Today’s Gospel follows the Baptism of Jesus; John tells us that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  Saint Paul points out that Jesus came that we might be holy, for Paul being holy is being set aside for God.   Jesus suffered death and rose again to give us His life, setting us aside for God:  He died so we can be holy.    Holiness is not something that we do; it is something that Jesus has done for us.  He made us holy.  We all want to have wonderful, full lives; how can we live life to its fullest?  How, basically, by committing ourselves to God and abandoning ourselves to His Truth. This is how we respond to the call to be holy.  Behold, the Lamb of God, who accepted the way that would lead to the cross.  He is calling us to join Him and sacrifice ourselves for others.  John said that he saw the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus.  The Spirit has descended upon us too, calling us by name to trust in God; calling us to be lights in the world, lights guiding others to Jesus.

SITIMA DELIGHT AT NEW LATRINES: Parishioners at Sitima Parish extend their greetings and sincere thanks to the parishioners of Holy Trinity and St George for their generosity in funding the build of two new latrines and the restoration of others.

Sitima Parish is very rural, covering around 40 square miles south east of Zomba in Malawi and actually has eight Catholic churches forming the parish. The main church in Sitima is dedicated to St Joseph and it is here that the new latrines have been built.

Sitima parishioners say ‘Zikomo kwambiri’ (thank you very much).

EMAIL: We are compiling a list of email addresses to send the weekly bulletin and also the parish magazine. If you haven’t already given your details to the parish office and would like to receive items by email then please put your name on the list in church. Options are ‘bulletin’, ‘magazine’, ‘both’

Download Bulletin 19th January 2020

Jesus saw John baptizing.  He saw people there with John, sincere people, responding to John’s call to plunge into a new way of living. Jesus went down into the water and was baptized.  And the voice from heaven rang out, “This is my Beloved Son with Whom I am well pleased.”   Take the plunge!  All of us have to seize the day to take advantage of the moments that God gives us to allow us to change our lives and His world. We seize the day to prepare for tomorrow. There are many graced moments in our lives.  There are many times that we can allow God to draw us closer to Him. Some of these times are obvious, like confirmation, marriage, the celebration of the critical moments in the faith life of our children and grandchildren.  There are other times that might not seem so obvious, ordinary times when we are called to make the ordinary extraordinary by seizing the day, respond to God’s call and plunge into the river.  We are called to seize the day and be One with all who are seeking the Kingdom of God.  May Jesus, baptized by John, give us the courage to join Him in the Jordan River.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS 2020 – The first meeting, which is for the parents of the First Holy Communion children, is on Wednesday 15th January at 7.30pm in the parish centre.   We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Download Bulletin 12th January 2020

It must have been quite a sight as the Magi arrived in Israel.  These were powerful foreigners, worthy of an audience with Herod.  He was troubled by their visit: who were they and what did they want?  They wanted to pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews.  Was there a baby who would replace Herod?  His advisers told Herod of the prophecy that a ruler would come from Bethlehem.  If these three could create such a stir in Jerusalem, imagine what it like when they arrived in Bethlehem!  There these rich Gentiles prostrated themselves before the child and gave Him gifts.  Why would rich pagans be interested in the Jewish Messiah?  That the gentiles could be part of God’s plan for His people was beyond the consideration of the Jews.  But the mystery, hidden for generations was now revealed: the gentiles were to be co-heirs with them, co-partners in the promise of Jesus Christ, as St Paul tells us.  Jesus Christ came for all; none were to be excluded from the Grace of God that He brings.  Today we ask the Lord to free us from our prejudices, and allow us to be truly Catholic, truly people of a universal Church.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HUGE THANKS for your very kind cards and gifts over Christmas and thank you also to everyone who helped with the Christmas services.  I know you’ve put in a great deal of time and effort and it really worked.  The church looked wonderful and the services went really well.    Fr Hugh

