LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO THE FAITHFUL FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The month of May is approaching, a time when the People of God express with particular intensity their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view.

For this reason, I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of May. This can be done either as a group or individually; you can decide according to your own situations, making the most of both opportunities. The key to doing this is always simplicity, and it is easy also on the internet to find good models of prayers to follow.

I am also providing two prayers to Our Lady that you can recite at the end of the Rosary, and that I myself will pray in the month of May, in spiritual union with all of you. I include them with this letter so that they are available to everyone.

Dear brothers and sisters, contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary our Mother will make us even more united as a spiritual family and will help us overcome this time of trial. I keep all of you in my prayers, especially those suffering most greatly, and I ask you, please, to pray for me. I thank you, and with great affection I send you my blessing.

Rome, Saint John Lateran, 25 April 2020
Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist

Pope Francis

---

First Prayer
 

O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.

“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.

We fly to your protection,
O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

---

Second Prayer
 

“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.

In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.

Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment.

Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.

Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.

Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.

Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.

Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.

Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.

Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.

To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

NEWSLETTER - THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTERTIDE. Sunday 26th April 2020

Mass is said privately and all Churches continue to be closed

Sunday – Easter 3

Intention: for the Parish


Monday:

Intention:


Tuesday:

Intention: Derek Vitalli (int)


Wednesday – St. Catherine of Sienna (Co-Patron of Europe)

Intention: Bill Tomlinson (RIP)


Thursday – St. Pope Pius V

Intention: John Paul Kelly (RIP)


Friday – of the Sacred Heart

Intention: 


Saturday- St. Athanasius

Intention: 


Sunday – Easter 4

Intention: for the Parish

There is NO collection for Priests Training Fund today !

NEWSLETTER – Sunday 19th April 2020 LOW SUNDAY of the DIVINE MERCY

Mass continues to be said privately and all Church buildings continue to be closed.

Sunday of the Divine Mercy:

Mass Intention: for the parish

The Three o’clock prayer:

You expired, O Jesus,  but the source of life gushed forth for souls  and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world.  O Fount of Life,  unfathomable Divine Mercy,  envelop the whole world  and empty Yourself out upon us.  O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus  as a fount of mercy for us,  I trust in You. Amen.

Monday:

Mass intention: Bill Tomlinson (RIP)

Tuesday: St. Anselm

Mass intention: Violet Lilian Daly (RIP)

Wednesday:

Mass intention:

Thursday: St. George, Patron of England

Mass intention: HM the Queen

Friday: SS. Erkenwald and Mellitus

Mass intention: John Paul Kelly (RIP)

Saturday: St. Mark (Rogation Day)

Mass intention:

Sunday: Easter 3

Mass intention: for the parish

EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDtJoaii0NI

wishing you a very happy Easter,

NEWSLETTER: EASTER DAY Sunday 12th April 2020

 

something to bring you a smile:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EGbMm5UqJs

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL !

Holy Mass continues to be said privately and Churches remain closed.

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection

Holy Mass intention: for the parish

Easter Monday

Holy Mass intention: Lawrence and Adejoke Thomas (int)

Easter Tuesday

Holy Mass intention: Private Intention

Easter Wednesday:

Holy Mass intention: for the parish

Easter Thursday:

Holy Mass intention: Private intention

Easter Friday

Holy Mass intention: Bill Tomlinson (RIP)

Easter Saturday

Holy Mass intention: Frank and Joyce (Wedding Anniversary)

Low Sunday of the Divine Mercy

Holy Mass intention: for the parish

HOLY SATURDAY

From an ancient homily on Holy Saturday
(PG 43, 439, 451, 462-463)

The Lord descends into hell

Something strange is happening — there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and Hell trembles with fear. He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, He who is both God and the Son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the Cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone, ‘My Lord be with you all.’ Christ answered him: ‘And with your spirit.’ He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’

I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in Hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I in you; together we form one person and cannot be separated.

For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.

See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.

I slept on the Cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in Paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in Hell. The sword that pierced Me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you.

Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly Paradise. I will not restore you to that Paradise, but will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The Bridal Chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The Kingdom of Heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Iq4o0uw_g&feature=youtu.be

Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God: that we who anticipate the resurrection of thy Son with pious expectation, may obtain the glory of the same resurrection.
Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

GOOD FRIDAY

Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, 

I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, 

and with the most fervent desire of my soul, 

I pray and beseech 

Thee that Thou wouldst impress upon my heart 

lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, 

with true contrition for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment; 

while with deep affection and grief of soul 

I ponder within myself and mentally contemplate Thy five wounds, 

having before my eyes the words which David, Thy prophet 

put on Thy lips concerning Thee: 

'They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones' (Psalm 21: 17,18).

Let  us  pray  also  for all  those  who  suffer  the  consequences  of  the  current  pandemic,  that  God  the Father  may  grant  health  to  the  sick,  strength  to  those  who  care  for  them,  comfort  to  families  and salvation to all the victims who have died.

A moment of silent prayer.

Almighty ever-living God, only support of our human weakness, 

look with compassion upon the sorrowful condition of your children 

who suffer because of this pandemic; 

relieve the pain of the sick, 

give strength to those who care for them, 

welcome into your peace those who have died 

and, throughout this time of tribulation, 

grant that we may all find comfort in your merciful love. 

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

MAUNDY THURSDAY.

 

Of the glorious body telling, O my tongue, its mysteries sing,

And the blood, all price excelling, Which the world’s eternal King,

In a noble womb once dwelling, Shed for this world’s ransoming.

Everything that is Divine in Christ Jesus is of GOD, everything that is human is of Mary. That ‘glorious body’ – of the GOD-MAN begins the final moments for our redemption, Mary, who had held that body for the shepherds and the Wise Men to worship, joins with us, for us to do the same. May Mary pray for us.



Given for us, for us descending, Of a virgin to proceed,

Man with man in converse blending, Scattered he the gospel seed,

Till his sojourn drew to ending, Which he closed in wondrous deed.

From the moment of his birth, St. Joseph watched over, protected and helped nurture the Lord. He helped the Lord in his skills to offer to the world the means of repentance and ‘converse blending’ to ‘scatter the gospel seed’. May St. Joseph pray for us.



At the last great supper lying Circled by his chosen band,

Duly with the law complying, First he finished its command,

Then, immortal food supplying, Gave himself by his own hand.

In accordance with the existing covenant of Moses and the Prophets, the Lord fulfils the requirements of that covenant….the Passover is prepared and he ‘finished its commend’. ‘with the law (of Moses and the Prophets) complying’ the Lord now prepares himself to be that final and new Passover –with ‘immortal food’



Word-made-flesh, by word he maketh Bread his very flesh to be;

Man in wine Christ’s blood partaketh: And if senses fail to see,

Faith alone the true heart waketh To behold the mystery.

This ‘immortal food’, bread and wine, by the words spoken by the ‘Word-made-flesh’ become the Body and Blood of what will be the New covenant. For if our ‘senses fail’ to recognise this ‘immortal food’ be ‘the glorious body’: our heart of faith tells us to recognise ‘the world’s eternal king’ who will be the NEW PASSOVER in the ‘wondrous deed’ of the Cross



Therefore we, before him bending, This great sacrament revere:

Types and shadows have their ending, For the newer rite is here;

Faith, our outward sense befriending, Makes the inward vision clear.

As the curtain of the Temple is torn in two, the Lord ‘finished the command’ the ‘newer rite is here’ which replaces the sacrifices of that Temple. The ‘types and shadows’ are revealed (through the open curtain) ‘to behold  the mystery’ – the mystery of the Sacrifice of the Lord ‘ given for us, for us descending’ ‘shed for this word’s ransoming’. The ‘newer rite’ of ‘wondrous deed’ on the Cross foreseen in the ‘great sacrament’ given ‘himself by his own hand’



Glory let us give and blessing To the Father and the Son,

Honour, might and praise addressing, While eternal ages run;

Ever too his love confessing, Who, from both, with both is one. Amen.

