Third Sunday of Lent, 24 March 2019

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1 Newsletter Parish of St John Vianney, incorporating the former Parishes of St Andrew, Holy Family & St Mark St Therese of Lisieux Pastoral Area Parish Administration: Maureen Conley (Mon & Tues 9am-1pm) Jacqui O Rourke (Thurs & Fri 9am-1pm) St John Vianney Parish Office, Penmann Crescent, Liverpool, L26 0UG Tel: johnvianney@rcaolp.co.uk Website: Parish Priest: Father Matthew Nunes Tel: Outside of the urgent need for a priest, all enquiries should please be directed to the Parish Office ( ) in the first instance. Third Sunday of Lent, 24 March 2019 Now into the third week of the Season of Lent, our Sunday Gospel prepares us to hear Lent's call to conversion and repentance. Today's reading is found in the chapters of Luke's Gospel that describe Jesus' journey to Jerusalem. During this journey, Jesus teaches and heals. He must also respond to those who question and challenge his authority and actions. There is no parallel in Mark's or Matthew's Gospels for today's reading from Luke. While Mark and Matthew describe an incident in which Jesus curses the fig tree, today's reading makes the barren fig tree the subject of a parable. Luke tells us that some among the crowds report to Jesus a massacre of Galileans by Pilate. The intention of the crowd seems to be to ask Jesus to explain why these people suffered. It was commonplace to render people's suffering as evidence of their sinfulness. Jesus challenges this interpretation. Those who were massacred were no more or less sinful than the ones who report the situation to Jesus. Jesus replies that even a fatal accident, a natural disaster, ought not to be interpreted as punishment for sin. Jesus' words at first appear to have a fire-and-brimstone quality. Jesus says in essence, Repent or perish as these people did; all are sinful before God and deserving of God's punishment. The tone changes, however, in the parable that follows. The parable of the barren fig tree contrasts the patience and hopefulness Liverpool RC Archdiocesan Trustees Incorporated. A registered Charity

2 of the gardener with the practicality of the property owner. When told to cut down the fig tree because it is not producing fruit, the gardener counsels patience. If properly tended, the barren fig tree may yet bear fruit. Throughout his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus has been teaching about the Kingdom of God. In this parable, we find an image of God's patience and hopefulness as he prepares his Kingdom. God calls us to repent, and it is within his power to punish us for our failure to turn from our sinfulness. And yet God is merciful. He delays punishment and tends to us so that we may yet bear the fruit he desires from us. This, then, is our reason for hope: Not only does God refuse to abandon us, he chooses to attend to us even when we show no evidence of his efforts. Next week's Gospel will give an even clearer picture of the kind of mercy that God shows to us. Parish Office The Parish Office will be closed on Friday, 29 March due to staff holidays. Remember, we re happy to collect your used postage stamps and any funny money you have collecting dust in your drawers at home! Rite of Welcome Holy Family, 5.15pm: Arabella Mari Smith. Baptismal Information Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we welcome in to our Parish of St John Vianney at St Mark s Church, Noah Steve Laurence Farren and Sienna Beau Baker. The next Baptism Registration meeting will take place on Monday, 1 April at 6.00pm in St Mark s Annexe. All enquiries to our Baptism Coordinator Mrs Chris Myles on ** Please note there are only a few Baptism places left to the end of July and none in August. ** Altar Server Training If you feel you have the qualities and enthusiasm to serve our Priest in celebration of the Mass and other services the next meeting will take place on Friday, 29 March, 6.00pm- 7.00pm in St Mark s Church. If you have missed previous meetings but are interested then this is the final meeting you can attend to receive information before the training progresses further. You must have 2

