Sunday 2nd Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Monday 3rd Feria
Tuesday 4th St John Vianney
Wednesday 5th Feria
Thursday 6th Transfiguration of the Lord
Friday 7th Feria
Saturday 8th St Dominic
Sunday 9th Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Monday 3rd Feria
Tuesday 4th St John Vianney
Wednesday 5th Feria
Thursday 6th Transfiguration of the Lord
Friday 7th Feria
Saturday 8th St Dominic
Sunday 9th Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
The first reading is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 55:1-3. The prophet, living among the Jewish exiles in Babylon, utters words of consolation for the despairing exiles. Here he tells them that Yahweh is inviting them to a banquet which he freely gives them. Yahweh alone can provide for their real needs; they are foolish to look elsewhere for consolation or help. If they cooperate he will fulfil the promise he had made to David, the promise of a future Messiah.
Thus says the Lord: Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come! Buy corn without money, and eat, and, at no cost, wine and milk. Why spend money on what is not bread, your wages on what fails to satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and you will have good things to eat and rich food to enjoy. Pay attention, come to me; listen, and your soul will live. With you I will make an everlasting covenant out of the favours promised to David.
The second reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 8:35, 37-39. St. Paul concludes this chapter with a hymn in praise of God's love for us: "with God on our side," he says, "who can be against us?" Then come today's verses, which are rhetorical questions, showing that there is no power in heaven or on earth that can take away or lessen God's love for us as manifested in Christ, his Incarnate Son.
Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us. For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Gospel is from St. Matthew 14:13-21.
When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick. When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and the time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they answered ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining; twelve baskets full. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.
This miracle was an act of kindness and loving thoughtfulness on the part of Christ. He saw the people's need - it was late for them to return to their homes and they had had nothing to eat all day - and he worked a miracle to provide for this need. The miracle also helped to convince the people of Galilee - the news spread around quickly - that he was the expected Messiah, but especially it prepared the way for the announcement of the greatest miracle of all - the miracle of the Eucharist. As St. John tells us Jesus referred to this miracle the next day in order to introduce his promise of the heavenly bread which he would give them and which was to be his own body and blood, under the form of bread and wine. The bread he miraculously multiplied that day to supply the bodily needs of the Galilean multitude was but a foreshadowing of that heavenly food which he was about to give as spiritual nourishment to the millions who would become his followers down through the centuries until the end of time. The Galileans were grateful to him for providing so kindly and so thoughtfully for their needs. How much more grateful should we not be for the miracle by means of which he has left us himself to be our daily spiritual food? We are grateful, of course, to our loving Lord who not only handed up his body to his enemies to be crucified for us, but through his divine power, arranged that his glorified body, triumphant over death, should remain with us, his Church, forever under the Eucharistic species.Though invisible to mortal eyes, he is as truly present on our altars as he was that day in Galilee, when he miraculously fed the multitude. He is present under the form of bread and wine — so that we can partake of him as spiritual nourishment during our earthly life. Could love go any further? He himself said: "A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends" (Jn. 15 :13). Yes, once a man has given his life he has given his all; there is nothing more he can give. But Christ was more than man. He was God as well, and, therefore, he was able not only to lay down his human life for us, but was able and willing to remain with us after death under the Eucharistic species: to be our strength and nourishment until we join him in the promised land of heaven. When we compare our own unworthiness with this, almost incredible, love and thoughtfulness of Christ for us, all we can do is simply to say: "Lord, you know I am not worthy to receive you, but you say you want to come into my poor and untidy home, please make me less unworthy, forgive all my past sins and offences, and give me the grace and strength to be better in the future."
