Author: Jacky

This Sunday is the Feast of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and celebrates the last two precious gifts given to us by Jesus:- the Holy Eucharist as our spiritual food on Holy Thursday and Jesus’ mother Mary as our spiritual mother on Good Friday 2) Corpus Christi is the celebration of the abiding presence of a loving God as Emmanuel – God with us – in order to give collective thanks to our Lord for his living with us in the Eucharist. 3) The feast also gives us an occasion to learn more about the importance and value of the “Real Presence” so that we may appreciate the Sacrament better and receive maximum benefit from the Eucharist.

We believe in the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist because 1) Jesus promised it after miraculously feeding the 5000. 2) Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist during his Last Supper. 3) Jesus commanded his disciples to repeat it in his memory. 4) “Nothing is impossible for God.”

There are several messages for us in this feast day. Three of these are examples of really good Life messages: 1) Let us appreciate the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, by receiving him with true repentance for our sins, due preparation and reverence. 2) Let us be Christ-bearers and conveyers: By receiving Holy Communion, we become Christ-bearers as Mary was, with the duty of conveying Christ to others at home and in the workplace, through love, mercy, forgiveness and humble and sacrificial service. 3) Let us offer our lives on the altar along with Jesus’ sacrifice, asking pardon for our sins, expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received and presenting our needs and petitions on the altar.

A priest called Fr. Denis likes to tell a story about an American paratrooper in World War II who got entangled in a tree and couldn’t get down. He was terribly afraid that he had come down behind enemy lines and would be killed. Then two men dressed in civilian clothes came by so the GI quickly called out, “Can you tell me where I am?” “Indeed we can,” said one – “You are up in a tree.” There was a long pause, and then the paratrooper asked suspiciously, “Are you guys Dominicans?” “Yes, but how could you tell?” The GI replied, “I knew because what you say is perfectly true – but it doesn’t help me to get out of this tree!” Likewise, to describe Catholic belief about the Holy Eucharist by saying that it is the Body and Blood of Christ is true, but not very helpful unless we are convinced of this truth, appreciate this great gift and experience it in our lives.

St.Augustine has an important message for all of us when he wrote: ‘Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not.’ 

“Your Attention” It is one of God’s most special gifts.  Sometimes things may demand our attention, one of them being this pandemic.  How we exercise this attention brings us to another gift “Our Responsibility”.  When confronted with many different things demanding our attention, priority becomes an important factor.  Our hope that we can move on from this pandemic must be treated with caution and care with making responsible choices.  Even though I thought with my periodical visits to care homes provided me with sufficient testing, a person got home to me that I should go to the chemist shop and get the means provided free, and to make two tests a week.

Because the need to move forward with caution, it  is right that we do this.  Priorities are most important.  So a special important need is for our parish finance committee to meet.  A meeting with six members is being established, and I am most grateful to Gerry Palmer for offering his services and progressing this.  I have been encouraged along the way to raise the need to appeal for more contributions to our Sunday collections.  So our gratitude to all those who attend and who contribute.  The parish finance committee is an essential requirement, constituted in Canon Law and now with Health and Safety, also Child and Vulnerable Adults Protection, it is essential to get back on our way.

We are blessed with those who have committed themselves to our Children’s Liturgy and preparation for the sacraments, and this please God, will develop and grow.  We will be truly blessed when it flourishes.  Obviously a large question mark remains over how we can continue to progress the returning to normal life and so remaining cautious, but at the same time becoming more prepared is essential.  Proposed events will be cautiously prepared for and with the help of God may be well celebrated.  So does anybody remember my final note last week?  Well please God, we will begin with it again next week.

Also next week we have a most important event on Saturday 12th June at 5pm, when our children preparing for their First Holy Communion will make their First confession.  Today it will take the form of a Pentecost Service on Saturday.  This is a supreme gift of Jesus, “your sins are forgiven”.  All through the ages this has a key role to play in our lives.  In the early church to deal with this people began to postpone their baptism until their death bed.  Through the centuries this sacrament has evolved, and an excellent experience of it is our Penitential Service, and we will do our very best to celebrate this in the best way we can.  If we are getting enough response we will have another priest with us to help us with our celebration of this great sacrament.

When she was about a year and a half old,
she had an illness that left her deaf and blind.
She couldn’t hear anyone’s voice to copy,
so she couldn’t learn to speak.

She was eventually taught to do so
by a teacher called Annie Sullivan.
Helen Keller graduated from college with honours,
and later visited many countries,
speaking about winning through,
despite difficulties and physical handicaps.

She once said:
“Most of us take life for granted.
Only the deaf appreciate hearing;
only the blind appreciate being able to see.

It is the same old story of not being grateful for what we have
until we lose it,
of not being conscious of health
until we are ill.

Use your eyes
as if tomorrow you would be blind.

Hear the music of voices, the song of the birds,
as if tomorrow you would be deaf.

Touch each object
as if tomorrow your sense of touch would fail.

Smell the perfume of flowers, and taste your food
as if tomorrow
you would never be able to smell or taste again.

Make every sense glory in the pleasure and beauty
which the world reveals.Then you will really see,
and a new world of beauty will open up before you.

