lowestoft catholic parish -our lady star of the sea & … · they bade men rise and hasten to...

LOWESTOFT CATHOLIC PARISH -OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA & ST NICHOLAS

Presbytery: 19 Gordon Road, Lowestoft, NR32 1NL Tel: 01502 572453

Parish Priest, Rev. Paul Chanh, 07414 735102 (text message only)

email: [email protected]

www.ourladylowestoft.com http://www.catholiceastanglia.org

Deacon: Rev. Stephen Pomeroy

Sat 27 June 08.00 am

09.00 am

10.00 am to

11.00 am

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

OLSS Mass (Live streaming)

OLSS Open for personal private prayer

Joseph Butter dec’d

Sun 28 June

13th Sunday

Feast of

St Peter & Paul

09:00 am

10:30 am



People of the Parish

Mon 29 June

08.00 am

09.00 am

10.00 am

To 11.00 am




Priest’s Intention

Tues 30 June

08.00 am

09.00 am

10.00 am

To 11.00 am




Anthony Ward dec’d

Wed 1 July

08.00 am

09.00 am

10.00 am

To 11.00 am





Thu 2 July

08:00 am

09:00 am

10.00 am

To 11.00 am



St Nicholas Open for personal private prayer


Fri 3 July

08.00 am

09.00 am




Sat 4 July 08.00 am

09.00 am

10.00 am

To 11.00 am





mailto:[email protected]

http://www.ourladylowestoft.com/

http://www.catholiceastanglia.org/

MASS WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING

Now we are cleared by Government to open the church for Mass we are planning to start with the 5 pm Mass on

Saturday 11th July. There is much to sort out before then. It will be very different to what we have been used to and

we will need many of you to pitch in and help in a variety of ways.

Government have not yet updated their guidance from the partial opening for private prayer but we do have guidance

from the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales and will work with that for now. I’ve attached the full copy from

which you can see how much we have to sort out.

An important first decision will be working with 1 metre + distancing and everyone wearing face coverings or 2 metres

if without.

We have surveyed the church to see how we could seat people with the required distancing.

It is a difficult calculation because the maximum number will vary depending how many people are in family groups

who could to sit together without distancing. Subject to those possible variations, our layouts at Our Lady’s would

allow only 72 people at 2 metres and 82 at 1 metre. Those numbers might be enough to cater for the Saturday

attendance but our ‘normal’ Sunday attendance would be about 120. St Nicholas should be able to cope with the usual

numbers.

If the church becomes full, we would have to turn later arrivals away. We don’t want to have to do this.

Father Paul is willing to have a second Mass on Sunday morning at Our Lady’s, but how do we then manage who comes

to each Mass? We don’t have the means or resources for box office style booking.

We could:

1. Say parishioners with surnames starting with the letters from A to J come at 10:30 am those with surnames

starting from K to Z come to the later Mass, say 11:45.

Or

2. Parishioners tell us which Mass they will come to and how many will be in their group. If that means one of

the Masses is full, we ask some of them to come to the later Mass instead or we use the alphabet method in

1 above.

With both of these we may not avoid people turning up for Mass and not being able to come in to the church because

the numbers limit has been reached. The same could happen to Saturday at Our Lady’s and Sunday at St Nicholas.

Would you please respond to this by email as soon as possible to say:

1. which Mass you would come to and how many of you there are in your household if

others are coming with you and

2. How you feel about having to wear a face covering, should we decide on that

3. Are you willing to help if asked.

Send your email as a reply to this circulation of the bulletin or separately to

[email protected]

OUR CHURCHES OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER

For the time being, both churches will continue to be open for private personal prayer Mon, Tue, Wed & Sat at OLSS

and Thu at SN between 10 and 11 am. Thanks go to the parishioners who stewarded and cleaned afterwards. If you

could volunteer to go on the rota please email your contact details. We will open on the same days and times this

coming week

We follow social distancing and other safety rules. Please note that we are not allowed to have the toilets open. As

you enter one of the stewards will sanitise your hands and the same when you leave. When in the Church you will see

that alternate pews are closed. Please choose an unoccupied pew or be at least 2 meters from anyone in the pew.

Please pray silently. There will not be any conducted group prayer. There are similar arrangements at St Nicholas

where you enter via the main Church doors and leave through the Vestry. This is a 1 Way system.

MASSES & SERVICES

We continue to stream online via www.ourladylowestoft.com

If you join the Parish Facebook Group you can watch ‘live’. If you are not using Facebook a recording of the Mass is

posted on the website soon after it has finished, which you can run without using Facebook.

HYMN WORDS FOR SUNDAY

ENTRANCE HYMN

By all your saints still striving, for all your saints at rest,

your holy Name, O Jesus, for evermore be blessed.

