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- Written by Fr David Reilly
- Category: News Stories
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.
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- Written by Edoardo Albert
- Category: News Stories
- 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.
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- Written by Parish Office
- Category: News Stories
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.
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- Written by Edoardo Albert
- Category: News Stories
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.
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- Written by Parish Office
- Category: News Stories
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.