THE DEBT WE OWE- Mercy and forgiveness should be at the heart of the Christian life. Yet, as today’s First Reading wisely reminds us, often we cherish our wrath, nourish our anger, refuse mercy to those who have done us wrong. Jesus, too, strikes close to home in today’s Gospel with His realistic portrayal of the wicked servant who won’t forgive a fellow servant’s debt, even though his own slate has just been wiped clean by their master. It can’t be this way in the kingdom, the Church. In the Old Testament, seven is frequently a number associated with mercy and the forgiveness of sins. The just man sins seven times daily; there is a sevenfold sprinkling of blood for atonement of sins (see Proverbs 24:6; eviticus 16). But Jesus tells Peter today that we must forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven times. That means: every time. We are to be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful (see Luke 6:36; Matthew 5:48). But why? Why does Jesus repeatedly warn that we can’t expect forgiveness for our trespasses unless we’re willing to forgive others their trespasses against us? Because, as Paul reminds us in today’s Epistle, we are the Lord’s. Each of us has been purchased by the blood of Christ shed for us on the Cross (see Revelation 5:9). As we sing in today’s Psalm, though we deserved to die for our sins, He doesn’t deal with us according to our crimes. The mercy and forgiveness we show to others should be the heartfelt expression of our gratitude for the mercy and forgiveness shown to us. This is why we should remember our last days, set our enmities aside, and stop judging others. We know that one day we will stand before the judgment seat and give account for what we’ve done with the new life given to us by Christ (see Romans 14:10, 12). So we forgive each other from the heart, overlook each other’s faults, and await the crown of His kindness and compassion.

Last Sunday’s Collections

Sunday, 6th

September 2020

Gift Aid £474.00

First Collection £313.75

Second Collection £10.50

Automated credits (July 2020) £3,292.50

Thank you to all parishioners who now make direct bank payments to the parish, please do consider continuing or to start doing this. Our bank details are: NatWest - Parish of Our Lady & St. Michael’s No. 1 Account no. 60708778 Bank Sort Code: 53-50-41. You can also now make debit card payments direct from the website and Gift Aid your donations.

v

CHURCH OPEN FOR HOLY MASS At times listed below - highlighted in BOLD

Saturday, 12th September 2020 – Sunday 20th September 2020

Masses on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday on our Facebook Live page. All other services continue to be live streamed from Church.

Audio recordings of our Sunday mass www.olsm-abergavenny.co.uk Evening Prayer (excluding Saturday) at 5pm

www.facebook.com/OurLadyandStMichaelChurch

Saturday, 12th

September 2020 – Most Holy Name of Mary *10.00am Mass in OLSM – Pasquale Lenza RIP * 5.00pm – Mass in Llanarth Church – People of the Parish No Vigil Mass at OLSM. No Evening Prayer.

Sunday, 13th

September 2020 – 24th

Sunday in Ordinary Time EDUCATION SUNDAY *10.00am – Sunday Mass in OLSM – Br. Bernard Wassall OSB. *5.00pm Evening Prayer on Facebook *6.00pm – Sunday Mass in OSLM – Sick of the Parish

Monday, 14th

September 2020 – The Exaltation of the Holy Cross *9.00am Mass on Facebook Live – People of the Parish. (Please note earlier mass time today.) No evening prayer today.

Tuesday, 15th

September 2020 – Our Lady of Sorrows No services today-apologies.

Wednesday, 16th

September 2020 – Saints Cornelius, Pope and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs *10.30am – Mass in Llanarth Church – Br. Bernard Wassall RIP *5.00pm Evening Prayer on Facebook. *5.30pm Bible Study Group on Zoom, Invite overleaf.

Thursday, 17th

September 2020 – Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church *10.00am Mass on Facebook Live – Reg Evans RIP. *5.00pm Evening Prayer on Facebook.

Friday, 18th

September 2020 – Weekday in Ordinary Time *10.00am – Mass in OLSM – *11.00am – SVP Meeting in Church. *3.00pm Divine Mercy Chaplet – Live streamed. *5.00pm Evening Prayer on Facebook. *6.00pm Rosary – Live streamed.

Saturday, 19th

September 2020 – Saint Januaris, Bishop, Martyr *10.00am Mass in OLSM – Sick of the Parish. * 5.00pm – Mass in Llanarth Church – No Vigil Mass at OLSM. No evening Prayer.

