Welcome to our parish website. All newsletters and other updates are posted on the home page. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @stwilfholycross. We are beginning the amalgamation process with Holy Cross, Whitwick so you can find information on new Mass times here.

31 December 2012

Religious Profession

Some of you will know Lisa Paget who used to live in Coalville. I had a Christmas card from her which carried the news that she made her first profession as a Benedictine nun at Minster Abbey in Kent in September. Lisa is now Sister Walburga OSB. You can find pictures of her profession here.

Please pray for Sister as she continues her formation and to discern her vocation. Pray too for vocations to the religious life.

New Year Mass

This evening, Monday 31st December, we will celebrate Mass at 6pm at St Wilfrid's. We will prayerfully remember all that has happened in 2012 and pray for 2013. The Mass will be of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. It will be especially good to seek her prayers at the turn of the year. The rosary will be said twenty minutes or so before Mass.

You may like to use one of the earliest known prayers to Our Lady today and tomorrow. It probably dates from about 250 AD.

We fly to your protection, O holy Mother of God.
Despise not our petitions in our necessities,

but deliver us always from all dangers;
O glorious and blessed Virgin.


27 December 2012

Retirement

Mrs Jane Monaghan, the headteacher of St Clare's retired at the end of the autumn term. We marked the occasion with a special Mass in Church, and an assembly in school. At the Mass Mrs Monaghan was presented with the Benemerenti medal - an award which comes from the Pope himself - in recognition of her lifetime's commitment to Catholic education. We thank Mrs Monaghan for all she has done for the school and for the parish, and wish her a long and happy retirement.
When the new term starts in January we will welcome Mrs Louise Freeman as our new head.

To view a bigger version of the pictures, click on the slideshow at any time.

Double Newsletter: Holy Family & Epiphany

Click here to read the newsletter for the next fortnight.

26 December 2012

Thank you....

...to all who made Christmas at St Wilfrid's such a wonderful celebration. As always, the Church looked beautiful and the liturgies reverently and joyfully proclaimed the truth of the incarnation. Thank you too for your kindness and generosity in so many ways.
God bless you all as we continue to celebrate the Christmas season, and move towards a new year in the civil calendar.
 Fr Colin

24 December 2012

Something more contemporary

A poem for reflection



A Child My Choice
St Robert Southwell

Let folly praise that fancy loves, I praise and love that Child
Whose heart no thought, whose tongue no word, whose hand no deed defiled.

I praise Him most, I love Him best, all praise and love is His;
While Him I love, in Him I live, and cannot live amiss.

Love's sweetest mark, laud's highest theme, man's most desired light,
To love Him life, to leave Him death, to live in Him delight.

He mine by gift, I His by debt, thus each to other due;
First friend He was, best friend He is, all times will try Him true.

Though young, yet wise; though small, yet strong; though man, yet God He is:
As wise, He knows; as strong, He can; as God, He loves to bless.

His knowledge rules, His strength defends, His love doth cherish all;
His birth our joy, His life our light, His death our end of thrall.

Alas! He weeps, He sighs, He pants, yet do His angels sing;
Out of His tears, His sighs and throbs, doth bud a joyful spring.

Almighty Babe, whose tender arms can force all foes to fly,
Correct my faults, protect my life, direct me when I die!

Robert Southwell was a 16th Century Jesuit Martyr and poet. Many of his poems relate to the nativity. You can find a wider selection here



23 December 2012

Christmas Mass & Confession Times

Christmas Eve: Mass at 6pm & 9.30pm
Carols before each of these Masses

Christmas Day:  Mass at 10am

Final Confession Time before Christmas: 2.30-4.00pm on call in the presbytery


16 December 2012

Liturgical Calendar - our Diocesan Ordo

This year our Diocesan Ordo, the liturgical calendar for the Diocese of Nottingham, is available online. You can find it here.

You will find it helpful and interesting especially if you say the Divine Office, or if you want to get your Missal set up in advance.

