Please, don’t lose heart. Please, get deeper rooted. When a plant is deprived of some surface water, it has to put down deeper roots. We are going to have to put down deeper roots of the Spirit and we know that God will nurture us.
Cardinal Vincent in his message as parishes move to suspend public Masses
The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales have updated their guidelines, and as part of the efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19, public acts of worship have been suspended. However, as Cardinal Vincent has said, during these times, ‘the rhythm of prayer will continue’.
To aid in this, we have prepared a list of resources which can be used to help us pray and be close to the Lord. This page will be updated over time. We thank those who make these resources available for their support.
Mass Online
Private Masses will continue to be offered and several parishes in the diocese live-stream them at Church Services TV. Find a weekly schedule of masses here. http://www.churchservices.tv
Each day, Vatican News live-streams Pope Francis’ 6am (GMT) Masses at Casa Santa Marta everyday on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vaticannews/ and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxIsefyl9g9A5SGWA4FvGIA
The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham live-streams their 12 noon Mass. http://www.walsingham.org.uk/live-stream
Prayers for When Mass cannot be celebrated publicly, prepared by the Bishops’ Conference.https://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/No-Mass-A4.pdf
Pause for Faith Videos- A really interesting and helpful set of Youtube videos with Fr Stephen Wang
Coping with family life in lockdown: stories and advice from the front line. Video with Fr Stephen Wang @pauseforfaith #family #lockdown #parenting #children https://t.co/ZQl5SPUrq9
— Pause for Faith (@pauseforfaith) April 30, 2020
A Prayer Resource for those who have no access to the internet – suggested for fellow parishioners to print and share
Act of Spiritual Communion:
My Jesus,
I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love you above all things
and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul.
Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,
come spiritually into my soul
so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever.
Amen
Prayer to our Guardian Angel
Dear Guardian Angel, go for me to the church, there kneel down at Mass for me. At the Offertory, take me to God, and offer Him my service: What I am, what I have, offer as my gift. At the Consecration, with your seraphic strength, adore my Saviour truly present, praying for those who have loved me, for those who have offended me, and for those now deceased, that the blood of Jesus may purify them all. During Holy Communion, bring to me the Body and Blood of Jesus uniting Him with me in spirit, so that my heart may become His dwelling place. Plead with Him, that through His sacrifice all people throughout the world may be saved. When the Mass ends, bring home to me and to every home, the Lord’s blessing. Amen.
Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away; God never changes, patience obtains all things. Whoever has nothing God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.
St Teresa of Avila
The Advent Pilgrimage
https://www.parousiamedia.com/the-advent-pilgrimage-a-journey-from-eden-to-bethlehem/
‘The God Who Speaks’
In this time of pandemic when we can’t reach out to the Sacraments, we can always reach out to the word; and indeed it is through the word that theWord is always reaching out to us, even in the darkest and most challenging of situations. ‘The God Who Speaks’ website continues to provide a range of information, ideas and resources encouraging a greater exploration of Holy Scripture, including:
The Gospel according to Matthew – a four-part audio series featuring voices of Catholics living and working in England & Wales.
Word at Home – ideas to help you create a prayerful, scriptural and reflective time at home.
‘Top Tens’ – from parables to paintings, from animals to films, the ‘Top Tens’ features creative ways to help us engage with Scripture.
Home Alone with St Jerome – A What’sApp-style conversation with St Jerome and friends, and his faithful lion, on how to cope with being at home during the pandemic.
Bible Basics & Scripture Seekers – facts and reflections for those new to the Bible, or who would like to explore the Bible further.
Word 3600 – Prayers, thoughts and resources for Celebrating, Living and Sharing God’s Word in today’s world.
To view these and other resources provided by CBCEW in partnership with the Bible Society, see the regularly updated ‘The God Who Speaks’ website:
Liturgy and Prayer
Universalis (Available free online or as a paid app)https://universalis.com/
Apps including Laudate, iMissal http://www.imissal.com/ and iBreviary https://www.ibreviary.org/en/
Prayers during a time of ‘flu and illness, prepared by the Liturgy Office. https://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/prayer-flu-viruses.pdf
Click to Pray is the home of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and provides three brief moments of prayer each day as well as allowing you share your own prayer intentions for all to pray.https://clicktopray.org/
Pray as you Go release daily spoken meditations on the readings of the Mass designed to go with you wherever you go. Lasting between ten and thirteen minutes, it combines music, scripture and some questions for reflection.
A Link to reflections by David Morson from St Theresa of Lisieux in Stansted
https://www.sttheresastansted.org/test/parish-information/events/ourcommunity/
Thy Kingdom Come
Prayer journal
Thy Kingdom Come resources
https://www.thykingdomcome.global/resources/key-resources-2020
Stations of the Resurrection
Via Lucis (Way of Light) are an opportunity for meditation on the joyful events of Eastertide, originally devised by
Pope St John Paul II
Church of the Resurrection, Solon, Ohio, mosaics of stations, delivered by the pastoral ministry team, 35 minutes
Stations of Light for children
https://www.facebook.com/watch/colourandshapeonline/274909913510776/
Resources for Family Catechesis Support for parents in stories of the Saints (also suitable for Confirmation candidates in considering Saints’ names), liturgical calendar, prayer at mealtimes, the crowning of Mary and First Eucharist retreats at home.
Family Examen–a prayerful way for a family to reflect on their day:
https://pray-as yougo.org/player/prayer%20tools/anexamenforthefamily
Reflections
Torch provides a new homily each week, written by the Dominican Friars.https://www.torch.op.org/
Christian Art Today gives a reflection of each day’s Gospel, told through art and is run by a seminarian of the diocese.https://christianart.today/
Lent In Isolation is releasing a daily reflection for the rest of Lent which includes the readings from Holy Mass, spiritual guidance from a priest, and a lead Act of Spiritual Communion.https://www.lentinisolation.com/
Behold2020 continue to help us journey towards the Rededication of England as the Dowry of Mary on 29th March
A Reflection from Fr Martin at Prinknash Abbey – click on the link below to open
A Reflection from Fr Martin at Prinknash Abbey
Evening Prayer with Taizé
Taizé are live streaming evening prayer through their Facebook page each evening at 7.30pm.
https://www.facebook.com/taize
Faith in Action
If you are interested in volunteering or helping reach out to those most vulnerable, Caritas Westminster is helping respond to the crisis. Found out how to get involved at their website https://www.caritaswestminster.org.uk/coronavirus.php
Find your closest Parish and their website at the Diocesan Directory.https://rcdow.org.uk/diocese/
If you have social media, follow us on Twitter
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/diocese.westminster/
and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rcwestminster/
to stay up to date and connected. Alternatively, check out our friends at the Bishops’ Conference
Westminster Youth Ministryhttps://dowym.com/
and Caritas Westminster.https://www.caritaswestminster.org.uk/