Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. This year is Year A and we read the first 10 verses of John Chapter 10, in the other years B and C we also focus on John Chapter 10, all looking at Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
For a Spiritual Communion pdf containing a copy of the readings, Bishop Paul Swarbrick's Pastoral Letter and universal prayer (Bidding Prayers) for 4th Sunday of Easter. The Bishop carries his crook to remind us he is our shepherd. We are also asked to pray especially for vocations today. At baptism we are all called to follow Jesus, each in our own way. The Bishop's letter reminds us of many ways people are living out their vocation. He also asks us to remember in our prayers those men who are at seminary preparing to become priests and shepherds of God's people. We remember them and also priests of the diocese and of course Fr Steve and Fr John Paul who as mentioned in yesterday's post are missing us all.
This week we light the rose (pink) candle which reminds us to be joyful, based on the Latin Gaudate Sunday. The children have been thinking about how they can spread joy this week.
Week 3: Stay Awake - JOY
Help us as we journey through advent. Bring joy to people who are sad. Amen
The response today is not based on a psalm but on Mary's song of praise, the Magnificat. Although the children haven't listened to this song of praise you might like to watch this clip, see if they can spot some of the words from the Hail Mary, and also think about why Mary is so full of praise. Maybe you can get them to write their own song of praise ... to bring with them to Children's liturgy next week, or adults might like to write one yourself and send it for us to put on the parish blog using our contact form.
Posters are now at the back of church with details of the information evenings for the sacramental preparation programmes. Please pass on details to people who may be interested in finding out more. Confirmation Programme - St Peter's Way Information meeting for young people in year 9 and above after 6.30pm mass on Sunday 6th December with meeting for adults / parents at 8.45pm in Cathedral House Please have a look at the confirmation page for an outline of the programme. At the information meeting we'll be talking with young people about when we hold sessions and finding out things they would like to find out more about as they prepare for the sacrament of confirmation. Reconciliation & Holy Communion - My Lord and My God Information meeting for adults (parents and carers) who wish to help prepare children year 3 and above. The meeting will take place on Tuesday 12th January at 7.30pm at Cathedral House. Please have a look at the Reconciliation & Eucharist page for an outline of the programme. At the information you will be asked to sign up for an individual meeting with Fr Steve, so please bring your diary. There will be an opportunity to find out more about the programme and let us know what you would like to find out about to help you learn more about your faith and help you prepare your child for these sacraments.
This week's Friday Photo of Faith was inspired by a video - entitled Seeing. A reflection which encourages us to do more than look, but to see and use what we see as a basis for prayer. So as we look around what do we see and how can that give us a focus for our prayer. News on the television of the tragedy in the Philippines, a poster or advert as we walk around town reminding us of an event, a sign in the back of a car or on the side of a bus. How might these give us ideas or remind us who or what to pray for.
This video and link is one of a series of messages sent out by the Loyola 'Days of Deepening Friendship' blog for more informationDays of Deepening Friendship
Do you have any recommendations If you regularly receive a newsletter or come across a website which might be of interest to others then please send link and a few words about the site by way of recommendation. Please use contact sheet to let us know, or leave written details with one of the priests.
Meeting for confirmation programme - see below. There will be a second information meeting for parents and carers who missed the first meeting and who are interested in finding out about the parish My Lord and my God, sacramental programme for Reconciliation and Holy Communion. This short meeting is for adults, to find out about the programme and what is involved for them as the first educators in the faith of their children. Members of the Children's Liturgy Team will provide activities for the children. The catechism of the Catholic church says:
CCC 2226Education in the faithby the parents should begin in the child's earliest years. .... The parish is the Eucharistic community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the catechesis of children and parents.
Further information about the programme click here If you have any questions you may use theattached form
Confirmation Programme Please pass on news of this meeting to any young person in year 9 or above. For further information about the programme, click the confirmation tab above.
Friday Photos of faith link with our object of faith the Bible, the weather and the feast of All Souls. Today is Feast of All Souls where we remember those who have died, especially those in the last year, see end for Eternal Rest, and All Souls wordsearch. STOP PRESS: Reminder for the Curious about Vatican Council talks. Tomorrow at St Walburghe's Chapel, Balmoral Rd. For details of future talks click here
Can you work out which picture shows the
Gospel writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?
Hailstones: Friday 2nd November 2012
For all those caught in the wind, rain and hail
Book of the Dead:
where the names of those who have died are recorded
Eternal Rest Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. All Souls Word Search click here Please let us know if you have some Friday Photos of Faith using our contact sheet.
Te Deum Window: Lancaster Cathedral Why not visit today and see how many saints you can spot?