St John Vianney
St. John Baptist Mary Vianney (1786-1859) was born in Dardilly and died in Ars, France. Although his talents were limited and his education meagre, he was ordained a priest in 1815. After three years at Ecully, he was appointed parish priest of Ars. Here he spent almost forty-two years of his life, devoting himself to prayer, mortification, and pastoral works. His success in directing souls made him known throughout the Christian world. Men of all ranks and conditions of life sought his guidance and advice. He was beatified by Pope St. Pius X, himself once a parish priest, and canonised by Pope Pius XI. During the French Revolution a small band of Ursuline nuns was imprisoned in the Bastille. To cheer her disconsolate companions, one of the group passed wheaten discs of bread, cut from the loaf of the daily rations, to memorialise the happy days when they were free and could receive Our Lord in Holy Communion. At that time all religious schools and churches were closed, and those who harboured priests were imprisoned. At the Vianney farmhouse near Dardilly, France, fugitive priests were offered a refuge. Here their son was prepared in his tenth year for the reception of Holy Communion by a hunted priest. While tending his father's sheep, John Vianney fashioned a small statue of Our Lady out of clay. He hid it in the hollow of an old tree with this petition: "Dear Lady Mary, I love you very much; you must bring Jesus back to his tabernacles very soon!” On a visit to his aunt at Ecully, John listened to her praises of Father Balley, the parish priest, and he sought the Father's advice regarding his vocation to the priesthood. The pastor appraised the overgrown, awkward youth of faltering speech and devoid of general education. Though John was unable to answer the questions pertaining to earthly science which Father asked him, yet, when the priest put to him the questions of the catechism, his face became luminous with lively interest. He answered every question correctly, and in a manner beyond his years. The amazed pastor took this evidence as a sign from heaven, prophesying, "You will become a priest!” The ensuing years brought many trials to John. He was conscripted; his mother died; he failed often in his studies. Ordained as a Mass priest, August 12, 1815, he remarked to Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy: "Here is your priest, O Blessed Mother! Stay close to me. Help me to be a good priest!” As a curate and as a pastor, St. John Vianney's daily instruction on the catechism found an inspired audience, among whom were noted orators such as Père Lacordaire, O.P., the famed preacher of Notre Dame. The saintly pastor performed many miracles, but the greatest was his own manner of Eucharistic living. It was his Lord, living in Father Vianney, who made him "spend and be spent" in ceaseless service for both sinner and saint in the sacred tribunal of penance.
The Transfiguration of the Lord
Our divine Redeemer, being in Galilee about a year before His sacred Passion, took with him St. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, Sts. James and John, and led them to a remote mountain. Tradition assures us that this was Mount Thabor, which is exceedingly high and beautiful, and used to be covered with green trees and shrubs, and was very fruitful. It rises something like a sugar-loaf, in a vast plain in the middle of Galilee. This was the place in which the Man-God appeared in his glory. While Jesus prayed his face was altered and shone as the sun, and his garments became white as snow. Moses and Elias were seen by the three apostles in his company on this occasion, and were heard discoursing with him on the death which he was to suffer in Jerusalem. The three apostles were wonderfully delighted with this glorious vision, and St. Peter cried out to Christ, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias" Whilst St. Peter was speaking, there came a bright shining cloud from heaven, an emblem of the presence of God's majesty, and from out of this cloud was heard a voice which said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him" The apostles that were present, upon hearing this voice, were seized with a sudden fear, and fell upon the ground; but Jesus, going to them, touched them, and told them to rise. They immediately did so, and saw no one but Jesus standing in his ordinary state. This vision happened in the night. As they went down the mountain early the next morning, Jesus told them not to tell any one what they had seen till he should be risen from the dead. In the Transfiguration Christ enjoyed for a short while that glorified state which was to be permanently his after his Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The splendour of his inward Divinity and of the Beatific Vision of his soul overflowed on his body, and permeated his garments so that Christ stood before Peter, James, and John in a snow-white brightness. The purpose of the Transfiguration was to encourage and strengthen the Apostles who were depressed by their Master's prediction of his own Passion and Death. The Apostles were made to understand that his redeeming work had two phases: the Cross, and glory—that we shall be glorified with him only if we first suffer with him
St Dominic
The Martyrology gives the following: "At Bologna the holy confessor Dominic, the saintly and learned founder of the Order of Preachers. He preserved his virginity inviolate and gained for himself the grace of raising three dead persons to life. By his word he crushed heresy in the bud and led many souls to piety and to religious life.” Born about 1175 in Castile (Spain), Dominic hailed from the illustrious Guzman family. First he was a canon regular at Osma; then he founded the Dominican Order, which was approved in 1216. Alongside the Franciscans, it became the most powerful Order in medieval times, giving the Church illustrious preachers - St. Vincent Ferrer, and contemplatives, Sts. Thomas Aquinas and Pius V - and contributing immeasurably to maintaining the purity of the faith. Through the example of apostolic poverty and the preaching of the word of God the Friar Preachers were to lead men to Christ. To St. Dominic is attributed the origin and spread of the holy rosary. The two contemporaries, Dominic and Francis, effected a tremendous spiritual rejuvenation through their own spiritual personalities and through their religious foundations. Of the two, Dominic was the realist who surpassed the other intellectually and in organisational talent. His spirit of moderation, clarity of thought, and burning zeal for souls have become the heritage of the Dominican Order. Legend has contributed the following rare anecdote as preserved in the Breviary: "During pregnancy, Dominic's mother dreamed she was carrying in her womb a little dog that held a burning torch between its teeth; and when she had given birth, it set the whole world on fire. By this dream it was made manifest beforehand how Dominic would inflame the nations to the practice of Christian virtue through the brightness of his holy example and the fiery ardour of his preaching." He died at Bologna upon hearing the liturgy's prayer for the dying: "Come, ye saints of God, hasten hither, ye angels!”
