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NEW INTERIM WEEKEND MASS TIMETABLE From next weekend, there will now be Public Mass Every Saturday and Sunday at 5.30pm at St Michael’s with the Online Mass still being on Sunday Mornings at 11.00am. DON’T FORGET TO BOOK FOR A PLACE AT MASS. Between 10.00 am to 5.00 pm on Monday to Friday, please ring Sr Lydwin on 01902 341343. If you cannot print off your ticket, you can collect it from a steward outside the church when you arrive for Mass. THERE IS STILL NO OBLIGATION FOR PEOPLE TO ATTEND MASS ON SUNDAYS. You can choose any day of the week to go to Mass and the Bishops fully encourage you to continue praying the Mass by watching it online. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We are still looking for more stewards and cleaners so that eventually we can open all three of our churches. MASS INTENTIONS if you would like a Mass offered for someone, please ring Fr Mark on 10902 423005 Please be patient about when a Mass can be said, because there are so many Masses coming in, they are already booked up into August. DEC CORONAVIRUS APPEAL In the UK our struggle against coronavirus has entered the next phase, but in many of the world’s poorest countries the fight has only just begun. CAFOD has joined forces with the Disasters Emergency Committee to help millions of vulnerable people whose lives are at risk as the coronavirus pandemic spreads across refugee camps and countries suffering conflict. You can contribute at cafod.org.uk/coronavirus or 55 Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7JB or 0303 303 3030 THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION is outside St Michael’s Church each Saturday from 11.00 am - 11.30am FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS This is a difficult time for many people but if you are able to continue giving an offering, please consider paying directly into the parish account. Please follow the directions on our website. It is now possible to make donations to any of our three churches directly through our Website. Click the ‘ MY CHURCH OFFERING’ the button on the Home page for more details. SVP support - if you or anyone you know is in need of support particularly during this pandemic please contact Sr Lydwin or David Spinks at 07544960402. 'Free School Meal' (FSM) Children We are having a 'drive and drop' food/toiletries collection to support FSM families during the summer holidays. A car with its boot open will be parked outside St Michael's Church for one hour EVERY Tuesday 1-2, Thursday 10-11 and Saturday 10-11. All donations will be gratefully received by The Well (Wolverhampton Food Bank). Alternatively, much-needed supplies can still be taken to the Good Shepherd Ministry via 2, Richmond Rd WV3 9HY or Food Bank via The Vicarage 21A, St Jude's Rd WV6 0EB. For further information please phone 340479. To date you have kindly donated 386kg of food/toiletries, £300 and 50+ food parcels to parish school families. Thank you! If anyone needs a food parcel please phone 07932 609625 between 1pm -5pm and speak in confidence to a member of the Catholic Women's League to make arrangements. The Life Charity shop at 12 Lichfield Street is now open daily 10am-4pm. If you have unwanted clothes, bric-a-brac or books to donate they will be much appreciated. I'm happy for you to drop your donated goods at my house or to collect them from you, please ring me on 01902 330553 to make arrangements. Alternatively consider visiting the shop and delivering your items yourself; you'll find good measures in place to ensure your safety. please DO NOT leave donated goods at church at the present time. Thank you! Rosalie WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Holly Burke, Mason Kavanagh, Paula Box, June Abbiss, Peter Holmes, Alice Stevens, George Brown, Chris Starkey, M Mary, Thomas Mackin, Stephen Briggs, Hilary Elsden, Katherine Poole, Teresa Mitchell, Ann Bayley, Helen O’Brien-Coleman, Mary Abbiss, Peggy McHale, Patrick Quinn, Fred & Celia Norton, Jean Hollingshead, Margaret Stokes, Leah Nixon, Pat Pool, John Dolan, Liam Dolan, Marie Looker, Lorna Ciraulo, Pat Eades, Helen Porter, Mary Kirby, Sheila O’Toole, Tony McGinn, Brendan Bleakley.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY: Marie Therese Lennox, Jenner Martin, John Barratt, John Stanley, Dorothy Stephenson May they rest in peace. It is now possible to donate to all three of our Churches directly from the website. Please click below for more details.
