that we were never created to be self-sufficient. We were created to love and be loved, to live in relationship as people who give Mon 18th May - Weekday of Easter themselves to each other, to dwell, abide, and remain within each other. Tue 19th May - Dunstan, Bp “I will not leave you orphaned.” That is the promise. Regardless of the circumstances of our lives, storms, death, separation, we have never Wed 20th May - Weekday of Easter been and will never be abandoned by God. Let us renew our faith again Thur 21st May - SOLEMNITY OF this week and hold fast to the promise that we are not alone, and we THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD never will be

Fri 22nd May - Saint Rita of Cascia INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR EASTERN Sat 23rd May - Weekday of Easter CHRISTIANS This Sunday we are asked to pray for the Churches in the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa and India. Sun 24th May - SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (A) Declan asks us to pray the following prayer today. “Heavenly Father, we pray today for peace in the world, especially in the Middle East. By your heavenly grace, strengthen the faith and hope of Eastern Christians. May they be blessed with

peace and prosperity in their lands. And may we be inspired by their devotion and witness to the Gospel, by their love and compassion for all in their communities, and by their courage, their endurance and self- sacrifice against oppression. Through their charity, tolerance and friendship, bring peace and reconciliation to those troubled lands, where Christianity was born and first spread. Through Christ our Lord.

Tap here to add a caption ”THE NOVENA STARTS THIS WEEK At the end of the 19th Century, Blessed Elena Guerra, the founder of the Sisters of the , wrote many times to Leo XXIII on the importance of the power of the Pentecost: ‘Pentecost is not over. In fact, it is continuously going on in every time and in every place, because the Holy Spirit desired to give himself to all, and all who want him can always receive Him. So we do not envy the apostles and the first believers; we only have to dispose ourselves like them to receive him well, and he will come to us as he did to them’ The Pope then asked the Church to celebrate a novena (nine days of prayer) every year between Ascension and Pentecost, for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who brings us a new encounter with the Risen Christ. This year, the Pentecost Novena begins on Friday, 22nd May. The Pentecost Novena can be downloaded from the Bishop’s Conference website: www.catholic- ew.org.uk/Home/Featured/Features-2018/Home-Mission-Sunday-2018/Prayer/Pentecost-Novena

WHEN WILL OUR CHURCHES OPEN? Our are working hard with the government to agree a reopening of our churches for private prayer. Do keep them in your prayers for this.

CORSHAM FOOD BANK COLLECTION Thank you to Ann-Marie and to everyone for their generosity last week. Ann-Marie took a boot load of groceries to the food bank! This week, Mark will help with the car park collection from St Patrick’s on Friday 22nd May 11am-12noon.

EXCERPTS FROM A RECENT LETTER FROM CAFOD Coronavirus is affecting every country we work in. The poorest and excluded are most vulnerable and the outlook is very serious in places where healthcare is inadequate, washing regularly and social distancing are luxuries, and markets and jobs are being shut down. The future is bleak should there be an economic slump. We as a global family have never faced a crisis of this magnitude, in our own communities and those communities CAFOD works with. Please remember CAFOD in your prayers and donations would be most welcome.

THANK A TEACHER DAY This Wednesday 20th is Thank a Teacher Day. Do you have a member of staff at school (or one from your past) that you could thank on this day? Staff in our schools are doing an amazing keeping our schools open for the pupils who need it and trying to apply guidance about when and how they can open for more pupils. Take a moment this day to pray for them. Please remember in your prayers all the staff at St Patrick’s School this week as we thank them for al the wonderful work they do in our community. Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author and former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: “So often and for so many of us, it is a teacher who changed our lives, was at our side through hard and difficult times, who lifted us up when we were down, helped us find our voice, gave us confidence when we needed it most, set us on a path that we have followed ever since. At my school I had a French teacher, who might not have made a linguist of me, but was always kind to me. He loved his subject and passed that on. I still love French, the language, the people, the literature, but even he could not persuade me to learn my French grammar.” See the following link for further details www.thankateacher.co.uk/thank-a-teacher-day/

SUPPORT FOR THE ELDERLY & THOSE IN ISOLATION If you are a Parishioner and are elderly, alone or vulnerable or know any Parishioners of St Patrick’s who are in this situation, please be aware that we have volunteers who are willing and able to support by ensuring people have food and medication delivered and contact with the Parish or simply just a chat. For assistance, please call Mark on 07513967191, Frank on 07751484148 or Lorraine on 07767395909 and we will endeavour to provide the help or assistance that is needed. It’s also important that we keep in touch with people and the telephone may well be a real lifeline for many.