Mass online:
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference website gives a useful link with easy access to churches with live streaming of Mass. You can search to find churches nearest you or look further afield in different dioceses: Directory of Masses
Masses attended
Parishioners have “attended Mass” as follows:
Do you have any more to add to this list?
Bidding Prayers:
You will remember that, at the end of the Bidding Prayers each Sunday, the reader asks, “Does anyone have any other intentions?” Most weeks this question is followed by silence, but occasionally one of the congregation will make a contribution. I think that some people must feel a little daunted at the prospect of speaking up in front of everyone else, but now we can change all that. If you have a prayer intention, no matter how “trivial” it might seem, please do not hesitate to let me know and I shall include it in next week’s newsletter. This can be personalised or anonymous, as you wish.
This week’s prayer intentions include:
Hymn of the week:
If we all were to read (or sing) the parish “favourite of the week” what a great way it would be of reminding us of the community to which we belong. Some parishioners will remember the Rosary Crusade of Fr Patrick Peyton in the 1950s. He popularised the saying: “A family that prays together stays together”. We could easily adapt this to read: “A parish that prays together stays together”. Let’s give it a try.
For this week’s hymn, the newsletter editor has exercised editorial rights by choosing a hymn which has special memories. The words and the music are by Kevin Nichols. Fr Nichols was my form master for three years while I was a pupil at St Cuthbert’s Grammar School in Newcastle: my English teacher, a gentle and holy man. I did not know that he was musical. You will recognise the hymn as one we sing regularly at the Offertory.
In bread we bring you Lord, our body's' labour
In wine we offer you our spirit's grief.
We do not ask you, Lord, who is my neighbour?
But stand united now, in one belief.
For we have gladly heard your Word, your holy Word
And now in answer, Lord, our gifts we bring.
Our selfish hearts make true, our failing faith renew,
Our life belongs to you, our Lord and King.
The bread we offer you is blessed and broken,
And it becomes for us our spirit’s food.
Over the cup we bring, your Word is spoken;
Make it your gift to us, your healing blood.
Take all that daily toil, plants in our heart’s poor soil,
Take all we start and spoil, each hopeful dream.
The chances we have missed, the graces we resist,
Lord, in thy Eucharist, take and redeem.
What is your favourite hymn? Let us know and we shall publish it in the next newsletter.
Sick List:
Please continue to pray for the following members of our parish: Bernard Moyers, Patrick Hodgson, Tod Smith, Angela Doyle, Ida De Melo, Maurice Nixon, Eva Shirreffs, Stefania Stasior, Irene Pallot, Ginger Newby.
Anniversaries:
Let us remember in our prayers those parishioners whose anniversaries occur in the coming week:
Terry and Sheila were delighted to receive the news that their grandson, Thomas Breed, has been awarded a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh (USA). Thomas was a former pupil of Bishop Ellis and De Lisle College where one of his teachers was Rebecca Jinks.
