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Parish News and Events

The Latest Updates...

COVID-19 and the Skills of Good Citizenship

29/4/2020

 
Catholic Church · COVID-19 and the Skills of Good Citizenship
Catholic Social Teaching is often described as the ‘jewel in the crown’ for Catholics. At this time when communities are coming together to act in solidarity to battle the spread of COVID-19, Catholic Social Teaching would seem more relevant than ever.

Churches are closed, friends are separated, the elderly and vulnerable are self-isolating - some away from their families - and the rest of us are on lockdown to protect the herculean efforts of the NHS as the virus reaches its peak in the UK.

Professor Jim McManus is Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire and has been helping guide the Catholic Church's response to COVID-19. He talks to us about the vital guiding principles of solidarity, subsidiarity and upholding the common good to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

"We often neglect what's called 'horizontal subsidiarity' - the skills of good citizenship. The skills we learn of participating, of helping one another out, of good behaviour, of pro-social behaviour. This is the time when these networks of skills and goodwill are most needed.

"The 'soft skills' we need as a society are the things we need to practice. So 'horizontal subsidiarity' absolutely comes in. It is derived, theologically, from a duty we owe one another in justice - as fellow creatures - and we should follow that."

You can listen to the podcast by using the 'soundcloud' player above.

COVID-19 Information Videos

28/4/2020

 
The UK Government has released a series of videos giving general advice to the public. You can watch these by clicking on each one below. To see these videos in other languages, click the button at the bottom of this post.
Essential Advice
Spot the Signs
Hand Washing
Watch in Other Languages

Mary in the Month of May

27/4/2020

 
The Holy Father is encouraging us to pray the Rosary during the month of May, “when the People of God express with particular intensity their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary”.

In his letter for the month of May, the Pope notes that it is a tradition to pray the Rosary at home with the family during this month. This year, he continues, “the restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this 'family' aspect, also from a spiritual point of view”.

Pope Francis also proposes two new prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which can be recited at the end of the Rosary. In his letter, he assures the faithful that he too will be reciting those prayers throughout the month of May, “in spiritual union with all of you”.

You can read the letter by clicking the button below. We will be crowning the statue of Our Lady at the end of Mass on Friday 1st May 2020 which will remain on the sanctuary throughout the month.
Download the Pope's Letter

Bulletin for Third Sunday of Easter

25/4/2020

 
The bulletin is now ready if you need to print a copy for friends who do not have the Internet.
At the end of Mass this Sunday I will be giving a special blessing to Betty and George Brown who are celebrating their 45th Wedding Anniversary. 
You will also see on Sunday that there is an opportunity for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday Evening at 7.00 pm. This consists of 20 minutes silence and then we sing Evening Prayer together. The Text for Evening Prayer can be found by using the link below.
Sunday Evening Prayer

Online Faith Formation Opportunity

22/4/2020

 
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CaFE@HOME have put their course on the lives of the saints online. It is one of their older courses so the download definition is not to current TV-quality standard, but the wisdom and teaching of the Saints is as strong as ever and the  location filming is very enjoyable. Follow the link here to find out more. 
Saints Course

Divine Mercy Sunday Devotions 2020

18/4/2020

 
We will be live streaming Adoration and the Divine Mercy Devotions tomorrow at 3pm. Click the button below to download the order of service so that you can pray with us from home.
Download Order of Service

This Week's Bulletin

18/4/2020

 
Please find below the latest edition of the bulletin. If you are printing off a copy for any neighbours, it's best to use the printable version on the Mass Times and Bulletin page. 

19th April 2020 DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY Year A
11.00am Mass online pro populo
3.00pm Divine Mercy Devotions

20th April  Monday  
11.00am Sytch Lane Cemetery Funeral Service Ignatius Kelly RIP
7.00pm Mass online Jim Hearne RIP

21st  April Tuesday
9.30am Mass online Tony Burdon RIP

22nd  April Wednesday
 9.30am Mass online Mary Rowley RIP

23rd  April Thursday
7.00pm Mass online Colette Jones RIP

24th  April Friday
9.30am Mass online Harry Hedgecox RIP
12.20pm Lower Gornal Crematorium Service Ceclia Sadler RIP 

25th  April Saturday
No Mass online

26th April Third Sunday of Easter 
11.00am Mass online pro populo

Mass at the Carmelite Convent will be celebrated in private until further notice.
The sisters continue to pray for us day and night.
 