The ARCHBISHOP is ordaining three new priests this autumn and the great news is that he has decided that one of them should come and join our parish team alongside Fr Mark, Fr Gary, Sr Lydwin and Sr Rita. We welcome, therefore Deacon Sean Gough who will be ordained priest at the end of September and will be living with Fr Mark in Giffard House. DEC Coronavirus Appeal In the UK our struggle against coronavirus has entered the next phase, but in many of the world’s poorest countries the fight has only just begun. CAFOD has joined forces with the Disasters Emergency Committee to help millions of vulnerable people whose lives are at risk as the coronavirus pandemic spreads across refugee camps and countries suffering conflict. You can contribute at cafod.org.uk/coronavirus or 55 Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7JB or 0303 303 3030 THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION is outside St Michael’s Church next Saturday from 11.00 am - 11.30am DON’T FORGET TO BOOK FOR A PLACE AT MASS. Between 10.00 am to 5.00 pm on Monday to Friday, please ring Sr Lydwin on 01902 341343. Thanks to our stewards and cleaners were able to celebrate public Mass again next Friday at St Michael’s at 6.30pm and the following Sunday at 3.00pm. THERE IS STILL NO OBLIGATION FOR PEOPLE TO ATTEND MASS ON SUNDAYS. You can choose any day of the week to go to Mass and the Bishops fully encourage you to continue praying the Mass by watching it online. SVP support - if you or anyone you know is in need of support particularly during this pandemic please contact Sr Lydwin or David Spinks at 07544960402. SS PETER & PAUL 200 CLUB The winners for the last 5 months are as follows. March: 293 Mary Faherty; April:40 John Marshall; May 282 John Williams; June 284 Gerald McCrae; July:130 Mrs. J.Clarke. FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS This is a difficult time for many people but if you are able to continue giving an offering, please consider paying directly into the parish account. Please follow the directions on our website. MASS INTENTIONS if you would like a Mass offered for someone, please ring Fr Mark on 10902 423005 Please be patient about when a Mass can be said, because there are so many Masses coming in, they are already booked up into August. 'Free School Meal' (FSM) Children We are having a 'drive and drop' food/toiletries collection to support FSM families during the summer holidays. A car with its boot open will be parked outside St Michael's Church for one hour EVERY Tuesday 1-2, Thursday 10-11 and Saturday 10-11. All donations will be gratefully received by The Well (Wolverhampton Food Bank). Alternatively, much-needed supplies can still be taken to the Good Shepherd Ministry via 2, Richmond Rd WV3 9HY or Food Bank via The Vicarage 21A, St Jude's Rd WV6 0EB. For further information please phone 340479. This week's donations have been given to parish schools to support their 'Free School Meal' families. Thank you for your continued generosity! If anyone needs a food parcel please phone 07932 609625 between 1pm -5pm and speak in confidence to a member of the Catholic Women's League to make arrangements. A MESSAGE OF THANKS from Mrs J Byrne, the Principal of SS Peter & Paul’s School. Thanks to the generosity of parishioners across our three churches we are able to offer a valuable foodbank service to continue to support families over the summer holiday. On behalf of all of the staff and our families I wish to thank people for the donations that we have received. Food parcels have started going out to families who are shielding and those in need of some support are welcome to contact us at school to arrange collection or delivery. The Life Charity shop at 12 Lichfield Street is now open daily 10am-4pm. If you have unwanted clothes, bric-a-brac or books to donate they will be much appreciated. I'm happy for you to drop your donated goods at my house or to collect them from you, please ring me on 01902 330553 to make arrangements. Alternatively consider visiting the shop and delivering your items yourself; you'll find good measures in place to ensure your safety. please DO NOT leave donated goods at church at the present time. Thank you! Rosalie LET US PRAY
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Mason Kavanagh, Paula Box, June Abbiss, Peter Holmes, Alice Stevens, George Brown, Chris Starkey, M Mary, Thomas Mackin, Stephen Briggs, Hilary Elsden, Katherine Poole, Teresa Mitchell, Ann Bayley, Helen O’Brien-Coleman, Mary Abbiss, Peggy McHale, Patrick Quinn, Fred & Celia Norton, Jean Hollingshead, Margaret Stokes, Leah Nixon, Pat Pool, John Dolan, Liam Dolan, Marie Looker, Lorna Ciraulo, Pat Eades, Helen Porter, Mary Kirby, Sheila O’Toole, Tony McGinn, Brendan Bleakley. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY: Marie Therese Lennox, Jenner Martin, John Barratt, John Stanley, Dorothy Stephenson May they rest in peace.
