For Catholics on the Tendring Peninsula….
SPECIAL NEWSLETTER VI – keeping in touch.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 2/3 May 2020
Catholic Parishes of:
Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Dovercourt: 01255 503383
email Harwich@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website www.harwichcatholics.org.uk
Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi, Frinton-on-Sea: 01255 674475
email Frinton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
website: www.frintoncatholicchurch.wordpress.com
‘Private’ Masses to be celebrated in our churches this week:
Monday (4th): (Frinton) 9.00am Marjorie Hosegood RIP
Wednesday (6th): (Frinton) 9.00am David Wright (The Sisters)
Thursday (7th): (Frinton) 11.00am Sr Agatha
Friday (8th): (Frinton) 9.00am Jane Robinson and Howard
Saturday (9th): (Frinton) 6.00pm John and Eileen Turner
Sunday (10th) (Dovercourt) 10.45am Father Hugh Thwartes RIP
(I have changed this pattern to comply as best I can with Government restrictions on travelling)
In addition to these Masses, Fr Bill will continue to celebrate Mass in The Presbytery. His intentions this week are:
Florence McCarthy RIP
Private Intention
Private Intention
NHS Staff, Carers, Key Workers and Volunteers
All Parishioners
My dear friends,
We cannot fail to notice how committed the earliest Christians were to the Mass. Last week’s Gospel makes clear that from the very day of the Resurrection the apostles “recognised him in the breaking of the bread” (cf: Luke 24:35). The Resurrection does not simply mean that the Risen Christ appeared to the apostles for 40 days and then disappeared. He is still with us, with us, pre-eminently in the Eucharist. We read in the earliest accounts of the life of the church that “each day they met together in the Temple; and to break the bread in their homes..” (Acts 2:46) We look forward and pray for the day when we can once again meet to break the bread: can celebrate Mass together.
Today is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. We are reminded of the need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus – to walk by the narrow way, the way that leads to the “gate of the sheepfold” (John 10:7)
We could see these two Gospel readings as pointing to the structure of the Mass. First of all, we listen to His voice in the part of the Mass called The Liturgy of the Word. As we listen our “hearts burn within us” (Luke 24:32) preparing us to encounter him in the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion (The Liturgy of the Eucharist). Our walk up the aisle to meet Christ is a real journey of faith – it mirrors the walk along the narrow road undertaken in response to Jesus’s calling – a walk that leads to the only true and lasting happiness, that is life with Him.
It was good to hold a minute silence before Mass on Tuesday. As we pray for our front-line workers and volunteers don’t forget to remember all the chaplains who are doing heroic work alongside medical staff.
We are now in the month of May – Our Lady’s month. It is a good idea to add extra devotions to Our Blessed Lady as part of our daily prayer life during the Lockdown.
May Christ the Good Shepherd guide you all your days.
Fr Frank
A hymn for Good Shepherd Sunday:
Loving Shepherd of thy sheep, Loving Shepherd, thou didst give
keep me, Lord, in safety keep; thine own life that I might live;
nothing can thy power withstand, may I love thee day by day,
none can pluck me from thy hand. gladly thy sweet will obey.
In this Sunday’s gospel we have the beautiful and ancient image of Jesus the good shepherd. We turn to Him for protection; we pray for our priests, shepherds with us today (AJ).
Offertory:
I know that many of you will be suffering economically as a result of the pandemic, but you may like to continue to contribute to the Church as best you can. Our parish income has gone down by many £100s each week. A simple way of doing this is to click on the appropriate link below and follow the very simple instructions. Good luck!
For Harwich & Dovercourt parishioners: https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/donations?parish=harwich-and-dovercourt
for Frinton & Walton parishioners: https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/donations?parish=frinton-on-sea
Sunday Smile: members of an Anglican church discovered that the roof was leaking. The following Sunday the church secretary started his notices by apologizing for the drip in the pulpit.