3 made your First Holy Communion or be taking this Sacrament this year. ** It is very important that those who have started this training programme attend ALL meetings and are accompanied by a responsible adult. Altar Servers Chrism Mass You are invited to the Chrism Mass on Wednesday, 17 April at 7.30pm at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Please bring your albs, cassocks and cotta and all servers to be vested by 7.00pm. See poster at back of church. Preparing our Young People for the Sacrament of Confirmation The moving of the Sacrament of Confirmation back to the teenage years will see the Archbishop confirming the first group of such young people next year. At the heart of this approach is the recognition that a key element in nurturing the faith of our young people is the opportunity to connect with other such young people, as seen in the appeal of Flame, Lourdes, Faith in Action, etc. Further information will follow, but in order to explore the scheme any interested parishioners, would be very welcome to come to any of the following gatherings: 7.00pm-8.30pm, Wednesday, 27 March at St Anne s, Ormskirk am-12.30pm, Saturday, 30 March at LACE. 7.00pm-8.30pm, Tuesday, 9 April at St Joseph s, Wrightington. Please contact Jonathan Mercer or j.mercer@rcaol.co.uk if you would like to come to one of these. Stations of the Cross Each Friday throughout Lent at 6.30pm in Holy Family Church. All welcome. Parish Council The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, 2 April at 6.00pm in St Mark s Annexe. With You Always Monday, 1 April, Easter Crafts, 5.30pm in Holy Family School. Monday, 8 April, 4.45pm- 5.45pm/6.00pm-7.00pm, Family Session 7, Holy Family School. All queries should be ed to vianneywya@gmail.com. 3

4 Vianney s Voice Due to clashes with other parish community events our next meeting will now take place on Wednesday, 3 April at 7.00pm-8.30pm in the Holy Family meeting room. Please note the change of venue. The Ladies Group more info see poster at the back of church. Strawberry Cream Tea Afternoon with Marketplace. Wednesday, 17 July, 2.00pm-4.00pm. The keynote speaker will be Dr Karen Groves, Medical Director of Queen s Court Hospice in Southport and her theme will be Spiritual Care at the End of Life. Bereavement Team Training Course. Wednesday s 16 and 23 October, 1.30pm-4.00pm. The Ladies Group have 7 FREE tickets for a concert entitled Enchanted Tales on Thursday, 4 April, 7.30pm at the Philharmonic Hall. Details of the performance can be found on the Phil website but if anyone would like any of the tickets please contact Chris Myles on Events at LACE Mental Health Awareness, Unbind them, let them go free (John 11:44). An afternoon at LACE on Wednesday, 15 May, 2.00pm-4.30pm. Keynote speakers will be Father Conor Stainton-Polland who is Parish Priest of St Matthew s and St Cecilia s Parishes and is also Chair of the Wigan Family Welfare Charity and Kathy Devlin who is Clinical Manager at the Beacon Counselling Trust. For Funeral Ministers Training Course. Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 November, 9.30am-4.00pm. All enquiries to Maureen O Brien at LACE on St Vincent de Paul Society The St Vincent de Paul Society (England and Wales) is a Christian charity that tackles poverty and disadvantage. They reach out to people that are often ignored or forgotten and provide: Visiting and friendship for people in need Food parcels and soup runs for the hungry Holidays for children and families 4

5 Support centres offering debt advice, counselling and life skills training Distribution of furniture and white goods Hostels for people who are homeless Providing relief to people following emergencies and disasters Most of their work is carried out by a network of 10,000 volunteer Society members who turn their concern into action. Our retiring collection this weekend is for our Parish SVP team and enables them to support those in need locally. Please Take The Synod Survey What s On At Our Cathedral Lenten Talk 3 of 5, Gibberd Room, Tuesday, 26 March, 7.00pm-8.00pm. Each week throughout Lent we ll be hosting weekly reflections on practical ways to deepen our spiritual life. Join us for a talk from Uche Ameh on St Josemaria Escriva and encountering Christ in our work and daily life. All welcome. Adoramus Te Young Professionals Prayer Group Adoramus Te is a group which has been recently set up at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. They meet every Tuesday at 6.00pm for 1 hour of Adoration and Rosary. It is a group mainly aimed at young professionals, however, people of all ages and backgrounds are most welcome to attend. See poster at back of church. Lectio Divina At the heart of this survey are four Synod questions which begin from the truth that God speaks to us in our everyday lives. We are then invited to think about what the Catholic Church is for. Finally, we can reflect on the questions, issues and topics that our Synod should make recommendations on. Log on to Lectio Divina is Latin for "Divine Reading". Discover the art of sacred reading on Tuesdays, 26 March, 2 April and 9 April at 1.30pm and 7.00pm at Our Lady of the Assumption Church. You will be guided in reading, reflecting, responding and resting in God s Word. The afternoon or evening sessions are open for everyone. It is not a course so people can come to any of the sessions. The experience will 5