Happy Birthday to Isaac Jinks who is 12 on Sunday 2nd August from Mum, Dad, Hugh and all members of St Gregory’s Parish. Have a wonderful day and don’t eat too much cake!
On Saturday 8th August, Wilf celebrates his 89th birthday. There are few parishioners who better illustrate loyal service and devotion to our parish; at Christmas he will celebrate eighty years as an altar server. Wilf, from all your friends and admirers at St Gregory’s: Happy Birthday!
As a consequence of recent developments, it is with regret that I inform you that next week’s newsletter will be the last one that I shall be able to publish. If you feel that you would like to take over this task, please contact Fr Clement when he resumes his role as Parish Priest.
We say “Good Bye and Good Luck” to Fr John who will be taking up his new position in the next few weeks as Parish Priest at Our Lady of Lincoln parish in Lincoln. Traditionally, we might expect to celebrate his time among us with some sort of gathering and presentation. Sadly, this will not be possible. However, it has been proposed by some parishioners that we ought at least to give him a leaving present. Therefore, if you wish to contribute to a leaving gift, please send your donation to Peter Fryer at 45 Thirlmere Road, Barrow upon Soar, LE12 8QQ. Cheques should be made payable to “P. Fryer”. I shall bank all monies collected and write a single cheque to Fr John. Paul Carroll, as Chairman of the Finance Committee, has agreed to act as auditor of the fund. We shall arrange for a card to be sent with the cheque. If you do wish to contribute, please do so as soon as possible as we would like to complete the collection and send the card and cheque by 15th August.
Thus says the Lord: Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come! Buy corn without money, and eat, and, at no cost, wine and milk. Why spend money on what is not bread, your wages on what fails to satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and you will have good things to eat and rich food to enjoy. Pay attention, come to me; listen, and your soul will live. With you I will make an everlasting covenant out of the favours promised to David.
The second reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 8:35, 37-39. St. Paul concludes this chapter with a hymn in praise of God's love for us: "with God on our side," he says, "who can be against us?" Then come today's verses, which are rhetorical questions, showing that there is no power in heaven or on earth that can take away or lessen God's love for us as manifested in Christ, his Incarnate Son.
Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us. For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Gospel is from St. Matthew 14:13-21.
When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick. When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and the time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they answered ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining; twelve baskets full. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.
This miracle was an act of kindness and loving thoughtfulness on the part of Christ. He saw the people's need - it was late for them to return to their homes and they had had nothing to eat all day - and he worked a miracle to provide for this need. The miracle also helped to convince the people of Galilee - the news spread around quickly - that he was the expected Messiah, but especially it prepared the way for the announcement of the greatest miracle of all - the miracle of the Eucharist. As St. John tells us Jesus referred to this miracle the next day in order to introduce his promise of the heavenly bread which he would give them and which was to be his own body and blood, under the form of bread and wine. The bread he miraculously multiplied that day to supply the bodily needs of the Galilean multitude was but a foreshadowing of that heavenly food which he was about to give as spiritual nourishment to the millions who would become his followers down through the centuries until the end of time. The Galileans were grateful to him for providing so kindly and so thoughtfully for their needs. How much more grateful should we not be for the miracle by means of which he has left us himself to be our daily spiritual food? We are grateful, of course, to our loving Lord who not only handed up his body to his enemies to be crucified for us, but through his divine power, arranged that his glorified body, triumphant over death, should remain with us, his Church, forever under the Eucharistic species.Though invisible to mortal eyes, he is as truly present on our altars as he was that day in Galilee, when he miraculously fed the multitude. He is present under the form of bread and wine — so that we can partake of him as spiritual nourishment during our earthly life. Could love go any further? He himself said: "A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends" (Jn. 15 :13). Yes, once a man has given his life he has given his all; there is nothing more he can give. But Christ was more than man. He was God as well, and, therefore, he was able not only to lay down his human life for us, but was able and willing to remain with us after death under the Eucharistic species: to be our strength and nourishment until we join him in the promised land of heaven. When we compare our own unworthiness with this, almost incredible, love and thoughtfulness of Christ for us, all we can do is simply to say: "Lord, you know I am not worthy to receive you, but you say you want to come into my poor and untidy home, please make me less unworthy, forgive all my past sins and offences, and give me the grace and strength to be better in the future."
