A Prayer for Ukraine (Bishop Patrick)
We pray that the Lord God send His Holy Spirit to all the people of Ukraine
and gives them the grace of endurance in faith, hope and love amid the current ordeals;
may peace be granted throughout Ukraine
and may the Ukrainian nation be delivered from all enemies,
so that we may glorify the good and merciful God in justice and truth.
Lord hear us and have mercy. Amen.
Christ is coming! With their themes of obedience to God’s will and faith in God’s promises, today’s readings are full of expectant hope.
The prophet Micah (First Reading) foretells the birth of the Messiah. Jesus will come from the small town of Bethlehem: he is the new king who will reunite and rule all the people, as a shepherd guides his flock.
The Psalm reminds us to call on God as our shepherd, placing our trust in his power and strength, especially when we face struggles.
The Second Reading highlights the obedience of Jesus to God’s will. In offering himself as a sacrifice, Jesus brings salvation from sin to all who have faith in him.
The Gospel describes Mary’s visit to her cousin, Elizabeth, and their mutual greeting. Jesus is recognized as the Messiah even before his birth. Elizabeth sings Mary’s praise because Mary bears the Lord, and Elizabeth’s own unborn child, John the Baptist, ‘leaps for joy’.
Parish piety shop; There are lots of new religious items in stock including statues, crucifixes, and rosary beads plus cards for all occasions. Please come along and see for yourselves. Thank you to Ann for organising it all.
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES: Parishioners who have Offertory envelopes can collect the appropriate ones for 2025 from 1st Sunday in September. (01/09/2024) If you would like to use envelopes to give your offering at Sunday Mass then speak to Fr Peter.
GIFT AID—If you are a taxpayer parishioners can gift aid their offering. This applies to those who give by envelope or by standing order. Please see Fr Peter if you would like to do this.
Volunteers required:
It is hoped to draw up a rota for church flower arranging.
If you are interested in joining our dedicated team, please contact Deacon Tony and/or Trish Brocklebank. Thankyou.
Musicians for the 10a.m. Mass on Sundays. We have a vacancy for a keyboard player. The instrument will be provided. Please contact Deacon Tony if you are interested.
Parish groups:
Parish piety shop; There are lots of new religious items in stock including statues, crucifixes, and rosary beads plus cards for all occasions. Please come along and see for yourselves. Thank you to Ann for organising it all.
A Jubilee Year will be celebrated in 2025, which will also be the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea (325 AD). Pope Francis has asked for 2024 to be considered a year of prayerful preparation.
The Jubilee Year is a special occasion that occurs every 25 years, and it is a time for Catholics to come together to celebrate their faith and to seek forgiveness for their wrongs.
Many Catholics will travel to Rome on pilgrimage to celebrate the Year of Jubilee.
Parish Activities.
Little Church resumes Sunday 2nd September @ 10a.m. Mass. Children aged between 3-11 with parents most welcome. Every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. See the poster in the church porch.
Weekly Offertory Collection.
If you would like to make an offering via the envelope system, please give your name to Fr Peter. If you want to gift aid your offering, then speak to Fr Peter or Deacon Tony.
- Altar Servers
Children who have made their First Holy Communion are invited to become altar servers. Please contact Deacon Tony if your child is interested in becoming one.
Cathedral Restoration
The Trustees of the Catholic Diocese of Nottingham have been awarded a substantial grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to embark on an exciting ‘Restoring Pugin’ project at Nottingham Cathedral. The total grant awarded for the first phase of development work is £277,558. A potential delivery grant of £524, 858 has also been awarded. Both grants represent 60% of total costs. Proposed and led by Nottingham Cathedral, the project is a unique partnership with Nottingham Trent University and Culture Syndicates (a CIC heritage and arts consultancy that offers paid development opportunities to museum sector entrants)
Nottingham Cathedral was designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, one of the key pioneers of the Gothic Revival architectural style in Britain during the early Victorian period. Through his works, publications and close collaboration with the architect Sir Charles Barry in the design of the Houses of Parliament, Pugin brought the Middle Ages to life with all its richness, colour and detail. At the heart of the Nottingham Cathedral project is the restoration of the three chapels at the east end of the building to Pugin’s original vision and design. Early investigations of the paintwork by conservators have showed that Pugin’s original decorative scheme, sadly covered over with later paint, can be uncovered and brought back to its former glory
A letter from Bishop Patrick —Diocesan support for the people of Ukraine
I thank you for all the prayers, practical initiatives, and generosity that people across our diocese have already been engaged in, and especially in support of CAFOD’s appeal for Ukraine.
On behalf of the diocese I have been in regular contact with Father David Senyk, the Chancellor of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of London, who also ministers to the Ukrainian communities in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham. I have offered him our prayers for the people of Ukraine and for an end to the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian forces.
More recently I asked him how best he thought we could cooperate with and support the Ukrainian communities within our diocese so as to welcome, house and guide refugees from Ukraine when they arrive amongst us. They, after all, have the contacts in Ukraine and among the Ukrainian refugees that we do not.
He explained that through their direct contacts with charity organisations already working on the ground in Ukraine they have been able to send £400,000 to each of the following charities, Caritas Ukraine, Red Cross Ukraine and Medicin sans frontiers. They are continuing to collect funds, but now it is for the use of refugees, mainly women and children, when they arrive here. Any donations for this work can be deposited directly into a dedicated account, sort code 16-00-16 account number 10121272, name, ‘Ukrainian Catholic Church’. Any cheques should be made payable to ‘Ukrainian Catholic Church’ and sent to Very Rev David Senyk, Chancellor, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy, 21-22 Binney Street, London, W1K 5BQ.
N.B. Musicians are welcome to join us at Sunday Mass each week — 10a.m.
Readers at weekend Masses.
There is always room for more volunteer readers at Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses.
Please contact Deacon Tony if you would like to be added to the rota.
Parishioners in local care homes—If you would like to visit a parishioner, please contact Deacon Tony for details.