A parish in the Archdiocese of Cardiff - a Registered Charity No. 1177272

Parishes of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Bridgend , Our Lady Star of the Sea, Porthcawl & St Joseph’s of Arimathea, Kenfig Hill

www.catholicchurchbridgend.org.ukwww.catholicchurchporthcawl.org.uk

Priest: Fr. Tim McGrath 01656 652034 & Fr. Silvio Briffa (retired) Parish Deacons: Rev. Philip Manghan philip.manghan@rcadc.org Robert Coyne Tel: 01656 783540 & Anthony Martin Tel: 01656 746648

Parish Administrator: Sarah Kearns bridgend@rcadc.org

Cameras have now been installed to enable us to live stream Mass daily from St Mary’s.

The links for this are available on the home page of both websites.

Please note that should you have buffering issues this is more likely to do with your own broadband connection

and speed rather than the system here, however please do advise us if you continue to have difficulties.

Below you will see there is a full Mass timetable, resuming the normal Mass schedule, for our three Parishes.

Uploading Masses via YouTube was always considered an interim solution and something put in place quickly

because of the lockdown. Even though each Mass will be live streamed from St. Mary’s, it is hoped we can all

get back to the weekend and daily discipline of watching/attending our normal Masses, ensuring that we give

our time to God. Another advantage of live streaming is that it allows myself, as Parish Priest, to be seen and

speak to as many as possible who are able to tune in thus keeping you updated of any new developments.

When we return to "normal”, as we will, hopefully live streaming will only be watched by those who are unable

to attend Mass because of sickness and comfortingly they will be able to see the minister leaving to bring them

Holy Communion. Thank you to all for your continued support. Stay safe. God Bless. Fr Tim

Date Mass Time Intention

Sat 20th June 6.00pm People of the Parish, our frontline & NHS workers Sun 21st June 10.30am People of the Parish, our frontline & NHS workers

Mon 22nd June 9.15am 10.00am

Thanksgiving for the Sacred Heart (JVC) Katie (M McAweney)

Tues 23rd June 9.15am 10.00am

Kath Hammond John Crowley RIP (JVC)

Wed 24th June 7.00pm Family Intention (Mair Morris)

Thurs 25th June 9.15am 10.00am

Gina Rossi Doreen Bowen (D&T Morgan)

Fri 26th June 9.15am 10.00am

Gwilym Techwyn Jones David Hubbard (Topliss family)

Sat 27th June 4.30pm & 6.00pm People of the Parish, our frontline & NHS workers Sun 28th June 10.00am, 11.00am

& 6.00pm People of the Parish, our frontline & NHS workers

Mass Intentions will continue to be said each day. Once Masses can be said publicly these intentions will be prayed for

again to give the donor the opportunity to come along. Weekend Mass intentions will remain for the People of the Parish and

all those working in the NHS and frontline positions. If you wish to place a Mass intention please email the office on

bridgend@rcadc.org or call the office on 01656 652034 option 2 and leave a message.

The Word was made flesh and lived among us; to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God.’ (Gospel acclamation Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Please continue to remember all those who are sick and housebound in your prayers: Mary Bryan, Anne Colson, Eileen Coyne, Ryan Dixon, Angela Ellis, Barbara Fentham, Elsie Freeth, Catherine Grills, Margaret Jarvis,

John Lewis, Mary Maguire, Robert Morrison, Maureen Pritchard, Marcus Rossini and David Watkins

We pray for the sick and housebound of our parish, our friends, relatives and those who have asked for our prayers: Anna & Bronislaw, Carmina, Conall & Siobhan, Emma, Garry,Jamie,Keith, Margaret, Maria, Mike, Peter

(please email bridgend@rcadc.org if you would like to add a name to the list)

Dear All, thankfully from Monday places of worship can open for private prayer (not Mass, the Sacraments or

gatherings of any other kind). Sadly it is not that simple. There are many barriers to opening, which Sarah and

other parish members along with Chris and Marc our health and safety officers are having to overcome.

Whilst the risk assessments have been or are in the process of being completed, we are not there yet.

We must have a certificate of compliance issued to us from the Archdiocese. We also need to gauge demand so

that we can ask our volunteers to be on hand. If we are to open for more than a couple of hours and on more

days (though only in line with how we used to open) we are going to need more volunteers so that the strict

hygiene and social distancing measures can be adhered to.

With this in mind please do not come to our Churches this week as they will remain locked.

If you feel you would like to attend once we open for private prayer please could you let the office know either

by ringing and leaving a message or emailing. Numbers allowed into the church at any one time will be strictly

limited. Please note that the toilets and hall will remain closed for the time being.

We must remember that reopening will be very cautious with strategies put in place for the long term.

Please if you can help put your name forward. Email bridgend@rcadc.org or porthcawl@rcadc.org

with your name and contact details or ring and leave a message on 01656 652034 option 2

You MUST BE below the age of 70 and have no underlying health issues.

It would also be useful to establish which Mass you usually attend on the weekend.

Stay safe. God Bless. Fr Tim.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, 21st June 2020

Jesus instructed the Twelve: ‘Do not be afraid’. Today’s readings are very apt for our current times, where many

of us are experiencing vulnerability, tension, and unpredictability. Yet as followers of Christ, we are being called to

trust in God our Father, who knows us intimately and understands our needs.

In the First Reading, we hear Jeremiah’s challenging voice giving an unpopular message to the people, who must

change their self-centred way of living. In his isolation, Jeremiah turns to the Lord to ask for help, for he needs

friendship in very real ways in his difficulties. The Psalm is a cry of anguish from one in great danger. Yet despite his

distress, the psalmist has confidence in the great love of God. Paul teaches that the consequence of sin is ‘death’: a

death that includes the death of our friendship with God. But Paul also emphasises the abundant reality of divine

grace; a free gift introduced into the world through Christ Jesus (Second Reading).In today’s Gospel, Jesus

reminds the Twelve that they are not promised success; they will suffer. Yet he bids them repeatedly, ‘Do not be

afraid’. The Father’s tender care will never desert them. God is on their side: not as a remote figure, but as a Father

who has intimate knowledge of and care for each of them. In these our own times of trial and vulnerability, we pray

for God’s guidance and teaching. ‘Lord, you invite us to cry out with complete confidence in the Father’s boundless

love. This day we offer you praise and thanks for your abundant gifts to us in our poverty and weakness.’

Gift Aiders – if you currently fill in a self-assessment for HMRC and need a letter detailing your contributions to St Mary’s for the last tax year these are now available from the gift aid

administrator for your parish. Many thanks for your continued support of the gift aid scheme.

Congratulations to Philip and Anne

Manghan on their Ruby Wedding

Anniversary. Wishing them every blessing.

Please keep Fr Mark in your prayers as he celebrates his Silver Jubilee on 30th June.

Please also pray for vocations to the priesthood

and diaconate life.

Please pray for our

Deacons Philip, Anthony & Rob and

give thanks for the 14 years served since their ordination. God Bless.

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