Tag Archives: lent

Christ the King Bidding Prayers for the 4th Sunday in Lent, 2019

PRIEST – Confident of the mercy of our God we place before Him the needs of the Church, the world and ourselves.

READER – The response to our petitions is – “Merciful Lord ………… Listen favourably to our prayers”

Let us pray for the Church that she can put behind her the scandals of recent years and be a source of love and mercy to all, leading us closer to God…..pause……. Merciful Lord………..Listen favourably to our prayers.

There is too much conflict, inequality and oppression in our world and so we pray that those leaders and politicians who are in a position of influence will work more effectively to bring about change for the better….pause…Merciful Lord………..

We pray for the leaders of the U.K. and Europe that the current negotiations will involve compromise and result in a solution which is beneficial to all……pause…..Merciful Lord……

Let us pray for the repose of the souls of those who have died including Julia Churchhouse and Anne Cronin, whose funerals are on 9th and 11th April respectively…..pause……Merciful Lord………

In a few moments of silence, let us listen for the voice of the Lord and put before Him our own needs…….longer pause…Merciful Lord….

We ask Mary our Mother to join with us in our prayers, as we say… Hail Mary….

PRIEST – We make all our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour…. Amen

 

Christ the King Bidding Prayers for the 2nd Sunday in Lent, 2019

Priest: The Lord is our light and our help, let us call on him for our needs and the needs of the world.

Reader: Let us pray for the Church: for all the holy people of God, and for those preparing to be received into the Church at Easter.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.  

Reader: Let us pray for our leaders, that in these uncertain times they will choose to work in the interests of the most vulnerable in our society.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Reader: Let us pray for victims of war and terrorism, remembering especially those killed in the attacks in New Zealand this week. We pray that the hearts of men and women are turned away from violence and hatred and towards justice and reconciliation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Reader: We pray for our 3 churches, and especially remember our young people preparing for the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist and for the Catechists who teach them. May they all receive inspiration and guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Reader: We pray for family and friends who have died. May they rest in peace in their homeland in heaven and see Jesus in all his glory. We remember especially Lilian Dyer.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We ask for the intercession of Our Blessed Lady as we say – Hail Mary.…..

Let us pray for a while in silence.

Priest: Heavenly Father, in your goodness, listen to our petitions and answer our prayer of faith. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Christ the King Bidding Prayers for the 1st Sunday of Lent, 2019

As we commence the season of Lent we are encouraged by Pope Francis to learn to love again and thus become beacons of God’s love for the world.

Our response is “Be with us Lord in all our endeavours”

We pray for the worldwide church remembering especially our brothers and sisters in Syria and the Middle East who live in constant danger because they choose to follow Christ

PAUSE

We pray……Lord, be with us in all our endeavours

Tonight many will sleep on the streets of Cardiff and other cities because they are homeless .We pray for them and the agencies and individuals who work to relieve their plight

PAUSE

We pray….Lord be with us in all our endeavours

We remember now all the deceased of our Three Churches and mention especially Evelyn Trueman and Lillian Dyer who died recently. May the Lord greet them joyfully and may their friends be comforted in their time of loss

PAUSE

We pray…..Lord be with us in all our endeavours

We listen with concern to the discussions between Britain and The European Union regarding our withdrawal and pray for a just and equitable solution which will recognise the needs of all including refugees who struggle to make  homes in a strange country                    

PAUSE

We pray,,,,,,Lord be with us all our endeavours

For a few moments let us listen in our hearts to the voice of our Loving Father

LONGER PAUSE

We ask Mary our mother, to take up our concerns and join us in our prayers saying Hail Mary ….etc 

Heavenly Father, listen to our petitions and and grant them through Jesus your Beloved Son who lives in glory with You and the Holy Spirit forever.

AMEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LENT: PAUSE, SEE, RETURN

“Lent is the time for allowing one’s heart to be touched…” Pope Francis said at Mass on Ash Wednesday. “God does not tire, nor will he tire, of holding out his hand.” He encouraged us to pause, see, and return to the Father.

He offered suggestions of how to pause, including refraining from showing off, or from an attitude which gives rise to unproductive thoughts and self-pity. These lead us to forget our call to encounter others and share in their burdens. He urged an end to the desire “to control everything, know everything, destroy everything,” which stems from a lack of gratitude for our life and what we’ve been given. Lent is a good time for the “creative power of silence” in order to “leave behind the unrest and commotion that fill the soul with bitter feelings which never get us anywhere… Pause from this compulsion to a fast-paced life that scatters, divides and ultimately destroys time with family, with friends, with children, with grandparents, and time as a gift… time with God.” Francis warned about “haughty looks” and “fleeting and pejorative comments,” words stemming from a lack of “tenderness, compassion and reverence for the encounter with others, particularly those who are vulnerable, hurt and even immersed in sin and error.”