You rose, our King victorious, that they might wear the crown,

and ever shine in splendour reflected from your throne.

We praise you for St Peter, we praise you for St Paul,

they taught both Jew and Gentile that Christ is all in all.

To cross and sword they yielded and saw thy kingdom come,

O God, your two Apostles won life through martyrdom.

Then let us praise the Father and worship God, the Son,

and sing to God the Spirit, eternal Three in One.

Till all the ransomed number who stand before the throne,

ascribe all power and glory and praise to God alone.

GLORIA (Creation Mass)

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of goodwill.

RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: From all my terrors, the Lord has set me free.

COMMUNION HYMN

Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast; Body of Christ be thou my saving guest.

Blood of my Saviour, bathe me in thy tide; wash me with water flowing from thy side.

Strength and protection may thy Passion be; O Blessed Jesus, hear and answer me.

Deep in thy wounds, Lord, hide and shelter me; so I shall I never, never part from thee.

Guard and defend me from the foe malign; in death’s dread moments make me only thine.

Call me and bid me, come to thee on high, when I may praise thee with thy saints for aye.

http://www.ourladylowestoft.com/

FINAL HYMN

Thy hand O God has guided, thy flock from age to age;

the wondrous tale is written, full clear on every page.

Our fathers owned thy goodness and we their deeds record;

and both of this bear witness: one Church, one Faith, one Lord.

Thy heralds brought glad tidings to greatest as to least;

they bade men rise and hasten to share the great king’s feast.

And this was all their teaching in every deed and word;

to all alike proclaiming, one Church, one Faith, one Lord.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY

The papers are attached.

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHOSE ANNIVERSARIES OCCUR ABOUT THIS TIME:

David Miller, Joseph Smith, Francis Nuttgens, Dolores Gooch, Daisy Everett, Doris Everett, Hannah Lonergan, Pauline

Leggett, Mary Fella (Capaldi), Margaret Davison, Dennis Marfleet, Kathleen McLoughlin, Patrick Smith, Stephen Kerr,

Thomas Stickland, Thomas Higham.

CAFOD PETITION

As we cope with Coronavirus in the UK, we think of our sisters and brothers in developing countries who are facing

this pandemic with fragile health systems, some of which have almost no intensive care beds or ventilators.

Food prices have already risen with borders closing, the poorest are losing their jobs and income with wholesale

shutdowns. Furthermore, inadequate healthcare, lack of access to washing facilities and limited ability to social

distance will result in loss of life on an intolerable scale. The likely impact will be devastating.

We are one global family. Please will you sign the CAFOD petition to ask the government to work with other world

leaders to help the most vulnerable people in our world cope with this crisis?

To sign the petition visit cafod.org.uk/coronaviruscampaign.

OFFERTORY - NEW MESSAGE

When return to Mass in church in a few weeks’ time we won’t be able to pass round the collecting bags so there will

boxes at the back of church. These have to be kept for 72 hours before they can be counted and counters will have to

use gloves. It really would help if you could pay via your bank

Parish bank details: Barclays sort code 20-53-06 Ac No.10719587 Our Lady Star of the Sea Registered Charity No 278742

Parish Account and remember to reference your name so we can count it for Gift Aid. Some banks also ask for the type

of account and ours is a Business Current Account. Please include your name as a reference if you are Gift Aiding.

COMMENTRY SIDE OF BULLETIN & SUNDAY PLUS

What you would have seen on the commentary side of the bulletin is attached as is this week’s Sunday Plus.

.

http://cafod.org.uk/coronaviruscampaign

Guidance for the Celebration of Mass

1

Guidance for the Celebration of Mass Introduction The Government has announced that from 4th July 2020, communal acts of worship will be allowed in our Catholic Churches. This guidance, issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales for the Celebration of Mass, assumes that the general guidance published by the Conference, based on Government Guidance on the safe opening of Places of Worship for individual prayer, is in place.1 In particular, the maximum safe operating capacity of the church, based on social distancing guidelines, should be clearly signposted at the door and the number and position within the church of people attending at any one time should be overseen by volunteer stewards. Social Distancing - IMPORTANT The Government maintains that the 2m social distancing requirements should be applied where possible. The Government has said is possible to go to “1m plus;” this means you can space people more closely (with a minimum of 1m) providing a mitigation of risk is also applied. In the case of our churches, this would mean the compulsory wearing of a face covering for members of the congregation.2 If those on the sanctuary are sufficiently distant from the congregation, there is no need to wear face coverings. Priests should remain mindful of their own personal situation with respect to potential exposure to virus transmission. It is permissible for those in the 70+ age group, and those who are vulnerable to infection, to celebrate Mass, but it is strongly advised that they do not distribute Holy Communion and take particular care to be constantly socially distant from the congregation. They should return to the sacristy directly after Mass is ended. Celebration of Mass within Church Buildings Before the Mass Only those necessary should be in the sacristy before Mass. The celebrant, sacristan, or server should prepare everything for the celebration of Mass with care. Single-use gloves should be worn at this stage. Particular care should be taken over the preparation of the elements for Holy Communion. The altar breads for distribution to the people should be placed into a clean covered ciborium (a pall can be placed over a dish paten). Sufficient altar breads for each celebration should be placed within at this stage. A separate ciborium/paten should be prepared for each person who will distribute Holy Communion. The cover of the ciborium or dish paten should not be removed until the time for distribution of Holy Communion. The priest should prepare his own chalice and paten with a large altar bread for consecration. The chalice should have a purificator and a pall. The purificator should be used only once and then laundered. He should prepare the cruets of wine and water and his own bowl for the lavabo. Again, the towel should be used only once and then laundered.

