Cardinal Vincent: Letter about new Coronavirus Restrictions
Please click on the link below to download the letter:
Cardinal Vincent: Letter about new Coronavirus RestrictionsBlog Posts
New Lockdown Information – November 2020
After the vote in parliament yesterday we again find ourselves in the situation where starting tomorrow, 5th November, congregational services are not allowed.
We are however allowed to open the Church for Private Prayer sessions.
These sessions will be as follows;
Saturdays 3pm-4pm
Mondays 10am-11am
Wednesdays 7pm -8pm
You will still need to book to attend as before. Please email Paula on newbarnet@rcdow.org.uk before Thursday evening to book into any of the following week’s Private Prayer sessions.
During lockdown we will be continuing to stream 11am mass live every Sunday. All online masses can be accessed via the parish YouTube channel, the link to which can be found on our VIRTUAL MASS page.
We will also be broadcasting the 9.30 Children’s Liturgy service every fortnight on Zoom. The next one will be on Sunday 15th November and the link for that will be distributed nearer the time.
CAFFOD APPEAL
CAFOD APPEAL: The effects of Coronavirus are devastating to the poorest communities who will be pushed further into poverty.
Families without enough to eat, without clean water and healthcare are particularly vulnerable.
Your prayers and gifts are urgently needed to protect them. Please donate online at cafod.org.uk/coronavirusappeal.
The Holy Spirit – A Prayer Video for Pentecost
As we continue our journey towards Pentecost, Fr Pat Browne and Patrick Van Der Vost have prepared a video meditation on the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, using Christian art and music.
The video was prepared to help us as we spend time in prayer on the Vigil of Pentecost, as the Cardinal has encouraged us to do.
Cardinal Vincent’s Message on the 5th Anniversary of Laudato Si’
As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’, Cardinal Vincent encourages us in this video to enter into its spirit and to learn what simple everyday steps we can take to shift the balance of our environment.
Cardinal Vincent Laudato Si’ Week Message from Catholic Westminster on Vimeo.
Cardinal Vincent: Pray fervently for the coming of the Holy Spirit
On the Solemnity of the Ascension, Cardinal Vincent recorded this message, reflecting on these days leading up to Pentecost and encouraging everyone to spend time in fervent, focused prayer on the Vigil of Pentecost, Saturday 30th May, for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Thursday 14th May – Day of Prayer, Fasting and Works of Charity
Pope Francis invites us, this Thursday 14th May, to join with believers of all religions and people of goodwill in a Day of Prayer, Fasting and Works of Charity.
The Holy Father calls us to unite ourselves to an initiative which comes from the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity. Cardinal Miguel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, communicates Pope Francis’s wish in a letter dated 6th May (of which a copy is attached) suggesting it is an opportunity to “witness to the greatness of faith in God that unites divided hearts and elevates the human soul.” The Communique from the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity is also attached: you may wish to publish it on your parish website.
Consecrating this day to the Lord is of a piece with the practice, recently introduced on Thursdays in England and Wales, of one of our Bishops celebrating Mass for NHS workers and carers in all settings. These Masses take place a little ahead of the 8.00 p.m. applause: we pray in thanksgiving for the courage and generosity of these front-line workers, asking the Lord to sustain them in their vital work. Mass this Thursday will be celebrated by Bishop Robert Byrne CO, Bishop of Hexham & Newcastle; and will be live-streamed at 7.00 p.m. on
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC12EvW0Eqg-cFTh5i2y_EQw.
Download the letter from The Vatican here:
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VE Day Announcement
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day this Friday, the Cardinal will celebrate a Thanksgiving Mass in Westminster Cathedral, which will be live-streamed. There will be a two-minutes’ silence at 11am, followed directly by Mass. All are welcome to follow the live stream at any one of the following:
Churchservices TV directly: https://www.churchservices.tv/westminster
Westminster Cathedral home page: http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk/
Diocesan website (where the livestream will be available from 10.45am): https://rcdow.org.uk/
The Mass will also be recorded so that it can also be viewed later.
Letter of his Holiness Pope Francis to the Faithful for the Month of May 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The month of May is approaching, a time when the People of God express with particular intensity their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view.
For this reason, I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of May. This can be done either as a group or individually; you can decide according to your own situations, making the most of both opportunities. The key to doing this is always simplicity, and it is easy also on the internet to find good models of prayers to follow.
I am also providing two prayers to Our Lady that you can recite at the end of the Rosary, and that I myself will pray in the month of May, in spiritual union with all of you. I include them with this letter so that they are available to everyone.
Dear brothers and sisters, contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary our Mother will make us even more united as a spiritual family and will help us overcome this time of trial. I keep all of you in my prayers, especially those suffering most greatly, and I ask you, please, to pray for me. I thank you, and with great affection I send you my blessing.
Rome, Saint John Lateran, 25 April 2020
Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist
Pope Francis
O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.
We fly to your protection,
O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.
“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.
In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.
Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment.
Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.
Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.
Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.
Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.
Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.
Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.
Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.
To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
© Copyright – Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Download his letter here:
[Download not found]
Letter to our Parishioners – EASTER SERVICE MASSES
Dear Parishioners
Easter service Masses will be broadcast live from the Parish and can be accessed via You Tube through the link at the following times;
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0d8t74nuCDwvjgjqZbefag
HOLY THURSDAY
Mass of the Last Supper
7.00 pm
GOOD FRIDAY
Good Friday Liturgy
3.00 pm
HOLY SATURDAY
Easter Vigil Service
7.00 pm
EASTER SUNDAY
Easter Sunday Eucharist
11.00 am
Message from Fr. James
Below is the information I received from the Cardinal yesterday.
Keep safe.
With best wishes,
Fr. James
Extract form the Cardinal’s email…………………
‘Now two small suggestions.
An initiative has been launched (one of many!) to invite Christians to put a poster in their windows as a sign of faith and trust in the Lord in these troubled times. It is attractive and obtainable at this link: www.cte.org.uk/prayersofhope.
Perhaps you could pass on this link to your parishioners and suggest they might print a poster and show it in the street window of their homes. It could well encourage those who are downhearted.
Finally, I have received messages expressing concern about those not on the internet and the lack of opportunities for them to follow the celebration of Mass. One tenacious correspondent has found out that regular celebrations of Mass broadcast by RTE Radio are accessible here on a standard radio, on 252 Long Wave. Perhaps this too could be included in communication with your parishioners, asking those who receive the information to share it verbally with any people who, through lack of internet links, would otherwise not receive it. I understand that the full quota of Holy Week ceremonies will be broadcast on RTE. More detail is available from roger.childs@rte.ie’.