14 November 2012

14 October 2012

Year of Faith - Pastoral Letter

You can take another look at Bishop Malcolm's Pastoral Letter, read at Mass this weekend, by clicking here.

11 October 2012

Newsletter for 13/14 October - Sunday 28 (B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter

The Year of Faith...

...starts today. Why not take a look at the Vatican Year of Faith Site, the National Year of Faith Page, and our own Nottingham Diocesan Year of Faith Site. The Nottingham site will have a number of video presentations by Bishop Malcolm as the year progresses. Here is the introductory one:

29 September 2012

Keep up to date!

If you use Google Reader or My Yahoo, why not add this site to the content you follow. If you use Twitter, you can follow this site here, or by clicking the Twitter icon in the list of links on the right-hand side of this page.

24 September 2012

Our Lady of Walsingham - Today's Feast

The Collect for today's feast of Our Lady of Walsingham is particularly beautiful. You may like to pause and pray it now.

Grant we pray, almighty God,
that as in the mystery of the Incarnation
the Blessed and ever Virgin Mary
conceived your Son in her heart
before she conceived Him in the womb,
so we, your pilgrim people,
rejoicing in her motherly care,
may welcome him into our hearts
and become a holy house fit for his eternal dwelling.
Who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

On-line Episcopal Ordination

Some of us have recently had the joy of witnessing the ordination of a new priest. The ordination of a bishop is an even rarer event. The Diocese of Portsmouth have arranged for the ordination of their new bishop, Monsignor Philip Egan to be broadcast over the internet this afternoon. You will be able to watch events from their Cathedral here from about 1.15pm, and the ordination Mass starts at 2.30pm. You can find the service booklet here.

17 September 2012

Ordination Homily



Click here to read Bishop Peter Doyle's homily at Fr Michael Patey's Ordination.

16 September 2012

The Church working for justice

Thanks to a parishioner for drawing this cutting from the 'Coalville Times' to my attention. It is good to see that, ninety years ago, the Catholic Church in Coalville was engaging in matters of justice, just as we do today.
If the print is too small to read, click on the cutting for a bigger version.

09 September 2012

You must be so proud...

So many people have said these words to me this weekend as we have celebrated Michael's ordination to the priesthood and first Mass. Yes, Cyndy and I are indeed very proud of Michael. I would also like to put on record that I am extremely proud of my parish. The support we have received from you all in celebrating this weekend worthily has been truly wonderful. I could have guessed from the way the parish celebrated my own ordination fourteen years ago that all would go magnificently - and so it did. Thank you all.


06 September 2012

Please pray for...

...Michael Patey to be ordained to the sacred priesthood on Saturday 8th September. He will celebrate his first Holy Mass at St Wilfrid's on Sunday at 10am. All are welcome to the Mass and to the reception afterwards.
The picture shows Michael at his ordination as a deacon last July.

Almighty God, give us priests:
to establish the honour of your holy name;
to offer the holy sacrifice of the altar;
to give us Jesus in the holy Sacrament;
to proclaim the faith of Jesus;
to baptise and to teach the young;
to tend your sheep; to seek the lost;
to give pardon to the penitent sinner
to bless our homes; to pray for the afflicted;
to comfort mourners;
to strengthen us in our last hour; to commend our souls;
Almighty God, give us priests!

Newsletter for 8/9 September - Sunday 23(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

03 September 2012

You are Living Stones


Yesterday the final report of our 'You are Living Stones' parish consultation was presented at Mass. You can read it here. The results from elsewhere in the Deanery will be gathered and sent to Bishop Malcolm.

You can read about the different stages in the process and find links to the Diocesan documentation here.


26 August 2012

A homily for today...

...from Fr Martin Flatman, a friend of Fr Colin. We trained for the priesthood together. Click here to read.

15 August 2012

Happy Feast

Heaven with transcendent joys her entrance graced,
next to his throne her Son his Mother placed;
and here below, now she's of heaven possessed,
all generations are to call her blessed.

