Mass Times * News * Fr Cyril Chiaha Writes
Weekly Mass: 17th – 25th April
Throughout the Pandemic all Masses will take place in the parish church of St Richard of Chichester, Buntingford.
The obligation to attend Mass remains suspended. Please see the Coronavirus page for more details.
Saturday 17th April: Vigil of the 3rd Sunday of Easter
- 6.00pm: Buntingford
Sunday 18th April: 3rd Sunday of Easter
- 9.15am: Buntingford
- 11.00am: Buntingford
Tuesday 20th April: Easter Feria
- 9.30am: Buntingford
Thursday 22nd April: Easter Feria
- 9.30am: Buntingford
Friday 23rd April: St George, Martyr, Patron of England
- 9.30am: Buntingford
- 10.00am: Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Saturday 24th April: Vigil Mass of the 4th Sunday of Easter
- 6.00pm: Buntingford
Sunday 25th April: 4th Sunday of Easter
- 9.15am: Buntingford
- 11.00am: Buntingford
The readings for Mass can be found every day on the ‘Universalis’ website.
Some churches in our diocese stream Mass online, you may be able to watch one of these during this time.
A warm Welcome to you if today is your first time to attend Mass since the easing of the lock-down. Be assured that our church is planned in a COVID-safe manner. Thank you in anticipation for adhering to the safe measures in place – maintaining safe distancing and hygiene.
The Annual Collection for the Priest Training Fund is next Sunday. This fund pays for the priestly formation of men for the Catholic Priesthood as well as supports the ongoing formation of our ordained priests. Donation leaflets are available in the porch. Please take one home, read the information, and bring it back next weekend with your donation. Donations can also be made online anytime at http://www.rcdow.org.uk/donations Thank you!
Sacrament of Confession
- In these exceptional times confession is by appointment and will be held at Buntingford.
Parish Office Hours
- Please consider using the email or telephone for office matters. While we must all support each other in these times, we must also try and do our part in lessening the spread of the this disease.
Attending Mass during the pandemic – while the church remains open for public Mass during this time, please keep in mind that anyone who has any symptoms of the coronavirus is expected to stay at home and follow the government guideline. Doing so is for the good of all and speedier resolution. Also those who attend has to remain in the seat until the end of Mass.
Offertory Collection
- Many Thanks to all those who have maintained regular parish offering through Standing Order, loose plate or cheque and to those who wrote a cheque covering the time we were in lockdown.
- Setting Up A New Standing Order: If you are setting up a Standing Order or donating online for the first time, please note that a new Confirmation of Payee service has been rolled out for additional security reasons.
- Although no changes have been made to the name of our parish bank account, you would be required to use the full name of the parish account set below when setting up a new payment instruction. In other words, the full meaning of the abbreviation WRCDT has to be used.
| Account name: Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee Old Hall Green and Puckeridge Parish |
Account name: Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee Buntingford Parish |
|---|---|
| Account Number: 91270044 |
Account Number: 51308610 |
| Sort Code 40-05-20 | Sort Code 40-05-20 |
Fr Cyril Chiaha Writes:
On this third Sunday of Easter, the gospel reading reminds us of the need to move from the event and narrative of the resurrection to experiencing the resurrection by recognising the risen Christ among us. With the resurrection of Jesus, it invites the human mind to expand its categorisation of who God is and how He works in this world.
From the experiences of Cleopas and his companion, one sees a pattern that describes the journey of the human person as he or she holds on to ones’ understanding. Those disciples knew that Jesus was crucified and buried and that those who have died do not come back to life with a body. Nonetheless, God is revealed in and through the created order and ordinary acts of life and He is not bound by it. It is through the ordinary act of breaking bread and eating grilled fish that the reality of the risen Lord was revealed.
The disciples’ experience offers consolation to the heart. It informs the mind that the natural order or ordinary acts of life has potentials and capabilities of leading us to the unknown if it is able to unbind itself from the usual way of living, seeing and relating. It brings to light the understanding that the human person is never alone on the pilgrimage of life. It lends credence to the understanding that the mind would be able to experience the risen Lord in this world. It shows that the human hunger to escape from the misery and predicaments of life is often met by divine company, as God’s longs and desires to open the minds of His faithful through the ordinary acts of love, mercy, compassion and kindness.
In one way or the other, our lives has been affected by the current health challenges posed by the COVID-19. In any of the circumstances we may find ourselves, may we take consolation from today’s gospel reading and trust that somehow the experiences we have in life will become a piece or an instance of a new life. May we hold onto our faith in God and always keep in mind that our Lord Jesus Christ walks side by side with us in every circumstances of life, breathing peace and life upon us. Have a blessed week!