1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic 2 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-easing-of-lockdown-restrictions-23-june-2020


2

All hymnbooks and missals and other published material normally used by the congregation and not meant for single use should be removed from the church. The Holy Water stoups should be dry. Until further instruction is given on singing, there should be no congregational singing at Mass. During the Mass Any worship aids (missalettes etc.) should be for single use and taken with the user when the Mass ends. They should not be left in the church at the end of Mass. The priest, and if present, deacon and server, should remain socially distant at all times on the sanctuary during the celebration of Mass. This is particularly important at the Gospel (for the deacon’s blessing), the Preparation of the Gifts, and during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Readers should be supplied with single-use gloves and should avoid touching the microphones or the Lectionary during the Liturgy of the Word, apart from page turning. The homily should be brief, to minimise the time that people are congregated in the church building. The Prayer of the Faithful should be omitted. There should be no offertory procession of the gifts of bread and wine to the altar; the priest should have these on the credence table or the altar before Mass begins. There should be no sharing of the collection plate or bag. People should be encouraged to make their donation to the church online or via standing order. Plates or other collecting boxes for cash offerings should be placed at the entrances and exits of churches, and this should be overseen by stewards. The collection should be consolidated into plastic bags, sealed, placed into a secure location and left for 72 hours before counting. Counters should wear gloves when doing this task and the area should be well ventilated and cleaned before and afterwards. The Communion Rite Members of the congregation should not exchange the sign of peace. After the prayer and its response “Behold the Lamb of God…Lord I am not worthy,” the priest should hold up the Host to the Congregation and say audibly “The Body of Christ” to which the people should respond “Amen.” In the same way, he elevates the chalice and says, “The Blood of Christ” and again the people respond “Amen.” The priest should receive Holy Communion under both kinds using his own Host and Chalice. The priest will need to explain this to the congregation at this point. There are two options for the distribution of Holy Communion. In both cases, because the people have already acclaimed the presence of the Lord, at the Priest’s Communion, the People’s Communion is distributed in silence with no dialogue between minister and communicant.

• Option 1 Once the priest has received Holy Communion, he should cleanse his hands with alcohol sanitiser before opening the pre-prepared ciborium for the Communion of the people. If there is a deacon assisting, or any other Minister of Holy Communion, they should similarly cleanse their hands and then receive communion from the priest from the people’s ciborium, and under one kind only. They should then cleanse their hands again before receiving their ciborium from which they remove the covering or pall if it is still in place. At the place where communion is to be distributed, a physical barrier should be placed, for example a prie-dieu (kneeler on the priest’s side) or small table to socially distance the priest


3

distributing Holy Communion from communicants. Communion must be given silently in the hand only, with the communicant standing, and avoiding any physical contact. People should wait in their pews until instructed to move forward to the priest for Holy Communion by the Stewards, always aware of the regulations on social distancing in the orderly queue. When they approach the priest, they should do so with arms at “full stretch” so that there is a good distance between the priest and the communicant. Their hands, palms upwards, one of top of the other, should be extended as flatly as possible. Having received Holy Communion, communicants should move back to their pews in an orderly manner.

Once Communion is complete, the priest returns to the altar and places the unused Hosts, without touching them, into the Tabernacle and he cleanses the sacred vessels himself in the usual way.

• Option 2 The priest receives Holy Communion as described and immediately cleanses his paten and chalice. He then holds a reverent silence before the Prayer after Communion, giving the Blessing and dismissal. At this point, the other Ministers of Holy Communion who will assist the priest come forward, cleanse their hands and receive Holy Communion under one kind. They then move to the points for distribution and communicants are stewarded forward in an orderly manner to receive Holy Communion as above, and then immediately leave the Church. The remaining Blessed Sacrament is placed into the Tabernacle and the vessels cleansed in the usual way.