09 August 2012

Seventy Years Ago


Edith Stein was arrested by the Gestapo on 2 August 1942, while she was in the chapel with the other sisters. She was to report within five minutes, together with her sister Rosa, who had also converted and was serving at the Echt Convent. Her last words to be heard in Echt were addressed to Rosa: "Come, we are going for our people." Together with many other Jewish Christians, the two women were taken to a transit camp in Amersfoort and then to Westerbork. This was an act of retaliation against the letter of protest written by the Dutch Roman Catholic Bishops against the pogroms and deportations of Jews. Edith commented, "I never knew that people could be like this, neither did I know that my brothers and sisters would have to suffer like this. ... I pray for them every hour. Will God hear my prayers? He will certainly hear them in their distress." Prof. Jan Nota, who was greatly attached to her, wrote later: "She is a witness to God's presence in a world where God is absent." On 7 August, early in the morning, 987 Jews were deported to Auschwitz. It was probably on 9 August that Sister Teresia Benedicta a Cruce, her sister and many other of her people were gassed. When Edith Stein was beatified in Cologne on 1 May 1987, the Church honoured "a daughter of Israel", as Pope John Paul II put it, who, as a Catholic during Nazi persecution, remained faithful to the crucified Lord Jesus Christ and, as a Jew, to her people in loving faithfulness."

Year of Faith

Perhaps we've heard of the 'Year of Faith'. Perhaps we are not quite sure what it's all about. We can find out much more here.


Newsletter for 11/12 August - Sunday 19(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

31 July 2012

Pope's Olympic Message

The following Message of the Holy Father for the 2012 Olympic Games given during his Angelus Address in Rome on 22 July was read during the Mass in celebration for the 30th Olympic Games at Westminster Cathedral.
 ‘The Olympics are the greatest world sporting event, attended by athletes from many nations, and as such they have a strong symbolic value. For this reason the Catholic Church looks upon them with particular sympathy and attention. We pray that, according to the will of God, the London Games are an experience of fraternity among the peoples of the Earth.
I send greetings to the organizers, athletes and spectators alike, and I pray that, in the spirit of the Olympic Truce, the good will generated by this international sporting event may bear fruit, promoting Peace and Reconciliation throughout the world. Upon all those attending the London Olympic Games, I invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God.’

25 July 2012

Day for Life

Every year at this time, the Church celebrates a 'Day for Life.' This was proposed by Blessed John Paul II in the 1990s.
In England and Wales this year the Day has been linked to the Olympic Games. The theme of the material is  reverence for the human body. If we have a proper reverence for our own bodies and the bodies of others, such horrors as euthanasia, abortion, pornography, violence and various forms of abuse become unthinkable.
You may like to use this prayer and/or this reflection to enter into the spirit of the Day.
The special collection will support various pro-life organisations supported by the Church including the Anscombe Bioethics Centre.

15 July 2012

In praise of Mary

I found this poem on a priest's blog and found it strangely moving and thought provoking.

The new skin wherein the new wine fermented,
the newest of the Covenant promises.
Mary the Immaculate,
The God chosen skin, the choicest, purest
to contain the New and Eternal drink
which alone satisfies arid humanity.
She that contained the morning dew
our Redemption promise.

The young flexible skin that moved
according to the will of the intoxication she held.
This is wineskin that alone can contain the Universe's drink.
This is the Spirit filled skin from which no wine is lost,
the handmaid that swells to contain the measure of He who she bore.
This, the ewe white from the washing, pregnant with the Lamb.
This, that contained Canaan's sweet abundance.

This the singular vessel!


29 June 2012

Newsletter for 1 & 8 July - Sundays 13 & 14(B)

Click here to read this double edition of the newsletter

Today...

...is the Solemnity of Ss Peter & Paul, a Holy Day of Obligation. I look forward to welcoming you to Mass which will be celebrated at 9.45am and 7.30pm.
Happy feast!

