All posts by 3 churches

To seek and find those in need

newsletter

The Society of St Vincent de Paul

“The question which is agitating the world today is a social one. It is a struggle between those who have nothing and those who have too much. It is a violent clash of opulence and poverty which is shaking the ground under our feet. Our duty as Christians is to throw ourselves between these two camps in order to accomplish by love what justice alone cannot do”.

(Frederic Ozanam, founder of the St Vincent de Paul Society, 1834)

185 years later Pope Francis asked, “How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?” (Evangelii Gaudium/The Joy of the Gospel).  Francis has also said, “Each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society.”

Today, the mission of the SVP is “To seek and find those in need, to help them in a spirit of justice and to tackle the causes of poverty where we can.”  Poverty? Poverty is not just about lack of money. Poverty has many faces, and Mother Teresa said that isolation can be one of the worst kinds. The Office for National Statistics adds that Britain is the loneliness capital of Europe with 11% of those of pensionable age only seeing friend, relative or neighbour less that once per month.

On the 7thof May at 7.00pm in St Brigid’s Church Hall,Brian Jones the Membership Development Officer for the diocesan SVP will be giving a talk on its work and inviting us to respond positively to Pope Francis’s call in our own communities. Our once thriving SVP members have dwindled and more are needed.

Christ has no hands but ours (yours and mine) to do his work. Little has changed in the last 185 years since Frederic Ozanam made his plea. Something needs to be done, and you are invited to “be the change” that you would like to see, and turn our Christian concern into action.  Join us on May 7th or just take one of the leaflets with my phone number on. I would be glad to hear from you.

God Bless   Brian Jones SVP

Christ the King Bidding Prayers for Easter (year C), 2019

bidding prayers, Christ the King,

Priest: Dear friends, we have reflected on the story of our salvation and renewed our baptismal promises. Now we offer our prayers to the Father with hearts full of hope.

Reader: Let us pray for all those who have come into full communion with the Church on this holy night. On Easter morning, we welcome in baptism Harry Oliver Biggs and we pray for his family and community of Christ the King as they share their faith with him……..Pause

Father, in your love, hear our prayer.

We pray for peace and reconciliation wherever they are most needed……. Pause

Father, in your love, hear our prayer.

Let us pray that the Church may always be an active influence in the world to care for the poor and overlooked; and for those who are enslaved by people or addiction…. Pause

Father, in your love, hear our prayer.

We pray for Cora Carroll who died earlier this week. She was a long and faithful member of St Brigid’s with her sisters Maureen and Teresa and our thoughts are with her family and friends. We remember all who have died in recent months: may those who mourn find strength for the future in the light of Easter…. Pause

Father, in your love, hear our prayer.

Let us be quiet for a few moments, in the joy of God’s love for us…….Longer pause…..(No response)

Let us share in the joy and prayer of Our Lady as we say:

O Queen of Heaven rejoice, alleluia,

For the Son whom you merited to bear, alleluia,

Has risen as He said, alleluia;

Pray to God for us, alleluia,

Rejoice and be glad. O Virgin Mary, alleluia

Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia!

Priest: Creator God, risen Son, Holy Spirit: grant us, if it be your will, what we ask as your loving children. Amen.