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DO YOU WANT TO FAST THIS LENT?

In the words of Pope Francis

Fast from hurting words and say kind words. 

Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries and have trust in God.

Fast from complaints, contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness, fill your hearts with joy.

Fast from selfishness and be compassionate.

Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

Fast from words: be silent and listen.

The Diocesan Formation Team is hosting a mission for you this Lent.   It will be the first of five seasons of mission, helping you to explore God’s Invitation to live your life with him.

What is a mission? An opportunity for everyone in the parish to sit back and reflect on the content provided.  Season one is a series of programmes that help us to understand exactly how much we are loved by God, and features guest speakers such as David Wells, Eleanor Oliver and David Beresford. You will then be able to join a virtual conversation to meet like minded people and discuss what you have learnt. Visit www.abdiocese.org.uk/invited to find out more.   You, are Invited.

CAFOD:  Abdella lives in an extremely remote and mountainous part of Ethiopia.  It takes him ten hours a day to collect water.  He says his life is being wasted as he has no time for anything else.  Give today to reach vulnerable communities around the world with water and to provide other vital support.  Donate online at cafod.org.uk/give or  by using one of our envelopes.  Thank you.

Lent began last Wednesday and we were reminded that there is no better time than the present to turn to God for forgiveness and to forgive others. Lent is the ideal time to renew our commitment to the church and to live lives of faith, service, sacrifice and love. Let us all seek the courage to act and respond NOW as you read this!, not tomorrow or next week.

Pope Francis encourages us with sayings such as these: “Sister, brother, even if you buried hope in your heart, don’t give up. God is sweeter. Darkness and death do not have the last word. Courage, with God nothing is lost!”

“Faith begins when we realise we are in need of salvation. We are not self-sufficient; by ourselves we flounder: we need the Lord, like ancient navigators needed the stars. Let us invite Jesus into the boats of our lives. Let us hand over our fears to him so that he can conquer them.”

Some prayers for use in Lent: 1. Loving Lord, help each one of us to set an example to others in following you with trust, so that all may see how our chief shepherd, who suffered for us, is the Son of the living God. Amen. 2. Dear Lord, whatever we choose to go without this Lent, may it serve as a reminder to draw closer to you in prayer and petition with thanksgiving for all that you give us. Amen.

Finally to lighten the content: “Two boys were walking home from church and sharing their reflection on the lesson. They had been studying the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. Little Peter said to his friend John, “Do you believe that stuff about the devil? Do you think there really is a devil?” John looked at him and said, “Naah, it’s just like Santa Claus — it’s your dad.” 

With my love and prayers for you this Lent.

As you are likely already aware, the UK Government has temporarily allowed home abortions.

Since home abortions were temporarily allowed, as has been reported extensively in the media, a number of significant problems have put the lives and health of many women in danger. 

The UK Government has launched a consultation on whether to make permanent the current temporary arrangement allowing ‘DIY’ home abortions. The consequences of this measure would be devastating to the care and protection of both unborn babies and their mothers. It is vital that as many people as possible take part to ensure the voices of the most vulnerable are heard. 

Right To Life UK has set up an easy-to-use tool on their website that makes it simple to complete your submission.. If you would like to take part and make a submission to this consultation before it closes at 11:59pm on 26 February 2021, you can do so by visiting the link below. It only takes 2 minutes!

Respond to the UK Government’s consultation on ‘DIY’ home abortion

TO OUR CATHOLIC UNIVERSE AND CATHOLIC TIMES READERS IN THE PARISH:- at the moment you are unable to collect your paper at Mass, but you can get it delivered direct to your home every week, POST FREE.   Please go to www.thecatholicuniverse.com or call them on 0161 820 5722 and they will arrange for you.

SPECIAL OFFER 3 MONTHS :-                £25.00

SPECIAL OFFER  12 Months:-                   £99.00

DIGITAL COPY:- 12 Months:                     £55.00

OR

DIGITAL COPY/AND HARD COPY FOR:- £115.00  (EASTER SPECIAL OFFER)

CAFOD:  This Lent, CAFOD invites you and the whole Catholic community of England and Wales to join the Big Walk for Water virtual event.  Help give the boot to water poverty across the world by walking a 5-mile route on Saturday 20th February at 2pm.  Could you Walk for Water as a personal Lenten challenge by walking 10,000 steps a day, every day, for 40 days?  Find out more at cafod.org.uk/walk

Fr Jimmy Buckley, who spent many summers covering St George’s will be streaming Mass from Esker Monastery on Saturday 13th February at 10am and Sunday 14th February at 11am.  He knows many of you will be watching.  Google Esker Monastery, Galway and you will find him there.

2021

It’s now two thousand and twenty one ,we know the virus still hasn’t  gone 

But nearly a year has passed us by, we cope with it all with a great big sigh 

We wear our masks and stay at home, even though we would love to roam 

Keeping to rules and keeping apart sometimes it feels it will break your heart

But progress is happening, that’s really fab! Vaccines on offer so go for you’re jab!

We look to the future with positive air, and bless NH staff who give us such care 

We will not be beaten, we’ll stay really, really brave, clearing out cupboards (what shall we save!)

Contact each other by email and phone, so nobody feels that they are alone 

Lockdown is staying, no doubt about that, lazing around we might put on fat! 

But what does it matter with friends all around, looking out for each other with feet on the ground               By Ross