Someone to help Lulu with our Church garden.  Just a few hours here and there.  Its a very rewarding job.  Lulu and David have done marvellous but now David is in heaven, God rest his soul, its too much for one person.  If you feel you would like to help keep our beautiful garden – please get in touch with Lulu (01323846509) or Joan (07873390944).  Thank you.

Bereavement Mass:  Will be taking place on Sunday 4th July at 3pm in St Wilfrid’s Church and this Mass is for all our parish community.  This is our first opportunity to have this Mass and all are welcome, but it is important to book a place either online or by contacting Jackie on 01323 841504.  Refreshments will be available in our hall afterwards.

St Wilfrid’s First Confession and Penitential Service:  This will take place in St Wilfrid’s Church on Saturday 12th June at 5pm.  This service will be open to all parishioners.  If you would like to attend, please book a place on our website in the usual way.  Thank you.

Sunday 23rd May at St Wilfrid’s was Confirmation Day for 2 young parishioners – Tania and Megha.  Fr Rory was given permission by our Bishop Richard, to confirm them.  Under the limited circumstances (covid) it was a truly special occasion.  The girls, dressed in long red dresses, did the readings – very clear voices and with one volunteering for reading in the future.  Amazing flowers of red and white, beautifully arranged. And of course Fr Rory looking so smart in his red vestments.  All in all a great celebration to the Holy spirit who’s feast we were celebrating.  What joy at last, we can mix together again, although limited, things are easing and we can reconnect with each other and hopefully soon to be able to get together over a cuppa in our Church Hall.  This is the thing that has been missing, socialising is a must for all.

This weekend we have Trinity Sunday which to us mortals is about something we cannot understand. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons all in one God. We call this the Holy Trinity. We know that 1+1+1=3 but in this instance 1+1+1 =1. Why do we believe it? Well – Jesus clearly taught it and it was recorded by the Evangelists. Many have tried to explain it over the years but it has been defined by the Church as something that everyone must believe – it is a part of our Christian Faith.

We start to pray with “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” and end with “Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”. All the sacraments are administered in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We bless ourselves, and the priest blesses us, in the Name of the Holy Trinity.

This means that in real life, our lives, we must respect ourselves and others because everyone is the temple of the Holy Spirit where all Three Persons of the Holy Trinity live. He is the source of our hope, courage and strength, and that He is our final destination. Families should all live in love and unity  because by Baptism we become children of God and members of God’s Trinitarian family. 

St. Patrick, the missionary patron saint of Ireland, used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.  One day his friends asked Patrick to explain the Mystery of the Trinity.  He looked at the ground and saw shamrocks growing in the grass at his feet.  He picked one up one of its leaves and asked if it were one leaf or three.    Patrick’s friends couldn’t answer – the shamrock leaf looked like one but it clearly had three parts.  Patrick explained to them: “The mystery of the Holy Trinity – one God in Three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – is like this, but more complex and unintelligible.” 

Augustine wrote: “You see the Trinity, if you see love.”  According to him, the Father is the lover, the Son is the loved one and the Holy Spirit is the personification of the very act of loving.

There is this story which is really about family life. One day, while he was walking with God in the Garden of Eden Adam said, “Excuse me God, can I ask you a few questions?” God replied, “Go on Adam, but be quick.  I have a world to create.” So, Adam says, “When you created Eve, why did you make her body so curved and tender unlike mine?” “I did that, Adam, so that you could love her.” “Oh, well then, why did you give her long, shiny, beautiful hair?” “I did that Adam so that you could love her.” “Oh, well then, why did you make her so stupid?  Is that too because I should love her?” “Well, Adam, no.  I did that so that she could love you.” 

Please God, and indeed with the help of God, life will be returning to what is more normal.  It will continue to present us with a great challenge.  The optimist would say an opportunity, and the realist will say now we should know there is “no magic”.  What do we have to do?  To do things with care is very important.  To be careful is crucial.   How we interpret the need for social distance and normal greetings is best accomplished by being careful.

After our journey through Lent with the Stations of the Cross, and our celebration of Easter with the Stations of the Resurrection, Pentecost has presented us with a great experience.  Having celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation last Sunday we should have the inspiration to express; to live our faith.  Real signs of life are with our children’s liturgy, and it does my heart good.  Highlights the need for me to do better.  Help please.

Sunday the 11th July at St George’s and Sunday 18th July at St Wilfrid’s presents us with helpful opportunities  to begin to work together.  Again, caution and care with the language we use.  Outcome is what is most important, and to be careful is the best way to achieve this outcome. 

So how are we to do this?  I have made some suggestions and some persons (thank God) are beginning to make a response, and the best thing I can say is “early days”, but time passes by so quickly we need to get on with working for our future.  We can all remember so many persons that we have lost in the last few years.  One that stands out is Ann Fielder, because we were working with her in order to establish the “Missing Link”.  It is best for us to begin again.  Then I tried to introduce our “Leaven Groups”.  So we begin again with the idea “how do we best work together?”

St Wilfrid’s Children’s Liturgy will restart in September: 

St Wilfrid’s First Holy Communion Introductory meeting will be in September.  If your child would like to receive their First Holy Communion 2021/2022 please email your name, child’s full name and contact details to the church email. Any queries please see Annette or Teresa.