Read More

St Bernadette's Hall

15/4/2020

 
Have a look at the pictures below to see all the great work that was done to improve the hall at St Bernadette's last year. We still haven't had the festive opening celebration. This is something we must do when things return to normal!

Financial Donations

14/4/2020

 
We appreciate many parishioners may be struggling financially at this time. We are receiving inquiries, however, from parishioners who would like to continue giving during this period when they cannot attend our parishes in person.

Ideally this would be via standing order (please follow the instructions using the button on our home page) however we know this won’t suit everybody so the diocese is also able to offer a new online giving facility for single donations.

If you go to the diocese home page and then click on the 'donate' button, it will take to you an online form. On the second page of the form you can choose which parish you want to donate to. The payment will then be passed on to the parish.
​
If you would like to use this facility follow the link on the right to the diocese web page.
Donate

Easter Vigil Homily

13/4/2020

 
People have been asking for a copy of the homily from the Easter Vigil. It can be downloaded here.
Easter Vigil Homily 2020

Happy Easter Everyone!

12/4/2020

 

The Birmingham Diocesan Youth Service asked me to record a 100 second message for Easter, so here it is.
Happy Easter Everyone!
Easter Message

The Cardinal on Radio and Television

9/4/2020

 
In addition to the previously mentioned main programme on all BBC local stations at 8 am on Easter Sunday, when the Cardinal will be leading an Easter Service, he will also be giving the following media interviews:
 
Good Friday

0745 BBC Radio Berkshire

0830 BBC Radio 4 Today Programme

1030 Sky News (TV) – Adam Boulton

Easter Sunday

0710 BBC Radio 4 Sunday Programme

0730 BBC Radio 2

0800 All 39 BBC Local Radio Stations (as mentioned above) including BBC WM - Main Programme!

0930 BBC Radio London

1300 BBC Radio 4 The World This Weekend

Additionally, the Daily Telegraph is publishing a reflection by the Cardinal on Good Friday. And the BBC will be covering Pope Francis’  usual Urbi et Orbi on Easter Sunday on its news bulletins.

Readings for the Triduum Services

9/4/2020

 
Wishing you all a very Blessed Maundy Thursday! Remember the texts of the readings for all our services  can be found on https://universalis.com/mass.htm 

Maundy Thursday Mass
8.30pm
Good Friday Commemoration of the Lord's Passion
3.00pm 
Holy Saturday Easter Vigil
8.30pm 
Easter Sunday
11.00am 


Please note that at the Easter Vigil we are using the shorter version of the First Reading, the Third Reading and the Fourth Reading with their relevant Responsorial Psalms.

If you are joining us for the Office of Readings at 10.00am on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the texts of the psalms and readings can be found here. 
Good Friday
Holy Saturday

Feedback on Mass Streaming

8/4/2020

 
Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on Mass yesterday. As you can see, we are using the latest technology to bring Mass into your homes! Our most recent attempt to improve sound quality has involved removing the church speaker off the wall and sitting it on the stepladder under the mobile phone so that it is as near to the microphone as possible and then covering it with a blanket to deaden the sound from the rest of the church.

Let's see if it makes any difference for Mass tonight!
​
​Keeping you all in my prayers,
Fr Mark
Picture

Holy Week Resources and Archbishop's Message

6/4/2020

 
The Archbishop has sent us all a message for Holy Week. Click play below to hear it and use the button on the right to access more resources.
Resources

Hymn for Palm Sunday Mass

5/4/2020

 
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We will sing a hymn at the beginning of Mass today. This is a moment for the children to parade round the sitting room waving their branches or the palms they have been making. The words of the hymn can be found here and on the Online Parish Services page.
Palm Sunday Hymn

More Prayer Resources for Holy Week

4/4/2020

 
Follow the link here to access the latest Diocesan newsletter. There are some great resources available, including a leaflet for a Holy Week retreat that can be printed off and given to parishioners who do not have the internet.
April DIocesan newsletter

Pope's Video Message for Holy Week

3/4/2020

 
​Pope Francis sends this video message to Christians around the world as we prepare to celebrate Holy Week in an unusual manner due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. He prays especially for those suffering and for all the families whose lives have been upset in this difficult time.

