FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
SUNDAY: PARISH MASS with Bishop Bosco at 10.00am (Live-streamed)
Mass with our LGBTQ+ community and friends at 3.00pm – all welcome
MONDAY: No Liturgy
TUESDAY: Feast of St Patrick, Missionary Bishop, Patron of Ireland (390-461)
No Liturgy
WEDNESDAY: Feast of St Cyril of Jerusalem , Bishop and Theologian (315-386)
Adoration 6.00pm Mass 6.30pm followed by PPC meeting
THURSDAY: Feast of St Joseph, Husband of Mary
Adoration 11.30am Mass 12.00 noon
FRIDAY: Adoration 11.30am Service of Word & Communion at 12.00 noon
Lenten Area House Mass at 7.00pm at Flat 12, Lake View, Albany Court, Alcove Road, BS16 3AG – limited parking but good bus access
SATURDAY: Ethiopian Orthodox Eucharist 6.30am-12.30pm & all Day Preaching
Adoration 11.30am Mass at 12.00 noon (In Assisi Centre)
Sacrament of Reconciliation (in Assisi Centre) after Mass and 4.00-4.30pm
TODAY [1] The Fourth Sunday of Lent (‘Laetare’ or ‘Rejoicing’ Sunday) celebrate Jesus the Light of the World brings us from our blindness to New Sight. The healing of the man born blind expresses the power of baptism and the gradual conversion to Jesus. Are we blind to the presence of Jesus in our lives, in the poor and marginalised? Can we open the eyes of our heart to recognise Him with us?
[2] We welcome Bishop Bosco, chief shepherd of our diocesan family, who presides at our 10.00am mass, meets the parish community over some food after Mass and then meets with our Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Finance Committee, Community Stewards and the Legacy Management Group in a joint meeting. IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF US MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE HERE AND MEET THE BISHOP AFTER MASS.
[3] This is also ‘Mothering Sunday’ when we give thanks for the gift of our mothers, praying for those of them who have died; we pray too for those sisters whose hopes for a child has not been fulfilled and those who have lost a child in the womb or in early years. Also our young people will lead most ministries during the Mass.
[4] Because of the Bishop’s visit we are unable to have Stations of the Cross together. Perhaps we can pray the Stations privately this week.
[5] Mass with the LGBTQ+ community and friends at 3.00pm – all very welcome
NEXT SUNDAY [1] The Fifth Sunday of Lent celebrates Jesus the Life-giver – the one who calls each of us by name, out of the tombs of death or ‘partly-living’ into the fullness of life, the life Jesus gives, the divine life! This life reaches its zenith as we too journey through the birth-passage of death into the Resurrection, an eternity living and loving in God, gazing with wonder upon the endless light God is – our fulfilment!
[2] We celebrate the Rite of Child Catechumen with the families preparing for the baptism of their children at Easter. Please pray for them.
[3] Stations of the Cross at approximately 12.30pm – praying for all suffering from poverty and the effects of climate change.
PRAY FOR THIS WEEK’S PARISH MINISTRY OR MISSION We pray today for our Parish School of St Nicholas of Tolentino, led by our Head Teacher Mrs Rachael James. Giving thanks for the excellent and hard work of all the staff in educating and caring for our children and the pastoral care of many of our families, we recognise the school as a special part of the Mission of our parish and the wider Church, offering the special contribution of Catholic Christian education to our inner city community with all its diversity. We value children and families of different faiths and beliefs who seek to educate their children with us. We are delighted to welcome a number of Muslim families who have chosen our school for their children.
DIOCESAN PRAYER We pray for the parish in communion for mission of St Peter, Gloucester, served by Fr Gary Brassington and Fr Stephen Corrigan, Deacons Colm Robinson, Tim Meadows, David Hebbes, Parish Administrator Mrs Therese English and all their community.