Churches of Immaculate Heart of Mary and St Columba’s IHM (Great Missenden) 01494 862049 www.ihmmissenden.org.ukParish Secretary Keyna Godward: ihmparishsecretary@gmail.comSt Columba’s (Chesham) 01494 785269 www.stcolumbas.churchParish Secretary: parishsecstcolumba@gmail.com

Immaculate Heart of Mary& Saint Columba’s Newsletter

22nd Mar 2020 4th Sunday of Lent

Gospel Reflection

John 9:1-41

Jesus always wanted to meet people marked by illness and disability, the afflicted like us on this time, to heal and to restore them to full dignity. In this way they become witness of his love. To be witnesses of the Gospel, we must have met Him, Jesus. Those who really know Him , become His witness ... The sick or disabled person, because of their fragility, limits, can become a witness of this encounter: the encounter with Jesus, which opens us to life and faith, and the encounter with others, with the community. Indeed, only those who recognize their fragility, their limit can build fraternal relations and solidarity in the Church and in society. We are called today to create relations even in this present time. We can look at Mary together, because in her the first major encounter between God and man took place. She was the initiator of this culture of encounter.

Fr Alessandro Renò

Immaculate Heart of Mary& Saint Columba’s Newsletter

To my parishioner family,

I hope and pray that you and your families are well in this time. It is with great sadness that we have to suspend the Mass and all celebrations or devotions which include numerous gatherings, but we are still a family and will support each other.

We have set up a Facebook page to enable live Mass streaming only (see links included below) so that we can come together as one family in the presence of Christ. In the short term please use contact the parish secretary via email to contact us with any questions.

Some days ago I was often singing a song in the Church of Reconciliation in Taizé: "I am sure I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Yes I shall see the goodness of our God, hold firm, trust in the Lord".

My prayer is that we put into the hands of our Father our lives, abandoning ourselves in Him! Remember you are not alone!!! God Bless you all.

In fiducia cordis,Fr Alessandro Renò

If you would like to receive the Parish Newsletter by email, please contact in IHM: ihmparishsecretary@gmail.com or in St Columba’s: stcolumbachesham@gmail.com.

All parish events are postponed until further notice.

Chrism Mass Please note that the visit to the Cathedral for the Chrism Mass has also been cancelled.

Web site Do please check the web sites for any new information. (details on last page)• There will be information about the live streaming of Masses• Video clips from Fr Alessandro each Wednesday• This newsletter!

Please pray for Fr Patrick Bailey who celebrated his Diamond Jubilee of Ordination on 20 March 2020

For Sunday Masses Fr Alessandro will continue with Mass intentions as arranged and would be happy to receive Mass intentions and prayer requests. Please email the parish secretary or telephone the presbytery directly.

Immaculate Heart of Mary& Saint Columba’s Newsletter

Keeping in touch As per the letter from the Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales (CBCEW) all public celebrations of Masses have been cancelled. Online version is here: http://www.ihmmissenden.org.uk/download/public-letter-from-vincent-cardinal-nichols/.

Please do contact or telephone any parishioners that you know who do not have email or website access. Being neighbourly and phoning people in our address books will help our parish family keep in touch. The April Vine is available in the Church to take away. The Vine can also be found on-line via https://www.churchpaper.co.uk

Fr Alessandro will privately celebrate Mass this Sunday 10am – St Columba’s and 5pm - IHMThe church will be closed during these times. The Masses will be streamed via Facebook pages: St Columba’s: https://www.facebook.com/St-Columba-RC-Church-106038117700629/IHM: https://www.facebook.com/ihmmissenden.org.uk/You do not need a Facebook account to access the live streaming and the videos will still be available even after the event.

Finance Inevitably the churches will significantly lose some of the Offertory giving. To mitigate this loss please could parishioners who do not currently donate by standing order consider donating online? This can be done via the Diocesan website which can be found at https://northamptondiocese.org/. Scroll down to find the “Donate” button and follow the instructions on the Catholic Diocese of Northampton Virgin money giving page. Please ensure the Parish name and area that the donation is intended for is indicated in the notes section of the donate page.

Prayer of St IgnatiusTake, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding,and my entire will,All I have and call my own.You have given all to me.To you, Lord, I return it.Everything is yours; do with it what you will.Give me only your love and your grace,that is enough for me.

At Your ServiceDeacon David Curtis: 01494 762225, deacondavidcurtis@gmail.comDeacon Peter Collins: 07592 277252, deaconpetercollins@gmail.comPolish Priest Fr Roman Werner SChr: 01494 868248Italian Mass: For details contact Federica Alí: federicaali20@gmail.comItems to include in the newsletter (short texts ready to publish) should be sent by midday Thursday to ihmparishnews@gmail.com or stcolumbachesham@gmail.com.

Fr Alessandro Renò Please contact the respective Parish Secretary at each church

Immaculate Heart of Mary& Saint Columba’s Newsletter

There will be no public masses in any of our churches until further notice

In response to the Coronavirus Pandemic we are following official advice in order to keep each other safe, save lives and support the NHS. This advice will be followed and continue to do so until further notice.

However, our churches will remain open and will be a focal point of prayer.

We ask you to observe with great care the practices of hygiene and the guidance on social distancing.

Please check our websites for up-to-date details and the Facebook pages for the Mass live video screening (the videos on Facebook will be available on these pages even after the event. You do not need a Facebook account to access these pages).

IHM: Website: http://www.ihmmissenden.org.uk/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ihmmissenden.org.uk/

St Columba’s : Website: https://www.stcolumbas.church/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St-Columba-RC-Church-106038117700629/

Please pray for the Souls of those whose anniversaries occur about this time. IHM : Phyllis Holburn, Stella Gibbons, Kathleen and Neville Bazeley, Nicki Claye, Lillian Gaunt, Len Foy, Joe Sortowski, Tony Eames, James McBrideSt Columba: Jolanta Brindzaite (2019) Marie Hicks (2018) Walter Lowe (1962) Eva Sarbinowska (2016) Charles Maile (1994) Levine Puddefoot (1968) Robert Johnston (1996)