Georgies for the week

newsletter

On Saturday 1 September just over 40 of us will set off on our September Pilgrimage. Like the last two years we are staying in Britain, this time visiting the North-East. What on earth are you going there for, you might be asking yourself. Lots of reasons.

For religion, the evangelization of England from the north started at Lindisfarne off the Northumberland coast, and those opening centuries were blessed with many great saints like Aidan and Cuthbert, Bede and Wilfrid. For sightseeing there is the beautiful coast, including Lindisfarne itself and highlights like Bamburgh. Durham and its cathedrals is one of the finest old cities of the UK, and Hadrian’s Wall snakes its way through the area. Then there is Newcastle itself where we will be staying, a lively and friendly city with its renovated Riverside, a bit like our Bay.

As always our week could be described as a Pilgrimage / Holiday, a time to relax and enter on the journey that not only will take us to these fascinating places and others. The real pilgrimage is an internal one, where we hand over the week to the Lord. He takes us, especially through our daily Mass in fine settings, on an inner pilgrimage, as he does on all such journeys. If we let Him!

Please remember the pilgrims in your prayers, as we will in ours. If you want any intentions to be remembered please put them in an envelope and let me have them before this Friday. Please note that because we are leaving at 8.30 to get to Newcastle, Mass that day will be at 7.30am.

Fr Matthew

Christ the King bidding prayers, 12 August 2018

bidding prayers, Christ the King

The Celebrant will introduce and also conclude the prayer. The reader should pause for several moments between the intercession and its response. Leave about 20 seconds for quiet prayer. There is no response after this – move straight to the Hail Mary.

CELEBRANT:Sisters and brothers: the psalmist called, the Lord heard him and rescued him from his distress. Let us likewise call on the Lord to hear our prayers.

READER: The response is: Lord, graciously hear us.

READER: Let us pray for the Church, particularly in the United States, in Chile and in Honduras, sickened and saddened to find those who should have offered inspired leadership have been abusive or negligent. May they remain faithful to Christ Jesus, kind and forgiving, even though this is hard…….. (PAUSE)…… Lord, hear us …..Lord, graciously hear us.

READER: We pray for those who manage other people. May they value their staff as individuals and help them to develop their full potential..….. (PAUSE) ……Lord, hear us….Lord, graciously hear us.

READER: Let us pray for Catholics in Iraq as they struggle to rebuild in often dangerous situations..… (PAUSE)……Lord, hear us…. Lord, graciously hear us.

READER: Let us pray for those who receive their A level results this week. Let us give thanks for their hard work, rejoice with those who have achieved the results they wanted and console those who are disappointed… (PAUSE)……Lord, hear us…. Lord, graciously hear us.

READER: Let us pray for those who are deaf and cannot hear the proclamation of the gospel. May we help them be part of our worshipping community……… (PAUSE)……Lord, hear us….Lord, graciously hear us.

READER: We pray for those lost in the wilderness of our cities. May they find food, friends and faith to continue their journey ……… (PAUSE)……Lord, hear us….Lord, graciously hear us.

READER: Let us consider the needs of our parish community and any personal need  (Long Pause)…. Let us ask the intercession of our Lady: Hail Mary..

After a short pause the Celebrant will conclude the prayer.

CELEBRANT: Lord, hear and grant our prayers through Christ Jesus, Amen.

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The assumption

assumption

Wednesday is the Feast of the Assumption of our Lady.

It is a Holyday of Obligation, with Mass at St Paul’s 9.30am; Christ the King 12.45pm; St Brigid’s 7.30pm.

This is an occasion for us all to pause and consider this most extraordinary woman, and what messages she holds for us. Once more, let the poetry of Malcolm Guite help us delve more deeply into the graces of Mary. This is called “Theotokos” – Greek for “Bearer or Mother of God”.

Theotokos

You bore me for the One who came to bless And bear for all and make the broken whole. You heard His call and in your open ‘yes’ You spoke aloud for every living soul.

Oh gracious Lady, child of your own child, Whose mother-love still calls the child in me, Call me again, for I am lost, and wild
Waves surround me now. On this dark sea Shine as a star and call me to the shore. Open the door that all my sins would close And hold me in your garden. Let me share The prayer that folds the petals of the Rose. Enfold me too in Love’s last mystery.
And bring me to the One you bore for me.

“Sounding the Seasons” Malcolm Guite, Canterbury Press

Christ the king bidding prayers, 5 August 2018

bidding prayers, Christ the King

Priest:We turn to God our loving father and ask him for all our needs

Reader:We pray that the Lord may guide and protect the Church in Her mission to spread the Good News of salvation for all people.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the homeless we see on our streets and those who are hidden from our sight. May community concern persuade all levels of government to work together to provide them with shelter and support.

 Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all of our young people who are waiting for exam results.  We ask you to be with them and to grant them the wisdom to discern what future path to choose. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for those who care for the mentally and physically ill, especially those who bear this burden on their own. May they be given the help and support they need.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

          We pray for all those who have died; that they may find eternal rest.

          Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

In silence now we make our own private prayers to God.

Priest:God our Father, trusting in your constant care and protection, we bring you these prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen

3 churches bidding prayers, 29 July 2018

bidding prayers, Christ the King

Priest:    We come together as a community to ask God our Father for our needs and for the needs of others

Reader :         The response is;                  

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

We pray that we be inspired to find new ways to support our Parish Priests and our parish community  .… … … … … … pause … 

Lord, in your mercy– (Hear our prayer)

We pray for the people affected by natural disasters, most recently the fires in Greece.  May they be supported in rebuilding their lives.– – – – -pause – – – – – – 

Lord, in your mercy– (Hear our prayer)

We pray for world leaders, especially those in newly emerging nations.  May they find the courage to work towards the elimination of corruption in government and avoid the very ready temptation of self-interest – – – – -pause – – – – – – 

Lord, in your mercy– (Hear our prayer)

We pray for children and young people everywhere, especially those who are in care, and young homeless people; and we pray for social workers and others trying to meet their needs…… … … … … … pause … 

Lord, in your mercy– (Hear our prayer)

As the school holidays begin we pray for families; and we pray for those in our community who are alone.  May the holiday season refresh them all– – – – -pause – 

Lord, in your mercy– (Hear our prayer)

Let us spend a few moments in silent prayer – – – –  longer pause – – – – – 

We ask Mary the mother of our Lord to join her prayers to ours saying,

            Hail Mary………….

Priest:     God of love, listen to our petitions and grant them through him who lives in glory with You and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.