FR DAVID WRITES
Thank you for your prayers and presence at the special Mass for Sister Anne last Tuesday. We wish Sister Anne well as she moves to her new home. You can find a special message from Sister Anne printed below. Please make sure to join us on Tuesday 10th February for our parish Mass at 7 pm in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes. Please also note that Ash Wednesday will be on Wednesday 18th February. May the Good Lord bless us all in the new week that lies ahead.
CANDLEMAS
Candlemas (the Feast of the Lord’s Presentation) will be on Monday 2nd February (Monday week) with Mass here at 10 am. This feast will mark the very end of the Christmas liturgy. Please bring any new candles you would like to blessed at the start of that Mass.
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
This year, we will celebrate our parish patronal feast with a special Mass on the evening of Tuesday 10th February at 7 pm (think of it as a ‘vigil Mass’). This will be followed by a parish social event in the hall. The following morning, on Wednesday 11th February, the children and staff from Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School will join us at 10 am Mass for their own children's celebration of the feast. Please make a note of these dates and be sure to join us at the special Mass.
MESSAGE FROM SR ANNE COLLETT RNDM
“I would like to thank you all for your wholehearted participation in our celebration last Tuesday, and for the lovely cards, many gifts and promise of prayers I have received. I will always remember you in my thoughts and prayers. Memories of my precious 26 years in this beautiful parish will remain with me forever.
Thank you so much and may God bless you. Sister Anne Collett”
CARDINAL NICHOLS THANKSGIVING MASS
After 16 years as our Archbishop, Cardinal Nichols will retire, with Archbishop Richard Moth succeeding him. A special Mass of Thanksgiving for Cardinal Nichols will be held at Westminster Cathedral on Thursday 5th February at 5.30 pm, and all are welcome.
MARY O’RIORDAN RIP
We will celebrate a Requiem Mass for Mary O’Riordan here on Tuesday 27th January at 6 pm, before her funeral which will take place in Ireland. May she rest in peace.
FAIR TRADE
The Fair Trade will take place after Masses this weekend 24th/25th of January. Thank you for your continuing support for our Fair Trade stall.
CONFIRMATION 2026
The first meeting for Candidates will take place on Saturday 31st January at 4.15pm. Please remember to bring completed forms to this meetings.
CHURCH FLOWERS VOLUNTEERS
If you would like to be added to the rota to help once a month with the church flowers please leave your name with the parish office.
PARKING INFORMATION
Once again, a significant number of people are parking in the middle of the car park before using all the outlined spaces. This blocks empty spaces that could be filled and reduces the number of cars we can fit into the car park for Mass. Last week at the 12.30pm Mass there were 5 empty spaces that were blocked by people who chose not to use them. Please note: when you arrive, if there are empty spaces available, they MUST be used before double/central parking will be allowed. Please try to be considerate and think of others. Parking is free for a max of 4 hours per day. For parish activities which last longer than this, please speak to the parish office. There may be some ‘teething problems’: any problems/questions, please speak to us.
REFLECTION
When Jesus began his ministry, he found that he could not work from his home in Nazareth and so he moved to Capernaum and, in this way fulfilled the words of Isaiah. It was at this time that he called the local fishermen; Peter, Andrew, James and John to be his apostles. John The Baptist had been arrested, Jesus had to leave his family home, fishermen were called from their work; each. in their own way, were uprooted and set new tasks. To follow Jesus, we too may be uprooted and given new work to do; it is all in God’s hands and to be done with great joy.
David Frank