Mixer & Mash night
Who fancies a "Getting To Know You" evening catching up with fellow parishioners and finding out more about any new parishioners?
Well, on Saturday 3rd February you can do just that at our Parish 'Mixer & Mash' night!
Good old, hearty, sausage and mash will be on the menu and for your ticket price of just £15 per person you'll get a 2 course meal, after dinner coffee & mints, table activities, glasses for your BYO drinks and a lovely night out.
Contact the parish office for your ticket or buy them after Masses this weekend and next.
Dietary requirements will be happily catered for - please let us know on purchasing. See you there!
Irish Night
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish are hosting an Irish Night on 2nd March in aid of Parish Funds.
At just £20 pp you will have a free drink and buffet as well as Irish dancing and fun!
At just £20 pp you will have a free drink and buffet as well as Irish dancing and fun!
Contact Sharon Kitchen direct on 07789036649 for tickets.
During Lent Bishop Declan is to celebrate Liturgies of Reconciliation at five venues across the diocese.
Our nearest, and in our Pastoral Area, is Holy Family, Patchway on Wednesday 6th March at 7pm.
Building upon the beautiful gatherings during Lent he is, once again, inviting our diocesan community to gather with him in celebration of God's merciful love as part of our Lenten journey. There will be priests available at each venue to celebrate sacramental reconciliation.
You will be most welcome at any of the venues - see the poster for details
With World Leprosy Day on Sunday 28th January 2024, we are pleased to highlight again the charity Lepra who are celebrating their Centenary year with special events, such as a Mass for World Leprosy Day at Westminster Cathedral with our own Bishop Declan. All are welcome to the London Mass on Friday - see details and a link below.
In their message to us recently, Lepra confirmed that "over 3 million people are living with undiagnosed leprosy, which if not treated early enough may result in life-changing physical and mental health issues that can destroy people’s lives. Leprosy, although curable is sadly surrounded by myths and discrimination, which often prevent people from coming forward to seek treatment. At Lepra, working across India and Bangladesh, we aim to change the negative that surrounds the disease of leprosy and are committed to making sure that people affected by leprosy have the chance to live with dignity and their disease be of little adverse consequence to their lives. I hope this short film link is of interest. With your help, we can beat leprosy - YouTube"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpyKbz8-a6A
More information and details of how you can support Lepra can be found on their website at https://link.edgepilot.com/s/45b0f418/qOkZgdqdFkiPv-J07jz7PQ?u=http://www.lepra.org.uk/
Here are Deacon Vincent's Reflections for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
1st Reading from the book of Deuteronomy 18: 15-20.
This book is possibly the most influential in the Old Testament and comprises a second reading of the Law just before the people of Israel enters the Promised Land. It is ostensibly delivered by Moses himself. This passage was inevitably applied to Jesus, see John’s Gospel 1: 21, 25. Mark also raises the question in his Gospel 8: 28, where Jesus enquires what people are saying of him and Peter declares him to be the Messiah, the one promised by God when he revealed this promise to Moses. After this the people of Israel longed and yearned for this Messiah. We know and follow Jesus; we need to be worthy of our calling.
Psalm 94: 1-2, 6-9.
This song is an invitation to praise the Lord but concludes a little edgily recalling the peoples’ failings. It just shows how aware the psalmists were of their failings and the need to be vigilant in not getting above ourselves.
2nd Reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 7: 32-35.
This is a continuation of the letter of Paul’s that we read last week. It needs to be viewed in the light that the Church expected Jesus’ second coming to be imminent, and Paul is endeavouring to focus their minds on preparing for that event. It is a piece of common sense to limit one’s distractions from the physical to the spiritual arena. Paul was well aware of the Corinthians reputation for sexual misbehaviour, so Paul saw an opportunity to distract them to a higher level.
The Holy Gospel according to Mark 1: 21-28.
For the first time we see Jesus doing what is an important theme for Mark, namely, Jesus’ teaching. Jesus’ teaching has an immediate effect. The people are amazed, and we will see this recurring time and again in Mark’s Gospel, and especially with his disciples. Notice Mark’s use of the word “Authority”, which we will come across many times in this Gospel. Here is mentioned also the Scribes, who will form part of Jesus’ opposition. In just a few short sentences Mark is setting out the format for this Gospel. Jesus teaches with authority, the people recognise him, in contrast to the Scribes. Jesus casts out evil spirits and his reputation gathers momentum. We are about to embark on a roller coaster journey with Jesus’ few short years. Let’s hope we are amazed and inspired like his first disciples.
God bless our endeavours in the coming year. Deacon Vincent.
*I fully acknowledge the assist given me by Nicholas King’s Study Bible in this and all my reflections. For his insight into the books and writings of the Holy Bible. He has been my inspiration and insight into the wonders of Holy Scripture.
1st Reading from the book of Deuteronomy 18: 15-20.
This book is possibly the most influential in the Old Testament and comprises a second reading of the Law just before the people of Israel enters the Promised Land. It is ostensibly delivered by Moses himself. This passage was inevitably applied to Jesus, see John’s Gospel 1: 21, 25. Mark also raises the question in his Gospel 8: 28, where Jesus enquires what people are saying of him and Peter declares him to be the Messiah, the one promised by God when he revealed this promise to Moses. After this the people of Israel longed and yearned for this Messiah. We know and follow Jesus; we need to be worthy of our calling.
Psalm 94: 1-2, 6-9.
This song is an invitation to praise the Lord but concludes a little edgily recalling the peoples’ failings. It just shows how aware the psalmists were of their failings and the need to be vigilant in not getting above ourselves.
2nd Reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 7: 32-35.
This is a continuation of the letter of Paul’s that we read last week. It needs to be viewed in the light that the Church expected Jesus’ second coming to be imminent, and Paul is endeavouring to focus their minds on preparing for that event. It is a piece of common sense to limit one’s distractions from the physical to the spiritual arena. Paul was well aware of the Corinthians reputation for sexual misbehaviour, so Paul saw an opportunity to distract them to a higher level.
The Holy Gospel according to Mark 1: 21-28.
God bless our endeavours in the coming year. Deacon Vincent.
*I fully acknowledge the assist given me by Nicholas King’s Study Bible in this and all my reflections. For his insight into the books and writings of the Holy Bible. He has been my inspiration and insight into the wonders of Holy Scripture.
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