Join us for Stations of the Cross

3/4/2020

 
We will be praying the Stations of the Cross this evening at 7.00pm. Once it has been streamed, you can access it to pray the Stations at any time again during Holy Week. It will be available on our youtube channel which you can access using the button below.
Youtube Channel

Make a Palm for Palm Sunday

3/4/2020

 
Picture
Although there will be no blessing of palms at the beginning of Mass on Palm Sunday, there is no reason why your children cannot make palms out of paper and wave them vigorously at the beginning of Mass when we recall the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The palms can be made out of all sorts of things but here is a template to colour in.
Colour in template
File Size: 149 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Update on Radio Service with the Cardinal

3/4/2020

 
The information I was given yesterday about the Cardinal's broadcast wasn't quite correct. On Easter Sunday Morning, the Cardinal will not be broadcasting on Radio 4 but on all the BBC local Radio Stations at 8.00am​.

BBC WM is on 95.6 FM for all our parishioners who do not have the internet.
Read the article in the Universe
Listen to BBC WM Live

Holy Week Poster

2/4/2020

 
Here is a poster that you can display in your windows during Holy Week. To print the poster, use the "Download File" button below.
Download the Holy Week Poster
File Size: 173 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File

Picture

Radio Service on Easter Sunday

2/4/2020

 
BBC local radio stations will be broadcasting a short Easter Sunday service celebrated by the Cardinal at 08.00 am on Easter Sunday morning. It is not available on Radio 4.  The broadcast on local radio will be invaluable for our parishioners who do not have access to the internet. Please could you contact anyone you know, that does not have the internet, to let them know that this will be happening.

Stations of the Cross and More Prayer Resources

2/4/2020

 
We will be doing Stations of the Cross tomorrow Evening (Friday 3rd April) at 7.00pm.

​​A parishioner has found this article, produced by America Magazine, very useful for participation at Mass online. Click here to read it.

Divine Renovation have produced a Parish Response Kit to the current situation that we are all in. It can be downloaded for free at: https://divinerenovation.org
​

Celebrating Palm Sunday at Home

1/4/2020

 
To help us mark Palm Sunday at home there is a great idea going round social media. In Mathew's Gospel, as Jesus enters Jerusalem, it says that the crowd "cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road." Traditionally we have used palms to commemorate this event, but as we can see in the gospel, we can use any branches. So why not decorate your front door or the window of your living room with a freshly cut branch? It could be decorated in some way with purple ribbon for example. Alternatively, children could make palms out of paper, or they could draw pictures of Jesus entering Jerusalem and these could be displayed in your window. Then you could take photos and share them on the parish facebook page perhaps?

    Information

    This page page displays the latest announcements. For regular weekly news, please ensure you also read the Parish Bulletin, which is available on the Home page. For previous versions of the Bulletin, click here.

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  • Home
    • YouTube Channel
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  • Parish News
  • Online Mass & Activities
  • Synod 2021-23
  • Churches
    • SS Peter & Paul >
      • SSPP History
      • SSPP Past Events
      • SSPP Gallery
    • Saint Michael >
      • SM History
    • Saint Bernadette >
      • SB History
  • Blessed Carlo Acutis
  • University Chaplaincy
  • Carmelite Monastery
  • Marriage Support
  • Baptism
  • Pastoral Council
  • Youth
    • EDGE >
      • EDGE Gallery
  • SVP
  • Parish Schools
    • Saint Edmund's Catholic Academy
    • SS Peter and Paul Catholic Academy & Nursery
    • Saint Michael's Catholic Primary Academy and Nursery
    • Saint Bernadette's Catholic Primary School
  • Talk To Someone
  • Cybercrime Advice
  • Facebook
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  • Links
    • Archdiocese of Birmingham
    • Bishops Conference of England & Wales >
      • CBCEW News
      • Catholic Understanding of Death
    • Catholic News >
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      • Catholic Voices
      • EWTN Global Network >
        • EWTN Online Radio GB/EIRE
      • Vatican News
    • Holy See >
      • Vatican City State
      • Mission to the UN
    • Kenelm Youth Trust
    • Jobs >
      • Education Service
      • Diocesan Vacancies