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'The Holy Family' RC Parish: Penzance + St Ives + Hayle in Penwith West Cornwall + St. Mary's in the Isles of Scilly

2023: Newsletters + summary of features & links

visit news page for current newsletter

 

2023 newsletters list is further below

Food banks and Mary's Meals

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 linkBiography

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 to audio file 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

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.


JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER:

OCTOBER:

NOVEMBER:

DECEMBER:

<:))))<>

Other links of interest:

Mission: Bishop Mark: "Go...Make Disciples" (2017) ~ 'It is The Lord' (2015) ~ related Pastoral Letter (2017) ~ The 'Genesis Mission' website - Making Disciples ~ evangelisation resource and course, 'Mission Made Possible' by Fr Jon Bielawski & Fr Michael Dopp.

2023 Sunday newsletters list. (2022 newsletters are here)

January 2023:  January Homilies

1st January - Mary Mother of God
8th January - The Baptism of The Lord
15th January - 2nd Sunday in OT
22nd January - 3rd Sunday in OT
29th January - 4th Sunday in OT

 February 2023:  February Homilies

5th February - 5th Sunday in OT
12th February - 6th Sunday in OT
19th February - 7th Sunday in OT
26th February - 1st Sunday of Lent

March 2023:  March Homilies

5th March -  2nd Sunday of Lent
12th March - 3rd Sunday of Lent
19th March - 4th of Lent (Laetare)
26th March - 5th Sunday of Lent 

April 2023:  April Homilies

2nd April - Palm Sunday
9th April - Easter Sunday
16th April - Divine Mercy Sunday
23rd April - 3rd Sunday of Easter
30th April - 4th Sunday of Easter

May 2023:  May Homilies

7th May - 5th Sunday of Easter
14th May - 6th Sunday of Easter
21st May - 7th Sunday of Easter
28th May Pentecost - Come Holy Spirit

June 2023:  June Homilies

4th June - The Most Holy Trinity

     
     

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