Download Bulletin 5th January 2020

A PASTORAL LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF LANCASTER

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Word truly became flesh and has dwelt among us. The image of the infant Christ, Son of God, son of Mary, is placed before us that we might know with confidence the Mystery of God’s love. Commercial Christmas is soon over; ours is not. We are given the Season of Christmastide – which we may legitimately extend to 2nd February, the Feast of the Presentation – as a time for staying with the Holy Family. It is a beautiful gift for each one of us and for the world. Let us take time, itself a gift, to reflect on how Our Lord came. He ‘took flesh’ within the womb of Our Blessed Lady. He literally ‘took flesh’ from her. This is how all unborn children grow. His life was completely dependent on her health and well-being. And Mary entrusted herself to St. Joseph, a worthy spouse, step-father and guardian of the Holy Family. Pray for young parents. Pray for unborn children. Undoubtedly, they were members of an extended family. The Genealogies of St. Luke and St. Matthew make us aware of grandparent figures. Details are lacking but we may imagine elderly members of the family taking an interest and being given a role in the up-bringing of this new Child. Imagine the concern caused by them having to flee to Egypt to escape harm. Imagine the joy at being reunited when eventually they returned, even though it was to Nazareth. These were the days long before any welfare state. Families were close; they had to be because there was no alternative. It is still the case in many parts of the world. In our own society family must still be seen as the primary place for care and education for life. Pray for extended families. Pray for those who work to support families that struggle.Marriage is of Divine institution. Christ raises it to the dignity of a Sacrament. It is a vocation, and for many, the way to heaven. A story is told of a young priest conducting a wedding ceremony. At the appropriate time he delivered a well prepared homily on the joy and bliss of marriage, emphasising the privilege of so intimately sharing in the Grace of Divine love, nothing less than Christ’s love for His Bride, the Church. During the homily, one elderly woman in the congregation turned to her neighbour and whispered, ‘my word, Ethel, I wish I knew as little about marriage as that young man seems to . . .’ Pray for those who must preach the truth of the Gospel.It is easy to mock the experience of marriage. It can be tempting to dismiss the Church’s teaching as too idealistic, no longer relevant in our complex times, particularly where suffering and misunderstanding are present. However, the young priest was doing the right thing in presenting the Christian teaching on marriage rather than ‘lowering the bar’ and presenting a merely human experience.Christian love is not an ideal but a reality. We are not ashamed to appear ‘old-fashioned’ in our religious practice and teachings. We will not abandon Christ’s teachings to follow secular novelties and fashions. Pray for those who have been hurt in marriage. Pray for those who work for healing in our marriage tribunals.

Pope Saint John Paul II noted how the family, a fundamental institution, is experiencing a radical and widespread crisis. He said that the Church cannot yield to cultural pressures, no matter how popular and even militant they may be. Pray for those who have fallen away from the practice of their Faith because of temptation. Whatever our experience of life, the Holy Family is there for us, somewhere to find shelter, acceptance and belonging. I pray this year for all grandparents. Yours is an indispensable role. You offer support and encouragement to young families. Your relationship with grandchildren gives them memories they will carry into their own later years. May your example and memory be amongst their richest inheritance, especially when the world’s riches leave them empty or unsatisfied. Let us pray for our grandparents.

Finally, this year we set ourselves to become more familiar with the God who speaks. Imitate Mary and Joseph, young mother and step-father, waiting eagerly to hear Jesus, the Divine Son, speak his first word. It would be a word that brought great joy to them. They would be quick to tell their relatives and neighbours, ‘He has spoken!’ As we approach the new year, may we also wait patiently for the Lord to speak to us, whoever we are, whatever our circumstances and needs.I encourage you to attend Mass on New Year’s Day if possible, it is an opportunity to begin the year by listening to the Word. He has a word for each of us. It will bring us comfort and hope.

With my prayers for you and your families as we prepare for the new year,

+Paul

Paul Swarbrick

Bishop of Lancaster

Download Bulletin 22nd and 29th December 2019

A virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call Him, Emmanuel, which means, God-is- with-us!
St Elizabeth was married into the heart of the Temple tradition. She represents the best of the ancient chosen people of God. The Temple was a sign pointing to God. The ancient Hebrews struggled with the concept of building a Temple, while the pagans built temples everywhere and limited their gods to their buildings. The Hebrews, however, knew that God could not be limited to one place; but they wanted a place to honour God, a place that would hold the special presence of the One whom the universe could not contain. Elizabeth’s body was like that ancient Temple; it contained the one who would point out the Lord to the world. John the Baptist. Within Elizabeth, he leapt for joy in the presence of Jesus within Mary. John, the last of the ancient prophets became the first of the Christian prophets pointing to the One he would later call the Lamb of God. He embodied and brought to a conclusion the Temple Tradition of Israel, the tradition of reminding the people that God is among them. Jesus is Emmanuel, God-with-us!

Download: Bulletin 22nd and 29th December 2019

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice! 

John the Baptist leapt for joy in his mother’s womb when Elizabeth received a visit from Mary. He was the Forerunner; the one who said that the Messiah was coming. He is the one who pointed to Jesus and called Him the Lamb of God. He was the one who lived as a radical prophet, wearing animal skins and eating locusts and demanding a radical change in the way people lived. Our generation likes to close both its eyes and ears to this aspect of John’s life, but it is this aspect, this demand for continual and radical change, that has fascinated people for centuries. We seem to let the sentimentality of Christmas get in the way of John’s prophetic call to repent. Advent calls us to repentance as a prelude to true rejoicing. It is a time for us to develop and nurture our prayer lives. In the madness society creates during Advent let us make some quiet time to listen to the word of the Lord and to speak to the Lord in prayer, giving Him time each day. For in His presence we too will leap for joy and so rejoice in all He has done, and all He continues to do, for us.

