Weekend Masses:

Confessions

Children s Liturgy For Baptisms, Confir-

Saturday 6pm Saturdays 5pm- Sundays 9.30am mation, Weddings

Sunday 9.30am 5.45pm and by In Sacristy and Funerals: 11.15am(Latin) arrangement Please call or email Fr Weekdays: Please see back page Martin at the contacts

above.

Parish Priest: Fr Martin Onuoha, mobile: 07748229598 .

Tel 01244 671015, Diocese of Shrewsbury, Registered Charity 234025.

Parish Website: www.stclareschester.org.uk

PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY 13th APRIL 2014 Psalter Week II 2014 St Clare s Year of the Child

DEDICATION: April is dedicated to the Holy Spirit.

St Clare of Assisi Catholic Church DOWNSFIELD ROAD, CHESTER CH4 8HH

Tuesday15th April . Mass 7pm Wednesday 16th April Exposition .. 8.30am Mass 9.30 am Chrism Mass @ St Anthony s Wythenshawe 7pm

HOLY THURSDAY April 17th

Mass of the Lord s Supper 7.00pm GOOD FRIDAY April 18th Passion 3.00pm

HOLY SATURDAY April 19th

Vigil Mass of Easter .................8.30 pm EASTER SUNDAY April 20th

Day Mass of Easter ..........9.30am Day Mass of Easter (Sung Latin).................11.15am

Are you new to St Clare s?

We would like you to feel very much at home with us whether you are Catholic or not, and forgive us if we fail to notice a new face in our midst. We really do try. A very warm welcome!

Let s Celebrate Easter! THIS SUNDAY IS PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY

Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The symbolism of the donkey may refer to the Eastern tradition that it is an animal of peace, versus the horse, which is the animal of war. The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory in the ancient Near East, and it was custom-ary to cover in some way the path of someone thought worthy of the highest honour. Saturday 12th April Confessions .....5.00pm Mass .. .....6.00pm Sunday April 13th Mass 9.30am Mass (Sung in Latin) ....11.15am

Please feel free to ring door of presbytery Mon-Thurs should you wish to go to confession

Remember please to pray for special blessings on Lache Lane.

Each week the parish community is asked to pray for all in our parish area, especially for the intentions of all the residents of a particular road. This week may we please ask you to pray for God s blessings and graces on all on Lache Lane Next week: Claypit Rd.

Tea/coffee is available in the Parish Room after Saturday evening Mass and after the Sunday 9.30 am Mass. Or even before the 11.15 Mass. Tea or coffee on Sunday provided by Choir Church Cleaning Group 2

Tracy Alman, Bernie Ashcro f t , Michae l Ashcroft, Michael Bal-dacchino, Bep,

Margaret Borrows, Joan Bullough, Jack Cannon, Rita Cannon, Andy Cowley, Helen Creaney,Emmanuelle, Erica Finn, Mary Frain, Michael Foley, William Galvin, Mi-chelle Gentile, Joan F, John Hall, Ann Hammer, Pat Harte (Hill), Kath Heffernan, Hilary, Ken Houghton., Alan Joinson, Gladys Joinson, Ann Leach, Sandra Lenel, Monica Mannion, Mary McDonough, Ann O Gorman, Rachael Owen, Polly, Rosemary Prender-gast, Elizabeth Shaw, Peggy Shone, Freda Tyldesley, J.T, and Gaynor Whitmarsh.

Holy Father s prayer intentions for APRIL

General Intention: That governments may foster pro-tection of creation and the just distribution of natural resources For Evangelization: That the Risen Lord may fill with hope the hearts of those who are being tested by pain and sickness

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK

LOURDES PETITIONS. Hugh Acworth is off to Lourdes on the Jumbulance on 15 May and will be happy to take any petitions to be placed at the Grotto or to light candles for your petitions.

HOLY THURSDAY

Could you not stay awake with me for even an hour? ( Mt 26:40) Can you watch for one hour after the Blessed Sacrament has been moved from the Tabernacle on Holy Thursday? Between 8.15pm until midnight. If you can please put your name down on the list in the porch.

CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS

ASSOCIATION: Bedding Plant Scheme

The P.A. is once again running its successful bedding plant scheme to raise much needed funds for the school. Forms available in the porch.

LATELY DEAD.

