some past featured articles and links 2023
January | February |
March | April | May |
June | July | August |
September |
October | November | December + other links
JANUARY:
Emeritus
Pope Benedict XVI R.I.P. Vatican News link - Biography
Peace
Sunday was celebrated in England and Wales on 15 January;
see Pax Christi, the International Catholic movement for peace for resources.
The Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity was observed in January during
the octave of St. Peter and St. Paul. Theme for 2023: 'Be-Longing: Praying for Unity amidst
injustice' -
resource links are here
Epiphany
Traditional New Year House Blessing (or any other time) "20 + C + M + B +
23"
Christus Mansionem Benedicat ~ May Christ bless this house. A tradition in
the Catholic Church was to hand out blessed chalk at the Masses for Epiphany, to
be used in blessing one’s home in the New Year. Write above your doorway as in
the example above: 20 (first two numbers of the year) + C + M + B ( for the 3
Magi, Casper, Melchior, and Balthasar), then + 23 (last two numbers of the
year), then write below: ' Christus Mansionem Benedicat', (“May Christ Bless
this House.”) -- The four crosses represent the 4 seasons. As you are writing,
pray the following prayer: "Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your
only-begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house
and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for
others may reflect your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen." ~
read more
here and
here (is adaptable for any time of year, e.g.
a new home).
Fr
David's Meditation for
Christmastide 'Peace on Earth to People
of Goodwill' - also Fr
David's East Window
(Saints) meditation and Immaculate Conception Window
meditation
A New
Beginning! by Henri J. M. Nouwen: 'We must learn to live
each day, each hour, yes, each minute as a new beginning, as a
unique opportunity to make everything new. Imagine that we could
live each moment as a moment pregnant with new life. Imagine that
we could live each day as a day full of promises. Imagine that we
could walk through the new year always listening to the voice
saying to us: “I have a gift for you and can’t wait for you to see
it!” Imagine.' - New Year
Prayers and Reflections
[of interest from our
audio library: The CTIPA Christian Unity Service, with Choral Evening Prayer, in
our Parish church, Jan 2012. Preacher: The Bishop of Truro, Tim Thornton; 'if we take prayer seriously, will the process of prayer allow
the possibility of change ... structural unity, working together.' 
listen / download mp3 audio (16:20 mins) ]
FEBRUARY: Racial Justice
Sunday 5th Feb resources
MARCH:
If you
missed it at a Lent group, watch The
Letter - Laudato Si' Film telling the story about the Pope’s
call to care for our planet - website - - Pope Francis' Encyclical letter:
“Laudato Si'.” (Care for our common
home)
Pope Francis message for Lent 2023
- <:))))<> - Pastoral Letter for Lent from Cardinal
Nichols
CAFOD Syria-Turkey
Earthquake Appeal --- DEC Disasters Emergency Committee
Lent & Holy Week liturgies & parish activities
leaflet 2023 ~ Lent
website pages
Reflection: "Lent is like a long 'retreat' during which we can turn back into ourselves and listen to the voice of God, in order to defeat the temptations of the Evil One. It is a period of spiritual 'combat' which we must experience alongside Jesus, not with pride and presumption, but using the arms of faith: prayer, listening to the word of God and penance. In this way we will be able to celebrate Easter in truth, ready to renew the promises of our Baptism." ~ Pope Benedict XVI
CTIPA
Lent frugal lunches 2023 from 12 noon to
1.15pm proceeds to Christian Aid and CAFOD projects
CTIPA
- Good Friday Walk of Witness: 11.30am
from the Penzance bus station or meet 11.45am outside Lloyds Bank
for midday service. Afterwards at The Salvation Army Citadel
in Queens Street for refreshments.
World Day of
Prayer was 3rd March. Theme: “I have heard about
your faith” info - prayer resources - Bible reflection
Do you remember the fire at St.
Mary's church 38 years ago? The wondeful pipe organ (from 1769) was destroyed. On 22nd March 2023, during
an event for CTIPA's
foodbank, recordings
of it from 1973 were played
in St. Mary's for the first time. If organ music or the history is of any interest to you, listen
to it here, with links to
more.
APRIL:
If you
missed it at a Lent group, watch The
Letter - Laudato Si' Film telling the story about the Pope’s
call to care for our planet - website - - Pope Francis' Encyclical letter:
“Laudato Si'.” (Care for our common
home)
Maundy
Thursday - Last Supper Reflection: "Before our response to Christ's invitation - well before! - there is his desire for us. We may not even be
aware of it, but every time we go to Mass, the first reason is that we are drawn there by his desire for us.
For our part, the possible response – which is also the most demanding asceticism – is, as always, that
surrender to this love, letting ourselves be drawn by him. Indeed, every reception of communion of the
Body and Blood of Christ was already desired by him in the Last Supper" ~
Pope Francis: 'Desiderio
Desideravi' (2022)
Pask Lowen! Happy Easter! The Lord is risen
indeed! Alleluia! Heaven and Earth rejoice in Your
resurrection.
