Sunday 17 March 2024

Confirmation: St Peter's Way begins

 Confirmation: St Peter's Way begins

2024 Confirmandi Anon
Confirmandi 2024

Today we had the first meeting of our confirmandi (young people preparing for confirmation) and their parents.  We talked about the preparation programme.  Fr Steve explained that although we are only confirmed once, it is not something to tick off, it is part of a commitment to get to know the Lord better a lifelong process.  He reminded us how the Church is built around the altar where we celebrate the Eucharist, which feeds us spiritually and helps us as we live out our lives as Christians.

Getting to know you
Parents and Confirmandi getting to know each other

During our meeting parents and young people talked to one another and found out things they enjoy doing and what gifts and talents they have which might be used in our parish and local community.

Gospel Reflection: 5th Sunday of Lent

Gospel Reflection: 5th Sunday of Lent

Firstly, to all those people for whom the Saint we celebrate on March 17th is significant...Happy Feastday! Many people share in the devotion to St Patrick, and his intercession has assisted many ambitions in the Christian life. No matter about the issue of where he was born (and the village of Aspatria near Whitehaven in the diocese has a claim to this!)... he is not celebrated for where he was born. He is celebrated as the Apostle to the Irish people. Long may his intercession benefit all God’s people. 

St Patrick
St Patrick Stained Glass Window

To be an apostle is to be one who is sent to share in the mission of the Lord. This “being sent” means that an individual agrees to go, but that the mission may demand several sacrifices to make it bear fruit within the life of faith. Think of many of the first individuals counted as apostles...their lives were often turned upside-down, for example St Peter himself! (and St Patrick for that matter). A humble Galilean fisherman, who with his brother St Andrew and his family kept the wolf from the door by catching fish in the Sea of Galilee. But then, recognising the promised Messiah in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, left all the security of family and location and followed Jesus wherever his itinerant life took him. Often sleeping under the stars he kept close to the Lord and his Gospel, even when it brought him into conflict with prevailing trends of his Jewish faith as it was lived by the scribes, pharisees, and ultimately when Jesus was tried for being “The King of the Jews”. Peter is remembered as one hailed by Christ as “the rock on which I will build my church”, and within minutes scorned by the Lord with the words “get behind me Satan!”. 

Wheat
Unless a grain of wheat shall fall ...
After the Lord’s death and resurrection Peter was pivotal in helping the young church develop its own sense of Apostolic identity, himself being sent on a journey of life and faith which took him first to Antioch and then to Rome. In both places he became their Bishop, and in Rome suffered the same fate as The Lord. “Unless a grain of what shall fall upon the ground and die, it remains just a single grain. But if it dies it yields a harvest”. The death the Lord refers to this Sunday isn't a physical death, but rather an opportunity to die to self so as to be more alive in Christ. What greater example can we ask for in these closing weeks of Lent 2024? 


Friday 15 March 2024

Our Lady's Catholic College Ugandan Project

 Our Lady's Catholic College Ugandan Project

Fr Steve and Students OLCC
Fr Steve Pearson and students from Our Lady's Catholic College
On Sunday 10th March, 3 young people from our Lady's Catholic College came to talk about the Ugandan Project which the school has been involved in for a number of years.  This is a project providing opportunity to learn for all the students involved, those from England and Uganda. 




Fr Steve wearing his rose coloured vestment because it was Laudate Sunday a day to celebrate we are getting closer to Easter talking to the students who had shared food and taken a collection to support their work. 

Below a video of the trip in 2022 which shows what a difference the project is making.


Reposting with an update: 

Students and staff from Our Lady's Catholic College would like to say a big thank you to all parishioners who made us feel so welcome last weekend. The amount raised was just over £720 which is extremely generous. This money will be allocated to the two health clinics we are visiting on the trip so they can order some much needed equipment. Thank you again for your wonderful support.

Thursday 14 March 2024

Gospel Share: Unless a grain of wheat shall fall

 Gospel Share: Unless a grain of wheat shall fall

Grain of wheat
Wheat field: unless a grain of wheat shall fall
First Reading
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Jeremiah tells the people that the Lord will make a new covenant with them, planting the law within their hearts.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 51:3-4,12-13,14-15
A prayer for God’s mercy and forgiveness

Second Reading
Hebrews 5:7-9
Through his sufferings, Jesus gained salvation for all who obey him.


Gospel Reading

John 12:20-33
Jesus teaches his disciples about the way in which he will be glorified by God, and a voice from heaven is heard to affirm this teaching.

A familiar hymn, Unless a grain of wheat shall fall upon the ground

Sunday 10 March 2024

Happy Mother's Day

 Happy Mother's Day

Snowdrops
Snowdrops in Cathedral Garden
We remember and give thanks for all mothers and those women who give and nurture and care to others.  Today we remember especially those whose mothers may have died in the past year, and those mothers whose son or daughter have died. Some flowers from the Cathedral Garden.



We share a message from one of our readers, who sent a message about her mum for International Women's Day.

