A WALK THROUGH THE MASS
Over the next five Sundays of Lent the homily at Mass will take us through the different parts of the Mass.
On this First Sunday of Lent we will be concentrating on the Opening or Introductory Rites of the Mass. Here, the Liturgy invites us to gather together to:
- Know ourselves as a people made one with Christ in baptism – we are reminded of this when together with the priest we make the sign of the Cross and say the words first said over all of us at our baptism: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
- Acknowledge our sinfulness whilst remembering and trusting in the mercy of God in the Penitential Rite.
- Sing the praise of God – in the Gloria, an ancient hymn, which acknowledges God as King and Father, and Jesus as our Saviour.
- This first part of the Mass concludes with the Collect or Opening Prayer which gathers together the intentions of the community
MESSAGE FROM CARDINAL VINCENT
I write, in the first place, to thank you most sincerely for the generosity with which you and your parishioners responded to my request for a collection to assist with the relief of suffering in Gaza and the West Bank. We have been able to send over £31,000 to the Latin Patriarchate. This will make a real difference to people living in such desperate circumstances.
As we are all aware, the situation in the Holy Land has not improved since I last wrote, with failed negotiations, increasing humanitarian distress and a rising death toll. As Lent begins, I would like to urge that we continue our efforts, not least in prayer. And so I ask that, on Friday 8 March, there is a special focus of prayer for the Holy Land across the diocese.
I hope that your Lenten journey this year will be a fruitful one. Those three pillars of observance – prayer, fasting and almsgiving – are so helpful, and I pray that you will find a way to make use of each of them, in whatever way or form, in the weeks ahead.
With my prayers and good wishes,
+Vincent
Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Archbishop of Westminster
Here at St Paul’s our day of prayer will be on Saturday 9th March when we have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 7am until 5.15pm
LENT 2024
Friday 23rd February Mass at 7pm followed by Stations of the Cross at 7:30pm
Saturday 24th February Mass at 6:30am followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 5:15pm
Please take one of the H.C.P.T boxes if you wish to participate in our Lenten Project. We would ask you to return them to the Parish on Easter Sunday. Don’t send donations directly to H.C.P.T
POPE FRANCIS – FROM LENT MESSAGE 2024
The exodus from slavery to freedom is no abstract journey. If our celebration of Lent is to be concrete, the first step is to desire to open our eyes to reality. When the Lord calls out to Moses from the burning bush, he immediately shows that he is a God who sees and, above all, hears: “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (Ex 3:7-8). Today too, the cry of so many of our oppressed brothers and sisters rises to heaven. Let us ask ourselves: Do we hear that cry? Does it trouble us? Does it move us? All too many things keep us apart from each other, denying the fraternity that, from the beginning, binds us to one another.
CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK – Thursday 22nd February – The Chair of St Peter the Apostle
MASS INTENTIONS – Masses for March are now fully booked. We can send Masses to Fr Henry in Malawi. Please note that if you asked for an intention on a specific date and a funeral is subsequently arranged on that day, the intention will be moved to the next available date.
BAPTISMS – Please ring the Parish Office on 0208 888 2390 to arrange a time to come and meet with Fr Perry.
SYNOD OCTOBER 2024
The Cardinal wrote to Deans across the Diocese a letter called ‘Towards October 2024’ which is when the next Meeting of the Synod of Bishops takes place in Rome. The renewal of our mission as Church, the building up of communion and the widening of participation have been strong themes. The Bishops’ Conference needs to have its response ready by 17th March and so the Cardinal has asked us in Westminster to prepare thoroughly in the coming weeks – parish by parish, deanery by deanery. Representatives of the Deanery will present the Deanery ‘Conversation’ at the Council of Deans on 6th March. It doesn’t leave much time!
Fr. Perry has decided to give you the questions for reflection at this stage so that you have a chance to mull over your feelings and then to come to the Open Parish Meeting in St Paul’s on Sunday 25th February 4.00pm – 5.30pm. Everyone is invited!! Those who cannot attend are welcome to submit written responses to Fr. Perry.
Here are the questions.
Q.1: How do we witness as a Parish and proclaim our faith to: ▷those who have never heard of Christ; ▷those who have ceased walking with Christ; ▷those with whom we worship Christ (those who go to church)?
Q.2: How should we organise ourselves as a Parish to do this more effectively?
Q.3: What concrete steps/formation opportunities would help us begin to witness and proclaim our faith more effectively?
Q.4: What structures may need to change? How might we need to develop the way we are organised currently?
These are crucial questions for us as the Church. Please take time to ponder your answers and come if at all possible to the meetings.
Fr Perry
THANK YOU FOR THE COLLECTION OF – Sunday 11th February – Total £953.30 (Loose £634.80; Envelopes £318.50). Contactless £197.50. Standing Orders for January amounted to £5581.01.
ABOUT BEING A CATHOLIC (ABC) – This course is for adults who have not been baptised, for Christians and other denominations who would like to be received into the Roman Catholic Church and for adults who would like to be prepared for Confirmation. Please call the Parish Office to arrange a time to come and see Fr Perry. The sessions will start on Monday 19th February at 7:30 pm in the Parish Centre. Please us the entrance on Bradley Road.
LOURDES PILGRIMAGE – The dates for this pilgrimage have been changed. If you have given your names to Fr Perry, please speak to him as soon as possible.
| PARISH DIARY Sunday 18th Feb Refreshments after 10am Mass Monday 19th Feb 7:30pm SVP 7:30pm ABC Group Tuesday 20th Feb Refreshments after 9:30am Mass Church Cleaning after Mass 7:30pm Lent Course Wednesday 21st Feb 12am to 3pm Welcome Space 7:30pm Meditation Friday 23rd Feb ASCENT 7pm Mass 7:30pm Stations of the Cross | Saturday 24th Feb 6:30am Mass followed by Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament until 5:15pm 3pm – 4:30 pm Confirmation Session Sunday 25th Feb Refreshments after 10am Mass 4pm SYNOD Meeting NEXT SUNDAY 25TH FEBRUARY – 2ND SUNDAY OF LENT 1st Reading Genesis: 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18 2nd Reading Romans 8:31- 34 Gospel Mark 9: 2-10 |