"Thank you to everyone for their generous donations to local Catholic schools."
We have some good news this week because it is now possible for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to start taking the Blessed Sacrament to the housebound again. There are strict guidelines that have to be followed, however, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The guidelines are available from Sr Lydwin. At this time, only those who are under 70 and have no underlying health problems may take Holy Communion to the Sick but it is a beginning!
There is now an easy way to donate to the parish by clicking a button on the Home Page of this website. At the moment it is only possible to donate to SS Peter & Paul's parish because when we were preparing the paperwork, we realised that the previous parish priest's name is on the bank statements for St Michael's and St Bernadette's. Once this has been corrected, we will be able to complete the registration for this online giving. Standing Orders are still the best way to donate to the parish as they do not incur bank charges. This new donate button, however, is very useful if you know someone who wants to make a one off donation. Click the link below to see how it works.
CONGRATULATIONS to David Bench our Seminarian from the Venerable English College in Rome. Having successfully completed his second year in formation for Priesthood, he is now able to receive the Ministry of Lector. The Archbishop has delegated Fr Mark to confer this Ministry to him during Online Mass this Sunday. OPENING OF ST MICHAEL’S FOR PRIVATE PRAYER This Sunday afternoon St Michael’s will open from 3.00- 4.00pm. Please note this is only for private prayer. It is essential to wear a face-covering and it is important that if you or a member of your household or bubble are showing symptoms of Covid 19 that you do not come to church. If you do come to pray, please follow the guidance of the stewards, whose responsibility is to maintain the safety of all who are in the Church. MASS INTENTIONS if you would like a Mass offered for someone, please ring Fr Mark on 10902 423005 Please be patient about when a Mass can be said, because there are so many Masses coming in, they are already booked up into August. THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION is outside St Michael’s Church next Saturday from 11.00 am - 11.30am FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS This is a difficult time for many people but if you are able to continue giving an offering, please consider paying directly into the parish account. Please follow the directions on our website. RETURN OF CELEBRATION OF PUBLIC MASS Many thanks to our teams of stewards and cleaners who have made it possible to open for the celebration of Mass. We were, therefore, able to celebrate public Mass for the first time on Friday. We will have another Mass next Friday 17th July at St Michael’s at 6.30pm and the following Sunday at 3.00pm. before you book to come to one of these Masses, please read all the guidelines on the Public Mass page of this website. THERE IS STILL NO OBLIGATION FOR PEOPLE TO ATTEND MASS ON SUNDAYS. You can choose any day of the week and the Bishops fully encourage you to continue praying the Mass by watching it online. Each week we will gradually build up more celebrations of Mass so that you can choose which day you would like to come. Please be aware that Fr Mark is the only priest available to celebrate Mass across all three churches and he also needs to continue the online Masses for those who must stay at home. SVP support - if you or anyone you know is in need of support particularly during this pandemic please contact Sr Lydwin or David Spinks at 07544960402. 'Free School Meal' (FSM) Children We are having a 'drive and drop' food/toiletries collection to support FSM families during the summer holidays. A car with its boot open will be parked outside St Michael's Church for one hour EVERY Tuesday 1-2, Thursday 10-11 and Saturday 10-11. All donations will be gratefully received by The Well (Wolverhampton Food Bank). Alternatively, much-needed supplies can still be taken to the Good Shepherd Ministry via 2, Richmond Rd WV3 9HY or Food Bank via The Vicarage 21A, St Jude's Rd WV6 0EB. For further information please phone 340479. This week's donations have been given to parish schools to support their 'Free School Meal' families. Thank you for your continued generosity! The Life Charity Shop at 12 Lichfield Street is now open daily 10am-4pm. If you have unwanted clothes, bric-a-brac or books to donate they will be much appreciated. I'm happy for you to drop your donated goods at my house or to collect them from you, please ring me on 01902 330553 to make arrangements. Alternatively consider visiting the shop and delivering your items yourself; you'll find good measures in place to ensure your safety. please DO NOT leave donated goods at church at the present time. Thank you! Rosalie FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Mason Kavanagh, Paula Box, June Abbiss, Peter Holmes, Alice Stevens, George Brown, Chris Starkey, M Mary, Thomas Mackin, Stephen Briggs, Hilary Elsden, Katherine Poole, Teresa Mitchell, Ann Bayley, Helen O’Brien-Coleman, Mary Abbiss, Peggy McHale, Patrick Quinn, Fred & Celia Norton, Jean Hollingshead, Margaret Stokes, Leah Nixon, Pat Pool, John Dolan, Liam Dolan, Marie Looker, Lorna Ciraulo, Pat Eades, Helen Porter, Mary Kirby, Sheila O’Toole, Tony McGinn, Brendan Bleakley.