Category Archives: lent

Beginning Lent

Worship Why not be part of an extra weekday Mass?
Worship Together Come along to the Cardiff Deanery Lenten Station Mass at St Teilo’s 7pm Wednesday 25th February.
Repent Is it time to come to Reconciliation? Saturdays – St Brigid’s 10am St Paul 5.30-5.45pm Christ the King 5.45-6.15pm or 3 Churches Penitential Service Wednesday 11th March 7.00pm
Follow The Way of the Cross St Paul’s Fridays 9.00am; St Brigid’s Saturdays 9.00am Christ the King Sundays 3.00pm first 3 Sundays then as announced.
Read The reflection booklet for Lent : “Walk with me” £1 each
Fast It’s CAFOD Family Fast day this Friday…
Reflect We use this prayer at Mass this Sunday. You could use it during the week too…

Lord Jesus Christ,
your time in the wilderness teaches me not to fear it; your facing temptation shows me that it can be overcome.

On my journey through this Lent, be my constant guide. Teach me to pray with new joy;
to fast with a willing heart;
and to give generously to those in need.

Remind me to pause in my busy life
and refocus on what really matters;
to let go of so many things – and leave more room for you.

Help me to listen to and respond to your call –
to repent;
to change my ways;
to turn back to you
and to strive to build up your Kingdom here on earth. Amen

Holy Week services

I can’t believe that we are almost at Holy Week, but, yes, next Sunday is Palm Sunday. Here are the times of Holy week services in our 3 Churches.

Palm Sunday (13 April 2014)

All Masses at normal times, to include the Blessing of Palms.
Family Stations of the Cross at Christ the King 3.30pm
Film for Holy Week “The Passion of the Christ” St Brigid’s Hall 7.30pm.

Monday-Tuesday (14,15 April)

Masses at normal times.

Wednesday (16 April)

Chrism Mass at the Cathedral 11.30am. (note change of day)
Parish Masses and “The Light Is On” at usual times.

Thursday (17 April)

Mass of the Lord’s Supper 8.00pm at St Paul’s and at Christ the King at both churches.

Good Friday (18 April)

Morning Prayer 10.00am at Christ the King.
Commemoration of the Passion 3.00pm at Christ the King and at St Brigid’s

Holy Saturday (19 April)

Morning Prayer 10.00am at Christ the King
Watching until Midnight
Easter Vigil and First Mass of Easter 8.30pm at St Brigid’s, and 9.00pm at Christ the King.

Easter Sunday (20 April)

All Masses at normal times.

 

Here is a prayer for use at Mass and elsewhere on this the Fifth Sunday of Lent

Lord Jesus,
you love us, you gave your life to save us,
and now you are living at our side
to enlighten us, strengthen us and free us.
When our lives seem dark –
ease our hearts
and place in them that firm and quiet trust
that roots them deeply in your own life, death and resurrection. Let the joy of the Gospel raise us up
and, certain of your infinite love for us,
may your Holy Spirit help us to bring the power of that message into the lives of others.

Amen 

A change of heart

The call of Lent is the call to change, to repent, to let go – a change of heart or “metanoia”. It is a time to prepare for our celebration of the saving events that we call the Paschal Mystery – the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Saviour. At the heart, then of Lent must be a serious reflection on where we are on our Christian journey.
The priest’s prayer of absolution in Reconciliation begins “God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world to himself, and has sent the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.” The second half continues: “Through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.
All of us should try to celebrate this great Sacrament of forgiveness during Lent. This week our 3 Churches Reconciliation or Penitential Service on Wednesday 2 April takes place during the weekly “Light Is On” time, 7-8pm at Christ the King.

Note there just for this one week in Lent, will be no Confessions at St Brigid’s Wednesday evening and Wednesday Mass at Christ the King will be at 9.30am.

Here is a prayer for use at Mass and elsewhere on this the Fourth Sunday of Lent:

Lord Jesus,
you came to open the eyes of the blind.
Open our eyes to all that you seek to show us,
and open our hearts and minds to understand God’s will.
Heal us of our own greyness and melancholy
and everything that gets in the way of the joy of the Gospel.
Kindle anew the light of your love within us
so that we may joyfully live out your message in our everyday lives –
humbly and generously loving our neighbour;
and seeking justice for all God’s people.
Amen