Last day for CHRISTMAS FLOWERS DONATIONS in memory of loved ones is Wednesday 18th December. Thank you.

PARISH CAROL SINGING at Sainsburys on Saturday 21st December, 2 – 4.30pm and Morrisons on Monday 23rd from 4 – 6.30pm. All welcome to come along, sing, hit a tambourine, or shake a bucket! Proceeds to CAFOD

Bulletin 15th December 2019

St John the Baptist calls out not just to the people of his time who longed for the Messiah but to people of all times who experience the desperation and darkness of a world that rejects God.  Joy and light are to be found in Jesus Christ, the Messiah.  John is calling us to prepare, prepare ourselves, prepare our children, and prepare the world for its Saviour.  We prepare ourselves by rooting out the darkness of our lives.  That is why we strive go to confession during Advent.  We want to clean the house for company, Special Company, the Presence of the Lord.  We prepare the world for its Saviour by emphasizing the reason for the celebration.  So why not this Christmastime don’t just say, “Happy Christmas” but rather invite family and friends to join you at Mass on Christmas Day; where, as parishioners, each of us, can welcome visitors warmly.  We are in preparation mode, preparing not only for the fun of the celebration but preparing for the Lord to come among us.  May our preparations let us see the salvation of our God.

PARISH CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE SUNDAY 15^th DECEMBER 4PM All welcome and please join us in the parish centre afterwards for mince pies & mulled wine.

HYNING DAY OF RECOLLECTION: Saturday 14^th December, 10.30am – 3pm.  All are welcome to come along to Hyning for a quiet day with time for a little input and plenty of time for prayer.  Please sign up at the back of church if you’d like to join us.  Bring your own packed lunch.      Fr Hugh

Bulletin 8th December 2019

Advent begins with two very positive readings and a warning.  Jeremiah speaks to a people decimated by their enemies.  The Babylonians had captured many of them and exiled them to Babylon.  The Hebrews knew they had sinned; was the exile the result of their sins, had God totally deserted them?  Jeremiah reassures them: No!  God has not given up on them.  The time was coming when a righteous shoot of David would lead them, and Jerusalem would be made safe.  St Paul tells the Thessalonians – anxious that the Lord would come soon – that all they have to do is abound in love for one another and thus be blameless before God at the Lord’s coming.  These are comforting words, particularly in light of Jesus’ warnings in the Gospel where He speaks of dread-filled signs in the heavens and of death.  He adds that when we see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory, we should be ready, lifting our heads, because our redemption is at hand.  Waiting for the Lord to come again is the focus of this first week of Advent.  This waiting for the Lord demands that we make the best use of the time we have before He comes.

HYNING DAY OF RECOLLECTION will be on Saturday 14^th December from 10.30am until 3pm.  All are welcome to come along to Hyning for a quiet day with time for a little input and plenty of time for prayer.  Please bring your own packed lunch and put your name on the list in church.

THURSDAY CLUB CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON TEA –  The Thursday Club are inviting all senior parishioners and their friends to come along for tea and entertainment on Thursday 12th December in the parish centre from 2pm until about 3.30pm.  If you need transport please put your name and contact on the sign-up sheet at the back of church or contact the parish office.

Download Bulletin 1st December 2019

National Youth Sunday was celebrated this weekend with the young people in our parish and community and all the gifts and talents they share with us.  The young people helped to prepare readings, music and prayers for the 10am Mass below.  Please keep them in your prayers.

 All hail, Redeemer, hail!  For You have died for me!

Today we celebrate Jesus Christ, the King of kings.  Jesus’ only focus was serving God. He showed us how to serve God as He healed the sick, raised the dead, and called others to do works of charity. Immediately before He gave us the Eucharist, He washed the feet of His disciples and told them, and tells us, that what we see Him do, we also must do.  The gift of the Eucharist itself is the Body that is given up for us and the Blood that is shed for us.  When we are united to Him in communion we are united to the one who is calling us to give our bodies and blood up for others in service to the Father.  We are confronted with choices throughout our lives.  We can make political choices; those choices which will bring us the greatest popularity among others, or, we can make the Christian choice, the choice that would make the presence of the Kingdom a reality in our world.  Jesus Christ is our King.  He is the King who frees us from political choices.  We can, and we must serve Him in all we do and say; we must serve Him by living our faith each day.

CENACOLO COMMUNITY OPEN DAY at Dodding Green on Saturday 30^th November with Rosary from 10am.  Holy Mass will be at 12 noon followed by lunch.  After lunch there will be testimonies, concluding with the Open Air Nativity presentation at around 5pm.  We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible!

Download Bulletin 24th November 2019