MAGNIFICAT The ‘Magnificat’ booklet is an excellent resource which is used by some people in the parish. It is now available online and free of charge. This provides Morning, Evening and Night Prayer, the daily Mass Readings, a daily mediation and Saint of the Day at: https://us.magnificat.net/free.

PARISH NEWSLETTER Do you know of anyone who is alone and without access to the internet? Just ring Mark on 07513967191 to post/deliver them the bulletin.

MASS FOR THE SICK, THEIR FAMILIES, NHS FRONT-LINE & SOCIAL CARE WORKERS In order to show spiritual solidarity with the sick and their families and NHS and social care workers, a Bishop will celebrate a live-streamed Mass in his for people to join. This will take place every Thursday at 7.00pm, as follows: 21st May – Bishop Mark Davies – , 28th May – Bishop Terence Drainey – Cathedral. You can join the Mass by visiting the Cathedral webpage, or the Bishops’ Conference Webpage at www.cbcew.org.uk.

ST PATRICK’S PARISH GIVING For those of you who have the means to continue to support ’s Parish financially, we cannot thank you enough. Your generosity and continued stewardship of our Parish in these frightening and uncertain months will play a tremendous part in ensuring that we will be able to maintain the mission and ministries of St Patrick’s throughout this crisis and on into our shared future. Standing Order forms are still available and donations can also be made via the website through PayPal. Thank you also to those who are saving their planned giving envelopes or posting them through the office door. These continued contributions will play an important part in stabilising the financial security of our Parish and will serve as a bridge that will allow us to move forward together through this crisis and into a brighter future.

RUH If you or a loved one is going into the Royal United Hospital please let the RUH Chaplaincy know on 01225 428331 or email [email protected]

PRAY AS YOU STAY Need some prayer inspiration in lockdown? This guide produced by the Jesuits is aimed to support you during this time of self-isolation, uncertainty and fear, which we are all going through. We find ourselves in new and unknown territory as a global family, bringing confusion and chaos. This prayer guide will help you stay close to God as you stay where you are. https://pray-as-you-go.org/article/pray-as-you- stay-week-1 Why not try it?

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION Sadly, the celebration of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion scheduled for next month are postponed. We will resume preparation after the lockdown and celebrate them together as soon as it is safe to do so. We are looking forward to gathering together for those very happy occasions.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION As the weeks go on and we cannot celebrate Mass together it is good to know that Mass is still celebrated. Even though we are not together yet it is good to remember that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ and if we desire to receive the Lord in Holy Communion, but are prevented from doing so, we can MAKE what is known as a spiritual communion. To make a spiritual communion we open ourselves to Lord and he will give us the grace of his presence. Pope Francis has suggested we say this prayer - “My Jesus, I believe that You are really present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love You above all things and I desire You in my soul. As I cannot receive you sacramentally now, come at least spiritually into my heart. And, as You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself wholly to You. Let me never be separated from You.”

WATCH MASS AT HOME Our Cathedral at Clifton is streaming Mass live each day at 9.30am. Simply go to www.cliftoncathedral.org and press ‘Live Stream.’ Alternatively, you may go to www.churchservices.tv/whats- on-now/ This will give you a menu of all live services within the next two hours. Fr Michael continues to offer Mass privately each day and you are all remembered at the altar at this time. If you wish Mass to be offered for a particular intention, please call or email Fr Michael and that will be arranged for you.

THE REGINA CAELI Traditionally the Regina Caeli Replaces the Angelus Prayer from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

For He whom thou didst merit to bear, alleluia.

He has risen, as He said, alleluia.

Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Mary, alleluia.

R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, didst vouchsafe to give joy to the world; grant, we beseech Thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

According to an account in The Golden Legend, composed between 1255 and 1266. Pope Gregory the Great is supposed to have heard angels singing the verses as the picture of the Virgin which was being carried in procession crossed the river Tiber.

