WELCOME TO ST MARY’S NEWHOUSE

Mass intentions

Mass will be celebrated at 12 noon each day, though sadly still behind closed doors.

Please remember in prayer our sick or housebound parishioners, and all who have died recently, or whose anniversary of death is about this time.

Reconciliation (Confession): Please ring 862437 to see if it would be possible. For now, a person can make an Act of Perfect Contrition. Lost your copy? Please ask.

On Ascension Day Jesus gathered them for his farewell. The time had come for them to take on the mission to humanity :

YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES ON YOU, AND THEN YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES.

Accompanied by Our Lady and many others (Acts 1:15) the apostles spent the 10 days from Ascension Day till Pentecost praying for the Spirit.     It’s for us to do the same.

Let’s say (or sing!) each day up to Pentecost (next Sunday):-

Come,  Holy Ghost, Creator, come

From thy bright heavenly throne,

Come, take possession of our souls,

And make them all thine own.   

From one of Pope St. Leo the Great’s sermons:

“The apostles themselves, though on many occasions strengthened by our Lord’s miracles and instructed by his words, still panicked at the atrociousness of his passion, and only after some hesitation accepted the truth of his resurrection. But his ascension wrought such a change in them, that whatever before had been a source of fear now became a source of joy for them. In a mysterious way he [Jesus] began to be more present to them in his godhead once he had become more distant in his humanity.” 

SUNDAY GOSPEL: Jn 17:1-11 

Jesus knows he will have to leave his disciples, because he and the Father have to send the Spirit, who is to complete the Mission in the souls of all who will believe. So Jesus looks with love on them, and says to his Father: “I pray for them”. What a comfort and strength for us to know that,  now that he has ascended to heaven, Jesus is at God the Father’s right hand, interceding for us all the time.

“Father and Son, send us your Spirit.” 

While we pray for the Spirit, I ask everyone to pray for this year’s Confirmation candidates  They were to have received this Sacrament in June. May God maintain their faith and desire (and the backing of parents and sponsors) till we can re-arrange.

The same goes for the Holy Communion candidates, and people who were hoping to arrange weddings and baptisms.

Video message from Bishop Paul: https://youtu.be/ewKHCcdaD20

“MAY IS MARY’S MONTH” is the first line of Gerard Manley Hopkins poem called the “May Magnificat”. 

 Read it on https://ourladyandstedwards.co.uk/reflections-on-our-ladys-month-may/

ROSARY: currently I’m saying the Rosary in Our Lady’s chapel each evening 7pm.  Why not “join” me then, or at your better time. If not each evening, perhaps each Tuesday. This week, Tuesday 26^th May, we'll pray the Glorious Mysteries. These are:

(1) The Resurrection of Jesus

(2) his Ascension to Heaven

(3) The coming of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost)

(4) Our Lady being assumed into heaven  

(5) The crowning of Our Lady as Queen of heaven, and the Glory of all the saints.

Poor Bishop Paul! Last week he was cycling for exercise in Morecambe, where he lives, and there was an accident in which he suffered a fractured skull and damage to one ear. Please pray for his full recovery.

SAFE WATER FOR A VILLAGE VIA CAFOD:  

Thank you very much, those who helped .  Faced with the threat to East Africa not only from the virus but also the recent deadly floods, people have donated over £300 towards a safe water supply for a village. That’s a practical response to disaster.

Coming so soon after the Lent Fast Day ( for which a letter of thanks came from Cafod this week), the generosity is much appreciated. It will be sent this week.  

See https://cafod.org.uk/Fundraise/Parish-fundraising for a 2-min video from Cafod's Director. Looking round the world with Catholic and Cafod eyes, she says "We are living through one of the global events that will shape humanity, and our response can only be the response of the heart of God. We need to be his hands and feet - we cannot do otherwise".

THANK YOU: to those who have started Bankers Orders and / or Gift Aid, or contribute via BACS.

For parish collections, if you prefer to switch to  a BANKER’S ORDER  (sometimes called a Standing Order), just  ring 862437 , or email  olse.parish@btinternet.com,  and I’ll send a form.

Food Bank thanks you for extra food. They current need Weetabix or similar, rice pudding, tinned fruit, custard, orange squash, long-life semi-skimmed milk, potatoes (tinned or instant), pasta & sauce, tins of sweet corn, tomatoes, carrots, peas, baked beans. Also, please, bars of soap, shampoos, toothpaste and brushes. Definitely no fresh fruit or veg, sorry. You can bring it to Fr. Bob’s doorstep (please ring first on 01772 862437), or maybe ask Michaela to collect: 07802 435561.

ST. MARY’s SUPPORT GROUP. For anyone who’d be glad of help, for instance with shopping, collecting pension or prescription, a friendly chat by phone, or you know someone in need, please ring 07802 435561.

FACE-MASKS: Pauline Noblet is making them. £2 only, just to cover cost.  Choose colour red or white or purple or patterned. Please ring Pauline on 01772 863423 or 07900 542337.    

Please pray for heads, staff and governors, working out how to re-open our schools safely.

A PRAYER FOR DELIVERY FROM THE VIRUS:

Let’s say this daily, for all of humanity,

< Almighty, ever-living God, only support of our human weakness, look with compassion upon the sorrowful condition of your children, who suffer because of this pandemic;  relieve the pain of the sick, give strength to those who care for them, welcome into your peace those who have died, and, through this time of tribulation, grant that we may all find comfort in your merciful love. Through Christ our Lord. >

AND WHEN WE PRAY, let’s include everyone, for everyone is affected, or will be, in one way or other. Let’s keep in mind all the peoples of the world, some of whom are least able to cope.

CARE HOME residents, and their families, and the staffs, need a special prayer.

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LET’S KEEP SUNDAY SPECIAL right through the lockdown. Help the children especially, by having your own service of worship at home, including some prayers of the Mass, or following Mass online together.

The “CATHOLIC VOICE” newspaper for the month of May is out now, but only online.  Visit:-

www.CatholicDirectory.org  to view all the different diocesan newspapers, incl. the Catholic Voice of Lancaster.  I suggest you look not only at May’s copy, but also re-visit the April edition, where the first page gives prayers for Contrition and for a Spiritual Communion.

The Universe and the Catholic Times have merged. We get 5 copies, but sell only 1. Fr Bob can get a copy to you free each week for now if you ask. Or you can obtain the magazime, postage-free, by ringing 0161 820 5722 or visting https://www.thecatholicuniverse.com/.

In the meantime, if you let me know, I'll get a free copy to you, rather than let them go to waste. Same goes for "My Day by Day", here now for June. Free if you ask.

Fair Trade Products

Anne Garsed has a supply, from socks to chocolate, either on her 2-metre doorstep (35 St Vincent's Road, opposite Preston College) or delivered by bike (within reason!). Tel 07813 870641 or email fairpreston@gmail.com.

LifeCharity.   Charities are suffering badly.   Some depend greatly on their charity shops, which are closed.  

LifeCharity relies on its shops for £1m per year, to run its advertising service ( letting expectant mothers know it’s there to help), its phone counselling service, and its mother-and-baby homes.

It is a matter of special concern to us when we are so committed to helping mothers keep their babies. If anyone wishes to help them, I will forward donations or give you a way to contact LifeCharity. Thank you.

The Pope’s Prayer intention for MAY 2020

For Deacons:  We pray that deacons, faithful in their service to the Word and the poor, may be an invigorating symbol for the entre Church.

For the latest Diocese information regarding Coronavirus, including details of prayers and special contrition/communion, please visit Lancaster Diocese Coronavirus advice

See Bishop Swarbrick's blog for recent Diocesan news.