Weekend Message Dec 26

Dear friends,

This is the day our Saviour was born: what a joy for us all. This is no season for sadness, for this is the birthday of life which annihilates the fear of death, and brings about joy, promising immortality.

Nobody is an outsider to this happiness. The same cause for joy is common to all, for as Our Lord found nobody free from guilt when he came to bring an end to death and to sin, so he came with redemption for all. Let the saints rejoice, for they hasten to their crowns; let the sinners be filled with joy, for pardon is offered to them.

When the designated time had come…God’s Son took human nature upon himself, in order to reconcile us human beings to our Creator… The angels therefore exult at the birth of the Lord. They sing ‘Glory to God in the highest’, they announce ‘Peace on earth to all on whom God’s favour rests’. How greatly ought mere humans rejoice at this mysterious undertaking of divine love, when the angels on high thrill so much at it! (from a sermon of Pope St Leo the Great)

“O God, who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature, and still more wonderfully restored it, grant that we may share in the divinity of him who humbled himself to share in our humanity, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.” (Opening Prayer at the Mass for Christmas Morning)

Christmas Masses: Bishop Patrick has written to remind us that the ‘Sunday Obligation’ is suspended, and this extends also to Mass on Christmas Day. He also tells us that every Mass celebrated in Christmas week (that is, from 25th December to 1st January inclusive) is to be considered as a ‘Christmas Mass’ even if it is also the celebration of another Feast (such as St. Stephen, or the Holy Family).

Prayers for the living and the dead: please pray for Linda Burton, Sister Ursula O’Keefe, Michael Garvey, Peggy Ward, Nicholas Coote, and all who have died recently; and for Andrew Madden, Joseph Armeni, Dave Knapper, Teresa Maugham, Debbie Bourke, Elizabeth Fullerton, Mary Dunne, Ranjit Mann, and Juanita Zaman who are seriously ill. Please let me know of any others who have died, or anyone who is ill and asks for prayers.

Churches open again for the public celebration of Mass: St. Pius X, Narborough, and Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth, opened again for the public celebration of Mass from Saturday 5th December. Arrangements are the same as before the recent lockdown began. Masks or face coverings will be required for those attending Mass (except for those exempted from wearing them); it is necessary for those attending Church to sanitize their hands on entering; and all need to keep social distance from each other (unless they are members of the same household or family). Young persons under the age of sixteen years, and all persons who suffer from physical or mental disability, must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult. Please remember that we are not allowed to kneel down while in Church: please stand or sit as appropriate, but please do not kneel.

The Church must be sanitized after every public celebration of Mass, and stewards must also be on duty for those celebrations. I am very grateful to the stewards & cleaners who have offered to be available to support the public celebration of Mass on the following days and times:

At St. Pius X, Narborough:
• 10am Saturday 26th;
• 10am Sunday 27th;
• 10am Monday 28th;
• 10am Saturday 2nd;
• 10am Sunday 3rd:
• 10am Monday 4th.

At Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus, Lutterworth:
• 11am Sunday 27th;
• 10.30am Tuesday 29th;
• 10.30am Friday 1st January;
• 11am Sunday 3rd January;
• 10.30am Tuesday 5th January;
• 10.30am Wednesday 6th January.

Please remember that it will be essential to book a place at Mass on every occasion that you wish to attend. It is not permitted to book for every Sunday, or even for a number of weeks. Please also remember to bring a mask to wear when coming to Mass.

Booking Arrangements for next week and next weekend:

At Our Lady of Victories & St. Alphonsus:

Please ring 079 0113 4564 on the following days, and at these times. It is not possible to leave a message outside these times:

• Monday 28th December between 9.30am and 10.30am or between 6pm and 7pm
• Wednesday 30th December between 9.30am and 10.30am or between 6pm and 7pm

Times of Mass next week and weekend:
• 10.30am Tuesday 29th;
• 10.30am Friday 1st January;
• 11am Sunday 3rd January.

At St. Pius X, Narborough:
You may book by email: johnhadley1971@gmail.com or by phone: (0116) – 2863676
at the following times on the following days:

• between 7pm and 8pm on Monday 28th December;
• between 7pm and 8pm on Tuesday 29th December;
• between 7pm and 8pm on Thursday 31st December;

Times of Mass for next weekend:
• 10am Saturday 2nd;
• 10am Sunday 3rd:
• 10am Monday 4th.

At Narborough the intentions for Mass this week will be: Saturday (26th December) Marcela Cortes RIP; Sunday (27th December) People of the Parish; Monday (28th December) Gonda & William Collopy RIP.. Wednesday Deceased friends & relations of Mike Tobin; Thursday William Snowden RIP; Friday Welfare of David Bunyan. Next weekend Saturday (2nd January) Gerry d’Araujo RIP; Sunday (3rd January) Danny & Robert Murphy RIP; Monday (4th January) Deceased relations & friends of Ian & Barbara Abbott.

First Confession and Holy Communion: Candidates must be in Year 3 at school (or above). Confirmation: Candidates must be in secondary school (or later). Please let me know as soon as possible, and certainly before the start of December, of any candidates for these sacraments. So far I have received four applications for First Confession and Holy Communion, and five applications for Confirmation. I have obtained the books for use in these preparations; we will see how we may be able to start preparation for these sacraments in the New Year.

Reminders from previous weeks:

Recycling Textiles: At the moment the firm are no longer collecting in the Leicester area and has no plans to restart collections here. If anyone knows of any other organization willing to collect clothes and other textiles in our area, please let me know.

The corporal works of mercy: feed the hungry (and thirsty), clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, give shelter to the homeless, bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy: counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish the sinner, comfort the afflicted, forgive offences, bear wrongs patiently, and pray for the living and for the dead.

MARRIAGE CARE: Our marriage preparation and support service enable couples to nurture faithful and fruitful marriages that last, as we draw on Catholic teaching and contemporary research to help couples focus on the quality of their relationship with each other.

Our latest resource, Preparing Together Anywhere, is facilitated by two trained volunteers via webcam. Groups of up to 7 engaged couples attend three 90-minute sessions over a period of 3 weeks, with additional resources to enable couples to reflect more deeply in between sessions on the commitment being entered into. Wedding plans may be on hold for some time, but couples need not put their preparation for marriage on hold.

Through our relationship counselling service (now available via webcam), we accompany, with compassion and practical wisdom, couples who find themselves in need of support on their journey. Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, we know that increases in family stress and impending threat of relationship breakdown will plunge many more into financial difficulties. We are unique in asking couples who come to us for counselling only to pay what they can afford, reflecting our commitment to support those most in need. Please encourage couples to connect with us today at: www.marriagecare.org.uk.

Standing Orders: I will provide the parish Bank details to anyone who would like to donate by Standing Order or similar electronic means – many of you already do so (and I am very grateful indeed). I can provide standing order mandates for anyone who wishes – please just ask.

Gift Aid: I have copies of the form to complete, so if you are a taxpayer and would like the tax paid on your contributions to be given to the parish, please ask me for a form.

With best wishes to you all, and assuring you all of my prayers, Father John