"Was ever another command so obeyed? For century after century, spreading slowly to every continent and country and among every race on earth, this action has been done, in every conceivable human circumstance, for every conceivable human need from infancy and before it to extreme old age and after it, from the pinnacle of earthly greatness to the refuge of fugitives in the caves and dens of the earth. Men have found no better thing than this to do for kings at their crowning and for criminals going to the scaffold; for armies in triumph or for a bride and bridegroom in a little country church; for the proclamation of a dogma or for a good crop of wheat; for the wisdom of the Parliament of a mighty nation or for a sick old woman afraid to die; for a schoolboy sitting an examination or for Columbus setting out to discover America; for the famine of whole provinces or for the soul of a dead lover; in thankfulness because my father did not die of pneumonia; for a village headman much tempted to return to fetich because the yams had failed; because the Turk was at the gates of Vienna; for the repentance of Margaret; for the settlement of a strike; for a son for a barren woman; for Captain so-and-so wounded and prisoner of war; while the lions roared in the nearby amphitheatre; on the beach at Dunkirk; while the hiss of scythes in the thick June grass came faintly through the windows of the church; tremulously, by an old monk on the fiftieth anniversary of his vows; furtively, by an exiled bishop who had hewn timber all day in a prison camp near Murmansk; gorgeously, for the canonisation of S. Joan of Arc—one could fill many pages with the reasons why men have done this, and not tell a hundredth part of them. And best of all, week by week and month by month, on a hundred thousand successive Sundays, faithfully, unfailingly, across all the parishes of Christendom, the pastors have done this just to make the plebs sancta Dei—the holy common people of God." (Dom Gregory Dix)

ALL THIS TO THE PRAISE OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY.

Wednesday in Holy Week (SPY WEDNESDAY)

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”‘“ The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.” Matthew 26:14-25

A thought: Judas went of his own volition (there was no compulsion or force). He readily took the offering for his betrayal and,in exactly the same way, readily took the supernatural offering of His Lord. ' Surely it is not I' ?

The Collect:

O God, who willed your Son to submit for our sake to the yoke of the Cross, so that you might drive from us the power of the enemy, grant us, your servants, to attain the grace of the resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever.

The Prayer over the People:

Grant your faithful, O Lord, we pray, to partake unceasingly of the paschal mysteries and to await with longing the gifts to come, that, persevering in the Sacraments of their rebirth, they may be led by Lenten works to newness of life. Through Christ our Lord.

The Act of Contrition:

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. 

I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.

Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

Tuesday in Holy Week

Hear me, O islands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God. For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 49:1-6

A thought: When there is a feeling that enough is enough: God may as for more!

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.” John 13: 21-33 + 36-38

A thought: When there is an enthusiasm to do more for God: it may turn out to be wrong or less than what is really being asked.

The Collect:

Almighty ever-living God, grant us so to celebrate the mysteries of the Lord’s Passion that we may merit to receive your pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

The Prayer over the People:

May your mercy, O God, cleanse the people that are subject to you from all seduction of former ways
and make them capable of new holiness. Through Christ our Lord.

Monday in Holy Week

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said,
“Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?”
He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, 

“Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him. (John 12:  1-11)

A thought: 

It is SIX days before the moment the created world (including us) will be reconciled to the Father: He who made the whole of creation in SIX days, begins today the preparations for that moment. For He who created mankind on the SIXTH DAY will redeem mankind on the SIXTH DAY hence.

Just as the preparation for this moment is made at table: at Bethany (which means 'house of obedience') so our redemption continues to be renewed at table: at the Altar of the Church- the place of the obedient.

At this table, Jesus, Mary and Martha rejoice together with Lazarus , who has been raised from the dead: so to at the Altar of Heavenly Grace, we are joined by those who having remained obedient, live in the presence of Truth.

