The Cathedral Parish of St Peter and St Thomas More

Welcome

2012-02-25T20:30:00.000Z

Today we feature some of our welcome team who greet us when we come to the Cathedral on a Saturday and Sunday evening. This is one of the many ministries that it is possible for individuals or families and is a great way to get to know members of the parish family and those who are visiting. If you are interested in becoming a welcomer then have a word with one of the priests.

Peter, Frank, Gerry and Pat

Whether we are a member of the welcome team or not, we can all help create a welcoming community by giving a smile or saying hello to the people we know as well as someone who may be visiting for the first time.

We'd like to show some welcome messages from our younger members of the parish. Please use our contact form to let us know if you have a photo of a welcome poster or welcome message. Or pass the poster to a member of the children's liturgy team, but if you want it back please make sure full contact details are provided.

Ash Wednesday in 2 minutes

2012-02-21T10:00:00.000Z

Tomorrow we celebrate Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of season of Lent. Lent is the time we remember Jesus' passion and a time of preparation for Jesus' resurrection at Easter. During Lent we are called to:

pray - talk to and listen to God
fast - give up something to remind us that Jesus gave his life for us
give alms - which can involve giving money or doing something for those in need

The following video reminds us of why we have ash placed on our foreheads and explains the importance of praying, fasting and alms giving on Ash Wednesday and throughout the whole of Lent.

During Lent we will be featuring 40 second messages about Lent. if you'd like to share what you are doing or say something about your experience of Lent then let us know by using the contact form and we will make arrangements to record your 40 second message.

A treasure to be valued ...

2012-02-19T16:00:00.000Z

As well as international visitors to our blog, today two Religious Sisters of Mercy from Alma, Michegan in America attended 10.30 mass. They took the opportunity to look around the Cathedral before heading off to find the martyrs stone on East Road. (For parishioners, a trip down memory lane, or up the hill of East Road! Some images of the parish walk to the martyrs stone in 2009 click here)
Our visitors spoke about the Cathedral as "stunning and beautiful" and said, what they noticed, in comparison with their own church, was the "rich heritage of the martyrs, a treasure to be valued". They were pleased to hear that our Confirmation candidates, who were enrolled in our Confirmation programme St Peter's Way, will be introduced to the lives of the martyrs and the Communion of Saints.

Sr Edith Mary and Sr Mary Christine: Religious Sisters of Mercy

For more information about the Religious Sisters of Mercy and learn more about their Charism and vocation see their website
Visiting the Cathedral
There are many people who visit the Cathedral and value it as a place of prayer, leaving comments about the peace and sense of God they experience as well as requests for prayer. Maybe during Lent you could bring someone to visit and see for themselves our 'stunning and beautiful' place of worship.

Getting ready for Lent

2012-02-18T14:00:00.000Z

Tuesday marks the start of our new series Curious talks about Penance
Penance and pancakes!

An overview of penance in Catholic faith - given by Canon Stephen

7.30 to 9.00pm in St Walburge's Chapel, off Balmoral Road.

Choristers outside Salisbury Cathedral tossing pancakes

Shrove Tuesday the eve before Ash Wednesday is traditionally the time when pancakes are made using up ingredients from the cupboard in readiness for Lent. There will be an opportunity for pancakes in the Cathedral Library after the talk Penance and Pancakes, although there are no plans to have our choristers or servers tossing pancakes!

Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence and marks the beginning of Lent which is a time of preparation for the great feast of Easter. More about this in the weeks ahead. For Mass times see Cathedral Diary

Lent is a time of repentance when we are called to pray, fast and give alms. Before the season begins it can be helpful to think about what you will do this Lent.

Enrolment on Confirmation Programme

2012-02-17T19:41:00.002Z

Follow Me

Confirmation Preparation Programme
Sunday is the last Sunday of ordinary time before we start the season of Lent and when some of our young people will enrol in our Confirmation programme - St Peter's Way. Please remember them in your prayers as they enrol on the programme to learn more about their faith and use this time to consider how they will live out their vocation as fully initiated members of the Church.

