Pope's Prayer Intentions for March

 Pope Leo's Prayer Intentions for March

Pope Leo XVI invites us to pray in March for disarmament and peace. 

Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence. Amen

Daffodil Walk at Hyning Hall

 Daffodil Walk at Hyning Hall, 

Poster for Daffodil Walk

Sunday 8th March, 1.30 - 4pm

Profits go to Marie Curie Cancer Care and St John's Hospice, Lancaster.

Cost is £10 for the walk in our gardens followed by tea and cake in the guest dining room. 

Children under 10 go free. Extra activities include a bear hunt, tombola and plant sale.

Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning Warton, LA5 9SE

Prayer Opportunity - Lent Retreat

Prayer opportunity for the Diocese of Lancaster in mid-Lent

If you feel you need help with prayer, you are in good company; so did the first disciples. This week is the Online Week of Retreat and School of Prayer, led by members of the Jesuit Institute with Bishop Paul’s blessing. 

The event is free - the Diocese is covering the entire cost. 

During this week in mid-Lent, we will introduce a variety of ways of praying each evening, and do the same again on Saturday. 

Come to any or all of the online meetings, or the Saturday, or both! Dates: March 9th-13th, 7-8.30pm plus Day Retreat (10am-3pm) on Saturday 14th March. 

All the sessions are online. No need to register.

To receive the zoom link, and a reminder that it’s happening nearer the time, please email Ursula, the Diocesan Spirituality representative for: uwalker@uwclub.net

Rite of Election

 Rite of election

Te Deum Window:

Front cover of the service sheet

This year on the first Saturday of Lent St Peter's Cathedral was full with people from around the diocese, for a simple but important service celebrating the choosing by the Lord of men, women and children who, with the help of the Church, acknowledge God's election of them for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. 

The Rite of Election marks the beginning of the final period of intensive preparation for the sacraments of initiation, during which the elect will be encouraged to follow Christ with greater generosity (cf RCIA #105)

The Rite of Election is for Catechumens are seeking Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist and candidates for reception into full communion as well as those Catholics completing their initiation at the Easter Vigil.

As we move through Lent, please pray for all those preparing for to these sacraments. 

First Confessions

 First Confession 

Focal area for our prayers of penance

This year we have several groups preparing for the sacraments in our parish of St Peter's Cathedral and the Lancaster Martyrs, so lots to share.

At St Peter's Cathedral we have 12 young people and their families who have been meeting on Saturday mornings to prepare for their first confession.  On Saturday 21st February they made their first confession.

This is an important step in their faith journey and is the second of the seven sacraments.  In June they will make their first Holy Communion.  

After the children made their first confession they came and lit a candle and said their penance.

At St Joseph's there is another group who have just begun their preparation.  

Lent: Listening, fasting together

Lent

Lent is known as a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This year Pope Leo   also reminds us of the importance of listening to God's Word and doing this together. 

Listening: This year, I would first like to consider the importance of making room for the word through listening. The willingness to listen is the first way we demonstrate our desire to enter into relationship with someone.

Fasting: If Lent is a time for listening, fasting is a concrete way to prepare ourselves to receive the word of God. Abstaining from food is an ancient ascetic practice that is essential on the path of conversion. ... I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor. Let us begin by disarming our language, avoiding harsh words and rash judgement, refraining from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves. Instead, let us strive to measure our words and cultivate kindness and respect in our families, among our friends, at work, on social media, in political debates, in the media and in Christian communities. In this way, words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace.

Together: Finally, Lent emphasizes the communal aspect of listening to the word and fasting. ... [As a parish we] are called to undertake a shared journey during Lent, in which listening to the word of God, as well as to the cry of the poor and of the earth, becomes part of our community life, and fasting a foundation for sincere repentance.

For a full copy of Pope Leo's first Lenten message

For a short explanation of why we pray, fast and give alms.

Candlemass: Presentation of the Lord

Candlemass: Presentation of the Lord

Candlemass at St Peter's Cathedral, Lancaster
For more images see our instagram page

On Monday, the Church celebrated the feast of Candlemas, or the Presentation of the Lord as it's otherwise known, which traditionally marks the end of the Christmas season. The day takes its name from the candles that were used to symbolise Jesus as the "Light of the World" - echoing Simeon's words in the Gospel, describing Jesus as "the Light to enlighten the Gentiles".

Here at Lancaster Cathedral, we celebrated Mass by candlelight, including the blessing of candles at the start, which was beautiful to behold and pointed towards the beauty that is the light of Christ who comes to us at all times to be our light in the darkness.

The Nunc Dimittis is the prayer sung at night prayer and reminds us of Simeon's words.