27 June 2012

Silver Jubilee



A fortnight ago I was privileged to be in Westminster Cathedral when Bishop John Sherrington celebrated 25 years as a priest. Bishop John served as a priest in our own diocese until his ordination as a bishop last September.

New Priest


On the feast of St Barnabas Simon Gillespie was ordained as a priest for our diocese. Thanks be to God!

You can read Bishop Malcolm's inspiring homily at the ordination Mass here.

Year of Faith


Over the next few months we shall be hearing more about the 'Year of Faith', called by the Pope. This starts on 11 October, the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.

You can read more about the Year of Faith here.


We are being asked to use the Year of Faith to reflect on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. You may like to have a look at the four major documents which the Council produced:
Lumen Gentium - on the Church
Sacrosanctum Concilium - on the Sacred Liturgy
Dei Verbum - on Divine Revelation
Gaudium et Spes - on the Church in the Modern World

21 June 2012

Newsletter for 23/24 June - Birthday of St John the Baptist

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

If you would like to join those who receive an advance copy of the newsletter by email each week, please click  here, and simply send the resulting email. A technical hitch has meant that some people have unintentionally 'dropped off' the mailing list. If you used to receive the newsletter by email and no longer do so, please let me know.

18 June 2012

First Holy Communion Celebration

Yesterday's First Holy Communion Celebration Mass brought joy to the parish and all the families involved.
We thank all who were involved in the preparation both at St Wilfrid's and at St Clare's School.
Thanks be to God.


14 June 2012

Newsletter for 16/17 June - Sunday 11(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

f you would like to join those who receive an advance copy of the newsletter by email each week, please click  here, and simply send the resulting email. A technical hitch has meant that some people have unintentionally 'dropped off' the mailing list. If you used to receive the newsletter by email and no longer do so, please let me know.

08 June 2012

Revised Timetable - Week Commencing 9/10 June

We published a double issue of the Newsletter last weekend. However, a death and funeral in our community have led to some changes at the end of the week, so this revised timetable will be available at weekend Masses.

20 May 2012

A special day

We had a very special end to Mass for the feast of the Ascension today.

Sheila Stacey, who recently retired as Chair of Governors at St Clare's School, was awarded the Benemerenti Medal for a lifetime of commitment to Catholic education as teacher, governor, and chair of governors. We are glad that she still serves as a governor of our school.

Then, we had our May procession with the young people who are reaching the end of their preparation for First Holy Communion, to crown Our Lady's statue. 

17 May 2012

‘Meaning and Hope – Christianity’s place in Modern Britain’

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor recently gave a lecture just down the road in Leicester. He has some interesting and challenging things to say about society. Read a summary here and the full text here.

Newsletter for 19/20 May - Ascension of the Lord

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

13 May 2012

Fire tragedy in Derby

Father Alan Burbidge, a priest of our diocese, speaks of the response of the community to the tragedy in their parish. Let us all support them with our prayers.

Charity Event

Many St Wilfrid's people were at a very enjoyable Charity Fund Raising Event at La Torre this last week. Funds were raised, for 'Let's Break the Cycle', a local charity which works with children who have witnessed domestic violence. The total raised, including some match funding, was £2,267. Many of our parishioners give generously of their time to this charity. I am very proud of our parish's involvement.

26 April 2012

Newsletter for 28/29 April - Easter 4(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

Please pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life this weekend.


Almighty God, give us priests:
to establish the honour of your holy name;
to offer the holy sacrifice of the altar;
to give us Jesus in the holy Sacrament;
to proclaim the faith of Jesus;
to baptise and to teach the young;
to tend your sheep; to seek the lost;
to give pardon to the penitent sinner
to bless our homes; to pray for the afflicted;
to comfort mourners;
to strengthen us in our last hour; to commend our souls;
Almighty God, give us priests!


  

22 April 2012

Concert

Last Wednesday evening, we had a lovely concert by a Wind Quintet called Quintessimo. There was a wonderful balance of easy listening and more challenging music. One of the group contacted me to compliment St Wilfrid's on the 'warm welcome and great acoustic.' The proceeds from the refreshments will go to swell our Bamenda appeal.

