2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B)


 

Fr Paul's Sunday Reflection

 

Churches are now CLOSED for public Mass. See below for further details

The Sunday obligation to attend Mass is still suspended for the time being. Please be patient as our greatest concern is the safety of everyone.
Mass will continue to be live-streamed as below.

Facebook and  YouTube.

The Redemptorists have Sunday Mass online available from 12pm on Saturdays, celebrated by Fr Denis McBride C.Ss.R.

There are several churches which live stream masses throughout the Archdiocese of Liverpool. These can be accessed here.

Other streamed masses are also available, click below for more

Second Sunday of the Year.

First Reading – 1 Samuel 3:3-10,19.

Samuel hears the call of God and responds: “Your servant is listening.”

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20.

Use your body for the glory of God, for it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel Reading – John 1:35-42.

Jesus invites two new disciples to come and spend time with him.

 

Psalter: Week 2
Readings for Weekdays: Week 2 of Ordinary Time

 

In a recent email to priests of the Archdiocese, the Archbishop has written the following:-

“Although I have circulated the recent Government advice on the opening of churches, I want to emphasise that the final decision in this regard is yours. Only you know your people, their age profile and the risks they are likely to be exposed to and present to others. You have to consider your volunteers and stewards. You also have yourself to consider and I would not want you to expose yourself unnecessarily to infection from the virus.”

So, after speaking to a number of health professionals, priests in the Archdiocese, nurses and NHS staff, all the priests of the Deanery have decided to cease the celebration of public worship and private prayer in all the churches in the area. We will review our position as and hopefully when the situation is a little better. There are several reasons for this:

  • The number of cases in the NW is still very much on the increase.
  • The new strain of the virus is more virulent than in the past.
  • A good number of people who attend Mass are over 70 and are therefore in the vulnerable category – even though there is no obligation, attending Mass is a further risk.
  • It is important to ensure the safety of our stewards. Our thanks go to them for all the work they have done in the past few months. Without them we would not have been able to open up any of our churches again.
  • Even though our churches have been Covid secure it is still a gathering of people for 30 minutes which increases the risk of spreading the virus.

The overall message from the Government and health officials is to STAY AT HOME. Please do so, stay safe, and please God we will be able to open up our churches very soon to welcome you back. As we see the vaccine distributed, closing our churches now is a small price to pay to welcome back a time when we can feel safe everywhere, especially when we gather to pray together one day.

Justice and Peace

  • Crib Offerings - There is still time to make your annual crib offerings. The money raised is sent to Nugent Care. Nugent are a registered charity, caring, educating, and protecting vulnerable children, young people and adults through their schools, care homes, and community and social work services.

  • COVID-19 Vaccines – The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales and the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) have recently issued statements on the moral acceptability of Catholics receiving COVID-19 vaccines which have used cell lines from aborted foetuses in their research and production process. In summary, "Catholics may in good conscience receive any of these vaccines for the good of others and themselves. In good conscience, one may refuse a particular vaccine but continues to have a duty to protect others from infection."

  • Pope Francis has declared that 8th Dec 2020 to 8th Dec 2021 will be the Year of St Joseph

  • ST.RICHARD’S CHURCH, ATHERTON - Is now open for Mass on Sundays at 9.30am

  • FOOD COLLECTION, St Margaret Clitherow – We continue to support the local food banks, including the bank operating in St Gabriel’s school for the  families in need there. Non-perishable food such as tinned or dried food may be left at church or dropped off at Holy Family Presbytery.

In prayerfully being present at a Mass being broadcast to you, obviously physically receiving the Eucharist is not possible. However, Spiritual Communion is.

So what is Spiritual Communion? The common practice of making such a spiritual communion indicate our desire to join with the Lord when in a situation that makes unable to sacramentally receive the Body and Blood of the Lord in Holy Communion at Mass.

Some resources for families who would like to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word with their children.


The Redemptorists have created an Advent and Christmas time resource for children. Access it by clicking on the picture

Martin at Ten: Ten is making available for free their daily prayers resources: https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/daily-prayers-for-home/ and their Family Liturgy for Sundays: https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/sunday-liturgy-for-families/

The God who Speaks now have a section on the Word at home: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/the-god-who-speaks/word-at-home/

CAFOD has several useful items to use with children -  updated weekly

There are four newsletters published weekly in the Deanery, you can access current and past editions here:

St Edmund Arrowsmith Newsletters (St Joseph's, Sacred Heart, Twelve Apostle, Our Lady's - Leigh)

St Margaret Clitherow Newsletters (Holy Family, Boothstown; St Ambrose Barlow, Astley; St Gabriel's, Higher Folds)

St Lewis, St Catherine's & All Saints Newsletters (Croft, Lowton & Golborne)

St John Rigby Newsletter (Sacred Heart, Hindley Green; St Richard's, Atherton; Sacred Heart Hindsford)

 

( Newsletters download as pdf files in a new window.)

 

There are several items of interest available from the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

New resources now available include:

 The Liverpool Catholic website also has up to date information on the Church's Policy regarding Coronavirus and lots of other useful information.

Most weeks there may well be a number of feast days. We don’t necessarily celebrate them all. Some saints are more important in certain parts of the country than others and will be celebrated more on a local level, whilst other saints will be celebrated everywhere. So each week we will comment on the feast-days that we should celebrate in our regional Church.

Wednesday January 20th – St.Sebastian.

Sebastian was a martyr in Rome c.300. He was a soldier who enlisted in Rome around 283. Diocletian who did not know he was a Christian, made him Captain of the Praetorian guards. He supported many martyrs. Early representations show him being pierced with arrows at his death.

Wednesday January 20th – St.Fabian.

Fabian became Pope in 236, chosen, according to Eusebius, despite being a lay person and a stranger. When the first persecutions began in Rome, he became the first victim. He was buried in the Church of St.Sebastian in Rome and his body was rediscovered in 1915.

Thursday January 21st – St.Agnes.

Aged about 13 Agnes was beheaded around 305 for refusing to offer worship to false gods and for wanting to keep her virginity. She is considered one of the youngest martyrs named in the Roman Canon.

Friday January 22nd – St.Vincent.

St.Vincent was the first Spanish martyr and a deacon of the 3rd Century. Together with his bishop, Valerius of Saragossa, he was captured during the persecution of Dacian the governor of Spain. Valrius was banished but Vincent was subjected to fierce tortures before ultimately dying from his wounds. He is the patron saint of all wine makers.

 

 

 

 

St Joseph's Centre - 01942 673517

Fr Paul Seddon - 01942 883395 (St Richard's & Sacred Heart.)
Fr Paul Grady - 0161 790 2390 (Holy Family, St Ambrose Barlow & St Gabriel's)
Fr Kieran O'Grady - 01942 673517 (Sacred Heart & St Joseph's)
Fr Gordon Abbs - 01942 273851 (St Lewis, St Catherine's & All Saints)

St Margaret Clitherow Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St Edmund Arrowsmith Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St John Rigby Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St Catherine of Sienna and All Saints, Golborne & St Lewis, Croft: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.