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY: Jenner Martin, John Barratt, John Stanley, Dorothy Stephenson May they rest in peace. Safeguarding Representatives: Steve & Chris Callow (St Michael) 01902 340775, Maria Iafigliola (SS Peter and Paul) 07931406866 Ann Shorthouse (St Bernadette) 01902 326334 These parishes are part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Registered as a charity No. 234216. Archbishop of Birmingham + Bernard Longley  This year, Summer Camp will be held online from July 31st - August 2nd from wherever you are, for times of prayer, Holy Mass, talks from our amazing speakers, praise and worship, and so much more.
We are so excited to welcome back our American friends Dom, Sarah and Jimmy to lead our talks, worship and prayer for Summer Camp online. What does it cost? There is no cost or sign up fee. All you need to do is fill out a registration form and we will be in touch with everything else you need closer to the time. Who is it for? Summer Camp is aimed at young people in secondary school but this year we will have a young adults small group for those who fall just out of the usual age group. How can I take part? Register using the online form. You can access it by clicking the button below! There has been a refinement in the instructions for how to receive Holy Communion at Public Masses. The new version of the bulletin is now uploaded onto the website. If you have already printed off the original version, please discard it. When you click on it now, the tab at the top of the page will read: 5th_july_2020_corrected_version.pdf.
Sorry for any confusion caused. OPENING OF ST MICHAEL’S FOR PRIVATE PRAYER This Sunday afternoon St Michael’s will open as normal from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm but next weekend it will only be open on Sunday from 3.00- 4.00pm. Please note this is only for private prayer. It is essential to wear a face-covering and it is important that if you or a member of your household or bubble are showing symptoms of Covid 19 that you do not come to church. If you do come to pray, please follow the guidance of the stewards, whose responsibility is to maintain the safety of all who are in the Church.
CONGRATULATIONS to David Bench our Seminarian from the Venerable English College in Rome. Having successfully completed his second year in formation for Priesthood, he is now able to receive the Ministry of Lector. The Archbishop has delegated Fr Mark to confer this Ministry to him during Online Mass next Sunday. (See the article below here on the Parish News Page) MASS INTENTIONS if you would like a Mass offered for someone, please ring Fr Mark on 10902 423005 Please be patient about when a Mass can be said, because there are so many Masses coming in, they are already booked up into August. THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION is outside St Michael’s Church next Saturday from 11.00 am - 12.00 midday. FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS This is a difficult time for many people but if you are able to continue giving an offering, please consider paying directly into the parish account. Please follow the directions on our website. RETURN OF CELEBRATION OF PUBLIC MASS We are gradually re-introducing Public Mass, starting this Friday at St Michael’s at 6.30pm. We will be having Mass in the other churches soon but we need to build up teams of volunteers in order for this to be possible. You can only attend if you have booked a seat beforehand. It will not be possible to turn up and expect to be allowed in. This is strange, and it goes against everything we expect at Mass but it is essential that we do not exceed the numbers allowed and compromise anybody’s safety. You will also have to wear face covering or you will not be allowed to enter. (This does not have to be a mask but can be a scarf) HOW TO BOOK FOR A PLACE AT MASS? Please ring Sr Lydwin to book a place on 01902 341343. If you have an email address she will then email you an entrance ticket. When you come to Mass, you will need to show this to the steward in order to be admitted into the church. If you do not use emails, Sr Lydwin will print your ticket and you will need to go to the presbytery at St Michael’s