After the Celebration of Mass The procession from the sanctuary at the end of the Mass should ensure good social distancing. The sanctuary party should return to the sacristy after Mass. If the clergy wish to greet the people, they should remove their vestments first and not engage in any physical contact with parishioners, who should be encouraged to return home and not remain. The celebrant should place the used altar linens into a receptacle for laundry. All sacred vessels should be washed in hot water with a little neutral soap and dried completely before storing. Any discarded printed materials should be removed and bagged for disposal. The church should be closed after the Mass has finished in order to clean the space according to the Bishops’ Conference guidelines on individual prayer. If there is cause for concern regarding the possible contamination of clerical vestments worn during the celebration of Mass, these should be washed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, using the warmest water setting allowed for the fabric and allowing time for them to dry completely. Celebrations of Mass Outdoors If there is space for the celebration of Mass outdoors around the Church, which allows for the social distancing guidelines of Government to be fulfilled, and that all of the above liturgical advice can be done safely, then there is no reason why Mass cannot be celebrated outside of a church. Rev. Canon Christopher Thomas 25th June 2020 Revision 6

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19 : The Feast of St Peter and St Paul Jesus went to the territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” “Some say John the Baptist,” they answered. “Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other prophet.” “What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” “Good for you, Simon son of John!” answered Jesus. “For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven. And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” (Gospel passage taken from Good News Translation® and used with permission, see details below*)

Gospel reflection: What do you remember from today’s reading? Today we hear how Jesus was so impressed with Simon that he gave him a new name. Can you remember what that new name was? …. Yes Peter (Peter means rock) Jesus said that he would build his church upon Simon Peter. (He would be the leader) Jesus also gave him the keys to the kingdom of Heaven. Why did Jesus give Simon Peter a new name and the keys to the kingdom? Simon Peter recognised and believed that Jesus was the Son of God. He had great faith and was willing to put that faith into words but also into actions. Because of Peter’s great faith, Jesus gave him the keys to the kingdom of Heaven. What are keys usually used for? Keys lock doors, but they also open them. As a disciple, Peter spent his time sharing Jesus’ message with other people. He opened their hearts to God’s love, just like a key opens a door. We can show our faith in our prayers and in our actions. We can try to follow Jesus’ commandments to love God and to love our neighbour. We can be kind and generous to others and we can try to make the world a fairer place where all people get what they need. Can you think of some key words that show us what Jesus asks us to do? (eg. love, believe, forgive, give, share, hope etc)

Prayers: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit .Amen We open our hearts to God as we pray together: We pray for the Church throughout the world: that it may be a place of welcome and safety for all people. Lord, in your mercy…Hear our prayer We pray for all our brothers and sisters around the world, especially those who are poor: that they may be able to change their lives for the better. Lord, in your mercy… Hear our prayer We pray for our parish, family and friends: that we may open our hearts to Jesus and love our neighbour, wherever in the world they are. Lord, in your mercy… Hear our prayer Closing prayer: Living God, help us to live with love, faith, generosity, fairness and hope, so that our hearts may be open to you and to all people in need. We ask this through Christ, our Lord, Amen. Activity suggestions 1) Colour in the picture of the large key and write the “Key Words “on the labels. 2) Read about St Peter and St Paul and enjoy the worksheets. 3) Both Simon and Saul had their names changed to Peter and Paul At Baptism you are blessed with your name chosen by your parents. At Confirmation you can chose another name of a Saint, a person who lived their life obeying the Word of God. What Saint’s name will you choose? Find out what they did to be called a Saint

Saint Peter and Saint Paul Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

Find more children’s prayers at cafod.org.uk/kidzzone

Illu

stra

tion

: Eri

ka P

ál. C

har

ity

no

1160

384

an

d a

com

pan

y lim

ited

by

gu

aran

tee

no

093

8739

8

Catholic Agency forOverseas Development

Reg

iste

red

Cha

rity

No.

285

776

Ill

ustr

atio

n: E

rika

Pál

St Peter and St PaulGospel: Matthew 11:25-30

Find out more about children around the world at cafod.org.uk/picturemyworld

The Life of Peter

• Peter came from the village of Bethsaida in Galilee and his father was a fisherman

• Peter worked the fishing nets with his father and his brother Andrew at the lakeside

town of Capernaum. Andrew also joined the group of Jesus’ disciples on the same day.

• Peter and Andrew were among the first to be chosen by Jesus to be his close followers

• From the moment Jesus met Peter he knew that Peter would be the rock of the Church

• Peter is traditionally considered to be the head of Jesus’ 12 Apostles

• Peter’s original name was Simon, Peter being a name given to him by Jesus

• Jesus gave Peter the added name of Cephas, an Aramaic appellation meaning “rock.”

