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Notices

Fr. Peter Charles Crowther obl. sbso | The Presbytery, Bury Lane, Withnell, Chorley, PR6 8SD | Tel 01254 830 995 | Reg Charity: 232709

Universalis

© 2020 St Joseph's Catholic Church, Withnell. All Rights Reserved.

Please pray for Pope Francis, Benedict XVI and Archbishop Malcolm McMahon                                                   

Liverpool Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool Reg. Char. 232709

moorlandsanctuary@gmail.com

www.moorlandsanctuary.com


TODAY'S MASS: Jesus is the completion of the Law of God, given to Israel through Moses. He has come not to sweep away, but to perfect it. In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew has gathered together six instances (four this week, two in next Sunday's Gospel) of the ways in which Jesus brings the Law to perfection. The first factor to notice, however, is that Jesus does not hesitate to adjust the Divine Law on his own authority, for he too has Divine Authority. Each amendment begins with a statement of the Old Law and boldly goes on, 'but I say this to you....' Each of the alterations has its own character. The first is about enmity, the sixth about love. About enmity, it is not enough merely to forego violence; we must even expel enmity from our hearts, positively seeking reconciliation, whether the offence is our fault or not. About lust, it is similarly not enough to forego acts of lust; we must not even harbour such thoughts in our hearts. About truth, it is not enough to keep a legal oath; we must be people whose every word can be relied upon. These are Jesus' demanding standards. (Fr. Henry Wansbrough, osb)


GOSPEL LESSON: We need to grow in our closeness and intimacy with the Holy Spirit. What is our experience  of the “beyond”, the otherness of God?  (Fr. Kieran O'Mahony, osa)


WEEKLY PONDER: Have I allowed my enmity to fester? Can I solve it now? Am I a person whose every word can be trusted as true?  (Fr. Henry Wansbrough, osb)


A PRAYER: God, ever beyond our minds and hearts, and yet nearer to us than we are to ourselves, in whom we live and move and have our being: keep us always attuned to your presence that we may know you and rejoice in your love. (Fr. Kieran O'Mahony, osa)


SAINT THIS WEEK: Friday is the feast of St. Peter Damian. He was born in Ravenna in 1007. He suffered as a child through lack of  parental affliverpool Ordo)ection. He joined the hermit monks of Fonte Avellana seeking a life of solitude and prayer. However, he was made Bishop of Ostia and worked strenuously by his writing and preaching to reform abuses in the Church. He died in 1072.  (Liverpool Ordo)


THIS WEEK'S HYMN:                O Lord, all the world belongs to you.   ( Patrick Appleford )


                                                   O Lord, all the world belongs to you,                        The world's only loving to its friends,

                                                   and you are always making all things new,               but you have brought us love that never ends,

                                                   What is wrong you forgive,                                        loving enemies to,

                                                   and the new life you give                                           and this loving with you

                                                   is what's turning the world upside down.                   Is what's turning the world upside down.


YOUCAT:  (Question 379) What sorts of attacks on human life are forbidden by the Fifth Commandment?  Murder and acting as an accomplice to murder are forbidden. Killing unarmed civilians in a war is forbidden. The abortion of a human being, from the moment of conception on, is forbidden. Suicide, self-mutilation, and self-destructive behaviour are forbidden. Euthanasia  -  killing the handicapped, the sick and the dying  -  is also forbidden.


MEDITATION: The love of God is an unconditional love, and only that love can empower us to live together without violence. When we know that God loves us deeply and will always go on loving us, whoever we are and whatever we do, it  becomes possible to expect no more of our fellow men and women than they are able to give, to forgive them generously when they have offended us, and always to respond to their hostility with love. By doing so we make visible a new way of being human and a new way of responding to our world problems.  (Henri Nouwen)

 SAINTLY GEMS: Nothing can bring greater happiness than doing God's will for the love of God.  (St. Miguel Febres Codero Munoz)

Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everthing is possible for the person who practices all three virtues. (Brother Lawrence)


FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The Gospel is an invitation to and blueprint for complete joy.  (Matthew Kelly)

God delights in conversation with you.  (Matthew Kelly)

Jesus, give me the courage to let down my guard.  (Matthew Kelly)


MASSES THIS WEEK:  Weekday Masses this week are in church. Exposition on Wednesday at 9.00am.