before Mass to pick up your ticket before you go into church.If you are in the extremely vulnerable category of shielding or have received specific personal instructions from the Government not to attend religious services then you must not attend. For the safety of all who attend Mass, the government has advised that contact details be kept for everyone who comes to Mass, for a period of 21 days. That information will be destroyed after 21 days. It will be made available to the Track and Trace Service if they contact the parish to request that information. It will only be made available to any third party if that is required by law. The parish is committed to ensuring that information we hold about you is properly and securely held in accordance with the law. You can find out more from our Privacy Notice, which is at https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/privacy-policy. It is in the legitimate interests of the parish to hold this information about you This parish is part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, registered charity number 234216. WHAT WILL MASS BE LIKE? Attendees must: + Have already pre-booked a seat, + Wear a face covering, + Remain 2 metres apart, + Sanitise hands on entering and exiting the Church, + Follow the signs, + Listen to the stewards, + Not enter the sanctuary area or sacristy. Holy Communion + Will take place after Mass has finished, + Watch for stewards’ instructions when to proceed row by row to communion, + Receive in silence by hand only. Fully extend your arms so that you are a safe distance from the priest. + Move to the side and partially lower face covering to consume the host. + Once you have reverently received the host, leave the church in single file. Please Note: + Holy water is not available, + The Church will be disinfected after each Liturgy, + All parish meetings and ministry events, remain suspended until further notice. Please stay at home if... + You may have a pre-existing condition or are immuno-compromised, + You are feeling ill, + You suspect you may be ill or have been exposed to COVID-19, + You have a sick family member at home. During Mass No... + Altar servers, + Children’s liturgy, + Eucharistic ministers, + Offertory procession, + Physical sign of peace, + Chalice distribution, + Parish missalettes or hymn books, + Singing, + Collection bags, + Toilets available, + Congregating afterwards outside. Government advice is that those with severe breathing difficulties and the under 5’s are not required to wear face coverings. For the adults who cannot wear face coverings the advice is that they stay 2 metres distant from others. Children must be with their families and so distant from others. THERE IS STILL NO OBLIGATION FOR PEOPLE TO ATTEND MASS ON SUNDAYS. You can choose any day of the week and the Bishops fully encourage you to continue praying the Mass by watching it online. Each week we will gradually build up more celebrations of Mass so that you can choose which day you would like to come. Please be aware that Fr Mark is the only priest available to celebrate Mass across all three churches and he also needs to continue the online Masses for those who must stay at home. THE CHURCHES OF SS PETER & PAUL AND ST BERNADETTE will eventually open but beforehand, both will need teams of stewards and cleaners. If you are able to volunteer, please use the new volunteer form on the website, or if you do not use the internet, give your contact details to Sr Lydwin. SVP support - if you or anyone you know is in need of support particularly during this pandemic please contact Sr Lydwin or David Spinks at 07544960402. SVP - furniture available We have been advised by Birmingham Central Council that there is available a three quarter size bed in very good condition, and a mahogany dining table and 4 chairs, also in good condition. Both need new homes asap, so let me know if you are aware of someone who needs either of these. Thanks and stay safe. David Spinks 07544 960402. 'Free School Meal' (FSM) Children We are having a 'drive and drop' food/toiletries collection to support FSM families during the summer holidays. A car with its boot open will be parked outside St Michael's Church for one hour EVERY Tuesday 1-2, Thursday 10-11 and Saturday 10-11. All donations will be gratefully received by The Well (Wolverhampton Food Bank). Alternatively, much-needed supplies can still be taken to the Good Shepherd Ministry via 2, Richmond Rd WV3 9HY or Food Bank via The Vicarage 21A, St Jude's Rd WV6 0EB. For further information please phone 340479. To date 356kg of food/toiletries and £105 have been donated to The Well. Thank you so much! The Life Charity shop at 12 Lichfield Street is now open daily 10am-4pm. If you have unwanted clothes, bric-a-brac or books to donate they will be much appreciated. I'm happy for you to drop your donated