This was translated into Greek as Petros (from the Greek petra, “rock”) and became the

Latin Petrus and the English Peter

• Peter was the first bishop of Rome

• Peter was the first of the Apostles to see Jesus after his resurrection from the dead

• We are told of various missionary trips which Peter undertook in order to preach about

Jesus

• When faced with his fate, Peter asked to be crucified upside down. It is said he did not

feel worthy to be martyred in the same manner as Christ

• St. Peter is the patron saint of Popes, Rome, fishermen, and locksmiths

https://www.stpeters-bromsgrove.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/St.Peters-pic.png

https://www.stpeters-bromsgrove.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/St.Peters-pic.png

Saul was born in Tarsus (now part of Turkey). His dad being a tentmaker

.When Saul went to school he learned he learned several languages including

Greek and Latin.

When he grew up and was in Jerusalem he did not like the followers of Jesus

and actively persecuted them, having them arrested and thrown into prison.

On his way from Jerusalem to Damascus Saul was blinded by the light. A loud

voice said "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" He was taken in and

cared for by Ananias, a disciple of Jesus . After 3 days, when Saul had his sight

back, he was baptized immediately, even before he ate! He changed his name

to Paul. After 3 years, Paul returned to Damascus. There were some Jewish

leaders that were now angry at Paul and planned to kill him. The followers of

Jesus heard about their plans and Paul escaped in a basket down a wall. He left

the city on foot. He travelled a lot and spread the Good News.

Paul met with Barnabus and they went together to strengthen a new church at

Antioch. This is where the people noticed that there were differences in the

people following Christ, and so they called them Christians. (Acts 11:26)

They stayed in Antioch for a year. Paul and Barnabus travelled together

teaching people about Jesus. They healed sick people. They worked with

Timothy and met Lydia in Philippi. She made purple cloth.

When Paul and Silas were put in prison, they were singing and praying. At

midnight, God made an earthquake shake the jail and their chains fell off! The

guard took them home and his whole family were baptized!

In Corinth, Paul made tents with Aquila and Priscilla. Paul wrote his first letter

there to encourage the Churches in different places. It was 1

Thessalonians. Paul also wrote 2 Thessalonians and 1 & 2 Corinthians while he

was there. While Paul was in Ephesus, there was a silversmith called

Demetrius that used silver to make idols of Diana. Paul said “What does God

say about that? Thou shalt not! “Demetrius was really angry because he made

a lot of money selling them, and there was a riot in the city.

When Paul was in Caesarea, a prophet named Agabus took Paul's belt and told

him that if he went to Jerusalem, he would be taken prisoner.. Paul did go to

Jerusalem, and the people got so angry with Paul, that the soldiers took him as

https://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Acts%2011.26

a prisoner for his own safety to the barracks. Paul told them that he was a

Roman citizen, so they knew they had to be careful. He was in prison for 2

years until Festus took over. Festus heard Paul's case and then asked King

Agrippa to hear Paul's story. King Agrippa said to Paul: "Almost you have

persuaded me to be a Christian." Paul said "I appeal to Caesar."

So Paul was put on a ship to Rome. The seas were really rough because it is

autumn. After 14 days of not seeing the sun during the day, or the stars at

night, they saw land. Paul broke bread, said a prayer, and they ate to have

the strength to swim to shore. The ship hit a sandbar and the ship cracked in

half. The soldiers unchained the prisoners and everyone swam to shore. The

ones that couldn't swim floated with a piece of the ship. They arrived on the

island of Melita, now called Malta. The islanders built a bonfire to warm them

and showed the great kindness.

When Paul finally got to Rome, he had his own place, but had guards.

Paul didn't get to plead his case to Caesar for 2 years, and while he waited, he

wrote letters and told people about Jesus. He was found guilty and was put to

death with the sword.

His Voyages bringing the Good News are found in the Acts of the Apostles.

Draw where St Paul went telling people the Good News

St Peter Word search

SBSBSBTHIN

KIN

G FA

ITH

SUNDAY BULLET INSB

ww

w.rp

book

s.co

.uk

rp

@rp

book

s.co

.uk

@

rede

mpt

oris

t

The Sunday Bulletin. Written by David McLoughlin. Edited by Peter Edwards © Redemptorist Publications. A Registered Charity limited by guarantee. Registered in England 03261721. Mass Text: excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. Psalms from the Grail Psalter reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd © 1963. All rights reserved. Concordat cum originali Ann Blackett. Imprimatur + Peter Doyle, Bishop of Northampton 13 July 2018. Permission granted for distribution in the dioceses of Scotland.

redemp oristp u b l i c a t i o n s

FSClogo

Mass text

ENTRANCE ANTIPHONThese are the ones who, living in the flesh,planted the Church with their blood;they drank the chalice of the Lordand became the friends of God.