The Collect:

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, though in our weakness we fail, we may be revived through the Passion of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

The Prayer over the People:

May your protection, O Lord, we pray, defend the humble and keep ever safe those who trust in your mercy, that they may celebrate the paschal festivities not only with bodily observance but above all with purity of mind. Through Christ our Lord.

From HM the QUEEN

I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time. A time of disruption in the life of our country: a disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all.

I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times.

I also want to thank those of you who are staying at home, thereby helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones. Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.

I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge. And those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve and of fellow-feeling still characterise this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past, it defines our present and our future.  

The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit; and its symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children. 

Across the Commonwealth and around the world, we have seen heart-warming stories of people coming together to help others, be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbours, or converting businesses to help the relief effort.  

And though self-isolating may at times be hard, many people of all faiths, and of none, are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect, in prayer or meditation.

It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made, in 1940, helped by my sister. We, as children, spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, as then, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do. 

While we have faced challenges before, this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed - and that success will belong to every one of us. 

We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.

But for now, I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all.

NEWSLETTER – Sunday 5th April 2020. Palm Sunday of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Each day this week, a post on here will be given to take us through Holy Week together.

Palm Sunday – Mass will be said privately at which Palms will be blessed. The Palms will be retained until we are allowed to travel.

Intention: for the parish


Monday in Holy Week- Mass will be said privately

Intention: Betty Brown (int)

Also known as: Fig Monday – The day on which Christ cursed the fig tree. People ate dried figs on this day to commemorate the miracle.


Tuesday in Holy Week – Mass will be said privately

Intention: Mr. Grey (RIP)

There is NO Chrism Mass at the Cathedral today


Wednesday in Holy Week – Mass will be said privately

Intention: private intention

Also known as Spy Wednesday – The day on which Judas Iscariot met with the Jewish priests and made plans for the betrayal, hence the name “spy.”

THE SACRED TRIDUUM

Maundy Thursday – Mass of the Last Supper will be said privately

Intention: for the parish

There is NO Watch at the Altar of Repose


Maundy:  from the Latin Vulgate version of John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” In Latin, the verse begins with Mandatum novum do vobis. The word “maundy” is a corruption of “mandatum” meaning commandment.


Good Friday – The Solemn Service (Mass of the Pre-sanctified) will be said privately (with reduced ceremonies)

– Here “good” hearkens back to Middle English in which the word denotes piety or holiness.


Holy Saturday – A quiet day, the perfect Sabbath of Christ in which He descended into the limbo of Hell and delivered the saints of the Old Testament


The Easter Vigil – will be said privately (with reduced ceremonies)

Intention: for the Parish


Easter Day – Mass will be said privately

Intention: for the parish

Over these very unusual days: let us be together in prayer at home but in particular to join with our Archbishop, Cardinal Nichols as he offers the Holy Mass and  Rites of Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum. 


https://rcdow.org.uk/news/live-streams-from-westminster-cathedral/

PALM SUNDAY of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The church continues to be closed for all acts of public worship.

Holy Mass will be said privately at 8.30am at which the Palms will be blessed.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR COLLECTING THE PALMS:

At the recommendation of His Eminence, the Archbishop, the Blessed Palms will be stored for you to collect at a later date when travel is made easier.




READINGS:

Gospel: Matthew 21: 1-11


of the Mass

1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7

2nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11

The Passion: Matthew 26:14-27:66


Or


Exodus: 15:27, 16:1-7 Matthew 21:1-8


of the Mass

Epistle: Phil 2:5-11

Passion: Matthew 26 and 27


What can you do at home for Palm Sunday?


The readings for the Blessing of Palms and for the Mass of the Passion are given above. In England, pussy willow and hazel (catkins) were used to decorate church and homes. On your daily walks see if there is any available for you to use:

Increase the faith of those who place their hope in you, O God, and graciously hear the prayers of those who call on you, that we, who today hold high these branches to hail Christ in his triumph, may bear fruit for you by good works accomplished in him. 

Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

R. Amen.