Parish News

This weekend we have a pastoral letter from Bishop Marcus about the work of Catholic Care. Catholic Care supports a number of our parishioners helping them to stay in their own homes as well as supporting our Wednesday Friendship Group. There will be the annual retiring collection at all Sunday Masses to support their work. I know that there are many calls on people’s money but please be as generous as you can be. It is a good and easy way of Lenten alms giving.

This Sunday is Mothering Sunday. It’s an opportunity to thank our mothers for all that do, or have done, for us either by a gift or, for those who are with the Lord, a spiritual gift of prayer. Also remember that we have a mother in heaven, Mary Mother of Perpetual Help.

. Subscribers to the Update Service will be emailed 30 days before their renewal date to ask if they wish to stay subscribed. The renewal email will ask volunteers to access their Update Service Account and confirm that they wish to continue with the service. For those who confirm, this request will be repeated annually. If no confirmation is made, their volunteer subscription will automatically be cancelled. Volunteers who do not renew their subscription will not be able to keep their DBS certificate(s) up to date and  organisations will not be able to check them. They will need to reapply for a DBS check if they need one in the future.

We have seven wonderful people in the parish who desire to join God's family in the Catholic church at Easter.  Please do keep them in your prayers over the coming weeks.

As in previous years we will have our Eater Egg Tombola after the 10.30 Mass on Mothering Sunday next Sunday the 30th of March . We still need more eggs. Please be as generous as you can be in donating them. I see that they are all in the shops already with bargains to be had!

Revised Sunday readers rota this is now available. Volunteers are still invited to join our readers rotas both at St Urban's and Our Lady of Lourdes . Volunteers are still needed to help with counting the offertory after the 10.30 Sunday Mass at St Urban's and for cleaning on Monday mornings, again at St Urban’s. We also need volunteers to do some additional work at Our Lady of Lourdes , such as cleaning our beautiful tabernacle, candle sticks, the processional cross etc. All of these are important forms of serving God and each other. Please help if you can by speaking to Father Chris or email the parish office. Thank you to all those currently helping and those who have come forward; it is sincerely appreciated.

The 4th Sunday in Lent is "Laetare Sunday", laetare is a Latin word meaning rejoice. In this Sunday we are invited to rejoice in anticipating the victory of the Lord Jesus over sin and death at Easter. In a sense we are also invited to "lighten up" a little from the prayer, fasting and alms giving of Lent. It is reflected in the liturgy too where the priest does not wear deep purple but a lighter colour that looks like pink but is officially the colour rose. The gospel on Sunday is the familiar story of the prodigal son in it we are in a sense invited to anticipate and celebrate the love and forgiveness of God our father who is constantly on the look out for us to come back to him. It may sound shocking but it does not matter what we have done as long as we come to him with true humility, repentance, and a commitment to the conversion of mind heart and soul. We do not need to look forward to this beautiful healing as something for the future, it is available to us now in the sacrament of penance - confession. Why wait for the Lord to heal your soul? Easter is a time of the year when the church asks you to receive this marvellous grace. Personally, I am always willing to hear a confession anytime, anywhere. Be assured that I always treat people with compassion, kindness and love just like the father receives the wayward child in the gospel. Also Sunday happens to be Mothering Sunday, let us take a moment to thank God in prayer for our mothers, those with us and those who have gone to God. Remember we also have our heavenly mother, Mary, who is always ready to help her children. Please be assured of my prayers for you and your intentions. With my sincere best wishes for the week ahead. Fr Chris

You will see sign up sheets for helping with our Holy Week Liturgies from readers to having feet washed on Holy Thursday. It is a great opportunity to contribute to making special the most sacred time of the year.  All help gratefully appreciated.

CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY raised a fantastic £480.70. Well done and thank you. It will make a huge difference to  people in desperate need. Be sure that the Lord will bless your generosity, especially during Lent.