All posts by 3 churches

Christ the King bidding prayers, 29 June 2014

bidding prayers, Christ the King

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL FOR THE FEAST OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL

PRIEST – Heavenly Father we place before you our petitions for the needs of the church and of the world with confidence in your love and mercy

READER – the response to our prayers is – Hear our prayer

As we celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, we pray for our Holy Father, Francis, and all church leaders that, guided by the Holy Spirit, they may continually speak out against the inequality and injustice which is so widespread in our world today …………pause

Heavenly Father, in your loving mercy……….

Mankind is incapable alone of finding a way to end hostilities and enmity between peoples, we pray that the Holy Spirit will guide those in positions of power and authority to work towards achieving this goal…………..pause

Heavenly Father, in your loving mercy………….

We pray for eternal rest for the souls of all who have died, both those who are known to us and those who have died through war violence or disaster ……………..pause

Heavenly Father, in your loving mercy…………

We pray for all who are ill, infirm or disabled in any way and all who are suffering loneliness as a result of being house bound that they may have healing, comfort and compassionate care………….pause

Heavenly Father, in your loving mercy………..

We pray that our 3 churches may be successful in reaching out to the wider community by the efforts and example of individual parishioners and by initiatives like the Phone Link service……………pause

Heavenly Father, in your loving mercy………..

We pray for all who are seeking the consolation of the love of God that they find it…………pause

Heavenly Father, in your loving mercy…….

In a few moments of silence we bring our own petitions before our Heavenly Father………..

We ask Mary, our Mother, to join her prayers to ours as we say….Hail Mary………..

PRIEST – Heavenly Father, we make all our prayers through your Son, Jesus Christ….. Amen

Lives poured out

newsletter

Each morning when I opened the shutters in my seminary room in Rome, I could look across the road to where generations have told us the great St Paul is buried. According to Church tradition, both St Peter and St Paul met their deaths in Rome, after spending some time there teaching together. Neither of these events is described in the Bible, though that of Peter was foretold by Jesus himself.

Very early records tell us that Peter was crucified upside down. Modern archaeology places this in a Roman stadium next to a road leading west out of Rome. Excavations in 1950 and the following years revealed bones of a man aged about 61 from the first century. Pope Paul VI declared that they would most likely be those of St Peter, and Pope Francis placed the casket containing these nine fragments on display for the first time during a Mass in St Peter’s Square.

Neither the Bible nor other sources say how or when Paul died, but St Ignatius of Antioch, probably around 110, writes that Paul was martyred too. Tradition holds that as a Roman citizen, he was beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero around the mid-60s AD at the place known as Tre Fontane (Three Springs), a few miles outside the centre of Rome on the way out to the sea. A Cistercian Abbey, a beautiful spot to find peace in Rome, now occupies the area.

Equally ancient tradition talks of St Paul’s burial on the Via Ostiense, on the way back into the city, a spot now marked by the enormous Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls. In June 2009, Pope Benedict announced excavation results concerning the tomb of Paul there. I used to notice this marble slab, just visible under the altar and inscribed in Latin “Paul apostle martyr”. This has now been found to be one part of a sarcophagus, which was not opened, but was examined by means of a probe. This revealed pieces of incense, purple and blue linen, and small bone fragments, which were radiocarbon dated to the 1st or 2nd century. According to the Vatican, these findings are consistent with the tradition that the tomb is Paul’s.

In the Mass today we hear of Peter’s great profession of faith and his escape from prison, and listen to Paul’s moving look back over his life. They are our two “Apostles and Martyrs” who ran the race – to the end.

Fr Matthew

Living Stones – 3 churches mass 2014

3 churches, 3 churches mass

Vatican II reminded us that we are all the People of God. Jesus called us the Light of the World, and St Peter said that together we are Living Stones. Wow – what amazing titles! And how do we get to be all these things – and more? By our living out of the great and beautiful Sacrament of Baptism. So this year, in our 3 Churches annual Mass together on Sunday 6th July at Corpus Christi High School we are going to celebrate our calling, our being with one another – and the Baptism that binds us and all Christians together.

I would like to invite all parishioners of our 3 Churches to come and take part, whether you usually come to a morning or an evening Mass. The more living stones, the bigger the house of the Lord! And don’t forget to find out where you were baptised if you don’t know already!

Music There will be practices for all singers and musicians who wish to take part on Wednesdays 25th June and 2nd July 7.30pm at St Brigid’s Church.

Children As our theme of Baptism is very visual and full of interest, complete with two lovely babies, there will not be a Children’s Liturgy this year, but families are especially invited to come and remember their own children’s Baptism.
Altar servers Servers from all our Sunday morning Masses should take part, and also adult weekday serves if they wish. All should be at the school at least 30 minutes before Mass.

Ministries Our 3 Churches Mass aims to bring us all together in serving one another. Please cooperate in readily offering your ministry – welcoming, reading etc if requested.
Collection As is our custom, the collection will go to a charity – the archdiocesan Priests Training Fund that we missed owing to our missionary appeal. We now have half a dozen students to support! Parish envelopes for that week should be placed in the collection the week before or after, please.

Food As usual after Mass we will have a bring-and-share lunch together. You are requested to bring something along which should be only finger food, i.e. not requiring knife, fork or spoon. Our time for lunch together is very much part of the celebration.

11a.m. 6th July Corpus Christi High School – 3 Churches Mass 2014 “Living Stones”

Fr Matthew