St John Vianney
St. John Baptist Mary Vianney (1786-1859) was born in Dardilly and died in Ars, France. Although his talents were limited and his education meagre, he was ordained a priest in 1815. After three years at Ecully, he was appointed parish priest of Ars. Here he spent almost forty-two years of his life, devoting himself to prayer, mortification, and pastoral works. His success in directing souls made him known throughout the Christian world. Men of all ranks and conditions of life sought his guidance and advice. He was beatified by Pope St. Pius X, himself once a parish priest, and canonised by Pope Pius XI. During the French Revolution a small band of Ursuline nuns was imprisoned in the Bastille. To cheer her disconsolate companions, one of the group passed wheaten discs of bread, cut from the loaf of the daily rations, to memorialise the happy days when they were free and could receive Our Lord in Holy Communion. At that time all religious schools and churches were closed, and those who harboured priests were imprisoned. At the Vianney farmhouse near Dardilly, France, fugitive priests were offered a refuge. Here their son was prepared in his tenth year for the reception of Holy Communion by a hunted priest. While tending his father's sheep, John Vianney fashioned a small statue of Our Lady out of clay. He hid it in the hollow of an old tree with this petition: "Dear Lady Mary, I love you very much; you must bring Jesus back to his tabernacles very soon!” On a visit to his aunt at Ecully, John listened to her praises of Father Balley, the parish priest, and he sought the Father's advice regarding his vocation to the priesthood. The pastor appraised the overgrown, awkward youth of faltering speech and devoid of general education. Though John was unable to answer the questions pertaining to earthly science which Father asked him, yet, when the priest put to him the questions of the catechism, his face became luminous with lively interest. He answered every question correctly, and in a manner beyond his years. The amazed pastor took this evidence as a sign from heaven, prophesying, "You will become a priest!” The ensuing years brought many trials to John. He was conscripted; his mother died; he failed often in his studies. Ordained as a Mass priest, August 12, 1815, he remarked to Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy: "Here is your priest, O Blessed Mother! Stay close to me. Help me to be a good priest!” As a curate and as a pastor, St. John Vianney's daily instruction on the catechism found an inspired audience, among whom were noted orators such as Père Lacordaire, O.P., the famed preacher of Notre Dame. The saintly pastor performed many miracles, but the greatest was his own manner of Eucharistic living. It was his Lord, living in Father Vianney, who made him "spend and be spent" in ceaseless service for both sinner and saint in the sacred tribunal of penance.
The Transfiguration of the Lord
Our divine Redeemer, being in Galilee about a year before His sacred Passion, took with him St. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, Sts. James and John, and led them to a remote mountain. Tradition assures us that this was Mount Thabor, which is exceedingly high and beautiful, and used to be covered with green trees and shrubs, and was very fruitful. It rises something like a sugar-loaf, in a vast plain in the middle of Galilee. This was the place in which the Man-God appeared in his glory. While Jesus prayed his face was altered and shone as the sun, and his garments became white as snow. Moses and Elias were seen by the three apostles in his company on this occasion, and were heard discoursing with him on the death which he was to suffer in Jerusalem. The three apostles were wonderfully delighted with this glorious vision, and St. Peter cried out to Christ, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias" Whilst St. Peter was speaking, there came a bright shining cloud from heaven, an emblem of the presence of God's majesty, and from out of this cloud was heard a voice which said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to him" The apostles that were present, upon hearing this voice, were seized with a sudden fear, and fell upon the ground; but Jesus, going to them, touched them, and told them to rise. They immediately did so, and saw no one but Jesus standing in his ordinary state. This vision happened in the night. As they went down the mountain early the next morning, Jesus told them not to tell any one what they had seen till he should be risen from the dead. In the Transfiguration Christ enjoyed for a short while that glorified state which was to be permanently his after his Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The splendour of his inward Divinity and of the Beatific Vision of his soul overflowed on his body, and permeated his garments so that Christ stood before Peter, James, and John in a snow-white brightness. The purpose of the Transfiguration was to encourage and strengthen the Apostles who were depressed by their Master's prediction of his own Passion and Death. The Apostles were made to understand that his redeeming work had two phases: the Cross, and glory—that we shall be glorified with him only if we first suffer with him