Sunday, 20th

September 2020 – 25th

Sunday in Ordinary Time *10.00am – Sunday Mass in OLSM – Phyllis Lynch RIP & Patrick Arkell RIP. *5.00pm Evening Prayer on Facebook. *6.00pm – Sunday Mass in OSLM – People of the Parish

Priory Church of Our Lady and St Michael, Abergavenny

Eglwys y Priordy Ein Harglwyddes a Mihangel Sant, y Fenni

Parish Priest: Father Matthew Carney OSB ☎ (01873) 851051 Mobile: 07402 979597 The Presbytery, 10 Pen y pound, ABERGAVENNY NP7 5UD

Email: parishoffice.olsmch@gmail.com or matthew.carney@rcadc.org Website: www.olsm-abergavenny.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OurLadyandStMichaelChurch

St Michael’s Centre – Administrator: ☎ 857750 Jems Catering: ☎ 07859 938015

Deacon: Rev Dr Andreas Erhardt ☎ (01873) 855078

Safeguarding reps: William & Evelyn Duggan ☎ (01873) 855353

Dial-a-Mass Service ☎ (01873) 777190

Sunday, 13th September 2020 – Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Entrance Antiphon (Sir 36:18)

Give peace, O Lord, to those who wait for you, that your prophets be found true. Hear the prayers of your servant, and of your people Israel.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 102:1-4.9-12)

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

Gospel Acclamation (1 Sam 3:9; Jn 6:68)

Alleluia, alleluia! Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!

Communion Antiphon (Cf. Ps 35:8) How precious is your mercy, O God! The children of men seek shelter in the shadow of your wings.

Mass Reflection: Twenty Fourth Sunday (OT) (A)

SERVICE SCHEDULE – Church now open for Holy Mass for all Sunday masses. The only weekday masses will be Wednesday at 10.30am at Llanarth and Friday at OLSM at 10am. There will also be mass on Saturday mornings at 10am.

FOODBANK – Great demands are being

made on the local foodbank, and they are in need of the normal donations and also cash donations. Any food items can be left at the presbytery, and donations made via the website, just send an e-mail saying the donation is for the foodbank. FR. MATTHEW AWAY – From Monday to Wednesday this week, so no services on Tuesday, also earlier mass on Monday at 9am.

ABERGAVENNY FOOD BANK – Items can be left at the collection points in local supermarkets or at the presbytery.

STUDY DAY – The study day for Saturday, 3rd October 2020 at the Priory Centre to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the canonisation of the 40 martyrs of England has been cancelled. All those who have paid will be re-imbursed shortly, if not please contact Fr. Matthew.

SAFEGUARDING – Parishioners are reminded that if they have any safeguarding concerns, regarding the care of children, young people or vulnerable adults they should contact our safeguarding reps - Willie and Evelyn Duggan on 855353 - or Fr. Matthew.

YEAR OF THE WORD WEBSITE - The God Who Speaks team has developed a new website at www.godwhospeaks.uk with some exciting new features, including Education and Our Dioceses sections.

OFFERTORY COLLECTIONS – THANK YOU . Debit/credit card payments can now be made direct from the Parish website and the Parish bank account details are there as well for use in your online banking apps.

URSULA JAMES RIP – Please pray for the repose of the soul of Ursula James, the mother of Fr. Nicholas James of the Monmouth Parish who died last week. BARBARA AND DAVID POWELL - Barbara and

David would like to thank everyone for prayers

offered and good wishes, cards and gifts

received on the recent occasion of their Golden

Wedding . God Bless you all.

CHRISTMAS GRAND DRAW - It is proposed to hold a Christmas Grand Draw, to raise £ for parish funds. We are in need of donations for prizes. Elaine Bright will be taking offers at the end of the 10am mass on Sundays, to let Fr. Matthew know anytime.

DIAL-A-MASS (01873) 777190 The Dial-A-Mass service for those who are unable to watch the Mass Live Stream continues to be available. If you know anyone who doesn't have access to the internet, or is struggling to watch the Mass online, please do pass on the telephone number above. We will record a weekly Sunday Mass on the number.

EDUCATION SUNDAY – Today we pray

especially for all catholic schools, their staff, students and families, especially our own parish school.