My Lord and My God

Sacramental Preparation of Reconciliation and Holy Communion

On Tuesday we have the first meeting for parents and carers who are interested in enrolling their child for the Holy Communion programme. At Tuesday's meeting Me, My Family, God's Family and the Good News we will be looking at our image of God, sharing Bible stories with children and thinking about how we can bring prayer into our everyday life and experiences.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

2012-02-11T11:23:00.000Z

Banner of Our Lady of Lourdes

Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes who is the patron of the Diocese of Lancaster. The banner hangs at the back of the Cathedral alongside the Bishop's motto and a banner for our other Diocesan patron.

Who is the other diocesan patron?

For those who have not been to Lourdes you may find the link to the Lourdes 24 hour TV link a fascinating connection with the many pilgrims visiting Lourdes. There is live coverage of the services and archives of the rosary for the past week. Click link

Screen capture of webcam at Lourdes
on Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Prayer Vigil: Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

2012-02-10T22:30:00.000Z

Tonight, on the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Bishop Campbell led the diocese in prayer for vocations.
The Bishop spoke about those present being on a local pilgrimage in which we remembered the sick and those who care for them. The procession around the cathedral of a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes and the diocesan banner featuring the two diocesan patrons reminded us of the pilgrims in Lourdes. As we sang that famous Lourdes hymn 'Immaculate Mary' it no doubt reminded those who have been to Lourdes of their own pilgrimage.
For a link to 'Immaculate Mary' but listen carefully as the version differs slightly to the one which we sing in church.

Attending the service was John Millar, who is to be ordained tomorrow and parishioners Sarah and Alf who will be married tomorrow at the Cathedral. More of their celebrations in the coming week. We remember all three as they make these important steps in their journey of faith and follow God's call (vocation) to follow him.

Candlemas - Canticle of Simeon

2012-02-03T15:52:00.001Z

Last night, at the start of our mass our candles were blessed and we processed around the cathedral. We listened to the Gospel of Luke 2: 22-40 which was enacted by pupils of the Cathedral primary school. The Gospel describes how Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to God in the temple at Jerusalem. We heard how Simeon gave thanks and praised God saying what we now know as the Canticle of Simeon. The Latin name for this great canticle (song of praise) is the Nunc Dimittis and it is said or sung everyday during night prayer.

Candlemas, 2nd February also marks 40 days since Jesus' birth, before the changes to the liturgical calendar in the seventies it was the traditional end of the Christmas season. The presentation at the temple is also remembered as the 4th joyful mystery in the rosary.

Celebrating Feast of St Angela

2012-01-28T14:35:00.000Z

After the mass to celebrate the Feast of St Angela Merici, parishioners enjoyed a wonderful supper prepared by the Angelinas and the contributions of others attending.

Ursuline website launched 27th January 2012

Sr Zela also announced the new Ursuline website (www.ursulines.co.uk) which shows the many and varied ways in which the Ursuline sisters live out their vocation.

The following message is on an image of Angela, in January's meditation we are asked what our response might be:
DO SOMETHING WORTHWHILE WITH YOUR LIFE, GET MOVING, BE CONFIDENT, TAKE RISKS – TRY SOMETHING NEW, STICK WITH IT GET ON YOUR KNEES, THEN BE READY FOR A BIG SURPRISE!

The sisters have also prepared a visual display with further details about the life of St Angela Merici which can be seen in St Thomas More's.

Sr Zela Procter with display of St Angela Merici

Inspired by Angela

2012-01-26T09:36:00.000Z

On 27^thJanuary it will be 472 years since a little Italian lady died in a small roomattached to the church of St Afra in Brescia but her memory and influence liveon all over the world. Her name was Angela Merici (c1474-1540) and she foundedof the Company of St Ursula in 1535. Today, in our parish of St Peter’s and StThomas More’s Lancaster, there are individuals, consecrated and lay, marriedand single, who look to Angela for inspiration in the living of their personal,unique Christian vocation. The groups these people belong to are:

the UrsulineReligious Sisters,
the Secular Institute of the Company of St Ursula,
the“Angelinas” for married women.

See Lancaster Cathedral website for further details about St Angela Merici who is saint of the week.

Sr Maureen Coyne in the room in which Angela died 1540

Tomorrow 27th January Mass at St Thomas More's 7.00pm followed by a shared supper. All welcome.

Come Follow Me

2012-01-23T13:00:00.000Z

Mark 1:14-20

In Children's Liturgy we listened to how Jesus called his first disciples to follow him and to become fishers of men. We then shared how Jesus calls us today and talked about what we might do to tell others about Jesus. We listened to how each of us are called by Jesus who says 'follow me'.

