Message from Bishop Paul

From Bishop Paul (26th March 2020) 

Bishop Paul: Palm Sunday 2019

* I dispense the lay faithful from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy days. Whilst granting this dispensation, I remind them to properly observe the third commandment, ‘Keep holy the Sabbath Day’ (which is Sunday for Christians). Catholics who do not attend Mass should seek to sanctify every Sunday with personal prayers, or as a family praying together. Examples of these prayers might be making a Spiritual Communion, The Holy Rosary, Stations of the Cross, reading the scriptures or Sunday readings, reciting suitable hymns or praying the Mass whilst watching it online, listening to it on the radio, or watching it on television.

* I dispense the faithful from the requirement to abstain from meat on Friday, with the exception of Good Friday, 10th April, which should still be kept as a solemn day of prayer, fasting and abstinence, subject to the usual fasting rules regarding age etc. 

* I dispense the faithful from the requirements of canon 920 which says ‘each of the faithful is obliged to receive holy communion at least once a year. This precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season unless it is fulfilled for a just cause at another time during the year.’ At the same time, I urge all the faithful in my Diocese to make a Perfect Act of Contrition at this time, noting that perfect contrition is true and real sorrow for our sins, which is created when we realise the immense love of God for each one of us. We express this contrition when we realise how we offend God by our sinful words, deeds and omissions in contrast to the immeasurable love and mercy that he continually shows us. This requires us to be contrite of heart for what we have done, know and be overwhelmed by the love and mercy of God for his children, and to approach this grace with humility and resolution not to sin again. 

The following or similar formula should be used as a Perfect Act of Contrition: 

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God have mercy.

From Palm Sunday Newsletter.  The newsletter also includes a reflection from Fr Steve, details of services which will be recorded at the Cathedral and will be shared on this parish blog and the Cathedral Website.  

Our children's Trinity ...

Today the families who are preparing their children to make their first confession and first Holy Communion gathered together as we had our first family session for the My Lord and My God sacramental preparation programme. The parents have already been meeting to learn more about praying within the family, thinking about the Trinity and to think about the sacrament of reconciliation. Tomorrow they will formally enrol on the programme.

Children showing their Trinity Symbols 

We'll be updating parishioners about what everyone is doing over the coming weeks.  Today we wanted to share the children's images linked to the Trinity.  They focused on activities linked to God our Father who created the world.  We talked the loving and unloving things we do (sins) and remembered how God the Son, Jesus came to save us. And we talked about the Holy Spirit who Jesus sent to help us, as we created a wonderful dove with our hands, and then talked about how we can use our hands to remember who to pray for, following some ideas from Pope Francis.  We hope to show you some of those hands soon. 

First Holy Communion

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).  As Fr Steve explained to the families and congregation a very fitting day for our young people to receive their first Holy Communion.

Fr Steve and Deacon Jim with children making first Holy Communion in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel

Children and their families have been preparing with our parish catechists since the start of the year and have been learning about what it means to be part of God's family as well as learning and receiving the sacraments of Reconciliation just before Easter, and making their first Holy Communion today. 
For those children who attend the Cathedral Primary School they have also been learning about Jesus from their teachers and teaching assistants. For example, when our parish had 40 hours of exposition the children came into Church to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. To learn more about what the children do at school why not visit the Cathedral Primary School website.

Fr Steve, Deacon Jim, Teachers and children making their first Holy Communion

The first teachers of the faith.  All the children have been prepared by their families who brought them to be baptised and then have supported them on our parish preparation programme, My Lord and My God.  Fr Steve thanked them for what they have done and what they will do in the future.  As part of the programme families have taken time to make a pledge for what they will do ... see our parish noticeboard to learn more.

Families and friends join together for a group photo on this very special day.

Celebration Mass - will be held at St Thomas More's on Tuesday 2nd July at 6.30pm At the end of Mass the children and our confirmandi will receive their certifications.
All welcome 

Preparing for first Holy Communion

Learning how to receive Jesus reverently

Last night the children and families came to make their final preparation for First Holy Communion which takes place at 10.30am Mass at Lancaster Cathedral.  This year the children will be making their first holy communion on the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Feast of Corpus Christi), which is of course very fitting.

