For the people of the parish. For Lonza Micallef RIP. For William Duffy RIP

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1 SERVICES OF THE WEEK Your prayers are asked for Winifred Barbara Beedell and Dudley Van Dort and for Sarah Teresa Convey, Edna Tucker, Philomena Teresa Hanrahan, Wallace Eugene Russell and for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time. Sunday 1 March SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (year B) Genesis 22:1-2,9-13,15-18; Romans 8:31-34; Mark 9:2-10 Sat Vigil Mass 6.30pm For the special intention of Nora McHugh 9.30am For the intention of Sandra Fry 11.00am For Elizabeth A Brent RIP ( 4.00pm STATIONS OF THE CROSS ) 6.00pm For the wellbeing of Louie Kitt and family Sacred Heart 10.30am For Don Rodgers RIP Monday 2 March Tuesday 3 March Wednesday 4 March Thursday 5 March For the people of the parish For Lonza Micallef RIP Requiem for Dudley Alfred Van Dort RIP For William Duffy RIP Friday 6 March For Peggy Hunt RIP ( 8.00pm STATIONS OF THE CROSS ) Saturday 7 March For Rev J Messenger RIP Confessions 11.30am to 12noon Sunday 8 March THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT (year B) Exodus 20:1-17; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-25 Sat Vigil Mass 6.30pm For Maria Bruognolo RIP 9.30am For the priest s own intentions 11.00am For Fr Michael O Riordan RIP ( 4.00pm STATIONS OF THE CROSS ) 6.00pm For Natividad Estrella RIP Sacred Heart 10.30am For Ernest William Cook RIP Remember to come to STATIONS OF THE CROSS Sundays 4pm and Fridays 8pm

2 ST MICHAEL S CHATHAM 1 HILLS TERRACE Sacred Heart, Street End Road, Luton 1 March 2015 No 09/15 Parish Priest: Rev Christopher Baker SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT.LENT difficult choices: I do not like this story it is too difficult a choice. Abraham knows that God gave him his son Isaac in a very miraculous way; he loves God and yet that God is asking him to go against all his natural instincts to protect and care for his son. Isaac carries the wood of sacrifice just as God s Son Jesus will do. Abraham s trust in God is rewarded because God stops his hand when Abraham has proved his obedience and rewards both him and Isaac. With Moslem and Jew we still call Abraham our Father in Faith, our Faith ancestor who ties the People of the Book together. What of us? How well do we bring up our children to love God and walk in His ways. Many spoil their children, some even abuse them God sees and God condemns. We must lead. They get bored then perhaps we need to search for better ways of teaching them. Look at the transfiguration of Jesus! This glorified state is a possibility for all God s children. If we permit God the Father to fashion us as the potter fashions his clay, we can become a thing of beauty and power. I want God to be the major influence on my children, on me. Peace, joy and praise in God.

3 LENTEN PENANCES: This week we collected for CAFOD on Friday, our Lent Fast Day. Money saved and put in the box at the back of the church is used to help the poor, and those whose lives have been shattered by natural disasters. We believe that our Lenten Fast Day money will go further if it is collected through penance and made in prayer. Next to the CAFOD BOX at the back of the church there is the ACN box. The advantage of these wall boxes is that they are open for donations at all times. So will my money to CAFOD go to the same place as the money I give to ACN? No. ACN does help the poor. However its special focus is the persecuted Church, where Christians are under threat. In many countries Christians are regared as second class citizens such as in Pakestan and in the Holy Land; in other countries they are imprisoned and tortured such as in North Korea and parts of China; in the Ukraine the problem is between Catholics and Russian Orthodox. In the West our Christian worry is of secular non-religious government programmes and a desire to rubbish Christ. In the UK and France so many new laws are passed we don t notice those that are taking away our religious freedom of practice and our moral rites. I read of a march in Canada where Catholics see themselves threatened by anti- Christian laws ilimiting their Catholic freedoms. All this is the area of the ACN which has the Pope as its supporter. The money collected for ACN is used mostly for Catholics to help them survive in hostile places. Rebuilding ruined churches, setting up parishes which have been destroyed, looking to educate and train new priests, to teach children and adults, and mixed in with this help in daily living. The charity is world wide and is a case of the brotherly help betweencatholic worldwide. If you want to help please use the wall box at the back of the church. With God s blessing on our Lenten Penances we will grow as effective Christians this Lent. If occasionally your penances seem very hard and you are tempted to stop, you have clearly chosen the right penance so don t stop. In your prayers be more thoughtful. Say the Our Father at least once a day thinking of all the words and putting yourself in the presence of the God of the Universe. Don t forget Stations or Weekday Mass. THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION OR RECONCILIATION Make sure you receive the Sacrament of Confession during this Lent. Our special Reconciliation Service is on Wednesday 25 March 5.30pm for First Confessions and family members; 6.30pm to 8pm or until finished for the Parish. Weekly Confessions are on Saturdays 11.30am to 12 noon or finish.

