MEETING ON THE OUTCOME OF THE FIRST PART OF THE SYNOD

Webmaster • December 11, 2023


TUESDAY 12th DECEMBER, AT 6.00pm, IN THE OLDE FORGE CAFÉ


You probably remember that, over a year ago now, we held two extremely well-attended meetings in preparation for a Synod of the whole Catholic Church throughout the world which was called by Pope Francis. The aim of the Synod is to review the way our Church lives and proclaims the Good News of God’s saving love, in the world today. Thanks to the very good work of Marian and Lorenza, who were our Parish representatives for the Synod in our Archdiocese, we made a number of suggestions and comments, in the light of the discussions at our two meetings. These were forwarded to the Archdiocese and in turn formed part of the Archdiocesan report in preparation for the Synod. Our own Archbishop John was one of the three Bishops from England and Wales who represented the United Kingdom in the one-month meeting of the world-wide Synod itself in Rome which recently ended. Archbishop John has written a report and given his reflections on this first part of the Synod. The second part will be next year, after the whole Church throughout the world has had a chance to pray and ponder the outcome of the first part. I had the pleasure, last week, of being with the Archbishop when he spoke about the Synod and what it has produced so far. I’d very much like to share with you what he spoke of and of what the Synod has so far achieved and listen to your views. I’ll then be able to feed back to Archbishop John exactly what we think and what we hope for. Please come to this hour-long meeting so that we can all play a prayerful, reflective part in shaping our future church, built on truth and love. The Holy Spirit who guides the Church has often spoken through people like you and I, in the last two thousand years. What you feel and what you say must be spoken and must be heard.

ROTA FOR LECTORS – NOVEMBER

By Webmaster • November 3, 2025
1/2: 5pm Richard; 9am Gerry; 11am Mutsa 8/9: 5pm Collette; 9am Claire; 11am Paul 15/16: 5pm Marian; 9am Lorenza; 11am Patricia 22/23: 5pm Lizzie; 9am David; 11am Jim 29/30: 5pm Maggie; 9am John; 11am Lisa

HEALTH AND SAFETY - LEAVES!

By Webmaster • November 3, 2025
Please be careful on the pavement in front of the church and on the pathways leading to the main door of the church and around the church and Cafe and presbytery. As Autumn takes hold and the daylight hours decrease, fallen leaves make for slippery surfaces. If you see fallen leaves around our church and buildings and on the pavement in front of the church, please clear the leaves. There is a brush in the church porch. Thank you. Thank you so much to everyone who helped to sweep and remove fallen leaves after holy Mass last Sunday. We will need to keep doing this for a few more weeks, I fear! If you can hold a broom, please help!

BLESSING OF GRAVES

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
BLESSING OF GRAVES AND PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED Next Sunday afternoon, 9th November , I’ll be pleased to visit local cemeteries to bless the graves of your loved ones with holy water and pray for them. Please let me know if you would like me to do this for you.

THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER - PRAYING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
We began the month of November with the great Feast of All Saints, inviting everyone who is now with the Lord in Heaven, living in eternal joy, to pray for us. Tomorrow, the Feast of All Souls, we begin to think of those who have died and, while not yet in Heaven, are on their way home! We believe that the holy Mass and our prayers help these Holy Souls on that journey. Do come to holy Mass tomorrow, All Souls Day, and join me and through the holy Mass we can help our loved ones to speedily reach our homeland of Heaven.  If you would like me to offer holy Mass during the month of November, for specific members of your family or friends who have died, please fill in one of the Holy Mass envelopes which you will find in the church porch, enclose your stipend and please give it to me or pop it through the presbytery letterbox. In the holy Mass, we are connected to the Lord Jesus in his death and resurrection. The holy Mass is the most powerful means possible to allow the Lord to bring us and our loved ones safely home to Heaven.

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION ROTA

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
NOVEMBER 2025 1/2: 5pm Patrick; 9am Paul; 11am Lizzie, Ross, Marian(H) 8/9: 5pm Patricia; 9am Maggie; 11am Lorenza, David, Simone(H) 15/16: 5pm Angela; 9am Phil; 11am Margaret, Mary, Lisa(H) 22/23: 5pm Carolyn; 9am Jim; 11am John, Gabrielle, Giannina(H) 29/30: 5pm Regina; 9am Patrick; 11am Paul, Patricia, Linda(H) Thank you to our wonderful Ministers of the Eucharist who have accepted the Lord’s invitation to this awesome, sacred ministry, by their willingness to give up their own plans and convenience in order to do God’s will rather than their own. Let us pray for them because they too fight the same personal weaknesses we all have to fight against and they too have to fight the same temptations we all have to fight. God be with them.

WEEK DAY LECTORS

By WEBMASTER • November 2, 2025
Mon 3rd Nov: Gerry Tue 4th Nov: Paul Doherty Wed 5th Nov: David Thu 6th Nov: Jim Fri 7th Nov: Lizzie

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD DURING 11.00am SUNDAY HOLY MASS

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
We will begin again our ‘Liturgy of the Word’ for children of Primary School age on Sunday November 2nd and then on the following consecutive Sundays. Dear Parents please bear these dates in mind when you bring your children to holy Mass. During these ‘Liturgy of the Word’ sessions, our children will have opportunities to understand and enjoy God’s loving Word during the 11.00am holy Mass.

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
Please add the names of any loved ones who have died in the last year, to our Book of Remembrance, on the page of the date they left our world. The Book of Remembrance will be placed on the altar during every holy Mass in this month of November and so we will remember to pray for them at each and every holy Mass.

THE PARISH IN COUNCIL - MEETING - A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
Each year we have a meeting for the whole parish to discuss our plans for the forthcoming year and to review all that we have achieved, by God’s grace, during the previous year. At this meeting we will cover every aspect of our parish life, from Liturgy to Finances! Last year, you may remember, we discussed our Archbishop’s plans for the diocese and parishes. May I invite everyone to this ‘Parish in Council’ meeting on Thursday 6th November at 6.30pm

RCIA - RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS - DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
We will soon begin again our meetings for adults who are thinking about becoming Catholics and/or who wish to receive the Sacraments of Baptism or Eucharist or Reconciliation or Confirmation. The next 3 meetings will be at 5.00pm on the 7th, 14th and 21st November. The meetings will take place in our Parish Room. We already have 2 adults who have signed up for these sessions. Please let me know if you have not yet been baptised or have not yet received the Sacraments mentioned above. You will be most welcome at these meetings which will be very informal and relaxed.