Francis urged us instead to see – to reflect on those actions which promote faith, hope and charity – to look upon the faces of the vulnerable and in need, like families who, despite hardship, still strive to make their homes “a school of love.” May we see the faces of children and youth, yearning for a future, the faces of the elderly reflecting “God’s wisdom at work,” and the faces of sick people and their carers, whose vulnerability reminds us of the value of every person. “See the remorseful faces of so many who try to repair their errors and mistakes, and who from their misfortune and suffering fight to transform their situations and move forward.” Finally, the Pope encouraged everyone to make time during Lent to “see and contemplate the face of Crucified Love… To see his face is an invitation filled with hope for this Lenten time, in order to defeat the demons of distrust, apathy and resignation.”

Pope Francis invited all to “return without fear to those outstretched, eager arms of your Father, who is rich in mercy, who awaits you. Return without fear, for this is the favorable time to come home.”

Full text can be viewed here.

Shaken and stirred?

“Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.” (Pope Francis)

Lent begins on Wednesday, and Easter this year falls on 1 April. 45 or so days. I wonder, and let’s be honest – will we be any different by Easter Sunday? If the answer, based on pervious Lents, is more or less no, then that’s a challenge to allow ourselves to be shaken this year, and stir from that lethargy which can so easily grip our spirit.

Here are some things we can do…

* Mass On Sunday prepare at home, look at the readings, make sure you greet people, especially strangers… During the week why not attend a weekday Mass?
* Deanery Mass This year St Brigid’s hosts the Cardiff Deanery Mass when people gather from all over the city with the priests and Archbishop. Put in your diary – Wednesday 28 February at 7pm (note earlier time)

There will be Confessions available for the hour before Mass – this will replace our Penitential Service this Lent. * Confession Let the Lord speak to your heart about where you are in life. Celebrate Reconciliation at our regular times, or by appointment or before the Deanery Mass.
* Stations of the Cross Before Mass in each of our 3 Churches: Tuesdays at Christ the King, Friday at St Paul’s, Saturday at St Brigid’s, all at about 9am

* Walk With Me Reflections for each day – available in each church
* “Do You Love Me?” We now have many groups following this project already started or about to
* Holy Week Maundy Thursday this year at Christ the King; Good Friday at St Paul’s and Christ the King; Easter Vigil at St Brigid’s. More details later.

Most of all, have a spiritual spring clean. Take a good look at how you are living, your priorities, your gifts, your relationships – everything. Let’s have the courage to allow the Lord to really stir us this Lent!

Fr Matthew

Help for Lent

READ

…. the Bible! Try going through a Gospel such as Luke or Mark slowly, a bit at a time… A Pilgrimage Companion, a beautiful booklet from our Bishops for the Year of Mercy, 50p.

CELEBRATE

Why not try to attend an extra weekday Mass?… Arrange with friends to attend the Cardiff Deanery Lenten Station Mass at the Cathedral Monday 7th March.. Note the Holy week services – some united this year – Maundy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Christ the King, Good Friday Liturgy at St Paul’s and Christ the King, Easter Vigil at St Brigid’s.

PRAY

Stations of the Cross each Friday at St Paul’s and Saturday at St Brigid’s 9.00am before Mass. Look at the unique Stations in Christ the King for this Lent and Come to the very special talk on the Stations at Christ the King on Thursday 3rd March. Come to Adoration Tuesday at Christ the King 10-1, Wednesday at St Paul’s 10am onwards, St Brigid’s Wednesdays 8-9pm.

REPENT

Confessions Friday 10am St Paul’s, Saturday 10am St Brigid’s and 5.30pm Christ the King. In the week before the Triduum there will be special times throughout the city when visiting priests will be available in all churches, including Christ the King on Monday of Holy Week.

GIVE

Family Fast Day this Friday 19th February. Take your envelope today…

REFLECT

We will use this after Communion this weekend. Use it at home too…

Lord Jesus Christ, we trust your words
that you did not come to search for the good and righteous
but to walk alongside each one of us
as we struggle with temptation and sin.

We ask you to walk with us this Lent.
Be with us as we try to overcome the temptations that come our way.
And teach us topray with new joy;
fast with a willing heart;
and give generously to those in need.
Amen