Parish Safeguarding Officer: Mrs Therese Passenger 079441 59039 St. Mary’s Primary School: Acting Head teacher Mrs. Hannah Corcoran 01267 234297

St. John Lloyd’s Secondary School Llanelli: Head Teacher Mr Ashley Howells 01554 772589 Registered Charity No: 234168

S T . M A R Y ’ S M E S S E N G E R 2 6 T H S U N D A Y I N O R D I N A R Y T I M E 2 6 T H S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1

26th September 2021

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday Readings: Cycle B; Psalter: Wk. 2

St. Mary’s Messenger

St Mary’s Catholic Church, Union St., Carmarthen, SA31 3DE Tel: 01267 237205

Email: smrccarms@gmail.com www.stmaryschurchcarmarthen.org

Parish Priest: Fr. Phillip Harries

Fr. Phillip writes……..

I am currently taking annual leave to be able to accompany my father as he has radiotherapy treatment. Unfortunately, due to the lack of supply cover available, we are not able to have weekday Mass, but I will be back in the parish on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the weekend Masses. This week, the calendar of the Church directs our thoughts towards some of the great Saints who assist us by their prayerful companionship and their powerful example. St Vincent de Paul gave the example of his love of the poor, as he encouraged many people to join him in showing the love of Christ to those who were most vulnerable. Thankfully his companions live his mission in the world today through the wonderful work of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. We have the example of St Therese of Lisieux, who led an enclosed Carmelite life of prayer, however, her “little way” of sim-plicity and charity is the model of life for countless numbers today, and her simple approach to life is emulated by many. And by no means least, the Holy Archangels and Angels …. May they all intercede for us - A blessed and safe week to all!

Last Weeks Collections Main Offertory: £147.04 Maintenance Fund: £57.00 Education Sunday: £149.75

If you would like to make your offertory donation on line by BACS please contact the office for our bank details. Alternatively, there is a Standing Order form on our website if you wish to set up a regular payment to us. THANK YOU

THANK YOU FOR OBSERVEING THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES WHEN VISITING THE CHURCH:

The Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales have asked to continue with our regulations until further notice.

While Sunday Obligation is suspended, please consider coming to a weekday or Saturday Mass in

order that numbers remain manageable, particularly now the numbers attending are rising.

Please arrive in plenty of time to take your seat, remembering that this takes longer than normal at the moment. The Church is opened half an hour before Mass

Please maintain social distancing inside the church at all times.

Please wear a face covering, except if you are not able to do so on medical grounds.

When entering available pews, please move to the end (wall) to allow others to share the pew safely.

Sanitise hands on entry and departure from church.

Sign in using the form in the porch—this is for test and trace purposes.

Thank you for your care and consideration of others.

Times and Intentions of Holy Mass for the Coming week Saturday 25th September

Vigil of the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

11.00am

5:30pm

Peter Harries RIP & Ted & Bessie Harries RIP

Rev. Ceri John Davies RIP (Ruth Davies)

Sunday 26th September

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

11:00am Pro Populo (For the People)

Monday 27th September

St. Vincent de Paul

NO MASS

Tuesday 28th September

St. Wenceslaus

NO MASS

Wednesday 29th September

Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

NO MASS

Thursday 30th September

St. Jerome

NO MASS

Friday 1st October

St. Therese of the Child of Jesus

NO MASS

Saturday 2nd October-Guardian Angels

Vigil—27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

11:00am

5:30pm

Josephine Sierolawska RIP (Carmel Biggs)

For the sick, and all health and care workers

Sunday 3rd October

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

11.00am Pro Populo (For the People)

Please take this Newsletter home with you after Mass

and make time during the business of the week

to read the word of God.

Meditate on the words of Sacred Scripture, and reflect on them prayerfully.

“If I did not simply live from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient; but I only look at the present, I forget the past, and I take good care not

to forestall the future.” Therese of Lisieux

St Therese died in 1897 aged just 24, having never travelled on the Missions, or written extensively or founded an order ….. But her cloistered life of prayer, and the small collection of her writings have inspired generations of people to such a degree, that 28 years after her death, public demand was so great that she was declared a Saint.

“I understood that all we accomplish, however brilliant, is worth nothing without love !”.—Saint Therese

Sincere thanks to our parish volunteers: who helped with the practical arrangements for the meeting of the priests of our Diocese with the Arch Bishop on Thursday. As always, the priests commented on and were very grateful for all the kindness shown to them. May God reward your kindness! 40 Days for Life: will be holding a round-the-clock prayer vigil as a peaceful and educational presence in the Community. This witness sends a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality of abortion. It will be held on Wednesday 22nd September to Sunday 31st October, 11am to 4pm at the Sunken Gardens, Llanelli (opposite Wetherspoons). If you are interested in joining in , please contact Mary Dark on 07899 682154. If you would like Holy Mass to be offered: Please use the Mass intention request envelopes that are available in the back porch. Holy Mass may be offered for a particular intention, or for a person living or deceased (please state if the person has died). All Sunday Masses are offered ProPopulo, that is for the people of the parish. If the Mass can not be celebrated on the requested date, every effort will be made to celebrate it as close to that date Thank you for your consideration. Protecting the dignity of human life: Baroness Meacher is sponsoring an Assisted Dying Bill in the House of Lords, which will promote the legalisation of ending a persons life through medical intervention. Please consider writing to a member of the Lords to oppose this amendment to law, and preserve the dignity of human life, from conception to nat-ural death. Please consider writing to Lord Alton of Liverpool, House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW , to urge his sup-

