Third Sunday and Fourth Sunday in Lent 15 and 22 March 2020
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
CORONAVIRUS.
If you suspect that you may have the virus ring 111 and seek advice – do not go to your surgery.
Remember to ensure that we maintain good hygiene:
- Catch it – sneeze/cough into a tissue
- Bin it – bin the tissue
- Kill it – thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol hand gel
- Do not touch your face unless you have washed your hands.Ministers of the Eucharist will continue to sanitise their hands before and after distributing holy communion. When visiting parishioners at home Ministers and Care Group members should always use alcohol hand gel before and after the visit.No pastoral visits should be made to people who are self-isolating. However, do offer phone support. If you cannot get to Mass because you are self-isolating, please make an Act of Spiritual Communion – see the enclosed sheet with suggestions for prayer.From this weekend (14/15 March) holy water will be removed from both churches and the use of the Chalice suspended at both Sunday and Weekday Masses. The celebrating priest will receive from the chalice as a sign of our communion. You are also asked to refrain from shaking hands at the sign of peace and from receiving the host on the tongue.LENT RECONCILIATION SERVICES:Frinton: Saturday 28th March at 10.00am.On both occasions there will be three priests present to enable you to make individual confession should you feel moved to do so. Whether you intend to make an individual confession or not, please come along to one of these important parish Lenten services.May the God of love bless you today and always.Frank ofs
- Sunday Smile: Whilst sitting at a table in a public restaurant a lady was joined by two nuns. She politely asked them, “What is your Order?” The sisters replied, “Sausage and chips.”
- Harwich/Dovercourt: Saturday 21st March at 10.00am
Second Sunday of Lent (Tear A) 8 March 2020
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
CORONAVIRUS.
At the time of writing (3rd March) there are only a few cases in the UK. This may change, in which case the guidance given below will change also.
Efforts in England and Wales at the moment are focused on containment of the virus and the advice so far is written for those circumstances. If this situation changes, detailed guidance will be produced. Our Bishops are keeping this matter under continuous review.
If you suspect that you may have the virus ring 111 – do not go to your surgery.
Our bishops recommend the following within our parishes:
Ensure that we maintain good hygiene especially at Mass and parish gatherings. The public information poster advises:
- Catch it – sneeze into a tissue
- Bin it – bin the tissue
- Kill it – wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol hand gel
- Do not touch your face unless you have washed your hands.Ministers of the Eucharist should sanitise their hands before and after distributing holy communion.There is no need for the Chalice to be withdrawn or the sign of peace suspended at the moment.When visiting parishioners at home always use alcohol hand gel before and after the visit.No pastoral visits should be made to people who are self-isolating. However, do offer phone support.May God bless you today and always.Frank ofs
- Anyone with cold or ‘flu symptoms should refrain from the physical sign of peace, taking communion from the chalice and should receive the host in the hand only.
Sunday Smile: The parish priest got a little carried away when praying for the sick: “We must remember Mrs Godson in our prayers who has recently had all her teeth taken out and new gas boiler put in.”
First Sunday of Lent (Year A) 1 March 2020
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
Today is the first Sunday of Lent – a season of preparation for the Queen of Feasts, Easter.
During Lent there is a long tradition of ‘giving up something’ (this is a leftover from the rather more rigorous practice of fasting which was so common in earlier times). In itself ‘giving up something’ is a good practice. If I do without something (sweets? Alcohol?) the inconvenience of it reminds me of why I’m doing it, and that can lead to prayer – which is very healthy! ‘Giving up something’ can lead to good, positive spiritual practice.
Another approach may be to do something extra during Lent. Maybe we could attend Mass more frequently during the week, walk the Stations of the Cross, attend the Churches Together Lent Services, join the Frinton Meditation Group, help out at the Foodbank or at Walton Meals Matters, or become a member of the Care Group. Prayer and serving the community can be good, positive spiritual practice.
Whatever you choose to do, I pray that each and every one of us has a good and holy Lent.
On a personal note, Anne and I will be taking a short break from Tuesday to Friday this week. My thanks to those who will be keeping the liturgical and spiritual life of the parishes going during my absence.
