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We're very grateful to you all for continuing to give generously towards our parish. Even in lockdown, the pastoral mission of the parish continues. We have important responsibilities to meet pastorally as well as the stewardship of our church and premises. We do hope that even in these difficult times, you feel able to continue contributing towards our life and work here.

Church Services TV have contacted us to apologise for the trouble with the feed. As you can imagine, the traffic on our site and theirs has increased by such a huge amount. They are working to increase capacity, but as they do so demand continues to rise. Thank you for your patience as we understand this is an important way for our parishioners and others to pray during this difficult time. We are aware of the ongoing work on this, but there is not much we can do at our end. Hopefully, it should be resolved soon. God bless you and thank you.

Fr David Reilly

 
OBLIGATION ON EASTER DUTIES REMOVED
Please see the link below which includes a message from the Cardinal, reflecting on the fact that our obligation to receive Holy Communion 'at least once a year at Easter or thereabouts' is removed this year. So also, therefore, is the need to celebrate reconciliation before doing so. As we sadly cannot approach these sacraments at this time, we are reminded that it is sufficient to make a perfect act of contrition and to resolve to go to confession as soon as it becomes available. Please see the link to the diocesan website: https://rcdow.org.uk/cardinal/news/cardinal-obligation-to-easter-duties-removed-this-year/

WAY OF THE CROSS
We will celebrate the Way of the Cross live on Friday morning after the 10am Mass. This Way of the Cross was also prepared by some priests for YouTube - thank you to the priests of St John Vianney Parish, Leeds. Parishioners here might like pray with it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eueczgYVJY

 

 
CHURCH CLOSED
With regret we announce that the church is now completely closed. This is a decision of the bishops following instructions received from the Government. There have been some mixed messages in the media, but please note that the church will not be open for private prayer - please STAY AT HOME and join us in prayer (and online) if you can. God bless you all.

Fr. David Reilly

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

You need no words from me to state the grave seriousness of the crisis of the spread of the coronavirus around the world and throughout this country. We know the steps and the sacrifices we must take in order to play our part in slowing its spread, saving lives and enabling the NHS to continue its vital work. These things are our duty before God.

There are other vitally important aspects of this moment in our history that are less prominent in our media and conversations.

At this moment we stand before God. That is never to be forgotten. Together we turn to God in prayer, at this moment as never before.

Dear Parishioners,

I write to you with important information for the parish regarding the suspension of normal activities due to the Covid-19 coronavirus disease. We are following the advice and instructions from the Cardinal, the Diocese of Westminster and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW). These are available to view at the Bishops’ Conference website www.cbcew.org.uk

If you are able to, please use our website www.ourladynewsouthgate.org.uk to follow news, updates and Masses. Please also see churchservices.tv/newsouthgate

From today the public celebration of Masses here at Our Lady of Lourdes will be suspended. Please note carefully that this does not mean there will be no Masses. The Eucharist is always the centre of our lives and of the saving work of Christ in his Church. The Bishops are very clear that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is removed during this time. Father Andrew and I will continue to celebrate Mass every day for your intentions and for the spiritual good of all. You will be able to join in these Masses by watching online through the parish website. If you participate in the Mass by the internet or phone at home, you can unite yourself spiritually to the celebration and to all other members of the parish in prayer. We will say the 10am Mass every day (and on Saturdays also at 6.30pm) for the intentions that have already been allocated. The intentions for the 8am Masses and other Masses will either be transferred to later dates, or sent to be celebrated by other priests who do not have intentions. So here, from tomorrow (Thursday 19th March), Holy Mass will be celebrated and streamed live every day, 7 days a week, at 10am, plus also a Mass at 6.30pm on Saturday evening. All other usual times are now suspended. Let us all, please, continue to pray for each other. Confessions may be heard here by pre-arranged appointment only.

  • The Lent Talk on Wednesday 18 March at 7.30pm has been cancelled.
  • New boxes for the Planned Giving Envelopes will be available from Friday - parishioners are invited to call in to the parish office on Friday (9am-2pm) to collect their envelopes. If you would like to sign up for a Standing Order you can also do that at the Parish Office.

 

BBC Radio 4 is broadcasting, in its 15-minute drama slot, a series on Easter from the perspective of the man who, in the end, betrayed everything. Judas runs for five episodes and it's available to listen to on iPlayer, or live at 10:45am and 7:45pm throughout Holy Week. You can find Judas here.

Carol Singing at Arnos Grove Tube Station Friday 18th December 5.30 pm to 7 pm to raise funds for Christian Aid.

Singers and musicians all invited to join the “choir” at Arnos Grove to cheer up the commuters with Christmas Carols.
Children are welcome, but should be accompanied by an adult or guardian.

Anyone who attends should bring with them their photo ID (e.g. Passport or Driving Licence) for registration at the station otherwise they may be refused attendance.

THE HOLY DOOR


All the four papal basilicas in Rome have what is known as a holy door. These doors are normally shut from the inside and cannot be easily opened; they are only opened during Jubilee years.  On the first day of the Holy Year (Jubilee Year), the pope opens the door of St Peter Basilica to let in the pilgrims.
In the following week, the Pope will announce that in every local church, at the cathedral or, alternatively, at the co-cathedral or another church of special significance, a Door of Mercy will be opened for the duration of the Holy Year.


According to the Roman Catholic Church, the Holy Door represents Jesus, the Good Shepherd and the gate of the sheep pen. The bible says in John 10:9 that “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me, will be safe. He will go in and out, and find pasture”.


A very important symbolic act performed by each pilgrim has been to pass through the Holy Door.  Christ identified Himself as “the door.”  In his bull Incarnationis Mysterium proclaiming this Holy Year, Pope John Paul II stated that the Holy Door “…evokes the passage from sin to grace which every Christian is called to accomplish.  Jesus said, ‘I am the door’ (John 10:7) in order to make it clear that no one can come to the Father except through Him. This designation which Jesus applies to Himself testifies to the fact that He alone is the Saviour sent by the Father.  There is only one way that opens wide the entrance into this life of communion with God:  This is Jesus, the one and absolute way to salvation.  To Him alone can the words of the psalmist be applied in full truth:  ‘This is the door of the Lord where the just may enter’ (Psalm 118:20).”


It is the pope himself who closes the door at the end of the Jubilee Year.


SUMMER PARTY

Her Worshipful The Mayor of Enfield, Cllr. Patricia Ekechi is holding a Summer Party on Saturday 26th September at St Edmunds Catholic Church Hall, 115, Hertford Road, N9 7EN to raise money for Dementia Awareness

Tickets are £15 per person, and include food, drink music and raffle and can be purchased from Bernadette Igboaka on  07813 367787.  Children under 12 are free of charge.