PRAYER FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS

God our Father, we pray for those who are suffering, for those who are grieving, for those who are anxious, and for those who are working tirelessly to care for the sick. God our Father, your Son Jesus Christ came into our world to heal us of all division and bring us life in abun-dance. By the power of your Spirit help us strive to-gether as one family of many nations to help those in greatest need during this crisis. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Risen Lord, Amen

Intentions of the Holy Father for the Month of September

That we will all make courageous choices for a simple and sustainable lifestyle, rejoicing in our young people who are resolutely committed to this.

The prayer of Spiritual Communion by St Alphonsus

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever. Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST 26th Sunday

in Ordinary time

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. C. The mystery of faith. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,` and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who tres-pass against us; and lead us not into tempta-tion, but deliver us from evil. P. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mer-cy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mer-cy on us. Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. C. Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. P. Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Please remain in your place and Holy Commun-ion will be brought to you. Please remove your face covering before receiving Holy Communion, and extend your fully open hands, so the Priest may give you Holy communion without touching your fin-gers. Thank you.

Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010,

International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

Scripture Readings are from The Roman Missal:

Lectionary © 1981 William Collins Sons and Company Limited

and Cassell Limited: compilation, editorial matter computer programmes and derivative typography,

format and design. All rights reserved.

Prayer for the Sick

Heavenly Father, Look with mercy on the sick in our parish community and help them in this time of sick-ness. Restore them to health, we pray, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen

Please pray for those who are unwell:

Teresa (Tess) Kerr, Tal and Cynthia Harries Christine Rees, Teresa Hay, Patricia Stradling, Peggy Davies, Fr. Morty, Chris Burke, Christiana Crystal Flinn, Morag McIlroy, Theresa Phillips, Doreen O’Toole, Simon Biggs, Lalaine Balitayo Brennan, Monica Oliver, David Jenkins, Shirley Price, Olive Cronin, Arianwen Ramruttun

RIP Anniversaries Roseanne Birmingham Moira H Donovan John Lewis James Walsh Andrew Cooksley Robert Chipp Jose Fernando Azmeida Santos Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON

All that you have done to us, O Lord, you have done with true judgement, for we have sinned against you and not obeyed your com-mandments. But give glory to your name and deal with us according to the bounty of your mercy.

PENITENTIAL ACT I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, (and striking their breast, they say:) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. The Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) Invocations may follow: C. Lord, have mercy. P. Lord, have mercy. C. Christ have mercy. P. Christ have mercy. C. Lord have mercy. P. Lord have mercy.

THE GLORIA Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. You take away the sins of the world, receive our pray-er; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God

SECOND READING

James 5:1-6 An answer for the rich. Start crying, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is all rotting, your clothes are all eaten up by moths. All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion will be your own sentence, and eat into your body. It was a burning fire that you stored up as your treasure for the last days. Labourers mowed your fields, and you cheated them – listen to the wages that you kept back, calling out; realise that the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of slaughter you went on eating to your heart’s content. It was you who condemned the innocent and killed them; they offered you no resistance. The Word of the Lord P. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia, alleluia! Your word is truth, O Lord: consecrate us in the truth. Alleluia!

GOSPEL

C. The Lord be with you. P. And with your Spirit. C. A reading from the holy Gospel according to N. C. Glory to you, O Lord.

Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48 John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.

‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.

‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great mill-stone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled,

than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out.’

C. The Gospel of the Lord. P. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. After the Gospel all sit.

THE HOMILY

NICENO-CONSTANTINOPOLITAN

CREED

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, (all bow) and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was cruci-fied under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

Amen

FIRST READING

Numbers 11:25-29 The Lord came down in the Cloud. He spoke with Moses, but took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the spirit came on them they prophesied, but not again.

Two men had stayed back in the camp; one was called Eldad and the other Medad. The spirit came down on them; though they had not gone to the Tent, their names were enrolled among the rest. These began to prophesy in the camp. The young man ran to tell this to Moses, ‘Look,’ he said ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’ Then said Joshua the son of Nun, who had served Moses from his youth, ‘My Lord Moses, stop them!’ Moses answered him, ‘Are you jeal-ous on my account? If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets, and the Lord gave his Spirit to them all!’ The Word of the Lord

P. Thanks be to God

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 18(19):8,10,12-14

The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart. The law of the Lord is perfect, it revives the soul. The rule of the Lord is to be trusted, it gives wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart. The fear of the Lord is holy, abiding for ever. The decrees of the Lord are truth and all of them just. The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart. So in them your servant finds instruction; great reward is in their keep-ing. But who can detect all his errors? From hidden faults acquit me. The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart. From presumption restrain your servant and let it not rule me. Then shall I be blameless, clean from grave sin. The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.

“No one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.” How do we see Christ in others? How do we present the face of Christ to others? Do we see others simply as “others”, or do we see the face of Jesus in those who we meet… no matter how different they may seem?