6 help people focus on one of the readings for the next Sunday s Mass. 1 donation is asked per session. Keep In Your Prayers Please remember those facing sadness, those burdened by misery, those weighed down by despair, those coming to terms with failing health and advancing years, those who have lost loved ones and who are striving to come to terms with the emptiness and heartbreak they feel. Parish Finance Gift Aid Envelopes Other Envelopes Loose GASDS Total Offertory Standing Orders Bonus Ball Retiring Collection This weekend SVP. Next weekend Holy Places. Lenten Almsgiving For those who have Gift Aid envelopes, the envelope marked Lenten Alms but with no date, can be placed in with the collection any time over this Lenten period. For those who do not donate via Gift Aid but wish to give Lenten Alms, your donation should be placed in an envelope marked Lenten Alms and given in during the collection. Many thanks. Lent Extra Magazine These are available at the back of church, price Going Into Hospital? On admission you will be asked what religion are you? Answer: Catholic. Would you like to be seen by the Catholic Chaplaincy? Answer: Yes. Nurses and doctors will then recognise your spiritual and religious needs especially when you are unwell. Your consent makes it possible for the chaplain to make contact with you. Busy admissions staff means this may at times be overlooked. The Catholic Chaplaincy team in whatever hospital you are in need to know that you are there. Remind the hospital staff so you can be visited by a member of the chaplaincy team. 6

7 Confessions Holy Family, 4.45pm, Saturday Our Lady Of The Assumption, Gateacre, 11.30am-11.55am, Saturday St Mary s, Woolton, 11.00am-11.45am, Saturday Our Lady Of The Annunciation, BE 4.00pm-5.00pm, Saturday Blessed Sacrament Shrine, Mon-Sat 11.00am-12 noon Eucharistic Ministers This Weekend 5.15pm P Crompton, L Parry, S Daniels, P McGuiness, Mignonne 9.15am Stephanie, Paul, Bernie, Teresa, Edyta Our Synod Prayer Father, we thank you for the love you have shown us in the gift of Jesus, your Son. We thank you for the gift of the Church, through which you show us that you are always with us and are always at work in our lives. As we journey together to Synod 2020 help us to become the Church that you are calling us to be. May your Holy Spirit be powerfully at work among us. Strengthen each of us and guide Francis, our Pope and Malcolm, our Archbishop. Help us to respond to the challenges of our times in new ways to bring your love to all our sisters and brothers. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen Log on to synod2020.co.uk for all the latest news. 7

8 Question of the Week Adult: What important work could bear fruit in your life right now if you have more confidence in God s loving care? Child: What great work would you like to do as you grow older? What can you do to begin now? Third Sunday of Lent We Pray Especially For 24 March 2019 Saturday, 23 March, Weekday of Lent Mary Peet & Maureen Noones 5.15 pm First Mass of Sunday, Holy Family Church Sunday, 24 March, Third Sunday of Lent Luke Mackrell & Anne Culshaw 9.15 am Mass, St Mark s Church am Mass, Holy Family Church 12.30pm Baptisms, St Mark s Church Monday, 25 March, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord am Service of the Word, St Mark s Church Tuesday, 26 March, Weekday of Lent am Mass, Holy Family Church Wednesday, 27 March, Weekday of Lent am Mass, St Mark s Church Thursday, 28 March, Weekday of Lent 9.00 am Mass, Holy Family Church Friday, 29 March, Weekday of Lent 9.00 am Mass, St Mark s Church Saturday, 30 March, Weekday of Lent 5.15 pm First Mass of Sunday, Holy Family Church Sunday, 31 March, Fourth Sunday of Lent 9.15 am Mass, St Mark s Church am Mass, Holy Family Church People of the Parish Gary Ashton & Francis Wyatt Stephen Swindele & Brian Kelly Kevin Curran & Curran Family and Cathy Sullivan Fr Des Power & SJV Parishioners Neil Campbell & Pat Jones People of the Parish George Hinds & Patrick Molloy pm Baptisms, Holy Family Church We apologise for when times and Mass intentions may occasionally need to be changed at short notice to allow for a Requiem Mass or Funeral Service. Guidelines for the submission of Mass Intentions can be found on our website Fourth Sunday of Lent Josh 5: Cor 5:

9 Luke 15:1-3,