Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Confirmation 2012 update

Preparation meetings at Saint Mary’s School
Wednesday 29th February 7.00 to 8.30 pm Children of Year 4
Wednesday 7th March 7.00 to 9.00 pm Children of Year 5
Wednesday 14th March 7.00 to 9.00 pm Children of Year 6

Rehearsals: Wednesday 21st March at Saint Mary’s Church
6.00 pm for those being confirmed at 11.00 am on Saturday
7.00 pm for those being confirmed at 3.00 pm Saturday
8.00 pm for those being confirmed at 3.00 pm Sunday

Rehearsals: Wednesday 21st March at Saint Anthony’s Church
7.00 pm for those being confirmed at Saint Anthony’s on Friday.

Weekend of 23rd, 24th and 25th March: Confirmations with Bishop Tom Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool

Nobles Hospital

If you are visiting anyone in the hospital on a Wednesday afternoon, please remember that there is a short service in the Chapel at 2.30pm. This is led by one of the Chaplains. All are welcome – staff, patients, visitors.

Womens’ World Day of Prayer

Services on Friday, will be held at 2.00 pm at Saint Thomas’ church, Finch Road Douglas and Saint Anthony’s church, Onchan.
All are welcome to attend

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Ecumenical services at Onchan

On the Tuesdays of Lent at 7.30pm at Saint Peter’s church in Onchan. Evening when we can pray together and reflect on what it means to be witnesses to the Christian Gospel in our world and our Society in this year of Our Lord 2012. Last year all of the meeting were held at Saint Anthony’s church; this year we meet at Saint Peter’s.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Tuesday Lenten Lunches

Begin this Tuesday (28th) after the 12.10 Mass at Saint Mary’s Douglas. Soup and a roll. Donations this year to the Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage and the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem for work in the Holy Land. All welcome.

The Creed at Mass during Lent

Instead of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, especially during Lent and Easter Time, the baptismal Symbol of the Roman Church, known as the Apostles’ Creed, may be used.

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Marriage Preparation Team

Meeting at Saint Mary’s Presbytery on Monday 27th February at 7.30pm.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Changes in the Liturgy

During lent we refrain from using the ‘Gloria’ at Sunday Masses, and the Alleluia verse before the Gospel is not sung (which may be a relief to some of you!). In fact, the use of the word ‘Alleuia’, which means ‘ Praise to God’, is removed from the Liturgy throughout the season of Lent – in a sense we ‘fast’ from its usage so that when we get to Easter and the 50-day Season of Eastertide we can sing it with renewed vigour!

The use of flowers in Church is also much reduced – in the same way as with the use of ‘Alleluia’, the absence of flowers during lent makes their re-appearance at Easter all the more welcome!

On Mid-Lent Sunday, also known as Laetare Sunday from the first words in Latin of the Entrance Antiphon of the Mass, we make an exception and use some flowers to decorate the Altar – this Sunday is a sort of ‘deep breath’ before we enter into the second half of Lent , and then Holy Week itself.

Marriage Preparation 2012

The Marriage Preparation Day will be held at Saint Mary’s School, on Saturday 10th March. Letters with full details have been sent to all couples who have expressed their intention to Celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage in the coming year (or early 2013) – whether here on the island or elsewhere in the world.

If any couple has not received a letter please contact Kath at the Parish Office (675509) as soon as possible. Thank you

Lenten Alms

Another way in which we can express our outreach and care for the wider community is by the custom of ‘Lenten Alms’ . This year our Bishops have asked us to continue working in support of the Christian Communities in the Holy Land, especially in the area of health care.

On Good Friday we also take the traditional collection for The Holy Places, but this is more specifically targeted at the support needed by the buildings and pilgrimage sites closely linked with the Lord’s life.

Once the Family Fast Collection Date has passed (2nd March) we will make envelopes available at the back of the three churches, marked ‘Lenten Alms’; they can be returned via the collection plate on Sunday or directly to Saint Mary’s Presbytery.

Stations of the Cross

From this weekend we begin the Lenten Devotion of Stations of the Cross
Sunday at 3.00 pm: St Josephs Willaston (but not Sunday 25th March, Confirmations)
Wednesday at 7.30 St Anthony’s Onchan (but not Wed 21st – Confirmation rehearsals)

Due to repair works at Saint Mary’s Church there will be no Stations this week.

The Lamps

At Saint Mary’s Church in Douglas the following are the lamp intentions this week:
Sacred Heart: Premature Twins
Our Lady: L McCowlist
Saint Anthony: Emma Healy
Please remember these intentions in your prayers this week. Thank you.

CAFOD Family Fast Day

Will be held this Friday, March 2nd and is a day on which we can put into practice one of the messages of Lent, that of Almsgiving - sharing with those less fortunate the fruits of something from which we have fasted voluntarily. Please take an envelope home with you this weekend and return it to one of our churches over the next weeks.
Thank you.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Thank you

Many Thanks to those who supported the recent night held at the Empress Hotel with Jimmy Cricket - a staggering £1,500 was raised in total.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Quiz night

Lourdes Youth Group are holding a Quiz Night and Raffle on Saturday March 3rd at 8.00 pm at the Columba Club, Douglas. Tickets are £5 per person, with a maximum of six people per team. Ring Brian on 627729 for tickets.

Mass during Lent at St Mary’s

During Lent, the weekday Mass at Saint Mary's Church in Douglas will be at 12.10 to allow more opportunity for those working in town to make daily Mass part of their Lenten journey.