FIRST READING Acts 12:1-11

PSALM Psalm 33

RESPONSE From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

Or The angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him.

1. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad. R.

2. Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name. I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free. R.

3. Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called; the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress. R.

4. The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him. R.

SECOND READING 2 Timothy 4:6-8. 17-18

GOSPEL ACCLAMATIONAlleluia, alleluia! You are Peter and on this rock I will build my

Church. And the gates of the underworld can never

hold out against it. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matthew 16:13-19

COMMUNION ANTIPHONPeter said to Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son

of the living God.And Jesus replied: You are Peter,and upon this rock I will build my Church.

Next Sunday’s Readings:Zechariah 9:9-10

Romans 8:9. 11-13Matthew 11:25-30

David McLoughlin is a teaching theologian who has spent near ly for ty years helping to train Christian teachers, ministers and activists. In this week’s Sunday Bulletin, he ref lects on today’s feast day.

28 JUNE 2020

SS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLESYEAR A

DIVINE OFFICE WEEK I

Catching

the kingdom WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?Peter and Paul are celebrated today as the two co-founders of the Church. They are this not because they were great intellectuals, although Paul was certainly a scholar, nor because they were great planners or managers, although Peter did have his own fishing business. They are celebrated by the Church across the centuries because in encountering Jesus Christ they were changed. They came to see the world, and others, and God differently; and those encountering them were touched and changed by their transformed lives.

When Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” he was taking a risk. And the answer Peter gave, and which Jesus accepts, was full of danger – depending on how you interpreted it. For some the expected Messiah was a warrior king who would throw out the Roman forces and restore the kingdom of Solomon and its prestige in a renewed Jerusalem. For others the Messiah would be a holy reformer of Temple and cult who would re-establish orthodox practice and holiness and appoint a true high priest to the Temple.

For others the Messiah would be a great teacher and prophet ushering in a new age of pure practice and justice. There were so many models available and all of them, in Jesus’ eyes, were a distraction from the coming kingdom, which is why he tends to avoid the title or else to give it his own spin. The Messiah will come but he will ride a donkey, not a war horse, and he will rule from a brutal cross, among those who are poor and destitute, not from a great palace, nor from an imposing throne; something initially Peter could not accept.

Peter is a rather chaotic role model, an enthusiast who could rarely sustain his initial commitment and who under pressure cracked and rejected Jesus. And Paul, the fundamentalist Pharisee and early persecutor of the Christian community, was certainly a hard act for the early Church to cope with.

CONVERTEDPeter and Paul were both sinners, both flawed but both eventually allowed Jesus to get so close that they were converted in mind and heart. Peter acknowledged his denial and experienced anew the mercy and reconciliation that were the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry. And he became its model in his own ministry where, throughout his life in every community he visited, he would be known as both the chosen, the Jesus denier and the forgiven and reconciled one.

Paul would hear the voice, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And, with the help of a probably terrified Ananias, he begin to realise that Jesus the risen Christ was now embodied in this motley community he was persecuting. So much so that in hurting them he was hurting the Messiah. And he goes and lives in silence for a few years until he sees that he and every other baptised person is now Christ in the world, each one of us refracting the divine-human mystery in a unique and particular way. From this encounter will come his teaching on the mystical body of Christ and his trust that God is always in the midst of us, the body.

When Jesus asks each of us today, “But who do you say that I am?”, what will we come up with? Will we know him as the one who would reveal God’s mercy to us and every other person? Will we, like Peter and Paul, so know ourselves as forgiven as to know every other person as also forgiven? Or will we just come up with some title we have learned long ago, Saviour, Redeemer, so carefully defined but touching neither us nor others?

www.facebook.com/sundayplusredemp oristp u b l i c a t i o n s

Sunday Plus. Edited by Denis McBride C.Ss.R. and Sr Janet Fearns FMDM. Copyright © Redemptorist Publications, Chawton, Hampshire GU34 3HQ, A registered charity limited by guarantee. Registered in England 03261721. www.rpbooks.co.uk. Printed on FSC approved paper.

SUNDAY PLUS28 June 2020

A little bit lost by Rachel Thompson

We’ve known for decades that global warming threatens our existence, but it was a lone teenager who mobilised people around the world to take action. Greta Thunberg spoke more clearly than the scientific research. People, more than ideas, are what make a difference.

It was the person of Jesus who changed the disciples. Jesus himself isn’t really interested in the ideas people have about him: he wants to know if the disciples really know him; “Who do you say I am?” Much as I love thinking about and discussing theological ideas, they aren’t what matters. Ideas about Jesus are not the same as knowing Jesus.

