3rd 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

Third Sunday of the Year.

First Reading – Jonah 3:1-5,10.

Jonah preaches to the people of Nineveh and they repent.

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.

St.Paul tells the people of Corinth how to live in a  world that is rapidly passing away.

Gospel Reading – Mark 1:14-20.

Jesus calls his first disciples and they follow him

 

 

Psalter: Week 3
Readings for Weekdays: Week 3 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

  • 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


  • 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.

Monday January 25th – The Conversion of St.Paul.

The Conversion of St.Paul the Apostle, was, according to the New Testament, an event in the life of Paul the Apostle that led him to cease persecuting early Christians and to become a follower of Jesus. It is normally dated by researchers to AD 33-36.

Tuesday January 26th – St.Timothy & St.Titus.

Both First Century bishops, Timothy and Titus were disciples and co-workers of St.Paul. Timothy accompanied Paul on his travels and was put in charge of the Church at Ephesus whereas Titus was in charge of the church in Crete. Titus was Paul’s messenger to various Christian communities and was his personal secretary. Paul wrote Pastoral Epistles to both of them.

Wednesday January 27th – St.Angela Merici.

Angela was the founder of the Ursuline nuns. Born near Lake Garda, Italy, she was an orphan. She became a Franciscan and devoted herself, with a number of companions, to the education of poor children. In 1535 they dedicated themselves under the patronage of St.Ursula, but they took no vows and wore lay clothing. She died in 1540.

Thursday January 28th – St.Thomas Aquinas.

Born in Italy around 1225, Thomas Aquinas was educated by Benedictines and later at Naples University. He is considered as being one of the greatest Christian thinkers. Following great opposition from his family he joined the Dominicans. The rest of his life was divided between Paris and Italy, studying, lecturing and writing until his early death at the age of 49. His most important work was the Summa Theologica, a comprehensive commentary on Christians mysteries.

 

 

Reflect

When Jesus calls His first disciples there is an urgency in God’s call and that has a profound effect not just on the person called, but on others too. When Jesus called Simon and Andrew, James and John, and each of us, He didn’t call us to do something, He called us to be something - to be His disciples. When we respond to His call to live the Gospel in all our actions, then our actions reflect our inner life, and that life is the life of Jesus Christ we have been called to embrace. It is then we become who we are truly meant to be!

Pray

Lord,
Still my mind of its daily worries and distractions.
Calm my fears and fill me with your peace.
Open my ears to your call in my life.
Fill my heart with your love.

Amen

Act

Let us take time to open our hearts to listen to God's call to be His disciples. Try to spend time with the Lord in quiet prayer each day.

Challenge

Is it possible to set up a small corner of a room as a place of prayer? Perhaps place a Bible or prayer book, a safety candle, a sprig of flowers and a crucifix or picture of the Risen Christ on it. Sometimes a beautiful picture or an inspirational quote may also help to still the mind.

About LiveSimply

LiveSimply Resources

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.