May you have:
The gladness of Easter which is hope; The
spirit of Easter which is joy; The heart of Easter which is
love. In these holy days, the Risen Christ repeats His call
to each one of us: “Come and follow me! I am the Way, the Truth and
the Life. I have overcome death!” - Khrystos Voskres! - Christ is Risen!
- Voistyno Voskres! - He is Truly Risen! ~ Ukrainian
Divine Mercy
Sunday is celebrated on the second Sunday of Easter 16th
April, concluding the Easter Octave. It focuses on the gift of
mercy and love given through Christ's death, burial, and
resurrection. Pope Saint John Paul II stated, “Divine Mercy reaches
human beings through the heart of Christ crucified.”
more Divine
Mercy Sunday + Novena
Bishop
Christopher Budd (Emeritus of Plymouth) 1937 - 2023 R.I.P. ~
A tribute letter from the Diocesan communications
team features some lovely photos as well as extracts from his
pastoral letters and heartfelt written tributes from laity and
clergy. ~ Obituary ~ Requiem Mass (listen to homily at 53.40mins
& eulogy at 1h:49.40mins) A Memorial Mass held at Plymouth Cathedral on 23rd May ~ watch on YouTube ~ comments & tribute
'The
Chosen' -
watch series 1 in full. All episodes are free to watch via their app.
4th S. of Easter was
‘Good Shepherd Sunday’, read Plymouth Diocese Leaflet
--- Vocations
Office
MAY:
Catholic Bishops: Coronation
page & Prayers
|| C of E: The Coronation Liturgy ‘Called to
Serve’ || Coronation Chrism
oil consecrated in Jerusalem video - info - video
Laudato
Si week' 21st - 28th May ( ends 8th Anniversary Year) - if you
missed it during Lent and again in May, watch The
Letter - The Laudato Si' Film on YouTube - the story about the Pope’s
call to care for our planet - website -- Pope Francis' Encyclical letter link: Laudato Si' "Care for our common home".
Prayer For Our Earth (Laudato Si)
"All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace."
Radio
Marie is a Catholic radio station broadcasting worldwide 24/7. Listen to the
English station based in
Cambridge.
The Christian Art website gives a picture and reflection
on the Gospel of the day.
JULY:
Plymouth Diocese: 'Mission Made Possible' 7 week
intentional discipleship course, see newsletter 9th July or leaflets in
church. ~ The 'Genesis Mission'
website - Making Disciples ~
evangelisation resource and course, 'Mission Made Possible' by Fr
Jon Bielawski & Fr Michael Dopp.
listen / download 11am sung (celebration) Mass
2nd July 2023 (1hr 4mins)
July '23
Caritas Diocese of Plymouth newsletter ~ events + info including Pope Francis’ message for World Day of the Poor in November with a new document on migration issued by
Catholic Bishops’ Conference – Love
the Stranger’.
Sign
SPUC petition 'Stop the UK Government funding China's
genocidal regime'.
AUGUST: The
Hearts in Search of God - Pilgrim Way Project
promotes walking pilgrimage in England & Wales. Project intention is for
there to be a walking pilgrimage route in each of 22 Catholic dioceses of
England & Wales, starting at the cathedral of each diocese and ending at a
shrine within the same diocese.
SEPTEMBER:
Season of Creation 2023 – Let Justice and Peace Flow -
The Season of Creation from 1 Sept to
4 Oct is an ecumenical celebration when we are invited to pray, act and focus on the cry of the
Earth and the cry of the poor – to listen to those whose voices are
less heard; to pray for those individuals, communities, species,
and ecosystems which are lost and those whose livelihoods are
threatened by climate change. || Diocese
of Plymouth news page
OCTOBER:
Diocesan Newsletter October 2023
For
St Michael and All Angels 29th Sept, a 24 hour prayer and worship event took place at
St Mary's Church, Chapel St. ~ Invitation + Information ~ This brought friends,
communities and local churches together to pray for the vision of
establishing a Night Church in Penzance. Many of our parishioners
were involved. Volunteers now sought to help with
"Night Church PZ" aiming to launch on November 11th (see November notes
below)
Synod Report October 2023 at the
conclusion of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality. "A Church that involves everyone and is close to
world’s wounds. ecumenism, and abuse." ... Looking ahead to the
second session in 2024, the text offers reflections and proposals
on topics such as the role of women and the laity, the ministry of
bishops, priesthood and the diaconate, the importance of the poor
and migrants, digital mission. ... Members
participating in the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of
Bishops issued a ‘Letter to the People of God' - giving thanks
for their experiences and explaining the work of the past weeks.
November 26th 2023 v 23.10 JMJ +AMDG ❤ by admin
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