15 April 2012

Divine Mercy Sunday

In the humiliated and suffering Christ, believers and non-believers can admire a surprising solidarity, which binds Him to our human condition beyond all imaginable measure. The Cross, even after the Resurrection of the Son of God, "speaks and never ceases to speak of God the Father, who is absolutely faithful to His eternal love for man. ... Believing in this love means believing in mercy" (Rich in Mercy, 7).
Blessed John Paul II, Divine Mercy Sunday, 2001

08 April 2012

Happy Easter. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise,
the sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;
and Christ, the undefiled,
hath sinners to his Father reconciled.
Death with life contended: combat strangely ended!
Life’s own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign.
Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way.
The tomb the Living did enclose;
I saw Christ's glory as he rose!
The angels there attesting;
shroud with grave-clothes resting.
Christ, my hope, has risen: he goes before you into Galilee.
That Christ is truly risen from the dead we know.
Victorious King, thy mercy show!

07 April 2012

Reflection for Holy Saturday

His cross stands empty in a world grown silent
Through hours of anguish and of dread;
In stillness, earth awaits the resurrection,
While Christ goes down to wake the dead

He summons Adam and his generations,
Brings light where darkness endless seemed;
He frees and claims His own, so long held captive,
Who, with the living, are redeemed.

With God the Father and the Holy Spirit,
Give praise to Christ the crucified,
Who, through the ages, seeks to save his lost ones:
The sinful men for whom he died.

Easter Newsletter

Click here to read a double edition of the newsletter.

May the light of Christ rising in glory
dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

 

29 March 2012

Holy Week Newsletter

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

Click here for a single A4 sheet - which you could print off and keep displayed in your home - with details of Holy Week Liturgies and Confession times.

28 March 2012

Holy Week Programme

Holy Week programme here. Have you booked the times in your diary yet?
Providing water for those who lack it has been very much in our thoughts this Lent. This video may encourage us in our thinking, praying, and giving.

25 March 2012

Our Lent Project


Instead of tea and coffee we served bread and soup after Mass this morning as part of our Lent drive to raise funds for our Bamenda Water Project in Cameroon. This and other donations this weekend brought in another £250. We are now very near the £1,000 mark for Lent, and I am sure that we will pass this target next weekend. Some of our young people washed cars to raise money for the same cause as part of St Clare's School involvement in the project. Well done and thank you to everyone!


Flame National Youth Conference


Some of our young people attended the Flame National Youth Conference at the Wembley Arena yesterday. They had a wonderful time. They met the Archbishop of Westminster while they were there.

22 March 2012

Newsletter for 24/25 March - Lent 5(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

If you would like to join those who receive an advance copy of the newsletter by email each week, please click  here, and simply send the resulting email.

14 March 2012

Adoration & Confession

This evening St Wilfrid's Church will be open from 6.30pm until 8.00pm. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed throughout this time, and Benediction will be given at 8. Father Colin and visiting priests will be available to welcome you and to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with you.

I got the idea for doing this, rather than a Reconciliation Service, this Lent after hearing of an initiative from the Diocese of Lancaster called 'The Light is On For You.' The Bishop of Lancaster has asked that all the Churches in his diocese should be open on Wednesday evenings during Lent. and the priest available for confessions. It is well worth visiting the above link for resources to help us think about the Sacrament of Reconciliation more deeply, and the video below may help our reflection, too.

We are doing it just for one Wednesday. Let's make it a special occasion of adoration and reconciliation.

11 March 2012

Archbishop of Westminster - Public Lecture in Leicester




Archbishop Vincent Nichols will be giving a public lecture in Leicester this Tuesday, 13 March. Details here.

10 March 2012

Holy Week Programme

You can read this year's Holy Week Programme here.

Please put the times of the Holy Thursday Mass, the Good Friday afternoon Liturgy, and the Easter Vigil Mass in your diary now.

