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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.