St Dominic
The Martyrology gives the following: "At Bologna the holy confessor Dominic, the saintly and learned founder of the Order of Preachers. He preserved his virginity inviolate and gained for himself the grace of raising three dead persons to life. By his word he crushed heresy in the bud and led many souls to piety and to religious life.” Born about 1175 in Castile (Spain), Dominic hailed from the illustrious Guzman family. First he was a canon regular at Osma; then he founded the Dominican Order, which was approved in 1216. Alongside the Franciscans, it became the most powerful Order in medieval times, giving the Church illustrious preachers - St. Vincent Ferrer, and contemplatives, Sts. Thomas Aquinas and Pius V - and contributing immeasurably to maintaining the purity of the faith. Through the example of apostolic poverty and the preaching of the word of God the Friar Preachers were to lead men to Christ. To St. Dominic is attributed the origin and spread of the holy rosary. The two contemporaries, Dominic and Francis, effected a tremendous spiritual rejuvenation through their own spiritual personalities and through their religious foundations. Of the two, Dominic was the realist who surpassed the other intellectually and in organisational talent. His spirit of moderation, clarity of thought, and burning zeal for souls have become the heritage of the Dominican Order. Legend has contributed the following rare anecdote as preserved in the Breviary: "During pregnancy, Dominic's mother dreamed she was carrying in her womb a little dog that held a burning torch between its teeth; and when she had given birth, it set the whole world on fire. By this dream it was made manifest beforehand how Dominic would inflame the nations to the practice of Christian virtue through the brightness of his holy example and the fiery ardour of his preaching." He died at Bologna upon hearing the liturgy's prayer for the dying: "Come, ye saints of God, hasten hither, ye angels!”
Mass online:
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference website gives a useful link with easy access to churches with live streaming of Mass. You can search to find churches nearest you or look further afield in different dioceses: Directory of Masses
Masses attended
Parishioners have “attended Mass” as follows:
- St Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham
- Walsingham
- St Joseph’s, Leicester
- CAFOD Mass on a Wednesday evening.
- St Peter’s, Brighton
- St Alban’s & St Hugh’s, Derby
- Sacred Heart, Rochdale
- St Anthony’s, Wythenshawe
- St Peter in Chains, Doncaster
- Shrewsbury Cathedral
- Santuario di Oropa, Italy
- Ta’ Pinu, Gozo
- St. Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast
- St. Gabriel’s, Viewpark, Uddington
- Westminster Cathedral
- Holy Name, Jesmond, Newcastle
- St Peter’s, Brighton/Hove
- St Paul’s, Falls Road, Belfast
- The Grotto, Lourdes
Do you have any more to add to this list?
Bidding Prayers:
You will remember that, at the end of the Bidding Prayers each Sunday, the reader asks, “Does anyone have any other intentions?” Most weeks this question is followed by silence, but occasionally one of the congregation will make a contribution. I think that some people must feel a little daunted at the prospect of speaking up in front of everyone else, but now we can change all that. If you have a prayer intention, no matter how “trivial” it might seem, please do not hesitate to let me know and I shall include it in next week’s newsletter. This can be personalised or anonymous, as you wish.
This week’s prayer intentions include:
- Everyone whose physical and mental health has been affected by Covid-19.
- The people of Leicester currently under lockdown.
- We pray for Fr John Daley.
- Ginger Newby who was admitted to hospital with a broken leg after a fall.
- The brother of David Cafferky who was in a critical condition after a horrific accident. David has sent the following update: Ian was discharged from hospital last week, which is quite unbelievable considering that 6-7 weeks ago he was knocking on death’s door. He is wheelchair bound and will not be able to bear any weight for at least two months. Physiotherapy will then begin, though there is no guarantee that he will walk as before. Doctors suspect that he has suffered nerve damage in his legs but cannot assess this until all the swelling and bruising has gone. His progress has been unbelievable and we thank God for all the graces he has received and all the help from prayer.