Maureen Tolfree who died recently. She was a former Headteacher of St Clare s

FR MARTIN AWAY. My younger brother and sis-ter will be wedding in Lagos on the 3rd and 10th of May respectively, and both have begged me to offici-ate. I will be leaving for Lagos on the 2nd and return-ing on the 12th. Many thanks to the Franciscans who will be standing in for me.

SALE OF EASTER CHICKS. Chicks will be on sale at all Masses Palm Sunday week-end.

CATHOLIC ENQUIRY:

Want to know more about Catholicism or just interested and have questions? (RCIA) will begin every Satur-day after the 6pm Mass. No obligation involved. We will meet to collect a cup of tea/coffee in the parish room after Mass, and then adjourn to the presbytery. The meetings should finish about 8.30pm.

ANNIVERSARY. Please remember Gerry Ed-wards (Judy s father) in your prayers this week as his anniversary falls about now,

CHILDREN S LITURGY Some children are very reluctant to leave the pews and join in so, parent or Grandparent - why not go with them at least for their first session.

RECEPTION INTO THE FAITH.

During the Easter Vigil Mass, next Satur-day, 19 April, Juliet Sandiford will be received into the Catholic Faith. Please keep her and her family in your prayers, not just during this week, but also in the following weeks so that their faith may ever grow stronger, and they may continue to be a source of blessing to our parish family.

Parish pastoral council: (From be-hind) Hugh, Kevin, George, Fr Martin, Pat, Esme, Jenny, Kath, Jackie and Tia

THE EASTER TRIDUUM, April 17th 19th

(3)The Easter Vigil All Catholics, and indeed everyone, should try to attend this beautiful service - The dramatic Easter vigil liturgy that marks the beginning of Easter

1) Service of Light the holy water fonts are drained, all the lights are out, the taber-nacle is empty. The service begins outside the church. A new fire is lit and blessed. A Pas-chal Candle is prepared representing The Light of Christ The candle is then processed through the church,

2) Liturgy of the Word These readings help us meditate on the wonderful works of God for his people since the beginning of time.

3) Liturgy of Baptism During this time the Easter water is blessed, new members are brought into the Church through baptism, part of the liturgy includes the Litany of the Saints. Afterwards the faithful are blessed with water and all renew their baptismal promises.

4) Liturgy of Eucharist So resumes the Mass, with the special prayers inserted during the Eucharistic Prayer.

GIFT AID HELP THE PARISH GET EXTRA FUNDS! Whatever you give through the Gift Aid Scheme the Inland Revenue will add an amount to your donations. A weekly donation of £3 would be worth £3.75.It costs you absolutely nothing! write down your name and address and tick whether you would like to use Offertory Envelopes or give by Banker s Standing Order on a Gift Aid form at the back of the church. then Contact Mike Russell (659434).

EASTER FLOWERS COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND: We do apologise for not warning you regarding Easter flowers collections this weekend. We will there-fore have it next weekend to help pay for flowers for decorating our church for the celebration of Easter. If somehow you remembered and came prepared, you could drop your offering into the Church Upkeep box at the back of Church.

PLEASE HELP We appeal for donations of Easter Eggs for Save

the Family. At their Cotton Edmunds site they currently have 32 children with their families. Save the Family works with the whole family trying to support them through is-sues like homelessness, abuse, drug addiction, debt and disability. We would need all donations to be left at the back of church by Palm Sunday, as they would need to be delivered by Palm Sunday at the latest.

Assistant Director of Schools The Diocese of Shrewsbury is looking to appoint to a full-time, per-manent position, who will support the Director of Schools . See poster in the porch.

Abandoned Children in China.

PLEASE help us to raise money. A sponsored walk is tak-

ing place in Chester, on Saturday 22nd September at 1pm along the Promenade Trail and City Walls. Start & finish at Little Roodee car park cafe. More de-tails: ellisfamily5@hotmail.co.uk

or phone Anne Ellis

01244 535306

WASHING OF FEET ON HOLY THURSDAY.

Please put your name on the list in the porch - either gender and any age. Twelve names required!

ACTS DAY OF REFLECTION.

If you are aged between 20-35 then you are invited to a 'Day of Reflection' to be held on Sat 26th April 2014.

Fr Edmund Montgomery will help us to take time out from the

demands of modern life by focusing on the theme,

"'Follow' Me: How to fol-low Jesus on Twitter, Facebook, and Social Media". This day, organised for 'ACTS' (Adult Catholics Together Spiri-tually) will be held at

Wistaston Hall, Crewe.

The day will start

at 9.30pm until approx 5pm.

Cost £20 (£15 for un-employed/students).

