Welcome to the Catholic parishes of IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SAINT THOMAS MORE Sisters of St Joseph of Peace 54 New Street Oadby Leicester LE2 4LJ Primary School: Saint John Fisher CVA 0116 288 2203 Head Mr A Gallagher Parish Priest: Fr Michael Moore Assistant Priest: Fr John Owens 0116 221 8385 stthomasmoreknighton @gmail.com Deacon: Vince Kelly Secondary School: Saint Paul’s 0116 241 4057 Principal Mrs S Conaghan Parishes Website http://www.le2catholicparishes.info 75 Knighton Road Knighton Leicester LE2 3HN Primary School: Saint Thomas More CVA 0116 270 6365 Head Mrs C Crosse SUNDAY & HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION DURING LOCKDOWN Solemnity of Pentecost - 31st May 2020 The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is removed during these emergency circumstances of the lockdown, and for as long as they last. This pandemic is the serious reason why this obligation does not apply at this time. We are encouraged to develop ways in which we can renew and deepen still more our spiritual relationship with God. The Congregation for Sacred Worship, speaking about the pandemic, reminds the faithful who cannot receive sacramental absolution, that ‘perfect contrition, rooted in love of God who is to be loved above all things, expressed in a sincere request for forgiveness, insofar as the penitent is able to make it at that moment, and accompanied by the firm intention to go to confession as soon as is possible, obtains forgiveness of all sins, including grave sin (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1452). Confessions cannot be heard over the telephone. Services of General Absolution cannot be held as this involves travel and the gathering of people. Please do not attempt to attend Church for any reason. All liturgies, parish activities and meetings are postponed until further notice and our Churches remain locked during the current pandemic
Transcript
Welcome to the Catholic parishes of
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SAINT THOMAS MORE Sisters of St Joseph of Peace 54 New Street Oadby Leicester LE2 4LJ
Primary School: Saint John Fisher CVA 0116 288 2203 Head Mr A Gallagher
Parish Priest: Fr Michael Moore Assistant Priest: Fr John Owens
0116 221 8385 stthomasmoreknighton
@gmail.com Deacon: Vince Kelly
Secondary School: Saint Paul’s 0116 241 4057
Principal Mrs S Conaghan Parishes Website
http://www.le2catholicparishes.info
75 Knighton Road Knighton
Leicester LE2 3HN
Primary School: Saint Thomas More CVA
0116 270 6365 Head Mrs C Crosse
SUNDAY & HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION DURING LOCKDOWN
Solemnity of Pentecost - 31st May 2020
The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is removed during these emergency circumstances of the lockdown, and for as long as they last. This pandemic is the serious reason why this obligation does not apply at this time.
We are encouraged to develop ways in which we can renew and deepen still more our spiritual relationship with God.
The Congregation for Sacred Worship, speaking about the pandemic, reminds the faithful who cannot receive sacramental absolution, that ‘perfect contrition, rooted in love of God who is to be loved above all things, expressed in a sincere request for forgiveness, insofar as the penitent is able to make it at that moment, and accompanied by the firm intention to go to confession as soon as is possible, obtains forgiveness of all sins, including grave sin (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1452).
Confessions cannot be heard over the telephone. Services of General Absolution cannot be held as this involves travel and the gathering of people.
Please do not attempt to attend Church for any reason. All liturgies, parish activities and meetings are postponed until further notice
and our Churches remain locked during the current pandemic
SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST SUNDAY
Entrance Antiphon Rm 5: 5; cf. 8: 11 The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit of God dwelling within us, alleluia. 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 prayer; 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 the Father. Amen. The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit of God dwelling within us, alleluia. Collect O God, who by the mystery of today’s great feast sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth and, with the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed,
fill now once more the hearts of believers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. First reading Acts 2:1-11 When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’ Responsorial Psalm Psalm 103(104):1,24,29-31,34
Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.
Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are, How many are your works, O Lord! The earth is full of your riches.
Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.
You take back your spirit, they die, returning to the dust from which they came. You send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth.
Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.
May the glory of the Lord last for ever! May the Lord rejoice in his works! May my thoughts be pleasing to him. I find my joy in the Lord.
Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.
Second reading 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13 No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.
Sequence Veni, sancte Spiritus
Holy Spirit, Lord of Light, From the clear celestial height Thy pure beaming radiance give.
Come, thou Father of the poor, Come with treasures which endure Come, thou light of all that live!
Thou, of all consolers best, Thou, the soul’s delightful guest, Dost refreshing peace bestow
Thou in toil art comfort sweet Pleasant coolness in the heat Solace in the midst of woe.
Light immortal, light divine, Visit thou these hearts of thine, And our inmost being fill:
If thou take thy grace away, Nothing pure in man will stay All his good is turned to ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew On our dryness pour thy dew Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will Melt the frozen, warm the chill Guide the steps that go astray.
Thou, on us who evermore Thee confess and thee adore, With thy sevenfold gifts descend:
Give us comfort when we die Give us life with thee on high Give us joys that never end. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Alleluia! Gospel John 20:19-23 In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’
The Nicene 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, At the words that follow, up to and including ‘and became man’, all bow. and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified 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.
Prayer over the Offerings Grant, we pray, O Lord, that, as promised by your Son, the Holy Spirit may reveal to us more abundantly the hidden mystery of this sacrifice and graciously lead us into all truth. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon Acts 2: 4, 11 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke of the marvels of God, alleluia.
Cycle of prayer during Ordinary Time (Summer) A deeper understanding between Christians and Jews; those who suffer Persecution, Oppression
and Denial of Human Rights; Europe; Human Life; Seafarers
The names of our sick and housebound parishioners as placed by the statue of our Parish Patrons…
Immaculate Conception, Oadby Patricia Briner, John Duncan Cloud, Barry Dobson, Rita Dobson,
Tessa Ellis, Jean Farmer, Dr Mary Ginger, Bridget Harrigan
St. Thomas More, Knighton Derek Allen, Natalie Ellis, Tom Ellis, Bente Hendrick, Barbara Henry, Philomena Joyce, Geraldine McGlynn, Brian Neill, Patrick Maughan, Fr Michael Moore and Val Ratcliffe
Please note that we are only be able to publish in the newsletter/website/social media and display by our Patronal statues the names of those we have evidence of giving consent to do so. During the current situation please can the nearest relative or family member email the
Parish Office with consent to publish names if individuals are unable to do so.
Those whose anniversaries occur at this time… Arnaldo De Marco, Edith Dixey, Nan Draper, Michael Duddy, Thomas Fielding, Maria Gadasci,
Arturo Del Gaizo, Una Glaney, Peter Godwin, Arthur Hudson, Emilio Iandico, Karl Kay, Margaret Kenna, Anne Lewis, Henrietta Nicholls, Laurence Power, Rose Quirk, William Russell,
Mary Reynolds, Martin Ryan, Mary Seaton, Albert Shaw, Betty Ward, Mary Whelan
Those who have died recently… Andrew Paul Matthews RIP (son of John and Joan Matthews RIP)
HOW TO JOIN THE MASS ONLINE
A YouTube channel has been created so that during this time Mass and other devotions will be live-streamed from the chapel at Bishop’s House. This can be found by searching for ‘Bishop
Patrick McKinney’ on YouTube and it will also be linked to his Facebook and Twitter accounts. Sunday Mass will be streamed at 10.00am each Sunday.
Mass is streamed from St. Joseph’s, Goodwood Road, Leicester - search for “St Joseph’s Leicester”
Mass is streamed from St. Barnabas Cathedral at 1.00pm Monday - Friday and Sunday at 10.00am – search for “St Barnabas Cathedral Nottingham”
A variety of Parishes and Cathedrals are streaming Mass and other devotions at https://www.churchservices.tv/churches/
NDCYS (Nottingham Diocese Catholic Youth Service) have a new “You Tube” Channel, NDCYS Live! It’s not just called “LIVE” for a reason. Each letter is one of four streams that give you an idea of what their channel is all about. LEARN, INSPIRE, VOCATION, ENCOUNTER! There will be new videos every week so hit subscribe and let them know what you think! Upcoming streams include 9.30am Mondays Club and 6.00pm Friday Nights Live. Have a look and be inspired by Tom Baptist the Director and all the members of The Briars Team.