Come Follow Me

Ideas for prayer time: A net used to sell oranges or lemons makes an ideal net to store the names of fish (people) children can pray for at the end of the day. Follow link for fish templates

Information Meetings about Sacramental Programmes

2012-01-21T00:00:00.000Z

Over the coming weeks families in our parish will have an opportunity to find out more about the parish programmes of preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation. The sacraments are sometimes described as our gifts from God that help us on our journey of faith: Reconciliation provides healing, Holy Communion nourishment and Confirmation strengthens us by sealing those gifts of the Holy Spirit we received at Baptism.

For further details click on the tabs above and see the newsletter in the coming weeks.

Ordinary Time

2012-01-20T18:05:00.000Z

Last Sunday marked our return to ordinary time. The colour for Ordinary Time is green. Green in this context represents new life, growth and hope.
Details of the seasons of the church year were given in the bulletin. Follow the link for a simple crossword puzzle about the colours and church seasons.

Vestments of Ordinary Time

These beautiful vestments were on display during Lancaster Cathedral's vestment festival in 2011.

Celebrating feast days

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000Z

Dates for your diary:

Feast of Angela Merici Friday 27th January (Founder of the order of Ursulines)
Mass at St Thomas More's at 7.00pm
Followed by a supper party. All are very welcome to attend, and contributions for the supper will also be welcome.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (Diocesan patron)

A Vigil of Prayer for Priestly Vocations
Friday 10th February - 7:00pm
Bishop Campbell will be here to lead this time of prayer. All are welcome to come along.

See bulletin and noticeboard for further details.

Choosing a new patron saint for 2012

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000Z

In the newsletter last week, we read about the Epiphany custom of choosing a new patron Saint for the coming year. This can be an excellent way to learn more about Saints whose lives can help us learn more about what it means to follow Jesus. You might choose one of the saints we hear in the Eucharistic Prayer 1, or the saint on an important day, or the name of a saint for the oldest, youngest member of the family or perhaps someone who has died during the year.

For information about the lives of the saints, look up in a dictionary of the saints or online http://www.catholic.org/saints. For details of the picture below see national gallery

Fra Angelico's The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs

In the coming months members of the parish will be preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation and choosing a Saint. They will be asked to find out about the lives of their Saint and consider why that saint is important to them.

If you would like to share more about the saints you and your family have chosen: drawings, photographs of statues from other churches, prayers written by the saint then please pass details to one of the priests or Sisters at St Thomas More.

Bringing gifts like the Magi

2012-01-08T18:00:00.001Z

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. which is when he showed himself to the world. The magi (wise men) visited Jesus bringing gifts of gold, frankinscence and myrrh. They had followed a star and come to see Jesus.

Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar

In children's liturgy the children talked about the gifts they could bring to Jesus. Their pictures and prayer offerings were placed by the crib at the end of mass.

Children visiting the crib to place their gifts

They have arrived, bringing gifts

2012-01-08T10:00:00.000Z

If you've not had chance to come to sing at Mass today then here is a traditional version from Kings College, Cambridge. Maybe next year we'll be able to feature a version from our own choir or choristers who support us with our singing throughout the year. Which version did you like?

A colouring page for children of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

Still following the star

2012-01-07T06:00:00.000Z

For younger children a colouring page of the three kings (magi) following the star.

And today's video of the familiar carol, we can follow the words. Each verse we can think about the gifts brought for Jesus, they tell us something about his role as king, priest and saviour. Gold for a king, Frankincense like the incense we use at mass reminds us of his priestly role, and Myrrh was used to anoint the dead, and was used to prepare Jesus' body after he had died on the cross (John 19:39).

Follow the star - what gifts will we bring?

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000Z

On Sunday we will celebrate the the Feast of the Epiphany, which is when we listen to the story of the Magi (wise men) who visited Jesus bringing gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Over the next three days there will be three different versions of that familiar carol 'We three kings', a chance to think about the gifts the Magi brought and a time to think what we can bring.

On Sunday, the children at St Thomas More and the Cathedral will have the chance to bring their prayers and pictures of the gifts they will bring.

