Ways to the cross

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It is two years since the burden of the pandemic came upon us all. For some it has meant bereavement or sickness, for others loneliness or depression – for all of us a time of feeling the weight of the Cross.

So, all our Saturday evening and Sunday Masses are celebrated this weekend in commemoration of all that these two years have brought to us in our 3 churches.

Now another Cross has been laid on our sisters and brothers in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. After our “normal” Family Fast collection this weekend, we will take a special collection for them in a fortnight’s time 26 / 27 March as our very special Lenten Alms.

Fr Matthew

Bidding prayers for 1st Sunday of Lent (6 March 2022)

bidding prayers

PRIEST:  As we begin our Lenten journey, we turn in prayer to God, our Father, asking for His help as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection at Easter.

READER.  We pray for the Church, that she may be a sign of God’s light and goodness in our world and a beacon of hope for the suffering and vulnerable.

PAUSE   Lord, in your mercy       rsp.    Hear our prayer.

READER.  Let us pray for Pope Francis’ Intention namely that Christians facing new bioethical challenges, may continue to defend the dignity of all human life with prayer and action.

PAUSE:  Lord, in your mercy                    Hear our prayer.

READER. Today the Rite of Election takes place in the Cathedral. Let us pray for all those preparing to enter the Church at Easter, that they will continue to grow in Faith in the years ahead and become valued members of the Church community.

PAUSE:  Lord, in your mercy                   Hear our prayer.

READER 4.  We continue to pray for the people of   Ukraine in their time of great need.  May their tremendous courage and love for their country shown in their fight for democracy be rewarded by continuing support from the free world.

PAUSE:   Lord, in your mercy                  Hear our prayer.

READER.  Friday is Family Fast Day. Let us pray for the work of CAFOD in many of the poor countries of the world and give generously to the appeal next weekend.

PAUSE:    Lord, in your mercy                 Hear our prayer.

READER.   Let us pray for the sick, lonely and bereaved in our 3 churches that they may be given help and strength to persevere in their lives.

 PAUSE:   Lord.in your mercy                Hear our prayer.

READER.     We pray for the souls of those who have died recently, Pat McConnell and Ken Camilleri, whose funerals take place this week. Also, for Alan Jones husband of Denise and also for Frank Callus who has died this weekend. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families

PAUSE:   Lord, in your mercy                Hear our prayer.

We now ask Our Blessed Lady to make these intercessions her own as we say HAIL MARY……

In a few moments of quiet reflection, we bring our personal needs and requests to God, our Loving Father.

LONGER PAUSE

PRIEST:  Merciful Father, accept all our prayers and grant what is good for us so that we may come closer to you in this Lenten season. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen

 

Christianity in Ukraine

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Please remember our brothers and sisters in Ukraine in your prayers. 

Flag of UkraineA 2021 survey found that an impressive 82% of Ukrainians declared themselves to be religious. Ukraine has the world’s second-largest Eastern Orthodox population after Russia.

72.7% of the population declared themselves to be Orthodox and 9.7% Catholic. Of those Catholics  8.8% were Greek Rite Catholics following the Byzantine Rite, and 0.9% Latin Rite Catholics (like us).

On the world level, there are approximately 4.5 million Ukrainian Greek Catholics, including the 3.85 million in Ukraine. In the UK the community is served by the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy (diocese) of the Holy Family of London. The faithful in the Eparchy here number some 13,500 people.

Out of the Orthodox population in Ukraine roughly 58.3% of the population were members of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (which was declared separate from Moscow in recent years), and 25.4% were members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Fr Matthew

Be joyful, keep the faith!

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Dear parishioners and friends,

This year, St David’s Day coincides with Shrove Tuesday. St David’s famous words to his followers were “Be joyful, keep the faith!”. Lent offers us an opportunity to do just that – to be renewed in our faith so that our joy at Easter may be renewed many times over.

Please give Lent your serious attention. Prayer, fasting, almsgiving – these are the Church’s traditional ways of Lenten renewal. What might that mean in your life?

~ Fr Matthew