Words of encouragement from Pope Francis…
Prayer to Mary during Coronavirus Pandemic O Mary, you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm. You, Salvation of Your People, know what we need, and we are sure you will provide so that, as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
“Tonight before falling asleep think about when we will return to the street. When we hug again, when all the shopping together will seem like a party.
Let's think about when the coffees will return to the bar, the small talk, the photos close to each other. We think about when it will be all a memory
but normality will seem an unexpected and beautiful gift. We will love everything that has so far seemed futile to us.
Every second will be precious. Swims at the sea, the sun until late, sunsets, toasts, laughter.
We will go back to laughing together. Strength and courage"
Words of encouragement from Fr Michael…
It is wonderful to witness and hear about the community spirit that is very evident at this time, with people checking on our elderly parishioners and keeping in touch with one another. We also have a list of volunteers that can help with shopping. Please let me know if you need some help in this regard. Myself, Fr. John and Ministers of Holy Communion are regularly telephoning our housebound parishioners, as are many of our parishioners.
Especially for both our First Communion and Confirmation Candidates… We do not know yet when First Communion and Confirmation will take place but that does not prevent each day being an opportunity to deepen our friendship with the Risen Christ and to do what we can to treat each other with kindness.
A reminder to both our First Communion and Confirmation Candidates that on Sunday 31st May at 4.00pm LACY (Leicestershire Active Catholic Youth) will be celebrating the Stations of the Resurrection on Zoom invitation ID 775 4342 5527. Please contact Pauline for the password [email protected] and check with your parents first that it is ok to be in touch. I am sure this will be a great celebration for all the family. May the Risen Lord continue to bless you and all that are dear to you. May He grant us peace in mind and hearts and as these restrictions continue may He give us above all patience.
Fr Michael
Mass Intentions… If you would like a Mass celebrated for a particular intention, please let me know of the intention by post or email. If you require a Mass Card signing please indicate this on your request and I will organise collection by prior arrangement or post the card to you, which ever is convenient.
Parish Finances…
Thank you to those who have been in touch regarding Parish Finances during this time regarding their weekly contributions. Your concern and generosity are very much appreciated. We also realise that the current emergency is affecting many people’s income and they may not be able to continue their level of offerings. If this is the case, we fully understand.
The Diocese has currently advised that for those who give cash, please continue to put aside and we will gratefully receive them, along with your Easter Offering, when normal Mass celebrations resume. Please do not put envelopes through the Presbytery letterbox as we have no means of banking at this time. This advice is constantly being reviewed and we will update you on any changes as soon as we are aware. If you would like your new supply of envelopes posting to your home address or would like to change to standing order, please contact Fr. Michael by email or telephone and we will arrange this for you.
Responding to Laudato Si… At the request of the Laudato Si parish group Tip of the week returns to the Parish newsletter ….
Tip of the week … Create a pond (if safe to do so keeping in mind access children may have to this area)…Ponds typically accommodate a much broader range of species than land and even a small pond, of as little as 1 sq m, or even just a damp patch, can work wonders for biodiversity in
your garden
Celebrate our birthday… In the Gospel for Pentecost Sunday we hear about the Risen Lord “breathing” on his disciples. Breath is essential to our bodies. Our first breath marks the beginning of our earthly life as our last breath marks the end of earthly life. In the Book of Genesis we read of God breathing life into Adam (Genesis 2:7) and “thus he became a living being.” In breathing on his disciples, Jesus was giving life to the Church. Perhaps for this reason, Pentecost is known as the birthday of the Church – our first breath! Our Church buildings remain locked, but some Churches are displaying notices reminding us that the Church is not a building – you are the Church, and you are to remain open! Pentecost Sunday this year might be a day to ponder how we might be and remain open to new ways of being Church without our communal prayer and without sacraments for the time being until our buildings do eventually reopen. Cardinal Vincent Nicholls in pleading the cause for our Churches to be open, at least for private prayer, spoke of the “painful fast from Communion” and that we, as a Church, the Body of Christ, are all longing to receive communion. Our Eucharistic fast
unites us with the disappointment and sadness of our young people of having First Holy
Communion and Confirmation celebrations postponed as they too long for the
sacraments.