Pastoral Letter on Marriage

This weekend we receive a Letter from Archbishops Vincent Nichols and Peter Smith on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. It is a statement of our Catholic faith about marriage and issued in the light of the forthcoming consultation by the Government on changing the legal definition of marriage. In the light of this letter, you are asked to consider signing the Coalition for Marriage’s online petition which can be found at www.C4M.org.uk. It reads:
“I support the legal definition of marriage which is the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. I oppose any attempt to redefine it.”
The Archbishops also say that after Easter there will be a more detailed leaflet on the Government’s consultation itself, for distribution in parishes, to assist Catholics in making their own response to the consultation.

Pastoral Letter on Marriage from Catholic Westminster on Vimeo.

07 March 2012

School Transport - ePetition - reminder

It is good to see how many St Wilfrid's parishioners have signed the epetition about school transport. Thank you. We can still do with more. Any interested adult may sign, not just parents of students at faith schools.

Click here to access the petition.

04 March 2012

You are Living Stones

This weekend, we have heard the Bishop's Pastoral Letter and received a handout.

Both are about, 'You are Living Stones,' a Diocesan Consultation on Parish Renewal.

You can read any of the documents by clicking the links above.

Please try to be there for the meeting after Mass next Sunday: details are in the newsletter. This will be part of the process to prepare our parish response to the consultation.

01 March 2012

CAFOD Lent Fast Day


Don't forget the CAFOD Lent Fast day this Friday.
This year the Government is matching all giving to CAFOD pound for pound. Please make the most of this opportunity by being especially generous with your offerings to CAFOD this coming weekend.

Bamenda Project at St Clare's

The children from St Clare's School are joining in our parish Lent project to raise funds for the Bamenda Water Project in Cameroon. This letter to parents will tell you how they are setting about it.

Thank you, St Clare's, for joining the parish in this effort to bring clean, safe, water to those in need of it.

Newsletter for 3/4 March - Lent 2(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

28 February 2012

St Clare's School

As parishioners will know, Mrs Jane Monaghan will be retiring as headteacher of St Clare's at the end of the summer term. Please pray for all those involved in appointing a successor to fulfil this vital role within our community.
The advertisement for the post is here. You may like to use the details to inform your prayers. Or you may even know someone who fits the job description! If so, please encourage him/her to apply.

Sister Kieran RIP

Sister Kieran's Requiem at St Brendan's, Corby, yesterday was a beautiful, prayerful occasion. St Wilfrid's was very well represented.

27 February 2012

School Transport - ePetition

We the undersigned petition the council to refrain from increasing the current charge of to £240 per annum to £490 per annum, as proposed in the document 'Consultation on proposed changes to transport', for transport to faith and voluntary aided schools.

If you would like to sign the above petition, click here, and follow the instruction on the screen.

26 February 2012

Rite of Election

Every year, on the First Sunday of Lent, many people gather at the Cathedral to celebrate an important stage in the faith journey of those who will be welcomed into the Church at Easter. This afternoon, a group of us went to Nottingham to support Laura who will be baptised, together with her two children, George and Peony at the Easter Vigil. Please keep them in your prayers.

23 February 2012

Newsletter for 25/26 February - Lent 1(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

If you would like to join those who receive an advance copy of the newsletter by email each week, please click  here, and simply send the resulting email.

20 February 2012

Sr Kieran RIP

Sister Kieran, former head teacher at St Clare's, died last week. May she rest in peace. Amen.















Sr Kieran, second from right, at our Golden Jubilee Celebrations
last year.

16 February 2012

Newsletter for 18/19 February - Sunday 7(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

Newsletter updated Friday morning to include a couple of corrections and some late news.

08 February 2012

School transport again

I have been asked by more than one person to draw this important issue to the attention of the parish again. The County Council's consultation document can be found here.

You can respond to it through this response form.

You may also like to write to your County Councillor or MP with your views on this subject.