SYNOD 2020 POST BOX: Last day today for any suggestions you may have please. Thanks to those who have taken the trouble to ponder and then reply. One of the Synod criticisms is that we as a Church don't make people welcome. I don't think that Withnell can be part of that criticism. Everybody is welcome here; just turn up and become a part of the parish community once again; no questions and no criticisms!! Jesus loves us all and died for us all!!


ROGER WRENNO MASS: Mass in honour of Blessed Roger Wrenno will be celebrated at St. Mary's as a Deanery Mass on Wednesday 18th. March at 6.30pm. It is hoped to have representatives from each parish. Please put your names on the list if you are happy to represent our parish in any way. Who was Roger? He was a Chorley weaver who gave his life because he hid priests when they were in the local area trying to bring the Mass to the Catholics.


SECOND COLLECTION:  Today for the Missions. Just give what you can.


ASH WEDNESDAY:  Wednesday 26th. February. School Mass at 9.30am. Parish Mass at 7.00pm.


COTSWOLD HOUSE:  Apparently there is an excellent facility in Chorley where rough sleepers can get a decent night's sleep, a shower and food. They may be in need of good quality men's clothing. Margaret France is going to keep me informed, and this would then extend our Parish Ministry. Just keep it in mind for the moment, and thanks to Margaret who never seems to rest!!


LENT LOOMS:  Ash Wednesday is, as we have said, 26th. February. Now is the time to decide what you are going to give up, or even what you are going to do extra. I leave you to make your own Stations of the Cross as we did last year except for Palm Sunday and Good Friday. The church is open on weekdays from 7am. until 6pm. A daily visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament would be a good Lenten practice. Confessions every Lenten Saturday from noon to 12.30pm.


CORONA VIRUS: As anticipated last Sunday, there is not to be any sign of Peace for the forseeable future. People should not go to A&E if they feel ill but contact a surgery by phone for any necessary instructions concerning possible Virus symptoms. Stay at home if told. Don't come to Mass if you are told to self-quarantine.


CLASS 2:  Thank you for your attendance at Holy Mass last Wednesday, and for the excellent reading and good behaviour. Try and come to Mass on Sundays if you can please. It is the Lord's Day and he loves to see us and talk to us and eat with us. “Take, eat, this is my Body.”


HALF TERM:  I hope Staff and children enjoy the holiday. Children should let adults know where they are at any time and if possible, take a phone with them.


Lately Deceased

Fr. Peter Charles Crowther, obl.sbso

01254 830 995

Email: moorlandsanctuary@rcaol.org.uk  

Parish Administrator and Catechist: Jane Gilbertson, B.Ed. (Hons), B.Sc. (Hort), CTC.

Week 6 Year A    , 16th. February 2020

Sexagesima Sunday                     

 Hand in hand with Jesus         Remember your daily Rosary

 


 



  


 



















 












Exsurge, quare obdormis, Domine?

Anniversaries

Sick & Housebound

Feastdays

Readers

Anointing / Forgiveness

Mass

Intentions

Fr. Denis Harvey, Fr. Raymond Walker, Fr. Thomas Cummins, Fr. Patrick Walsh, sss., Dcn. Don Campion, Lilly Ellen Holt, John Turner, Frank Barnish, George Fisher, Mary Ellen Thompson, George Bailey, Agnes Clayton, Rosemary Taylor, Antoinette Scatliff, Peter Anderson, Dick Lett, Ann Hill, Irene Parkinson, Eileen Hagan, Thomas Knowles, Alan Abbott, John Clayton, Vera Holden, Bill Rossall, Robert Heaps, Kathleen Moss, Pamela Higab, Muriel Evans, Sheila Barrow, Margaret Hills.

Fr. John Daulman, Philip Rushton, Ian Davies, Madeleinne Shaw, Ann Beconnsall, Rita Maher, David Mahon, Kathleen Mee, Barry Winstanley, Rachel Mason, Jean Dawson and others.

Next Week:   David Southworth

COLLECTOR:



Today:  Joshua Gardner

COLLECTOR:



Dcn. Peter Fehrenbach

“Leave your gift at the altar“