If you would like to join us or wish to know more about it please contact Siobhan at sio-bhanbc@talktalk.net or tel: 0161 477 2783 / 07761 138947.

CHRISM MASS

Wed 16th at St Anthony's Wythenshawe at 7pm. All are welcome

This Mass manifests the unity of the priests with their bishop. The bishop blesses three oils

the oil of catechu-

mens, the oil of the infirm and holy chrism (sacrum chrisma)

which will be used in the

administration of the sacra-ments throughout the diocese for the year. This tradition is rooted in the early Church as noted in the Gelasian Sacramen-tary (named after Pope Gelasius I, d. 496)

OUR PARISH PRAYER:

Abba, Father, we thank you for all the gifts and graces You have poured out on our parish family. Through the intercession of our patron, St Clare, our compass and guide, grant us the grace to keep our eyes fixed on Christ your Son, the spotless mirror, and reflect His strength, His humility, His poverty, and His love in all we do and say. Then, united in that vision, and em-powered by Your Spirit, may we work together for the coming of Your Kingdom, until that day when you finally call us home. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen. St Clare pray for us.

D a t e / Ti m e F e a s t / Co l o u r R e a d i n g s Of f e r e d F o r

Adoration 5-6pm Sat 12/04 Mass 6pm

Palm Sunday Is 50: 4-7; Ps 21;

Ph 2: 6-11; Lucia Baldez (SB)

Sun 13/04 8.30-9.30am Adoration Rosary / Benediction 9.30am Mass

Red

Lk 22: 14-23. 56

. Frank Whelan

Edward (Ted) Evans

Tue 15/04 7.00pm Mass

Ferial/ Purple Visit of Housebound parishioners

Is 49: 1-6; Ps 70 Jn 13: 21-33. 36-38

Imy O Connor

Wed 16/04 8.30am Ado-ration 9.30am Mass

Ferial/ Purple

Is 50: 4-9; Ps 68; Mt 26: 14-25

David Brown (SB)

Sat 19/04 0830-0930am Vigil Mass 8.30pm

Holy Saturday White

Ac 10: 34.37-43; Ps 117;

Col 3: 1-4. Paddy & Imy O Connor (SB)

Sun 20/4 8.00-9.30am Adoration, Rosary Benediction 9.30am Mass 11.15

Easter Sunday

White

Jn 20: 1-9. Paul Prendergast

People of the Parish

Thu 17/04 7.00pm, Mass,

Mass of the Lord s Supper White

Ex 12: 1-8.11-14; Ps 115;

1 Co 11: 23-26;Jn 13:1-15

Fri 18/04 3.oopm

Celebration of The Lord s Passion

Red

Is 52: 13-53:12; Ps 30;

Heb 4: 14-16. 5.7-9;

Jn 18: 1-19. 42

Collection for Holy Places

THIS WEEK IN ST CLARE S SCHOOL:

Have you got spare time on your hands? We are looking for volunteers to listen to children read in school. We are looking for people who can communicate their love of reading to the children they re working with. If you are interested and have a spare morning or afternoon once a week please get in touch with the School office. To comply with safeguarding rules, all volunteers would need to undertake a Dis-closure and Barring Service check which school would complete on their behalf. We would hope that as many people as possible would consider supporting us. Thank you Mrs McShane Acting Headteacher, St Clare s Primary.

MONTHLY MASS for St Clare s school children and parents will be on every 3rd Wednesday. A class will be in Church to celebrate the 9.30am mass with us. Parents are invited, to come too if possible. The preschool children and staff will also be attending mass monthly, every 4th Wednesday. Parents and grandparents are welcome to join.

ST CLARE S SCHOOL CHOIR IN CHURCH 18th May & 1st June!!! Don t miss out! Come to sing and pray with us.

Youth Zone Was Jesus really dead? Maybe he was able to rise again because he only appeared to have suffered death. Jesus really died on the Cross; his body was buried. All the sources testify to this. In John 19:33ff., the soldiers even make an explicit determination of death: They open the side of Jesus dead body with a lance and see blood and water come out. Furthermore, it says that the legs of the men crucified with him were broken a step that hastened the dying proc-ess; this was not required in Jesus case since his death had already occurred. Youcat Youth Cate-chism No 103 The Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth apparently from the first century. In 1898 it was photographed for the first time by a photographer in Turin. Upon inspecting the photographic negative, he discovered in the linen fabric the mysterious likeness of a victim of torture from antiquity.