"And because the mortality ceased not, he ordained a procession, in the which he did do bear an image of our Lady, which, as is said, Saint made, which was a good painter, he had carved it and painted after the likeness of the glorious Virgin Mary. And anon the mortality ceased, and the air became pure and clear, and about the image was heard a voice of angels that sung this anthem: Regina cæli lætare, etc., and Saint Gregory put thereto: Ora pro nobis, deum rogamus, alleluia."

This story gained in popularity and it became customary to sing the Regina Caeli at this point during processions. However, the hymn itself does not date to much before 1200 and may be possibly slightly later. Pope Clement VI, then resident at Avignon, dictated that it should be sung in his household. Following an instruction by Pope Benedict XIV in 1743 this prayer has replaced the angelus during the season of Easter.

This prayer reminds us at Easter, and throughout the year for that matter, of how much we have to be thankful for, even in the midst of our daily trials. When our Lord conquered death in His resurrection he opened the gates of Heaven for us to be able to share Eternal Life with Him there, along with his Mother, the , and our loved ones! Christ had prophesied of His rising from the dead during his Earthly ministry, yet His disciples couldn’t fully grasp what He meant until after His Resurrection. Imagine the joy they must have felt when He appeared to them then. They saw for themselves that “He has risen, as he said,” as we read in Matthew’s Gospel (28:6) and in the Regina Caeli above!

Although she is Queen of Heaven, the Blessed Virgin Mary is by no means aloof! St. , in his famous work The Glories of Mary, quotes Blessed Amadeus as saying, “our Queen is constantly before the Divine Majesty, interceding for us with her most powerful prayers.”

We can always count on her assistance with the graces we need for our journey towards heaven if we approach her in prayers such as the Hail Mary, the Memorare, Hail Holy Queen, and the Regina Coeli with love and contrition for our sins. Keep in mind that in our prayers to Mary, we are not worshipping her instead of our Lord but rather worshipping Him through her, as many theologians, such as St. Alphonus and St. Louis de Montfort have stressed in their writings. Along these lines, speaking of rejoicing, as we do in this prayer, as St. once said, “let the soul of Mary be in each of us to magnify the Lord, and the spirit of Mary be in each of us to rejoice in God!”

AND FINALLY TO MAKE YOU SMILE – SOME REAL BULLETIN BLOOPERS

“The choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.

“Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.”

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

The Sick: Christopher Browl, Julia Wright, Pauline Feeney, John Hunt, Margaret Brown, Lindsay Price and Christopher, all suffering with Coronavirus and all in our hospitals, nursing homes and those who care for them.

Recently Departed: Fr Hill OSB (Worth Abbey)

For the Churches in the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa and India.

Pope Francis May Prayer Intention: that deacons, faithful in their service to the Word and the poor, may be an invigorating symbol for the entire Church.

Diocesan Prayer Link: St Stanislaus, Dulverton, Sacred Heart, Minehead with Watchet

Christians in Corsham Prayer Link: St Aldhelm’s United Reformed & Methodist

Prayers in a time of coronavirus

A Prayer for Our Uncertain Times

Most Merciful and Triune God, We come to You in our weakness. We come to You in our fear. We come to You with trust. For You alone are our hope.

We place before You the disease present in our world. We turn to You in our time of need.

Bring wisdom to doctors. Give understanding to scientists. Endow carers with compassion and generosity. Bring healing to those who are ill. Protect those who are most at risk. Give comfort to those who have lost a loved one. Welcome those who have died into Your Eternal Home.

Stabilise our communities. Unite us in our compassion. Remove all fear from our hearts. Fill us with confidence in Your care.

We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Month of May - Mary Mother of God –

Prayer to Our Lady of Walsingham

Prayer to Our Lady of Walsingham

O Mary, recall the solemn moment when Jesus, your divine Son, dying on the cross confided us to your maternal care.

You are our Mother; we desire ever to remain your devout children.

Let us therefore feel the effects of your powerful intercession with Jesus Christ.

Make your name again glorious in this place, once renowned throughout our land by your visits, favours and many miracles.

Pray, O Holy Mother of God, for the conversion of England, restoration of the sick, consolation for the afflicted, repentance of sinners, peace to the departed.

O Blessed Mary, Mother of God, Our Lady of Walsingham, intercede for us. Amen

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