4 VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD training to be a priest takes at least of 4-6 years, but is adapted to the needs of the student. Pray regularly that God will call more to serve Him as His priests, ask Him to call more of us from this parish of St Michael s. Parents, do make sure your sons have given some thought to a priestly vocation even if it is only to reject it. We are blessed to have two parishioners from this parish who are training to become priests. I have been asked whether St Michael s parishioners would like to spiritually adopt a third? On your behalf I have said yes. I have put his picture on the notice board. We are asked to pray for him daily to help him in whatever graces he needs. We are asked not to try to contact him but to do our sponsoring in a quiet, Christian way. EASTER CHOIR: if you would like to join our Easter choir we practice on Tuesdays at 7pm and Saturdays at 3pm (enter by house front door). The Holy Week/Easter Music starts with 11am Palm Sunday 29 March; the 8pm Mass and Washing of Feet Maundy Thursday 2 April; the 3pm Good Friday Service 3 April and the 8pm Easter Vigil Service 4 April. Collection totals: 22 February: 1 st Parish nd Schools Church Cleaning 7 March John and Maria s group; 14 March Bevily s group; 21 March Emma, Edith, Janet and Angela s group. Thank you very much. GENERAL ELECTION May 2015 You will find on the paper stand at the back of the church a letter to Catholics in England and Wales from their bishops. PLEASE TAKE ONE. In it we are not told how to vote, but we are reminded of issues that should influence our vote, all of them trying to uphold the teachings of Christ. There are sections in the letter about our Respect For Life, about supporting Christian understanding of Marriage And Family Life; our attitude to Poverty and Education; the Building Of Communities in peace and understanding and Caring For The World in which we all live, and in which our children and their children will live. Read the letter through carefully and critically. Try to sift out which party or which candidate looks best able to satisfy your ideals for this country and the world in which it lives. The candidates want your cross on the voting slip. Sort through what they don t say as well as what they do. If, like some, you are not happy with political situation then maybe it is time you got yourself into politics! Remember what is said: If you do not vote you have no right to criticise the government that is voted in! SCHOOL GOVERNORS Our parish primary school, St Michael s, is looking to appoint foundation governors to its Governing Body. The role entails attendance at Governing Body meetings and requires some School visits. You will be supporting our parish school, our community, catholic education and a new generation. A CRB check is required and you must be a practising Catholic; it is not necessary to have children attending the School. If you would like to know more details of what the role entails contact Mike McGoldrick on

5 BANNS OF MARRIAGE CHILDREN S POSTERS CONFIRMATION: in the parish is June 28, Lessons begin after Easter on April 12. If you wish to receive this Sacrament, please write to me now. I need an idea of numbers as soon as possible. Please act now. There is no upper age limit; the lower is 12yr 6mth Please note: Fr John Mason, our episcopal vicar for Kent, has told our Deanery that small numbers for Confirmation do not make for a significant celebration. Where deanery parishes all have small numbers they should hold one only ceremony for the whole Deanery. This would be sad for St Michael s as the whole parish have, in the past, always supported our candidates. However two years ago there were 33 candidates for Confirmation, last year there were 11, the names I have received this year are 7 so far. If you do intend to opt for Confirmation this Summer please put in your letter now. I don t want you to write me a letter just to keep the numbers up! But if it is your intention to ask for Confirmation do not put it off any longer! Have you received the Sacrament of Confirmation? First Holy Communions those children who do not attend school at St Michael s and need to be prepared for Holy Communion need to enrol now for the course that will start after Easter. Please write to me with your child s name, date of birth, address, school and home telephone number. The course takes about one year and is given on Sunday mornings between 9.30am and 11am Masses. Please note you are expected to attend every week.

6 ROME PILGRIMAGE: Assisi, ROME, and Sorrento 2015: Sunday16 to Friday 28 August. This week s picture is of St Francis speaking to Jesus as the figure on the cross leant forward to him at his prayers. It took place at Assisi. We visit the cathedral and its crypt where the saint received this vision. St Francis enjoyed the painful gift of the Stigmata the marks of Jesus five wounds, on his body. At Assisi we breathe in the spirit of this saint especially his love for Jesus and all things created by God. We spend two days in Assisi.

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