Walking fown the aisle

Please keep the children and their families in your prayers.

Confirmation on Trinity Sunday

Today as we celebrated the Feast of the Holy Trinity, we also celebrated confirmation at the Cathedral.  There were confirmandi from two deaneries in the Lancaster Diocese, St Peter's in Lancaster and St Mary of Furness, Barrow in Furness and the Lakes Deanery. There were 42 young people and 3 adults renewing their baptismal promises and then coming forward to be anointed with Chrism which was blessed at the chrism Mass.  

During the coming week we will post group photographs fr the different parishes, but for today we post a group photograph of all those confirmed.

Bishop Paul, Confirmandi and Clergy 

Thank you ....

A day like today would not have been possible without the help of a lot of people, all the catechists and clergy who have helped prepared confirmandi over the past few months, and today our choir and musical director Damien Howard, our MC Kirsten Kerfoot and servers, many who had served at this mornings mass and who returned to serve again this afternoon, our welcomer Marcin, and catechists from the cathedral who busied themselves behind the scenes. 

Blessing of the Chrism used at today's confirmation

We also post below a reminder of Holy Week where the oil of Chrism that was used to anoint the confirmandi was blessed by Bishop Paul Swarbrick.

Sacraments ... for life

Today we share a video from our new set of pages for our sacraments.  These pages provide details of sacramental preparation in the parish and also information about the sacraments themselves.  We'd like to add more personal stories of what the sacraments mean to you, what you remember when you first received them.  A sacrament brings us the gift of God's grace ... what graces have you received.  Messages may be left in an envelope 'marked for Parish Blog' or sent via contact page.

When were you baptised?

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, when Mary and Joseph presented their son Jesus at the temple, according to the rites of the Law of Moses.  It was not until he was an adult that Jesus would be baptised by his cousin John the Baptist.  

In today's video Pope Francis asks us to remember the day we were baptised. For most of us that would be when our parents brought us to church, and in the presence of family and friends and with the support of your Godparents they made baptismal promises on your behalf. When we get confirmed we say the Amen to these promises. For adults you'll have made the promises for yourself.  We renew these promises during the Easter Vigil service 

During the coming week we'll share memories and more about our baptism. 

First Holy Communion

Today, 28 of our young people who attend the Cathedral and St Thomas More received their First Holy Communion.  They and their families have been preparing since January and today they received Jesus in this second sacrament of their initiation into being a full member of the Church.
Fr Steve writes:

First Holy Communion, is truly a wonderful occasion, the first of many, when they will know the joy of receiving The Lord and taking their rightful place within the Body of Christ (The Church). I wish to express my appreciation of them and their parents who have followed the way of preparation so fruitfully. Please be assured that there is always a welcome for you all within our community. Fr Steve

Holy Communion 2017 

There will be a celebration mass where certificates will be presented on Tuesday 11th July at St Thomas More at 6.30pm

Sacrament of the Sick

Anointing the sick

On Saturday 2nd September Bishop Michael Campbell came to celebrate Mass and with Fr Steve administer the sacrament of the sick to over 40 parishioners.  Despite the wind and rain parents brought children, adults brought their parents and friends to enable them to receive this healing sacrament which included calling down of the holy spirit and laying on of hands followed by anointing the forehead and hands.  

To learn more about this sacrament why not read an entry in our Year of Faith Blog - Oil of the sick used in this sacrament of the sick.

To read more about this healing Mass see Bishop's Blog




Feast of St Gregory
The 2nd September is the Feast of St Gregory the Great who sent Augustine as a missionary to convert England. To learn more about St Gregory you may want to watch this short video.

We join God's Family

Today the children who enrolled last week in the sacramental preparation programme 'My Lord and My God' thought about joining God's Family at Baptism.  We sang a song to remind us that it is at the Sacrament of Baptism we join God's Family.



Children and catechists singing the circle song - 'We join God's Family'

Outward signs of baptism and Jesus being baptised

We also talked about sacrament as gift.  We found cards showing all the outward signs of the sacrament of Baptism and talked about the inward graces we receive. 