SVP – In light of many parishioners still self-

isolating at home, members of the SVP and other parishioners are willing to help in any way they can, especially with shopping and deliveries, please contact Aidan on 01291 690148 or Robin on 01873 856414 or Fr. Matthew 01873 851051. Fr. Matthew and members of the SVP are endeavouring to keep up with all those staying at home by regular phone calls, and delivering the Bulletin to those who do not have access to the internet. Meetings, next date – this Friday 18

th

September 11.00am, in Church!

EVENING PRAYER – Fr. Matthew is leading evening prayer every day, (except Saturdays) using the Magnificat publication at 5pm www.magnificat.com/english

MASS INTENTIONS are being offered on the days requested. Mass intentions are still being accepted. SPUC INFO SHEET ON COVID 19 VACCINE – This info sheet is available on the parish website, detailing concerns about some vaccines that are being developed using cells originally derived from tissue taken from aborted babies. This includes the vaccine being developed by Oxford University. Some vaccines, such as the one being developed by Imperial College London are synthetic vaccines and do not use such tissues. Please see the info sheet for full details and/or visit the SPUC website.

FR. NICHOLAS WETZ – Has been elected as Abbot of the Downside Monastic Community. Fr. Nicholas was formerly Prior at Belmont but seconded to the Downside Community and he has now been elected their Abbot. Also, the community at Downside has decided to leave the Monastery there and seek a new home! The school at Downside remains there.

PARISH COUNCIL – Meets next on Monday 28th

September in Church at 7.30pm. FINANCE COMMITTEE – Meets next on Monday 19

th October at 6pm in Church.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL THE SICK AND THE HOUSEBOUND OF OUR PARISH: Thomas Canning,

Elizabeth Coopey, Fr. Alexander (Belmont), Rachael Disson, Beryl Watts, Jean Clarke, Brigid Malnati, Doris Bishop, Chris O’Connell, Angela Jones, Noreen Desmond, Mrs Heuclin, Mary Owen, Ann Green, Winnie and Stan Herbert, Colin Anderson, David Johnston, Tina Langford. Please also pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died recently Br. Bernard Wassall OSB, Jonathan Mitchell, and those whose anniversaries occur at this time.

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY – Meets next on Wednesday, 16

th September at 5.30pm.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81360866750?pwd=L1VTZVdycFdGWk55Q0Nob3E2cHQ5Zz09 Meeting ID: 813 6086 6750 Passcode: 533248 BR. AUGUSTINE PRIMAVERSI – Of this Parish, is to be ordained Priest on Tuesday 29

th September at Belmont Abbey by Bishop

Mark Jabale. Please keep him in your prayers. We hope that he will be able to celebrate a “1

st” mass shortly thereafter here

in Abergavenny. ORDINATION PRESENT – As Augustine’s home parish it would be appropriate to give him a present at his Ordination, and he has hinted at a vestment; and a suitable one has now been ordered. If any parishioner would like to contribute towards this, find envelopes for this purpose attached to the Bulletin this week.

STEWARDS – Thankyou to all those who have volunteered to be stewards as we continue to celebrate Holy Mass together again. We are still in need of more volunteers so a sustainable rota can be achieved.

BR. BERNARD WASSALL RIP. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Br. Bernard Wassall OSB, Monk of Belmont who died last week, aged 65. His Funeral is a private one, at Belmont, on Friday 25

th at 11am, but it will

be live streamed, details to follow.

BREXIT - SETTLED STATUS. All EU, EEA or Swiss Citizens, even those who have lived since before 1973, have to apply for settled status in this country, unless they have a stamp in their passport, or a letter from the Home Office or a certificate in their residence documentation document which states they have indefinite leave to remain. It is not a permanent residence document if it only says “registration certificate.” The Citizens Advice Service can give advice to European Citizens seeking the right to stay in the UK after Brexit. To speak to an adviser, please call 0300 3309 059 between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Even those who have lived in this country for many years still need to seek the right to stay in this country, even those who are elderly. ALPHA COURSE. The Parish is planning to run an Alpha Course - a long established way of reaching out to lapsed or unchurched Catholics and those interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. It is based around a series of video films, then discussion and also hospitality. There will be an introduction to the Course on Friday 25th September in the St. Michaels Ctr at 7pm, then depending on how things develop with the COVID VIRUS we may continue with such meetings, or run the course online on "ZOOM." Please consider inviting relatives, friends or neighbours who you feel might be interested in learning more about our Christian faith and coming to faith in Christ.