goods at my house or to collect them from you, please ring me on 01902 330553 to make arrangements. Alternatively consider visiting the shop and delivering your items yourself; you'll find good measures in place to ensure your safety. Please DO NOT leave donated goods at church at the present time. Thank you! Rosalie FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Mason Kavanagh, Jenner Martin, Paula Box, June Abbiss, Peter Holmes, Alice Stevens, George Brown, Chris Starkey, M Mary, Thomas Mackin, Stephen Briggs, Hilary Elsden, Katherine Poole, Teresa Mitchell, Ann Bayley, Helen O’Brien-Coleman, Mary Abbiss, Peggy McHale, Patrick Quinn, Fred & Celia Norton, Jean Hollingshead, Margaret Stokes, Leah Nixon, Pat Pool, John Dolan, Liam Dolan, Marie Looker, Lorna Ciraulo, Pat Eades, Helen Porter, Mary Kirby, Sheila O’Toole, Tony McGinn, Brendan Bleakley. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY: John Barratt, John Stanley, Dorothy Stephenson, Mary Lawley, Anne Patterson, Fr David Duggan, Kathleen Bowman, Alfonsina Lombardi, Tony Haden, Ignatius Kelly, Margaret Vicino, Claire Hallett. May they rest in peace. Safeguarding Representatives: Steve & Chris Callow (St Michael) 01902 340775, Maria Iafigliola (SS Peter and Paul) 07931406866 Ann Shorthouse (St Bernadette) 01902 326334 
 Meeting Pope Francis Serving for the Pope In October last year you may remember the buzz around the build up to the canonisation of John Henry Newman. We had suspected that the English College would be asked to provide servers for the occasion and were excited when this was confirmed. Fr Rector offered Toby Duckworth and I first refusal, but of course we both jumped at the chance. Upon presenting ourselves for rehearsal to Mgr Marini, the papal master of ceremonies, I was chosen to be one of the four closest to Pope Francis during the canonisation mass itself. I was the only member from the VEC among these four and yet little did the monsignor know that I am from Newman’s home Archdiocese of Birmingham. God had indeed blessed me enormously. It was my job to carry the Pope’s pastoral staff. It turned out to be Pope Benedict’s crosier that was used, as a nod to the devotion of the pope emeritus to Cardinal Newman. The next morning, after waving our special tickets to pass by the Swiss Guard, we entered St Peter’s basilica and assembled under Michelangelo’s Pietà, behind the bulletproof glass, in order to meet the Pope beforehand. Without warning the Holy Father suddenly appeared through a side passage not open to the public and began shaking our hands one by one. I decided to make the most of my few seconds with the Holy Father and leant in to whisper to him (in Italian) my appreciation for Evangelii Gaudium – the papal document that’s most impacted my formation. I shall never forget the warm smile I received back. As we processed out into St Peter’s square, I could not believe I was actually involved in all this. The October Italian sun was still incredibly strong and seemed to bounce off the stone beneath our feet, creating a blinding effect. From my seat next to the Pope’s dais I could see Prince Charles looking on and remembered that I couldn’t immediately return home after the mass since the future king was due to visit our own Newman display, hosted by the college archivist. Mgr Marini had special signals for us in case we missed our cue to come forward but the four of us managed well enough. Standing beside the Supreme Pontiff as he sat ex cathedra pronouncing a local priest of ours a saint of the universal Church is something that shall remain with me forever. I was surprised by my lack of nerves and thanked God for the peace and joy of the event. That evening, those of us in Rome from this diocese celebrated by dining out and Toby, myself and Fr Ryan Service met Deacon Jack Sullivan who had been cured of a debilitating spinal problem by the intercession of Cardinal Newman. This provided the second miracle needed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to present Cardinal Newman to Pope Francis as a candidate for canonisation. Deacon Jack carried a relic of Newman’s on his person and blessed us each with it as the sun set on a truly remarkable day. Lectorate As amazing as life in Rome can be, it has been quite unique to return to the diocese, and particularly to Giffard House, and continue with seminary from afar. Helping Fr Mark in Eastertide under lockdown and forging the way forward as the Church reckons with this time of pandemic has been a parish experience unlike any other. It has been much more meaningful than if my college community simply quarantined in Italy. This has, however, also meant great changes to the ordinary customs for those of us at each specific stage of formation. I am delighted that Archbishop Bernard agreed under the circumstances to delegate the conferral of my first ministry