I would like to remember my lovely Mum, Mary who was a constant inspiration.  She was so multi talented and her Catholic faith was always at the forefront of everything she did.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to pay tribute to my Mum.

And for all mothers, two contrasting pieces of music.  The first a short video and song of worship with someone remembering all the little things their mother did 


The second a more traditional hymn to Mary a source of inspiration for all mothers.

Gospel Share: A time to choose and a time to praise the Lord

Gospel Reflection: A time to choose and a time to praise the Lord

Today is Laudate Sunday, which means we praise the Lord because we are halfway through our Lenten journey and getting closer to the great feast of Easter when we will be able to rejoice in the risen Lord who has come to save us. As the signs of spring appear we can rejoice that the signs of new life, lighter and warmer days will soon be with us, living in Lancaster we of course can't assume less rain! Spring is also a time when we can spring clean our homes and our souls.

Jesus talks to Nicodemus
Jesus talking to Nicodemus
Our Gospel reading today is from John. Jesus talking to Nicodemus offers us a message in which we can rejoice, namely, that God so loved the World (that means us all) that he sent his only Son Jesus, not to tell us off, but to save us. This is wonderful news, but the reading also reminds us we have a choice and sometimes that isn't always as easy. Jesus is the Light of the World, and yet sometimes we prefer or maybe find ourselves turning away from the Light because it highlights  or reminds us of those times when we are not choosing to follow Jesus. Making a choice to do the right thing, for  example, loving and serving our neighbours, being patient, accepting others irritating ways, is not easy. Yet we are invited to choose to believe in Jesus and try to live our lives by following his example. 

Lent is a time when we are able to reflect on our life and to take the opportunity to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to receive God's forgiveness for those times when we haven't always followed him. I am always comforted by the words of the Act of Contrition that I am not alone, and that by the help of God's grace, what I need to do is to try not to sin again. 

So we have lots to praise and give thanks to the Lord for, but also a time to choose to have that spring clean not only of our homes but also our souls. AMH

Friday 8 March 2024

International Women's Day

 International Women's Day

Since 1911 March 8th has been identified as International Women's Day.  This year the theme for the day is Women who advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. 

Pope Francis blessing women
Pope Francis offering special blessing to women

Pope Francis' speaking in his Wednesday General Audience in the Vatican reminded people that it was International Day for women stressing
This is a privilege of women alone! ... I think of all women: I thank the for their commitment to building a more humane society, through their ability to grasp reality with a creative eye and a tender heart.  Pope Francis

We are blessed with so many gifted and talented women who either belong to the parish or like me engage in activities offered by the parish. Women often follow in the footsteps of many recognised and unrecognised Women Saints. You are invites to send a pledge or perhaps a sentence about someone you would like to remember in your life or your favourite female saint. (NB If its your mum or a relative please add at least their first name, and relationship and email to catechist @ lancastercathedral.org.uk). 

To start us off and help celebrate and remember important women in people's lives including women saints, women involved in the online prayer activities and catechesis within the parish have shared important women or sent a pledge for what they will do to mark this day. Because the whole of March is dedicated to Women's History month if any readers want to send things to share about women who have inspired them or championed others have things.

Pledge for international women's day
Diane's pledge for International Women's Day

Menchu one of our meditators writes about her favourite saint and shares a prayer: 

One of my favourites Saints is St Teresa of Ávila. She was a proper natural Castillian character: people that call to the bread, bread, and to the wine, wine. Never afraid of calling things by their names, meaning clear and honest, straight to the point. Always with her feet on earth, and at the same time in an amazing relationship with God. A wonderful example of woman, and Christian for me.

St Teresa of Avila Prayer Let nothing disturb you
St Teresa of Avila Prayer Let nothing disturb you

Kathryn one of our meditators shares memories of her Grannie Vera.  

I would like to remember my Grannie Vera, who, although being stepmother to my Mum, loved me as her own grandchildren and often wrote long detailed letters up to her death in her nineties. Her cooking and hospitality was phenomenal but most of all was her capacity to love and was much loved in return.

Belinda shared her favourite saint and a link to 7 facts about St Clare of Assisi
St Clare is my favourite courageous female! She was prepared to stand up to St Francis and the Pope in her determination to follow Lady Poverty. She had a face to face conflict with invaders too, who scurried away defeated by her purity and bravery.

Finally for this week, but it would be great to share some more next week.  Veronique who comes to Gospel Share and is one of our Children's Liturgists shared a photograph and writes:

I would like to remember all the women who would have liked an intellectual career but couldn't have one: as co-organizer of a conference for Jean Genet’s centenary of birth at the Odeon Theatre in Paris, I was blessed to have this moment with Hélène Cixous, the French feminist writer who has been doing so much for women. She is not just a political role model for women, but also a brilliant poet who has been helping readers realize that feminine writing is different, that men like Genet can also be feminist and write with a feminine posture, and that different voices matter more than ever in today’s society.
Photo of two women talking
Veronique and Helene

We'd love to hear from others during the month of March about inspiring women in your life, favourite women saints.