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.
As Christ ascends to heaven, he commissions us to be his living message of hope, love, and compassion in a world crying out for healing. Christ is the head of the Church and we are the body, filled with his wisdom and power to transform all creation (Second Reading).
We are not left to struggle on our own. The risen Christ fills us with his Holy Spirit so that we who believe are his witnesses to the ends of the earth (First Reading).
Jesus’s disciples do not dwell on their loss at his departing from their sight, but are instead full of joy at the realisation that he is now with them forever (Gospel).
The Psalm, using words, songs and actions of joy and exultation, brings us to the heart of the event we celebrate today.
As the Easter season comes to an end, our readings remind us of the joy and hope that come from the love that the Father has lavished on the world.
In the First Reading we witness the suffering and death of Stephen, the first Christian Martyr. As Stephen offers up his spirit, echoing Jesus’s own words, he pleads for forgiveness for his persecutors.
The Psalm proclaims the Lord as king, worshipped by all of creation. God is the source of justice and right.
John’s vision from the end of the Book of Revelation (Second Reading) reminds us of the invitation that Jesus gives to us all – and the promise of salvation when he comes again.
In the Gospel we hear Jesus’s own prayer to his heavenly Father. It is offered both for the disciples who are with him at the Last Supper, and for all people like us, who have heard and believe the message of love.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER 2026
Every year, on the first Friday in March, churches around the world celebrate the World Day of Prayer. Communities within towns gather together to celebrate the work of a chosen country to be the focus for that year. A short service is held, a collection is made, and light refreshments are available afterwards.
The focus for 2026 is Nigeria, and “I will give you rest, come.”
The format of prayers, readings and hymns are prepared and provided for the host church, together with background information about the country and suggestions for displays to enhance the service.
It requires someone to lead the service, usually from the host church, to hold a few meetings, each about an hour long, in the year beforehand, working with the representatives from the other churches in the town to prepare for the service. Occasionally, the service has involved children from a nearby school (usually primary) so it would be necessary to liaise with the school if that is the case for 2026.
Our Lady of Good Counsel is the host church in Sleaford on Friday, 6th March 2026. We last hosted in 2020, during lockdown, when Barbara Browning and I were our representatives. Everything had to be done over the internet then, and the churches made their own fundraising collections independently when they started opening up again. However, we need someone, or a couple of people, who would be willing to take on this challenge and work with the Sleaford group in order to produce this service next March.
Could that person be you? If you are interested or would like further information, please contact me or Deacon Tony as soon as possible please.
Many thanks,
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.
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.
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.