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.
The First Reading also uses the image of a wedding to show that the Lord rejoices in his people ‘as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride’.
St Paul teaches the people of Corinth about the various gifts given to each one of them – and to each one of us – which can be used for the good of all in a variety of ways. These gifts all witness to the same Spirit, the same God. (Second Reading)
The Psalm is a joyful song of praise that reflects the spirit of the other readings. It invites us to ‘Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples’. God will judge the people with fairness.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee year, the joyful image of wedding festivities might inspire us to think of all who suffer from food poverty. We pray that each one of us might use our different gifts generously to help those in need, so that all have sustenance. In this way, may we appreciate the transforming love that God has for every one.
Wednesday 22nd January @ 19.00 –Parish RCIA programme begins. This is an invitation to anyone who would like to learn more about the Catholic Faith as well as those who would like to be received into the Catholic Church. Please meet in the Parish Hall.
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.
Volunteers required:
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.