October Month of the Holy Rosary

Feast of the Holy Rosary

Mary
Stained Glass
Wondow

This month traditionally is given over to the promotion of devotion to the rosary. On 7th October we will celebrate the feast of the rosary. This recalls the Christian victory over the Turks at the battle of Lepanto following the rallying cry to say the rosary by Pope Pius V.

This simple prayer, which many of us have learnt as children, is not simply a devotion to Mary but rather a meditation on the life of Christ in the company of His mother. Why not reconsider this month our use of this prayer? How often do I say the rosary? Do I rush it? Do I pray with my family?

“With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.” John Paul II

In children's liturgy we are looking at each of the Joyful mysteries: Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Presentation in the Temple and Jesus in the Temple.

Joyful Mystery: Visitation

For an online opportunity to pray the joyful mystery of the rosary with others. Takes 15 minutes

Primary School: Praying the Rosary in May

Primary School: Praying the Rosary in May

Each week during May, a group of children in Year 5 are preparing and leading a Rosary prayer time at lunchtime for children in Key Stage 2. They do it with great enthusiasm and respect and it is lovely to see a good number of children give up part of their lunch break to attend.

Our Lady of Fatima

The 13th May is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima and the song Ave de Maria tells the story of Our Lady of Fatima and is a reminder of saying the Rosary each day. 

Pope's Intentions: For the terminally ill

 For the terminally ill

We pray that those with a terminal illness, and their families, receive the necessary physical and spiritual care and accompaniment.

Pope Francis reminds us that even when little chance for a cure exists, 

“every sick person has the right to medical, psychological, spiritual and human assistance. ... Healing is not always possible, but we can always care for the sick person, caress them.”

During this month we might think about what we can do to show care for those who are ill and those who look after them, this may be a listening ear, a practical offer of assistance or a prayer. 

The Pope Video has had more than 203 million views across all the Vatican’s social networks and is translated into more than 23 languages, receiving press coverage in 114 countries.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes 

Tomorrow is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Lourdes is a place of pilgrimage for those who are sick.  If there are any parishioners willing to share their experience of going to Lourdes then please get in touch. 

Happy New Year

Today is the first day of 2024. The start of our secular year we celebrate the Feast of Mary the Mother of God.  

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains Mary's important role in her Son Jesus role as saviour.  

1172 "In celebrating this annual cycle of the mysteries of Christ, Holy Church honors the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, with a special love. She is inseparably linked with the saving work of her Son. In her the Church admires and exalts the most excellent fruit of redemption and joyfully contemplates, as in a faultless image, that which she herself desires and hopes wholly to be."

Below a video with a beautiful hymn reflecting on Mary's role and relationship with Jesus' actions.

1. Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day; Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!

2. Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine; Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!

3. Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread; Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!

4. Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;
Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!

5. Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord;
Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored!

6. Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest;
Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!

7. Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son

By all things blest while endless ages run. Amen.

Our Lady of Lourdes - Diocesan patron

Today we celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes who is one of our Diocesan Patrons.
To read about past Diocesan Pilgrimage's to Lourdes with Bishop Paul Swarbrick anointing the sick in 2019.

Many will know the story of Our Lady of Lourdes who appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes which has become a place of pilgrimage which many parishioners will have attended.

To remind you of some of the key episodes this short video also includes a closing prayer.

Bishop Paul Swarbrick at home

Bishop Paul Swarbrick leads us in prayer from his home where he is recovering from his recent accident.  He invites us to join with him as he says the rosary in a time of silent prayer announcing each joyful mystery. 

1st joyful mystery (Annunciation) praying for all those who have asked for prayer2nd joyful mystery (Visitation) praying for peace and holiness3rd joyful mystery (Nativity) praying for the intentions of our Holy Father and Mission of the Catholic church 4th joyful mystery (Presentation at the Temple) praying for a personal intention today remembering Margaret Doherty (mother of Fr Michael Doherty who was a curate at the Cathedral)5th joyful mystery (Finding Jesus in the Temple) praying those who are in despair at this time to raise them in their darkness to unfailing light.

For those who may be interested in silent prayer there is an online Meditation group meeting between 7.00 and 8.00 people who have not attended the face to face group are most welcome and there are some who have joined and are finding it a helpful source of support and time of prayer. If you would like to attend or learn more please email Ann-Marie on a.houghton at lancaster.ac.uk

Re-dedication of England to Mary Mother of God

Please see the video of the re-dedication at Lancaster Cathedral. On Sunday 29th March 2020 (5th Sunday of Lent), Bishop Paul Swarbrick of Lancaster, together with the scattered faithful of the Church all united in prayer, re-dedicated England to Mary the Mother of God.

England re-dedication as Dowry to Our Lady of Walsingham

In February the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham visited the Cathedral as part of the pilgrimage around the country. Today at 12.00 we were asked to dedicate ourselves to Mary, Cardinal Nichols explained the background to the Dowry and then guided through prayer.

Lancaster Cathedral Photo Montage 

Below a re-dedication service broadcast from St Clare's Preston, for a copy of the service sheet.


A similar service was held at the Cathedral and we will post that when it is available.

Feast of Annunciation

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation when Mary said yes to becoming the mother of Jesus.  Why not take a few moments to watch this art reflection on the Annunciation, which is part of a series of reflections for Advent, which of course is nine months away. 

Those living near the Cathedral may hear a single bell ring when it is time to say the Angelus.  Typically it is said at 6.00am, 12 noon and 6.00pm.  The Feast of the Annunciation reminds us of the words from the Angelus prayer card.  For those wanting to build in routines into their day. Follow the  @angelusprayer on Twitter and get reminders about the Angelus.




Some craft activities

Annunciation Pop up craft with instructions

Annunciation Craft 

Today is also a special day for our Bishop, check in later to find out why.

Our Lady of Fatima - Procession

Statue of Our Lady

Procession of Our Lady - if you look carefully you can
see statue of Our Lady where people light a candle

Parishioners from across St Peter's deanery gathered for prayer and Mass to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.  Although a good number were present we didn't compete with the thousands gathering in Fatima to join the Pope for the canonisation of Saints Fancisco and Jacinta, two of the children who saw Our Lady during her monthly appearances in 2017,  Fr Philip Connor, Dean of St Peter's Deanery concelebrated Mass with the Cathedral clergy in his sermon he reminded us Mary's message of saying the rosary for praying for peace as well as looking to see what we could do to bring God's message in the world in which we live, to follow Mary's example. 

At the end of Mass there was a procession around the Cathedral following a statue of Our Lady which was then placed onto the altar. 

A short video of when Jacinta and Francisco became saints, they are the youngest saints who had not been martyred and only a few years older than our children making their first Holy Communion.

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

Today the Lancaster Deanery will gather for exposition, Mass, a procession and time of prayer to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.  We mark the 100th anniversary 13th May 1917 when Our Lady appeared to three young children Lúcia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto in Fátima, Portugal.  Below the Pope prays before an image of Our Lady.

A colouring page of Our Lady of Fatima for our younger readers.

Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes

On 11th February we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  We take time to learn more about the Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. There is still chance for young people over age of 16 to join the pilgrimage in 2016 for further details see the Castlerigg website.

To see more about last year's pilgrimage see video below.    

Mary, Mother of God

As we celebrate the start of the new calendar year 2016, it is fitting that today is celebrated as a Solemnity for Mary, the Mother of God.  We have much to learn from Mary on our faith journey, as we begin this new year we include a reflection on the Hail Mary a gentle woman, the mother of God.

Remember that every 1st Saturday of the month the Rosary is said in the Cathedral at 5.30pm.