Newsletter 1 October 2021
Welcome to another newsletter which, this week, after a brief absence, is now published on the website again.
As I write, it is the feast of St Therese of Lisieux, who lived and died in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Through her intimate autobiography she influenced Popes and nuns and millions of people who saw in her ‘little way’ of spiritual childhood an attractive and understandable style of being holy. The pope who canonised her called her the greatest saint of modern (!) times. We can promise again with her help, to be faithful in small details and try to do everything out of love for God.
Sister Catherine Joy had a great send off at her funeral in Altrincham. May she rest in peace.
Our mass this weekend has readings that talk about God’s strict laws about the unity and indissolubility of marriage. Until December we listen to passages from the letter to the Hebrews, showing Jesus’ role fulfilling God’s plans as outlined in the Old Testament. Also there is part of the gospel reading stressing the importance of trusting and relating to God as a small child relates to its parents.
Not many people have yet resumed coming to weekday mass, but we will continue on the path back to ‘normality’. There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament here at St Winefride’s on Tuesday at 7.00pm followed by Mass at 7.30pm. There will also be Mass on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings at 9.15am. On Thursday morning after Mass we welcome people back to enjoy the coffee mornings.
We will introduce RE lessons on Thursdays gradually. The first important task is to identify any children in years 3 or 4 (a double intake) who want to make their first Holy Communion, and they will take priority.
Please would parents of these young people find an enrolment form at the back of church, fill it in, and hand it to Fr Elder before half term at the latest.
When we know the numbers we can arrange for suitable instruction to be given. So far there haven’t been any registrations.
Mass intentions have been offered for Stan Beardwood, Sean O’Cleirigh, Sister Catherine Joy and James Comerford.
Today being Family Fast Day, there is the opportunity to donate money to Cafod to help those people in less fortunate economic states than us. Please take a special envelope, and if you pay tax then kindly gift-aid your donation and increase it by 25%. If you have done that before for Cafod, it is enough to put your name and address and that you have previously given details. Place the envelope in the ordinary collection box, even next week if that is more convenient.
If you are reading this at home on the website and want Holy Communion at home, please ask by telephone and I will do my best to arrange that for you.
Fr Tony