All Saints - 1st November
When we are baptised or confirmed we take the name of a saint. As we celebrate All Saints day, remember to pray to your saint and why not find out more about them. Or use today to find out about other saints. Below are three retreats prepared by Loyola press for children to share the stories of three saints. Each has some music accompaniment and a series of 6 short reflections which tell us something of the life of the saint and offers questions for us to think about how we can follow in the footsteps of that saint.
St Frances Xavier Cabrini - Feast day 13th November Born in Italy, she trained as a teacher, became a religious sister and eventually founded her own order. In the 1880s she went to America to help the many Italian people who had moved there to live and work. She wanted to help them as they often ended up living in poor conditions. With the help of religious sisters, she helped to set up schools, orphanages and hospitals and by the time she died there were nearly 1,000 sisters helping the poor. on-line retreat click here and short story of her life click here
St Andrew - Feast Day 30th November Andrew was St Peter's younger brother, it was Andrew who first met Jesus who said 'Follow me'. When Jesus died like the other apostles he became a missionary and spent his time telling people about Jesus and his commandment to love God and to love our neighbour as ourself. Did you know the name "Andrew" is a Greek name meaning "courageous" or "manly"? He was very brave and tradition says he was crucified on a cross shaped like an X. St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and this is the shape of the Scottish flag. At children's liturgy we also try to follow in St Andrew's example and Follow Jesus - see Children's Liturgy page for further details. on-line retreat click here and a short story of his life click here
St Kateri Tekakwitha - 14th July One of the newest saints, only canonised on the 21st October 2012. She is the first native American saint and is the patron saint of the environment and ecology. She attended daily mass and was known as the "Lily of the Mohawks". She died on April 17, 1680 at the age of twenty-four - her final words were reported as Jesus - Mary - I love you. On-line retreat click here and details of the saints life more suitable for adults click here
Litany of Saints Why not use the litany of saints as part of your prayer time today, below a 4 minutes video, or click here for a Latin Litaniae
Sanctorum (Litany of Saints) lasting 8 minutes
All Souls
Tomorrow we celebrate All Souls day when we remember those who have died. Mass times at the Cathedral at 12.15pm and at 7.30pm where we will pray for those members of the parish and family members who have died in the past year.
Today we share some of Jesus' miracle stories. On Sunday we heard about blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10: 46-52). Although he could not physically see, through the strength of his faith he was able to see who Jesus really was. Bartimaeus called out "Son of David, have mercy on me". When Jesus asked him what he wanted, he asked to be able to see. Jesus replied telling him that his faith had healed him.
In the gospels there are other miracle stories of Jesus healing a blind man. The 5 minute video below is one of those. It reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world and that following him we will be able to see more clearly how we should live our lives.
Did you know? On Sunday at children's liturgy we always light a candle to .... why not ask one of the children the reason we light the candle and who it reminds us of.
Word challenges How many 3 or more letter words can you make out of Bartimaeus? And how many 3 or more letter words can you make out of the name Melchizedek who Jesus was compared to in the letter of the Hebrews. Do you know? What Eucharistic prayer mentions Melchizedek and where in the Old Testament does he appear? Remember this week in the Cathedral Year of Faith the object of faith is the Bible Thursday is All Saints Day - Holy Day of Obligation Friday is All Souls Day - when we remember those who have died
Today is vocations Sunday. The theme for this year is Vocations, the Gift of the Love of God.
In his pastoral letter Pope Benedict XVI writes: Dear brothers and sisters, we need to open our lives to this love. It is to the
perfection of the Father’s love (cf. Mt 5:48) that Jesus Christ calls us
every day! The high standard of the Christian life consists in loving “as” God
loves; with a love that is shown in the total, faithful and fruitful gift of
self. ... It is in this soil of self-offering and openness to the love of God, and as the
fruit of that love, that all vocations are born and grow.
Yesterday we celebrated Sr Maureen's vocation to religious life. Today we remember especially remember vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For further details if you are searching to find out what your vocation is, or know someone who is seeking to find out what God is calling them to do then please see the Diocesan website for details of how to contact Fr Andrew Allman, the Diocesan Vocations director and posts about the joy of priesthood, why be a priest, and release of a new film 'The calling'.
Image from Lancaster Vocations website
And finally, a prayer for vocations from the Diocesan website:
Lord Jesus Christ, as You once called the first disciples to leave their nets and follow You, let Your call to the priesthood continue to resound in the Church today.
Raise up for Your Church holy and zealous priests to nourish and care for Your people. Grant us good shepherds after Your own heart to guide and unite Your flock. Open the hearts of those You are calling; give them courage and generosity to respond to Your voice.
May we all bear witness to Your truth and love so that the world may come to know You as Lord and Saviour, You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. This year is Year A and we read the first 10 verses of John Chapter 10, in the other years B and C we also focus on John Chapter 10, all looking at Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