Holy name of Jesus

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000Z

On the 3rd January we celebrate the Holy name of Jesus. Saying the holy name of Jesus is one of the simplest prayers we can say.
Here we see one of the vestments from the Cathedral's 2011 Vestment Exhibition showing the three letters IHS which remind us of the name of Jesus.

Image of Vestment

For children, a wordsearch to find some of the names of Jesus.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:
2665 The prayer of the Church, nourished by the Word of God and thecelebration of the liturgy, teaches us to pray to the Lord Jesus. Even thoughher prayer is addressed above all to the Father, it includes in all theliturgical traditions forms of prayer addressed to Christ. Certain psalms,given their use in the Prayer of the Church, and the New Testament place on ourlips and engrave in our hearts prayer to Christ in the form of invocations: Sonof God, Word of God, Lord, Saviour, Lamb of God, King, Beloved Son, Son of theVirgin, Good Shepherd, our Life, our Light, our Hope, our Resurrection, Friendof mankind.
2668 ... [Saying the name of Jesus] This prayer is possible "at all times" because it is not oneoccupation among others but the only occupation: that of loving God, whichanimates and transfigures every action in Christ Jesus.

Mary Mother of God

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000Z

On the altar the statue of Mary holding the baby Jesus reminds us that today we not only end our Christmas octave, eight days of Christmas, but are celebrating the Feast of Mary the Mother of God.

Mary Mother of God

In our gospel (Luke 2: 16-24) we hear how Mary listened to what the shepherds had to say and 'treasured all these things and pondered on them in her heart'. Throughout the year we can pray the rosary to help us remember, like Mary, the joyful, sorrowful and glorious moments in the life of Jesus.

Children may like to make their own image of Mary and Jesus. There are black and white templates (which can be coloured yellow / gold, or blue) or coloured templates ready to cut out.

Template 1 - colour Template 2 - colour
Template 1 - black & white Template 2 - black & white

Feast of St Stephen

2011-12-26T06:00:00.000Z

December 26th the feast of St Stephen
To day we remember St Stephen who we learn about in Acts of the Apostles. Stephen was one of seven deacons chosen by the apostles to help them spread the Good News and tell people about Jesus. He was known for his wisdom and was the first martyr who was stoned to death for standing up and preaching about Jesus.

St Stephen and St Thomas More

This image is on the Te Deum window in the Cathedral, you can see St Stephen holding the stones and also a palm leaf which is a symbol of martyrdom. In this picture you can also see St Thomas More who was to die for his faith over 1,500 years later.

O Emmanuel

2011-12-23T06:00:00.004Z

On Friday 23rd December we celebrate O Emmanuel

Emmanuel means God with us

Celebrating at home Read Isaiah 7:14 spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon.
Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.
ENGLISH: O Emmanuel, God with us, our King and lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: come to save us, O Lord our God.

LATIN: O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.

Celebrating with children
Find and read Isaiah 7:14 the message that we hear in Luke is about Mary who will have a son and that she will call him Emmanuel which means God is with us. What can we do to get ready for Jesus.

You might sing the verse from the hymn O Come Emmanuel
O come, o come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

A secret message
If you look back at the letters of the Antiphons starting with today Emmanuel and going backwards it spells in Latin ERO CRAS which means Tomorrow I will be.

O King of the Gentiles

2011-12-22T06:00:00.001Z

On Thursday 22nd December we celebrate O King

Celebrating at home Read Isaiah 28:16 spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon.
Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.

LATIN: O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

ENGLISH: O King of the gentiles and their desired One, the cornerstone that makes both one: come, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.
Celebrating with children
Find and read Isaiah 28:16 the King who foundation. Maybe make a crown.

You might sing the verse from the hymn O Come Emmanuel

O come, Desire of nations, bind,
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of peace

O Oriens - O Dayspring

2011-12-21T20:04:00.003Z

On Wednesday 21st December we celebrate the dayspring

Celebrating at home Read Luke 1: 78-79 spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon. These words are part of Zechariah's song of praise the Benedictus that is said in morning prayer.

Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.

ENGLISH: O dawn of the east, brightness of light eternal, and sun of justice: come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

LATIN: O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis.

