Weekly Readings – Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Sleaford

Mass times:

Monday to Thursday Daily Mass is at 10.15 a.m.

Friday 11.30a.m.

Saturday Vigil Mass 6 p.m.

Sunday morning 10 a.m.

Confessions by arrangement with Fr Peter Harvey Parish priest.

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 Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), Year A, 7th June 2026

‘Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in them.’

Today’s feast of Corpus Christi invites us to celebrate and reflect with gratitude on the mystery of the Eucharist. This is the great gift of Jesus’s very self: the bread of life. The readings help us see how God nourishes us, draws us together as one, and calls us to trust in him.

Moses (First Reading) recalls how God brought the Israelites out of slavery and led them through the desert, providing manna and water. We are never left alone: the Lord cares for us even in times of struggle.

This theme is echoed in the Psalm. The people lift their hearts in thanks to God, singing praise for his guidance, his word, and his protection.

Paul explains to the Corinthians, and to us, that sharing in the body and blood of Christ unites us to Christ and to the whole Christian community, making us one body. (Second Reading)

In the Gospel, Jesus declares himself to be the living bread from heaven. The Eucharist is the new manna, given through Jesus, who promises that he will be with us always as the source of all life.

This week, we pray for a deeper trust in the gift of the Eucharist, and especially for those unable to share in it for whatever reason, remembering that God loves every one of us unconditionally.

Please pray for our parish children who make their First Holy Communion on the Feast of Corpus Christi.
Parish meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month to discuss the parish’s response to ‘Go make Disciples.’ 7 p.m. in the parish hall.

2026 marks the 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assisi’s death in 1226.

Pope Leo XIV declared that it will be a special Year of St Francis in which we are all called to become saints in our world, following St Francis’ example. We are called to model a holiness of life and witness to peace.

From Bishop Patrick

communications@dioceseofnottingham.uk

Bishop Patrick is inviting every Catholic to take part in something we have never done before in our Diocese.

The campaign “Called by Name” is a simple invitation: to honour, by name, a young man in your parish, a son, brother, friend, colleague, or face in the pew, whom you believe could be a great priest.

Bishop Patrick will write to each of them personally. Father Neil Peoples, our Vocations Director, will walk alongside them. No pressure. No expectation. Just the gift of being noticed.

This isn’t a standalone campaign. It is an expression of our Diocesan Mission Plan, of our shared conviction that the mission of the Church belongs to all of us, without exception. And today, it begins with you.

PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE EXTRA CARDS IN CHURCH AS YOU COME IN.

Little Church –It is hoped to restart Little Church in October for children aged between 3 and 11. Jozef Slezak has very kindly volunteered to run it, but would be grateful if other parishioners would like to volunteer to help him. Please contact Deacon Tony if you would like to help. It will be for one Sunday in the month at the 10.00 Mass.

Many thanks to all who volunteer their time and talents for the good of our parish.

The Address of Pope Leo XIV to the crowds in St Peter’s Square.

Peace be with you.

Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.

Thank you to my cardinal brothers who chose me to be the successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a united Church searching all together for peace and justice, working together as women and men, faithful to Jesus Christ without fear, proclaiming Christ, to be missionaries, faithful to the gospel. I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian. He said, “with you I am a Christian, for you a bishop”. So may we all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us.

To the Church of Rome, a special greeting: We have to look together how to be a missionary Church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love. (Speaking in Spanish) Hello to all and especially to those of my diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, a loyal, faithful people accompanying the bishop and helping the bishop. (Returning to Italian) To all you brothers and sisters of Rome, Italy, of all the world, we want to be a synodal church, walking and always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering.

Today is the day of the Supplicatio [plea] to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our blessed mother Mary always wants to walk with us, be close to us, she always wants to help us with her intercession and her love. So let us pray together for this mission, and for all of the Church, and for peace in the world. We ask for this special grace from Mary, our mother. Hail Mary, full of grace, our Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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.

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.