May the God in whom we place our hope, bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
In the days of compulsory church parades, a sergeant major marched the men to the Garrison Anglican Church, then became muddled as he yelled: “Roam out the fallen Catholics.”
Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time 23 February 2020
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
Last week we were thinking about the Commandments and The Law of Love. You will remember Jesus’s words: “I come not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfil them”.
The injunction to Love is not new. In today’s first reading (from Leviticus) we hear: “You must love your neighbour as yourself”. This sort of love leads to the good ordering of society – of our Church, our parish.
Our Gospel, however, takes it further: “Love your enemies….pray for those who persecute you”. This is not easy, but in loving even our enemies we become more Christ-like, for we are called to “be perfect just as your heavenly father is perfect.” How wonderful it is to have a heavenly Father who forgives us even when we act as his enemy. If we feel that our thoughts, or our words, or our behaviour have betrayed God, what a comfort it is to know that by truly repenting and by faithfully attending the Sacrament of Reconciliation and confessing our sins we can be Reconciled to God – the God of Love.
Wednesday this week is Ash Wednesday, the day which marks the beginning of the solemn season of Lent. Please make every effort to be present at Mass, either in the parish or close by your place of work, on this important day.
Throughout Lent there will be special services: ecumenical Lent services, healing Masses and Reconciliation Services. Please keep an eye on the Newsletter and endeavour to be present at as much as possible in preparation for Easter, the Queen of Feasts.
May God Our Loving Father bless you today and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
A priest called at the home of a young female parishioner. He rang the bell a number of times, but receiving no response, even though it seemed obvious someone was home, he dropped his visiting card through the door on which he simply wrote: “Revelation 3:20”.
The following Sunday his card was returned via the Offertory. The parishioner had added: “Genesis 3:10”
Reaching for his bible to check the quote he broke into gales of laughter!
Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
In today’s Gospel reading Jesus tells us that he has come not to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfil them.
Living by the Law of Moses was, and is, central to adherents of the Jewish religion. We are all familiar with the Decalogue, but in addition to these 10 Commandments there are an additional collection of laws, bringing the total to over 600. I suppose the question is: ‘Are these relevant to us?’ and the answer: ‘Yes,’ but in a radically different way from how they were originally perceived.
Jesus, in his person, fulfils the Law. We are to emulate him. How? By living a life suffused with love. We are specifically instructed by Jesus to love one another. And to love one another as he has done. That is, by giving our all.
Love is the key word for us. We are called to live according to the Law of Love. Jesus points out that it is not just murder, but having anger in our heart which condemns us. It is not just the act of adultery, but having a lustful eye which condemns us.
Our Christian faith, Jesus makes clear, isn’t simply a question obedience to a set of rules or laws. It is to do with our internal disposition – the question we need to ask ourselves is: ‘Am I a loving person?’
May the God of Love bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
A young priest had spent all his life in towns and didn’t really understand his rural parishioners.
Deploring the townsman’s ignorance, a farm worker said, “He knows no more ‘bout farmin’ than a cow ‘bout Sunday.”
Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A) 9 February 2020
Fr Frank writes:
My dear friends,
Last weekend we celebrated The Presentation of Christ, the Light of the World, and candles were used at Mass as a visual sign of Simeon’s words:
Now Master you can let your servant go in peace
as you promised:
For my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
A light of revelation for the gentiles
and glory for your people Israel.
We also received candles as a reminder that we are called to share the light of Christ with others. We do this through the kind of lives that we lead, we call it Evangelisation. Evangelisation is not just for the few, it is for all of us. We are all, like St Paul, called to proclaim Christ. We don’t need fancy rhetoric, or a degree in philosophy or theology to speak of Christ. We just need to live good lives – lives that reflect the light of Christ. If we do this, questions will follow. And our answers will (through the grace of the Holy Spirit) come to us.
The Gospel exhorts us not to hide our Faith (this gift from God), but to let it shine out in our daily lives. I pray that each and every one of us may be led to become real beacons of the Faith in our community so that many more may come to know Christ.
May Jesus Christ, the light of the world, bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
A new rector was inducted into a country parish. One of the older parishioners was asked how he liked the new rector and he replied, “Well, it’s like this, the old rector when he said ‘and in conclusion’ he concluded. This new rector when he says ‘and lastly’ he lasts.”