This issue is of particular importance to those with children who are, or who will be, at De Lisle. However, anybody can send their views by any of the methods suggested and I hope as many parishioners as possible will do so. Q10 on the form is particularly critical to the availability of subsidised transport to faith schools,

Please note that you do not have to answer the personal questions from Q16 onwards unless you wish to.

You can contact your MP and County Councillor by going to this website and typing in your postcode.

02 February 2012

Newsletter for 4/5 February - Sunday 5(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

The bishop's statement on marriage to which the newsletter refers can be read here.

27 January 2012

School transport.

Parents of students at De Lisle will be interested in this. It is a fairly large file and takes a few moments to download.

26 January 2012

Newsletter for 28/29 January - Sunday 4(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

If you would like to join those who receive an advance copy of the newsletter by email each week, please click  here, and simply send the resulting email.

20 January 2012

Newsletter for 21/22 January - Sunday 3(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

Feast of Blessed Cyprian Tansi

Blessed Cyprian,
during your life on earth
you showed your great faith and love
in giving yourself to your people
and by the hidden life
of prayer and contemplation.
Look upon us now in our needs,
and intercede for us with the Lord.
May he grant us the favours we ask
through your prayers. Amen.

19 January 2012

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Pope Benedict speaks about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, here.

St Clare's School Academy Consultation

St Clare's School is consulting stakeholders about the possibility of moving to academy status along with many of the family of schools which feed into De Lisle. I shall be saying a little about this at this weekend's masses. Meanwhile you can start to look at the documentation here.

Please send any responses back via this e-mail link  or send to the school office.

12 January 2012

Newsletter for 14/15 January - Sunday 2(B)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.


If you would like to join those who receive an advance copy of the newsletter by email each week, please click  here, and simply send the resulting email.

01 January 2012

Happy New Year

I pray that 2012 may bring blessings to all.

Here are the quotations from three different Popes which I used in my homilies this weekend:


When you go to Jesus in prayer - and through him to the Father - you will always find inspiration in Mary his Mother. With every generation of disciples you will learn to pray with her, and with her to await the action of the Holy Spirit in your lives
It is my hope today, as I return to Rome, that you will remember why I came among you. And as long as the memory of this visit lasts, may it be recorded that I, John Paul II, came to Britain to call you to Christ, to invite you to pray!
Blessed John Paul II, Cardiff, 1982

How I would like to return to my childhood and attend the simple yet profound school that is Nazareth! How wonderful to be close to Mary, learning again the lesson of the true meaning of life, learning again God’s truths. …. I cannot leave without recalling, briefly and in passing, some thoughts I take with me from Nazareth.
First, we learn from its silence. If only we could once again appreciate its great value. We need this wonderful state of mind, beset as we are by the cacophony of strident protests and conflicting claims so characteristic of these turbulent times. The silence of Nazareth should teach us how to meditate in peace and quiet, to reflect on the deeply spiritual, and to be open to the voice of God’s inner wisdom and the counsel of his true teachers. Nazareth can teach us the value of study and preparation, of meditation, of a well-ordered personal spiritual life, and of silent prayer that is known only to God.
Pope Paul VI, Nazareth, 1964

We were also made to give love, to make it the inspiration for all we do, and the most enduring thing in our lives. At times it seems so natural, especially when we feel the exhilaration of love, when our hearts brim over with generosity, idealism, the desire to help others to build a better world -- but at other times, we realise it is difficult to love.
Every day we have to choose to love and this requires help. I ask you to look into your hearts, each day, to find the source of all true love. Jesus is always there. Quietly waiting for us to be still with him and to hear his voice. Deep within your heart, he is calling you to spend time with him in prayer, but this kind of prayer, real prayer, requires discipline.
It requires time for moments of silence every day. Often it means waiting for the Lord to speak.
Even amidst the business and stress of our daily lives we need to make space for silence, because it is in silence that we find God. And in silence that we discover our true self.
Pope Benedict XVI, Westminster, 2009