Today I am challenged to make time to welcome Jesus and to

allow him to meet me in the heart of who I am. Recognising Jesus will, I believe, be what enables us to also recognise how we might take action to make a difference in the world.

Whilst working as Redemptorist Publications’ Children’s Editor, Rachel Thompson is also a secondary school teacher, wife and mum.

Lord, to be honest, I really don’t welcome every person and every opportunity you offer me. I’m pretty good at finding excuses to avoid some of them. Yet you welcome everyone, regardless of their identity and circumstances. Help me to be more welcoming. Help me to be like you. Amen.

“If we look at our neighbours without mercy, we cannot understand their suffering and difficulties. And if we look at our neighbours without mercy, we also run the risk of God looking at us without mercy. Today, I see only a great desire for friendship and help.”

Pope Francis

he a distant historical figure who said some nice things but has little relevance to your life and the world of today? Is he a philosophical dreamer who asks you to “turn the other cheek” or “give all you have to the poor” – high-minded ideas that are impossible to put into

“Who do you say I am?”

Welcome!

Today:Acts 12:1-112 Timothy 4:6-8. 17-18Matthew 16:13-19

Tuesday:Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12Matthew 8:23-27

Wednesday:Amos 5:14-15. 21-24Matthew 8:28-34

Friday:Ephesians 2:19-22John 20:24-29

Saturday:Amos 9:11-15Matthew 9:14-17

Next Sunday:Zechariah 9:9-10Romans 8:9. 11-13Matthew 11:25-30

Thursday:Amos 7:10-17Matthew 9:1-8

Monday:Amos 2:6-10. 13-16Matthew 8:18-22

Ss Peter and Paul, Apostles • Divine Office Week I • Year A

Our Lady of Perpetual Helpby Anne M Walsh

Yesterday we celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, today often also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

In 1866, Pope Pius IX entrusted the Redemptorists with the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and gave them a mission to “make her known.”

All over the world, people come before this wondrous icon, in joy and sorrow, in hope and fear, in sickness and in need. We come to see Mary and her Son – and also to be seen by them.

Mary does indeed see us, encountering us in the realities of our lives but loving us too much to leave us where we are. With a mother’s love, she calls us to more.

She challenges us to gaze on our broken world with her eyes of love and compassion and to reach out to those who most need her perpetual help today.

Anne M Walsh is the Director of Partnership in Mission of the Redemptorist Conference of North America.

practice? Is he just another good man, a holy man, to be studied and admired perhaps? Is he someone of whom to be slightly fearful – someone who will one day judge us, and perhaps find us wanting? Or someone you consider on a Sunday, but to whom you rarely give a thought for the rest of the week? At some point all of us have to honestly answer this question. For Peter, Jesus was the Son of Man, God in human form, the Word made flesh. It was this acceptance that led Peter to become a disciple

A Year of the Word

of Jesus, to forge a friendship with him that would enable him to live a life of real meaning – “to live life to the full”. The question that Jesus posed was an invitation to enter into a life of love – loving God and all those he created. This is what is on offer to us today from the living God, who asks us to ponder anew that same question – “Who do you say I am?”

Paul Higginson is the Assistant Principal at the Catholic Sixth Form College in Harrow and has been a parish catechist for thirty years.

by Paul Higginson

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” It’s a question that Jesus

also puts to each of us. How will we answer? Who is Jesus for you? Is

Concordat cum originali: +Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin. Additional material, cum permissu: +Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin. Commentary by Fr Anthony Cassidy CSsR. The English translation of the Entrance and Communion Antiphons, Collect, Prayer over the Offerings, Gloria, Profession of Faith and Prayer after Communion are taken from The Roman Missal, © 2010 International Commission of English in the Liturgy Corporation. Jerusalem Bible version of the scriptures © Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd., and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Responsorial Psalms are copyright The Grail and/or Geoffrey Chapman Ltd. Published in Ireland by Redemptorist Communications (www.redcoms.org); Published in the UK by Redemptorist Publications (www.rpbooks.co.uk).

ENTRANCE ANTIPHONThese are the ones who, living in the flesh,planted the Church with their blood;they drank the chalice of the Lordand became the friends of God.

GLORIAGlory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you,we bless you,we adore you,we glorify you,we give you thanks for your great glory,Lord God, heavenly King,O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,you alone are the Lord,you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,with the Holy Spirit,in the glory of God the Father.Amen.

COLLECTO God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paulgive us the noble and holy joy of this day,grant, we pray, that your Churchmay in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she receivedthe beginnings of right religion.Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever.Amen.