to Fr Mark (who as a former rector has experience with all this). So, what are these ‘ministries’ all about? The seminary formation process requires each seminarian to advance towards ordination receiving greater and greater responsibility as a prospective future priest. The current structure was finalised by Pope St Paul VI in 1973. From the second year onwards, each year culminates in the reception of a ‘ministry’ that underscores a particular aspect of ministerial priesthood. One is successively instituted as a Lector; Acolyte; Candidate; Deacon; and finally, Priest. During the second semester we take time out of our usual schedule to go away on retreat and pray about the forthcoming ministry, and have weekly pastoral classes designed to broaden our awareness of what the Church is asking of us at any given stage. This is all part of the main objective of forming solid patterns of priestly living. Lectorate focuses on the Word of God and what it means to proclaim the Scriptures. The Bible is not a collection of dead letters, but the living Word of God as relevant in our age as in any other. In the book of Hebrews we read, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (4:12). When a lector reads from the lectionary at mass, therefore, it helps to bear in mind that Christ is being announced to the people of God. When I began seminary (in Valladolid, Spain) I did not much like reading in front of my peers. Steadily, however, I began to deepen my awareness that it is Christ, the Word of God, being proclaimed and not about me at all. In Rome we have had voice coaching sessions that has also developed the skills necessary for communicating the intention of a passage. All this directs us towards one day proclaiming the Gospel, of course. Ultimately, this requires one to be sensitive to the workings of the Spirit who may be speaking a deep word through the lips of the priest to members of the congregation. It is an awesome responsibility and one in which I have felt myself grow closer to the Lord within His call. Let us proclaim this Good News boldly and joyfully. Article by David Bench The conferral of the Ministry of Lector will take place during our Mass on Sunday 12th July. We hope you will be able to watch and pray along with us online.  On Monday 6 July, MPs are due to debate the Domestic Abuse Bill. This is Report Stage of the Bill, when backbench MPs can suggest amendments. The Bill aims to give greater protection to the victims of domestic abuse. But there are attempts to hijack this important piece of legislation, to seek the introduction of abortion on demand in England and Wales.
At least one backbench MP is attempting to secure an amendment to repeal sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Persons Act. If such an amendment were to succeed, it would result in the introduction of abortion on demand, for any reason (including sex-selective abortion), up until when a child is capable of being born alive, with a ceiling of 28 weeks. This change would leave England and Wales with one of the most extreme abortion laws in the world. We need your help to make MPs aware of the risks we face on Monday. Please contact your MP about this, either directly, or use the e-lobby function on the Right to Life website. Now more than ever we need pro-life voices to be heard across the country.  This years Srebrenica Memorial Week runs from 5th -12th July when Communities from across the U.K. will remember the 25th Anniversary of the genocide when over 8,000 Muslim Bosnian men & boys were murdered because of their faith.
Over the 25 years since this atrocity many organisations, schools Councils & Faith groups have held events to mark the occasion & Wolverhampton Interfaith would request your involvement. An event was planned this year in St Paul’s Cathedral but because of the Covid-19 situation this has been postponed until 2021 but we would encourage everyone to light a candle on: Sunday 5th July at 7.00pm And join together in the Srebrenica Prayer if you wish: We pray to almighty God May grievance become hope May revenge become justice May mother’s tears become prayers That Srebrenica never happens again To no one, no where. By lighting the candle we remember the 8,372 mainly men & boys who were murdered on 11th July 1995 We remember the Mothers of Srebrenica who grieve every day & fight for truth & justice & all those displaced & affected by atrocity. When we hear the language of ‘Us & them’ we will reach out & find common ground with our neighbour. We will challenge discrimination wherever we see it. - Interfaith Wolverhampton  City of Wolverhampton Council is seeking feedback from residents on their experiences of the Coronavirus lockdown through their short ‘Life in Lockdown’ survey. You can take the survey by clicking the button below.
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