connects us with those who were unable to be received into the Church throughout the
world at Easter; they too like us are yearning for the sacraments.
empathises us with those who for whatever reason, be it lack of priest or marriage
impediment, who will still be unable to receive communion when our buildings reopen
and the celebration of the sacraments resume in time.
calls us to remember that our priests continue to celebrate daily Eucharist for us,
continuing to minister to us in spiritual communion despite the loneliness and strangeness
of their priestly ministry during these days.
Pentecost is the day when Jesus’s disciples waited patiently in longing for the Risen Lord and are empowered with the Spirit to be commissioned as the Body of Christ. Our Eucharistic fast will come to an end. Until then the Body of Christ (church), awaits the Body of Christ (sacrament). (Jackie Williams)
Happy birthday to us all!
Year of the Word: Acts of the Apostles in lockdown
With our improving grasp of technology, the Bible Study group has resumed virtually after an Easter break to share the treasure of Acts. Two chapters at a time (we are currently at chapters 5/6), this adventure book is providing us with an undeniably timely opportunity to discuss what it means to be church. We discovered that many of us, in the past, had intended to read the whole book, but had never succeeded. The first chapters, then, are very familiar, as they are to anyone who would normally be attending Mass at this time of year. The conversations, however, are new, as we listen to the God who Speaks, here and now, to a small group of us who feel a bit lost. We have started a journey with a small group of people, witnesses to the resurrection, who used to be a community built around Jesus in his full humanity. As we read what happened when their focal point changed, we are considering what has happened and will happen to our own community as a result of the current change of focus. And it is so good to be able to do this together. We have shared our experiences, positive and frustrating, of attending Mass online and considered the application of what we have termed the 'template' of the church at the end of chapters 2 and 4 to our current situation. Our group are using Zoom. We have no particular knowledge or expertise in this, but it is working for us. There are 8 participants, connected through 5 devices. We have found this a manageable number for discussion, now that we have learned to pause differently to allow others to speak. I have been to meetings with more participants, which have been more difficult and really require an active chairperson. It is also not possible to pray together, due to the delay from various devices, though I have attended an excellent interactive Mass from CAFOD, which was run more like a webinar. For me, this has been an enriching experience, which is why I share it. Perhaps others have different ideas which could also be shared? I wonder if a network of groups would allow us to re-establish our connections and move us forward in a space where social distancing seems set to continue for a while. It would be great to hear other views. If anyone wants to know more about what we have done, feel free to email me on [email protected]
(Catherine Danaher)
Reading this from the website?…
During lockdown the Parish PC has had some changes made to it. Your email addresses are
secure but in the changes electronic distribution lists have been deleted and currently being rebuilt. If you normally receive the newsletter electronically and missed out this week, please
email the Parish office and we will reinstate you to the distribution list.
Jubilarians 2020
The following priests will shortly be celebrating their Jubilee of Ordination. Please keep them in your prayers at this time. Addresses are provided from the Diocesan Yearbook should you wish
to send congratulations to them.
DIAMOND JUBILEE Rev Brendan O’Callaghan 5th June 1960
Knockanure, Moyvane, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland
GOLDEN JUBILEE Rev Canon Michael O’Donoghue 14th June 1970
www.Christian.Art are producing beautiful videos to help us pray. Highly recommended is a 17 minute video entitled as above that leads you in evening prayer.
A video leading Pentecost prayers will be available by the weekend. Search for the website and click on this image