FIRST READING Acts 12:1-11

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church. He beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased the Jews, he decided to arrest Peter as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Herod meant to try Peter in public after the end of Passover week. All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly. On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison. Then suddenly the angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. “Get up!” he said “Hurry!” – and the chains fell from his hands. The angel then said, “Put on your belt and sandals.” After he had done this, the angel next said, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed through two guard posts one after the other, and reached the iron gate leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel left him. It was only then that Peter came to himself. “Now I know it is all true,” he said. “The Lord really did

send his angel and has saved me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen to me. “

The word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

PSALM Psalm 33

Response:From all my terrors the Lord set me free.orThe angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him.

1. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad. (R.)

2. Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name. I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free. (R.)

3. Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called; the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress. (R.)

4. The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him. (R.)

SECOND READING 2 Timothy 4:6-8. 17-18

A reading from the second letter of St Paul to Timothy.

My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but all those who have longed for his Appearing. The Lord stood by me and gave power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and, so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATIONAlleluia, alleluia!You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matthew 16: 13-19

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But you,” he said, “who do you say I am?” Then Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Christ,” he said, “the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was

not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.

The Gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

PROFESSION OF FAITHI believe in one God,the Father almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,the Only Begotten Son of God,born of the Father before all ages.God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;through him all things were made.For us men and for our salvationhe came down from heaven,

(all bow during the next three lines)

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third dayin accordance with the Scriptures.He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in gloryto judge the living and the deadand his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son,who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sinsand I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGSMay the prayer of the Apostles, O Lord,accompany the sacrificial giftthat we present to your name for consecration,and may their intercession make us devoted to youin celebration of the sacrifice.Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

COMMUNION ANTIPHONPeter said to Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.And Jesus replied: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNIONGrant us, O Lord,who have been renewed by this Sacrament,so to live in the Church,that, persevering in the breaking of the Breadand in the teaching of the Apostles,we may be one heart and one soul,and made steadfast in your love.Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

28 June 2020 Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES 28 JUNE 2020

THE WORD Year A • Psalter Week 1

Year A • Psalter Week 1

Jesus has been going around curing sick people and performing miracles, with the result that he has become quite a celebrity. But he has also become a target, and those in authority are out to get him. They are trying to turn public opinion against him, and things are hotting up.

Jesus asks his disciples to be honest with him. He wants to know what people are saying about him. His friends are nervous and embarrassed. They fudge the issue and tell him only the good things.

Well, they begin, some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah, while others think you’re Jeremiah or one of the other great prophets.

But Jesus doesn’t want flattery. He stops them in their tracks: “What about you?” he says, “Who do you say that I am?”

While the others stop to think about what they’re going to say, Peter, impetuous as always, rushes forth with the winning answer. For him, Jesus is no mere prophet or returned figure from the past. He is the Messiah, God’s own Son, the one whose coming the scriptures had foretold.

For the first time, it seems the disciples are beginning to recognise who Jesus really is. Then events take an unexpected turn, which no doubt leaves Peter dumbstruck and confused.

Jesus blesses Peter for his answer, and gives him authority in the community. Peter will be the unshakeable rock upon which Christ will build his Church, and will hold the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Peter, and later Paul, knew that Jesus was their Lord and Saviour. They spent their lives after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus preaching that Good News, building up the early Church. Both shared a martyr’s death. Both were instrumental in laying the foundations for the Church we have today.

That is why we honour them with today’s feast. Like Peter and Paul, we know who Jesus is and we too are called to make him known as best we can. n

Because we are human, we make mistakes, we screw up, we disappoint ourselves and others.

Whether it’s on the sports field, or in the workplace, or in a relationship, we can let others down. We don’t always show our potential.

And so we know how important it is to be given a second chance, another opportunity, to be able to start all over again. To be offered the possibility of redemption.

Peter and Paul both knew and experienced that. Both were weak characters, who made big mistakes. Peter denied Jesus three times; Paul actively persecuted members of the early Christian community. Both were most unlikely candidates to lead the Church, yet God chose both of them. God overlooked their weakness and past failures because God saw the extraordinary potential in the two of them.

In God’s eyes, there are no lost causes, no hopeless cases. God sees the potential in everyone. God sees the potential in each one of us also, and as God did with Peter and Paul, invites us be our best selves. n

REFLECT

TWO GOOD MEN (MATTHEW 16:13-19)

SAY

“Lord, I know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

God sees the potential in everyone.

Each of us is called to build up the community of faith.

LEARN

Though leaders of the Church, Peter and Paul were both very conscious of their faults and failings. They knew they were far from perfect. Think about your life. What are your failings? What do you need to do to be closer to God?

DO

Ask the Lord to help you always to know who he is and to witness to him to the best of your ability, following the example of Peter and Paul.

PRAY

A sculpture in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, of Christ enthroned with St Paul, St Peter and Pope Pius VIII

lowestoft catholic parish -our lady star of the sea & … · they bade men rise and hasten to...

Documents