Celebrating with children
Find and read Luke 1:78-79 which is part of a song of praise from Zechariah who was John the Baptist's father. Talk about the light coming in the morning and how Jesus is the Light of the world who came to chase the darkness away. If your child comes to children's liturgy you could ask them to teach you their Advent candle song, in which we sing 'chase the darkness, fill the world with light, be a little candle flame and shine out bright'.

You might sing the verse from the hymn O Come Emmanuel
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight

For a 5 minute photo story of the visit of Mary to Elizabeth and to hear Zechariah's Song of praise (canticle) click here suitable for Key Stage 2 and above including adults.

Mary and Joseph on facebook

2011-12-20T06:00:00.003Z

Many young people and adults will have a facebook page. This video clip shows what Mary and Joseph as well as their friends and family might have shared on their facebook page.

We have all heard, or in some cases experienced the challenges as well as the fun with social networking. Let's make sure if we use it we use it to share Good News.

O Key of David

2011-12-20T06:00:00.001Z

On Tuesday 20th December we celebrate O Key of David

Celebrating at home Read Isaiah 22:22 spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon.
Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.

LATIN: O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel: qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris.

ENGLISH: O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Celebrating with children
Find and read Isaiah 22:22 and talk about how the key opens something.

You might look at the Statue of St Peter in the Cathedral. Jesus gave Peter the keys, which sacrament do they remind us about?

You might sing the verse from the hymn O Come Emmanuel
O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

O Root of Jesse

2011-12-19T06:00:00.003Z

On Monday 19th December we celebrate the root of Jesse, Jesus' family tree

Celebrating at home Read Isaiah 11:10 spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon.
Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.

ENGLISH: O root of Jesse, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come, to deliver us, and tarry not.

LATIN: O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.

Celebrating with children
Find and read Isaiah 11:10 and talk about how Jesus was born of the house of David.
or you might talk about how the roots of a plant keep us secure.

Talk about your own family and how we learn important things from grandparents and our ancestors.

Roots brings the plant things it needs to grow and keeps it in the right place. What are our roots? Say a prayer of thanksgiving for all those members of our family who have helped us,

You might sing the verse from the hymn O Come Emmanuel

O come, O Rod of Jesse free,
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.

O Lord - O Adonia

2011-12-18T06:00:00.000Z

On Sunday 18th December we celebrate O Adonia

Adonai means Lord

Celebrating at home
Read Exodus3:2 spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon.
Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.
LATIN: O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

ENGLISH: O Lord and Ruler the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms.

Celebrating with children
Find and read Exodus 3:2 and talk about how God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. Soon we will celebrate that Jesus has come to us as the light of the world. Share ways in which we can share his light with our friends and family.

You might sing the verse from the hymn O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come, thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty, and awe.

For a 5 minute video cartoon of Moses and the burning bush

O Wisdom - O Sapientia

2011-12-17T06:00:00.000Z

On Saturday 17th December we start the O Antiphons.

O Wisdom - O Sapientia

Celebrating at home

Read Isaiah 11:2-3 spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon.
Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.
LATIN: O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodidisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviter disponensque omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.
ENGLISH: O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way of prudence.

Celebrating with children:
Share a favourite Bible story or find and read Isaiah 11:2-3 and talk about how when we are baptised we received the gift of the wisdom which is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and think about ways we can use this gift to help us do the right thing.

O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who orders all things mightily,
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.

Curious about Advent

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000Z

If you missed the recent Curious about Advent series of talks about the Advent season then why not take a look at the following video which captures some important facts about Advent. Although it lacks the richness of the talks prepared by Canon Stephen and Fr Stewart it reminds us of some important messages about Advent. In 2 minutes we find out about:

the difference between Advent and Lent,
the meaning of our purple and pink (rose) candles on our Advent Wreath
preparing for Jesus' birth at Christmas and his 2nd coming (parousia)
Advent as a time of expecting, waiting, hope and prayer

and we find out what Advent is not about...

O Antiphons - Songs of praise as we prepare for Christmas

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000Z

From the 17th December the Church sings a song (antiphon) in evening prayer (vespers) of the church to help prepare for Jesus' birth. Each of the O Antiphons reminds us of one of the titles of Jesus who is our Messiah (Saviour) and one of Isaiah's prophesies (messages from God).