- Barbara Heath reports that her sister-in-law, Janet Wale, had an operation for cancer. Janet was in the Royal, but has been transferred to the Beechwood Ward, The Evington Centre, Gwendolyn Road, Leicester. She is still rather “confused” but will be allowed home when her situation stabilises.
Hymn of the week:
If we all were to read (or sing) the parish “favourite of the week” what a great way it would be of reminding us of the community to which we belong. Some parishioners will remember the Rosary Crusade of Fr Patrick Peyton in the 1950s. He popularised the saying: “A family that prays together stays together”. We could easily adapt this to read: “A parish that prays together stays together”. Let’s give it a try.
For this week’s hymn, the newsletter editor has exercised editorial rights by choosing a hymn which has special memories. The words and the music are by Kevin Nichols. Fr Nichols was my form master for three years while I was a pupil at St Cuthbert’s Grammar School in Newcastle: my English teacher, a gentle and holy man. I did not know that he was musical. You will recognise the hymn as one we sing regularly at the Offertory.
In bread we bring you Lord, our body's' labour
In wine we offer you our spirit's grief.
We do not ask you, Lord, who is my neighbour?
But stand united now, in one belief.
For we have gladly heard your Word, your holy Word
And now in answer, Lord, our gifts we bring.
Our selfish hearts make true, our failing faith renew,
Our life belongs to you, our Lord and King.
The bread we offer you is blessed and broken,
And it becomes for us our spirit’s food.
Over the cup we bring, your Word is spoken;
Make it your gift to us, your healing blood.
Take all that daily toil, plants in our heart’s poor soil,
Take all we start and spoil, each hopeful dream.
The chances we have missed, the graces we resist,
Lord, in thy Eucharist, take and redeem.
What is your favourite hymn? Let us know and we shall publish it in the next newsletter.
Sick List:
Please continue to pray for the following members of our parish: Bernard Moyers, Patrick Hodgson, Tod Smith, Angela Doyle, Ida De Melo, Maurice Nixon, Eva Shirreffs, Stefania Stasior, Irene Pallot, Ginger Newby.
Anniversaries:
Let us remember in our prayers those parishioners whose anniversaries occur in the coming week:
- 3rd August 1990 Catherine O’Keefe
- 3rd August 2013 Catherine Wells
- 3rd August 2015 Edward C Byrne
- 8th August 1988 Evelyn Wheatley
Terry and Sheila were delighted to receive the news that their grandson, Thomas Breed, has been awarded a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh (USA). Thomas was a former pupil of Bishop Ellis and De Lisle College where one of his teachers was Rebecca Jinks.
Happy Birthday to Isaac Jinks who is 12 on Sunday 2nd August from Mum, Dad, Hugh and all members of St Gregory’s Parish. Have a wonderful day and don’t eat too much cake!
On Saturday 8th August, Wilf celebrates his 89th birthday. There are few parishioners who better illustrate loyal service and devotion to our parish; at Christmas he will celebrate eighty years as an altar server. Wilf, from all your friends and admirers at St Gregory’s: Happy Birthday!
As a consequence of recent developments, it is with regret that I inform you that next week’s newsletter will be the last one that I shall be able to publish. If you feel that you would like to take over this task, please contact Fr Clement when he resumes his role as Parish Priest.
We say “Good Bye and Good Luck” to Fr John who will be taking up his new position in the next few weeks as Parish Priest at Our Lady of Lincoln parish in Lincoln. Traditionally, we might expect to celebrate his time among us with some sort of gathering and presentation. Sadly, this will not be possible. However, it has been proposed by some parishioners that we ought at least to give him a leaving present. Therefore, if you wish to contribute to a leaving gift, please send your donation to Peter Fryer at 45 Thirlmere Road, Barrow upon Soar, LE12 8QQ. Cheques should be made payable to “P. Fryer”. I shall bank all monies collected and write a single cheque to Fr John. Paul Carroll, as Chairman of the Finance Committee, has agreed to act as auditor of the fund. We shall arrange for a card to be sent with the cheque. If you do wish to contribute, please do so as soon as possible as we would like to complete the collection and send the card and cheque by 15th August.
