Welcome to the Catholic Parish of Stamford Saint Mary and Saint Augustine The Presbytery, 13 Broad Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1PG Telephone: (01780) 762010 Parish Website: www.catholicstamford.com Parish Priest: Father Simon Gillespie Mobile: 07760 372105 Email: [email protected] Deacon: Reverend Charles West-Sadler (retired) Parish Secretary: Lauren Senior Telephone: (01780) 762010 Email: [email protected] Parish Safeguarding Representative: Tony Williams Telephone: 01780 756456 Email: [email protected] Parish Director of Music: Ruth Proctor Mobile: 07826 017487 Email: [email protected] Parish Hall Manager: Anna Barwell Mobile: 07789 283140 Email: [email protected] Parish Primary School: Saint Augustine’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Stamford (01780) 762094 Part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham Diocesan Website: www.dioceseofnottingham.uk Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Company Number: 7151646 Charity Number: 1134449 Fourth 7th and 8th September 2019 : Twenty-Third Sunday of the Year Were today not Sunday we’d celebrate the Birthday of Our Blessed Lady. If you look closely in Saint Joseph’s chapel you’ll see Mary as a child, with her parents, Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, pictured in the stained glass there. In her honour is a short extract from one of the sermons of Blessed Abbot Guerric, entitled ‘Mary, Mother of Christ and Mother of Christians’. Mary bore only one Son. In heaven, he is the only- begotten of the Father; on earth, likewise, he is the only- begotten of his Mother. She who is the only Virgin-Mother, she who glories in having borne the only-begotten of the Father, embraces that same only-begotten of hers in all his members so she can truly be called mother of all in whom she sees that Christ her Son has been formed or is being formed. The first Eve is not so much a mother as a stepmother since she handed on to her children an inheritance of certain death rather than the beginning of light. She is indeed called the mother of all the living, but she turned out to be more precisely the murderer of the living, or mother of the dead, since the only fruit of her child-bearing was death. And as Eve was incapable of fulfilling the vocation of her title, Mary consummated the mystery. She herself, like the Church of which she is the type, is a mother of all who are reborn to life. She is in fact the mother of the Life by which everyone lives, and when she brought it forth from herself she in some way brought to rebirth all those who were to live by that Life. Thus the blessed Mother of Christ, knowing that she is the mother of all Christians by reason of this mystery, shows herself a mother by her care and loving attention. For her heart is not hardened against these children as if they were not her own; her womb carried a child once only, yet it remains ever fruitful, never ceasing to bring forth the fruits of her motherly compassion. In short, if the Servant of Christ by his care and heartfelt tenderness bears his little children again and again until Christ be formed in them, how much more is this true of the very Mother of Christ? Paul begot his children by preaching the word of truth through which they were born again; but Mary in a manner far more holy and like to God, by giving birth to the Word himself. I do indeed praise the ministry of preaching in Paul, but far more do I admire and venerate that mystery of generation in Mary. Then again, is it not true that her children seem to recognise her as their Mother by a kind of instinctive devotion which faith gives them as second nature, so that first and foremost in all their needs and dangers they run to call upon her name Just as children run to their mother’s breast? So I think it is quite reasonable to understand of these children that promise of the Prophet to her: ‘Your children shall live in you’; provided that the prophecy is always understood to refer principally to the Church. Already we really dwell in the help of the Mother of the Most High; we do live in her protection, as if under the shadow of her wing. And afterwards in participating in her glory we shall be cherished as if in her bosom. Then a single cry of reJoicing and thanksgiving will be heard addressed to this Mother: ‘The dwelling place of all of us who reJoice and are glad is in you, holy Mother of God.’ Father Simon leaving : Father Peter arriving Father Simon leaves on Sunday 22nd September. He’ll celebrate the three regular Sunday Masses that weekend, and there’ll be opportunity after each for parishioners to say goodbye. On Sunday afternoon Vespers will be celebrated as usual at 5.00pm, to which members of Churches Together in Stamford will be invited and parishioners are very much invited too of course. After Vespers there will be a glass of fizz in the parish hall to celebrate Father Simon’s four years’ ministry in Stamford. Father Peter Vellacott will arrive during the following week and will celebrate Mass on Friday 27th September at 10.00am, and then the usual Sunday Masses. There will be opportunity after each for parishioners to introduce themselves and make Father Peter very welcome in his new parish. A collection has been taken to make a presentation to Father Simon; if anyone missed it, envelopes are available at the back of church, and can be put into the main collection at any time. We pray for both Father Simon and Father Peter in these days of transition. Presbytery Safety Work is in progress in the presbytery so take care by the building site when going into the parish hall. Please note that a temporary footpath has been laid over the lawn to enable safer access into the parish hall. The compound by the front wall has now been removed, making access to the church door a little easier. Remember to put any post into the post-box in the church porch, or pop into the parish office in the front half of the parish hall. Thank you for your continuing patience whilst this building and refurbishment work is ongoing. Refurbishment Update The final structural elements of the Annex are now complete, with the external areas to the front and side of the annex being relaid and re-concreted. Parishioners might notice the removal of the plants to the left of the presbytery front door, which reveal the lovely stonework much more clearly, as well as giving better access to the annex and hall. Internal decorative work is on-going, mainly downstairs in the sitting room and the front office. Unfortunately there’s suspected asbestos located in one of the walls of the sacristy, meaning this room is presently unable to be worked in until tests have been undertaken and then the area of wall removed. Because of the work in the sacristy daily Mass will be celebrated in Saint Joseph’s chapel each day, and confessions heard in church, since the confessionals are being used for storage. It’s still hoped that the majority of the refurbishment of the existing presbytery will be completed by 13th September, and the Annex by 20th September. After this it will be necessary to move everything back into the presbytery in time for Father Peter’s arrival, and to allow parishioners to visit the presbytery and annex, and see the completed work, over the weekend of Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September. Thanks to everyone for their patience during this work, and active support of the fundraising and donations! The Pope’s Prayer Intentions for September The Protection of the Oceans That politicians, scientists and economists work together to protect the world's seas and oceans. Changes to Mass times this week Please note that Mass on Monday will be celebrated at 11.00am in our parish primary school, to bless the forthcoming year. All are very welcome. Mass on Thursday will be celebrated at 7.30am, with a consequential cancelling of Adoration and Benediction that evening. There is an additional Mass next Saturday, the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. This Sunday’s newsletter This Sunday’s newsletter is a little longer than usual, including some articles which have been sent to Father Simon over the summer and which haven’t previously found an airing. Don’t feel you have to read everything if it’s too long! Forthcoming Events in our parish, community and diocese New items are listed with a grey background The Parish Film Night will be showing Eddie the Eagle, on Saturday 7th September in the parish hall at 7.15pm (after Mass). All are welcome – Popcorn available! Songs of Praise will be recorded on Wednesday 11th September at De Montford Hall, Leicester, from 6.30pm. Further information, including how to apply for tickets, from 0116 233 3311 or see the poster in the church porch. God in my life: Invitation, Mission, Gratitude (Saturday talk) will be given by Deacon Seamus O’Looskan at the Rosmini Centre on Saturday 14th September at 2.00pm – further details from 01509 813078 or [email protected]. The Diocesan SPANNED Mass for those with special needs, their families, friends and carers, will be celebrated by Bishop Patrick on Saturday 14th September at Saint Peter, Hinckley, at 2.30 pm. For more information please contact Father Frank Daly: [email protected] Churches Together in Stamford holds its quarterly Forum Meeting in Saint Augustine’s parish hall on Monday 16th September at 7.30pm.