How is your Lent going? Here are some ways to help us celebrate the season.
Fr Matthew
Celebrant: As we reach the two year mark of the coronavirus pandemic, the world’s needs have changed and as Christians, we turn to god in times of fear and uncertainty as we do in times of joy and celebration. We turn to you now Father with our fears and needs.
We pray for our Holy Father Pope francis and all leaders of our church. Give them the courage and determination to show compassion and care for all people of the world. Help amd guide those who are making decisions that affect the lives and futures of our families and communities. We pray that they communicate clearly and truthfully with each other and those they serve.
MERCIFUL LORD………..HEAR OUR PRAYER.
Jesus, during Your ministry on earth You showed Your power and caring by healing all people. Be present for those who need Your loving touch because of COVID and may they feel the power of Your healing through the work of medical staff, carers and their families.
MERCIFUL LORD………..HEAR OUR PRAYER.
Take away the fear, anxiety and feelings of isolation from people receiving treatment or quarantining. Give them a sense of purpose in pursuing health and protecting others from exposure to the disease. Protect their families and friends and bring peace to all who love them.
MERCIFUL LORD………..HEAR OUR PRAYER.
3. Pray for all who are experiencing depression, anxiety, loneliness and bereavement because of the pandemic. Guide people in their new realities and help those who are struggling to recognise their need to find help. Prompt worn out parents to speak words of kindness and encouragement to their children and help our children and young people to find ways to talk with loved ones about their fears and anxieties.
MERCIFUL LORD………..HEAR OUR PRAYER.
Lord, watch over and protect the members of our three churches community who have struggled over the last two years through loss, illness, uncertainty and isolation. Let them feel your presence in their lives and renew their courage asnd help those who turn to you for guidance and support. We are grateful for all those who continue to work each day so that others are able to resume their normal lives. Help each one of us to accept the responsibility for the lives of our community.
MERCIFUL LORD………..HEAR OUR PRAYER.
We ask you Lord to look with love and compassion on our brothers and sisters who are living in countries where there is unrest and injustice. We think especially of those who have been forced to leave their country, their homes and their families to seek peace and safety in other countries and we pray that they will find people welcoming and accepting of them wherever they settle.
MERCIFUL LORD………..HEAR OUR PRAYER.
As Mary comforted Jesus, we ask now that she take the prayers of theis broken struggling world to her Son as we say… Hail Mary…..
We pause for a moment to think about the struggles and hardships of the last two years and we pray for those things that affect us directly.
(Pause)
Celebrant: Jesus, we thank you for Your faithfulness in guiding and equipping people during times of such difficulty. As people around the world feel the strain during the ongoing uncertainty, bring them comfort and peace, reminding them that You are there for them. All our prayers we ask through Jesus our Lord. Amen.
It is two years since the burden of the pandemic came upon us all. For some it has meant bereavement or sickness, for others loneliness or depression – for all of us a time of feeling the weight of the Cross.
So, all our Saturday evening and Sunday Masses are celebrated this weekend in commemoration of all that these two years have brought to us in our 3 churches.
Now another Cross has been laid on our sisters and brothers in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. After our “normal” Family Fast collection this weekend, we will take a special collection for them in a fortnight’s time 26 / 27 March as our very special Lenten Alms.
Fr Matthew
PRIEST: As we begin our Lenten journey, we turn in prayer to God, our Father, asking for His help as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection at Easter.
READER. We pray for the Church, that she may be a sign of God’s light and goodness in our world and a beacon of hope for the suffering and vulnerable.
PAUSE Lord, in your mercy rsp. Hear our prayer.
READER. Let us pray for Pope Francis’ Intention namely that Christians facing new bioethical challenges, may continue to defend the dignity of all human life with prayer and action.
PAUSE: Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
READER. Today the Rite of Election takes place in the Cathedral. Let us pray for all those preparing to enter the Church at Easter, that they will continue to grow in Faith in the years ahead and become valued members of the Church community.
PAUSE: Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
READER 4. We continue to pray for the people of Ukraine in their time of great need. May their tremendous courage and love for their country shown in their fight for democracy be rewarded by continuing support from the free world.
PAUSE: Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
READER. Friday is Family Fast Day. Let us pray for the work of CAFOD in many of the poor countries of the world and give generously to the appeal next weekend.
PAUSE: Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
READER. Let us pray for the sick, lonely and bereaved in our 3 churches that they may be given help and strength to persevere in their lives.
PAUSE: Lord.in your mercy Hear our prayer.
READER. We pray for the souls of those who have died recently, Pat McConnell and Ken Camilleri, whose funerals take place this week. Also, for Alan Jones husband of Denise and also for Frank Callus who has died this weekend. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families
PAUSE: Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
We now ask Our Blessed Lady to make these intercessions her own as we say HAIL MARY……
In a few moments of quiet reflection, we bring our personal needs and requests to God, our Loving Father.
LONGER PAUSE
PRIEST: Merciful Father, accept all our prayers and grant what is good for us so that we may come closer to you in this Lenten season. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen
Please remember our brothers and sisters in Ukraine in your prayers.
A 2021 survey found that an impressive 82% of Ukrainians declared themselves to be religious. Ukraine has the world’s second-largest Eastern Orthodox population after Russia.
72.7% of the population declared themselves to be Orthodox and 9.7% Catholic. Of those Catholics 8.8% were Greek Rite Catholics following the Byzantine Rite, and 0.9% Latin Rite Catholics (like us).
On the world level, there are approximately 4.5 million Ukrainian Greek Catholics, including the 3.85 million in Ukraine. In the UK the community is served by the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy (diocese) of the Holy Family of London. The faithful in the Eparchy here number some 13,500 people.
Out of the Orthodox population in Ukraine roughly 58.3% of the population were members of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (which was declared separate from Moscow in recent years), and 25.4% were members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Fr Matthew
Download our 3 churches newsletter for the First Sunday of Lent (year C), issue 9/22.