Monday,  Tuesday, Thursday,  Friday — Mass at 10 a.m.

Saturday : Exposition and Confessions.   4.15 – 4.45 p.m.

Sundays  of Lent :  Holy Hour  5–6 pm

( Meditation;  Stations of the Cross; Evening Prayer of the Church/Vespers )

Ash Wednesday : Mass at 8.30 a.m. 10 a.m. and 7.30pm

Ashes will be distributed during Mass

Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence.   For disciples of the Lord  between 21 and 60 : one full meal and consume  less at other times.  For disciples  over 14 : abstain   from eating flesh meat

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are public  days of fast and abstinence  i.e. the whole community fasts and abstains as a community.  The other days of Lent, especially  Fridays,  are also days of penance, where the individual decides for himself/herself what to do  as a penance.

Suggestions for Lent

Filling back-packs for Mary’s Meals.   Please consult the notice in porch on what to put in a back-pack.

Filled bags may be left in the porch during Lent or brought to the stage in the upper hall.

Lectio Divina  (Divine Reading )    with family/friends / or on your own.

Lectio Divina ( Divine Reading )  is an ancient  means of prayer .  Take a short section of the Gospel; read it slowly.  Read the passage  again–even more slowly. Reflect on  some word or phrase that attracts your attention.  Ponder on this  phrase.  Read it again .  Imagine the Lord is speaking to you personally. Speak to him. Tell him of your concerns and worries,  your good points and not so good  ones .  What is  important is that you are in  the presence of the Lord using his Divine Word and He loves you more than you can ever imagine . His love for you is unconditional .  Be confident of a warm welcome, as  a parent welcomes his child.  Don’t be put off by distractions–they are a part of you. You are  what you are.    Do this for 10-15 minutes. 

Finish off by thanking the Lord for allowing you into His presence.

Visit the Blessed Sacrament;  Make the  Stations of the Cross;  Recite the Rosary; Join the  Prayer Group  with Laura McIver   ( consult her for details of venue. times etc. )  or join one of the ecumenical study groups,  ( see poster in porch )   For your convenience,  booklets for the Stations are   at back of Church

Whatever Lenten practice you undertake, do it for the Lord, with gratitude, faith, generosity so as to grow closer to Him

 Quiz Night.   A Charity Project For Destitute Children in Brazil.   Thursday ,  March 5,  at  Birds and Bees 7.30 pm

For more info : see notice in   porch;  Please help these desperately   poor children in the Sapinhatuba Favella , Brazil.   Tickets, £ 5,  on sale  after Mass.  Donations also  accepted.  Many Thanks …….. Jean Grant/Jill  Ireland

Use of the Hall :  Please ensure the heating is turned off and hall is locked after use.

 “ Please pray for the conversion of our society to help it  respect the sanctity of life ”

Melissa Villalobos – –recipient of a pro-life miracle to save her baby at the intercession of St. John Henry Newman.

Chicago : Friday,  May 15,  2013   “ The recipient of a miracle is called a miraculata“

Love for the Poor.  Notes from the Catechism…..paras.  2443/2444

God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them.” Give to him who begs from you, do not refuse him who would borrow from you “;  “ you received without pay, give without  pay.”  It is what they have done for the poor that Jesus will recognise his chosen ones.   When the poor have the Gospel preached to them, it is a sign of Christ’s presence .