Can you see the outwards signs of Baptism?

Water

Oil

a white cloth

a candle

On Friday the children will start to learn more about another gift - the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

For all who have already received this gift, there will be an opportunity to go to confession during the 24 hours of the Lord

Mass of Chrism - Thank you and Blessing of the Oils

Thank you to our priests of the Diocese
During his homily Bishop Michael Campbell thanked the priests of the diocese for all they do and acknowledged the challenges as well as the joys and privilege of priestly vocation, especially their privilege of administering the sacraments. A link to full copy of his homily. During the Mass he blessed the oils of the sick, catechumens and Chrism.  These oils were then distributed at the end of Mass to be used throughout the coming year. And many went to have soup and a sandwich before travelling home to their parishes.  
Oil of the Sick

Blessing the oil of the sick

The Oil of the Sick used for the sacrament of the sick, which is one of the two healing sacraments, which was blessed at the end of the Eucharistic prayer.
Amongst other things, 
CCC 1532 
The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects: the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church ...

Bishop Michael Campbell blessing the oil of catechumens

Oil of Catechumens
The Bishop says the prayer of blessing over the Oil of Catechumens which is used in the sacrament of Baptism, the first of the three sacraments of initiation.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) says:
CCC 1294 Anointing with oil has all these meanings in the sacramental life. The pre-baptismal anointing with the oil of catechumens signifies cleansing and strengthening; the anointing of the sick expresses healing and comfort.
Oil of Chrism
There are a number of actions in the blessing of Chrism. First the balsam, a sweet smelling substance is added to the olive oil.   Second, the Bishop blows over the oil, and third he and the priests present raise their right hand and call down the Holy Spirit. 

Breathing over the oil

Adding balsam to the olive oil

Calling down the Holy Spirit

CCC 1297 ... It is the bishop who, in the course of the Chrism Mass of Holy Thursday, consecrates the sacred chrism for his whole diocese. ... 

CCC 1294 ... The post-baptismal anointing with sacred chrism in Confirmation and ordination is the sign of consecration. By Confirmation Christians, that is, those who are anointed, share more completely in the mission of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Holy Spirit with which he is filled, so that their lives may give off "the aroma of Christ.

To learn more about the oils blessed during the Mass of Chrism visit our Year of Faith website. 

Chrism Mass - Behind the scenes

A busy day when the diocese gathered together to celebrate the Mass of Chrism. With oil bought ready for blessing, booklets prepared and the diocesan choir rehearsing in recent weeks, chairs and vestments laid out: 

... preparation for refreshments and rehearsals of servers all happening before the day! This morning an early start for the choir, the hospitality team and parishioners and clergy setting out from all corners of the diocese.

some of the hospitality team preparing sandwiches

And the oils waiting to be taken into church where they will be blessed by Bishop Michael Campbell during the Mass of Chrism. Note the labels, the B, I and C are engraved on the jugs to indicate which is which! The oil is olive oil to which balsam will be added to the Chrism to give it a sweet smell.

Oils that will soon be blessed

Healing Service

Temporary Altar in Social Centre - Frs Steve and Andrew 

On Saturday parishioners including many who do not find it easy to get out of the house gathered in the Social Centre for mass and the sacrament of the sick.  Those attending reported it was a wonderful opportunity to feel God's healing comfort.  

At this time of year we remember all in our prayers who are feeling unwell and all those who care for them.

Mass and Anointing of the Sick

Mass and Anointing of the Sick
On Saturday 20th December at 2pm in the Social Centre,
there will be a mass especially for members of our parish who struggle to get out of the house, the chronically ill or those with mobility difficulties.
The mass will be celebrated in the Social Centre on Balmoral Road and is open to all parishioners from St Peter’s and St Thomas More.
To learn more about this healing sacrament and the oil of the sick.

Transport is being arranged by our SVP conference and a sign up sheet is available at the back of church for people to indicate that they require transport.

Watch out for further details of the SVP Epiphany Party on Sunday 4th January 2015.  To watch the SVP video from last year's party