Celebrating at the Cathedral

To join the celebration on Weekdays and Saturdays there is Exposition at 5pm followed by Sung Vespers and Benediction at 5:30pm; on Sundays Exposition and the Rosary begin at 4pm and Vespers and Benediction begins at 4:40pm. Everyone welcome.

Celebrating at home

On each day we will post an O Antiphon for those who are not able to get to the Cathedral and offer ideas for family prayer.

St Stephen's Medals for our servers

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000Z

Over the weekend some of our servers received their St Stephen medal for their commitment to being a server. We thank all servers and their families who support them in fulfilling this important service to our parish. Below is a photograph of those receiving their medal at the 6.30pm Sunday evening mass.

See our Server page for a close up of the medal and for details about how to become a server.

After Mass, Kirsten continued with some training for our new servers. Like so many acts of service there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. see our earlier entry about why some young people are attracted to serving.

Who is that knocking at the door

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000Z

It's Mary and Joseph, the travelling crib come to visit. Families at St Thomas More's have been passing the travelling crib during Advent. Here we see the crib in the Ursuline Convent, where will it go next?

Advent is a time when we can think about how Mary and Joseph must have felt as they travelled to Bethlehem.

Some families have shared with us what they did when Mary, Joseph and their donkey came to visit. Marie Worden explained how she created a home in Nazareth out of baking tins and then created a long road for Mary and Joseph to travel along. This was to help the children understand that it will be some time before they get to Bethlehem when we will celebrate the birth of Jesus.

John the Baptist - a messenger preparing the way for the Lord

2011-12-11T06:00:00.001Z

On the 2nd and 3rd Sunday of Advent we heard about John the Baptist and how he prepared a way for the Lord. We try to follow his message today and think about what we can do to prepare a way for the Lord.

Here is St John the Baptist with his mother Mary, it is a small section of the 'Te Deum' window at the back of church. Why not have a look at see if you can see it next time you are in church.

John reminds us that he is preparing for the Lord by being "a voice crying in the wilderness" How can we prepare a way for the Lord?

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady

2011-12-10T06:00:00.002Z

Icon of Our Lady and Jesus

On Thursday the 8th December parishioners gathered for Mass and a candlelit procession to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.

The Ursuline sisters at St Thomas More had prepared a focal area with an icon of Our Lady and Jesus. In past years when the weather has been less windy we have processed to the grotto outside, but given the wind and cold it was much nicer inside! After mass we processed to this area and sang Immaculate Mary. This is a popular hymn, and will remind people of pilgrimmage to Lourdes.

Younger readers may like to find out what people do with their candles when singing the chorus of this hymn.

Getting ready to serve

2011-12-05T18:00:00.005Z

On Sunday two new servers came and began their training to take up this ministry. Kirsten showed them how to genuflect which is something we should all do when we pass in front of the Blessed Sacrament and altar. Watch how well the servers do this next time at Mass.

When asked why they would like to be a server they said:

"I want to be a server so I have something to do
during Mass"

"It looked fun and I wanted to a part of Mass, I wanted to be able to join in"

We had a lovely photo of them trying to genuflect together, sadly this has been deleted! Sorry girls.

Prepare a way for the Lord

2011-12-04T15:10:00.001Z

On this 2nd Sunday of Advent we talked about ways in which we could prepare a way for the Lord and follow St John the Baptist. We lit 2 purple candles on our Advent wreath, a candle of hope and another for peace. We said a pray to help us remember how we are part of God's family and can help each other.

Some children shared ways they will help to prepare a way for the Lord and others talked about what they have been doing for Advent.

Happy New Year

2011-11-27T20:51:00.019Z

Today we start a new church year. We start with four weeks for Advent which is a time of preparation for Christmas when we remember how Jesus was born in a stable and prepare for when he will come again.

As we light our Advent wreath we are remembering children from around the world and using prayers from Mission Together (which is the Church's Mission charity for children).

Children received their own Advent calendar for an online version and other ideas see the Advent Calendar. Link to calendar

Cathedral Parish Family Blog

2011-11-27T18:43:00.000Z

Welcome to the new Cathedral Parish Family blog provides information about parish activities relating to:

the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation

Children's Liturgy of the Word at St Peter's and St Thomas More's
Servers and information about serving at Mass

Impact - parish youth group for young people in year 9 and above
other parish family activities