SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD - 1st January 2023
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
An amazing fact: God chose one of our race, the Blessed Virgin Mary, to be the mother of His Son. She is our pattern of response to the Father. Our exemplar. By her willingness and humility she has earned the title of ‘Theotokos’ - ‘Mother of God’ and ‘Mother of the Church.’ As this New Year begins may she pray for us as we seek to emulate her obedience to God’s will in our lives moving forward.
SERVICES FOR THE WEEK
EVERYTHING BEGINS AGAIN
Sunday - Festal Mass for Mary, Mother of God at 10.00 am
Tuesday – Mass at 6.30 pm
NOTE : No Benedictine Study Group this week.
Wednesday – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 11.45 am
- Mass at 12.15 pm
Thursday - Mass at 10.00 am
Friday - BCP / English Missal Mass at 10.00 am
Saturday - Mass at 10.00 am
Next Sunday - SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD- 8th January 2023
FESTAL MASS WITH THE BLESSING OF CHALK AT 10.00 am
SUNDAY MASS WILL BE BROADCAST this week.
Tune in via our Parish Facebook page.
TO TUNE IN VIA FACEBOOK TO JOIN IN OUR WORSHIP PLEASE OPEN THE FACEBOOK APP ON YOUR PHONE OR DEVICE AND SEARCH FOR:
“St Martin’s Parish Church, Fenny Stratford."
TEA AND COFFEE IS SERVED AFTER MASS ON SUNDAYS - DO JOIN US FOR FELLOWSHIP.
PARISH NEWS
BENEDICTINE STUDY GROUP
Meetings of the group are suspended over the New Year period and will reconvene on Tuesday the 10th January, 2023 at the Vicarage at the usual time of 7 pm. Father Victor looks forward to seeing folk on that occasion. All are welcome.
IF YOU HAVE ANY PRAYERS or Mass intentions you would like me to offer at Mass or if would like someone added to our parish prayer list of the Sick or Departed.
My contact details are as follows:
Telephone: 01908 372825
Email: victorbullock@talktalk.net
I am also available in person during Surgery Hour on Saturday’s in Church between 10.30am - 11.30am.
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION AND RECONCILIATION is also available at this time.
Please continue to remember the following in your prayers:
For the strength to remain firm in our new spiritual resolutions for this New Year.
For the strength to witness more diligently to our Christian faith in the year ahead.
For an end of war in the Ukraine and in Somalia and the Reestablishment of Peace.
That we may continue to remember, the needs of those so less fortunate than ourselves.
For our new Bishop Elect, Paul Thomas, that he may receive those heavenly gifts and graces to equip him to be a truly holy pastor and Bishop.
For those at school, college or University, that they may be kept safe and well.
For those who work, particularly those who have families or other dependents.
For the Government, that in this time of rising costs we may see increased integrity within the world of politics.
For peace to reign within our homes and amongst one another.
For the elderly, housebound and those living in residential and nursing homes.
For our Ambulance Service and for our other Emergency Service Staff and for Milton Keynes Hospital and all who work there.
For Father Victor and Father Ian and for all parish clergy as they seek to continue to make present in our midst the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, the other Sacraments of Christ and offer continuing Pastoral care.
For the Monastic Community of the House of Initia Nova of the Order of Saint Benedict as it continues settles into its new home in Ponce, Puerto Rico and that it finds the funds to furnish its new Motherhouse.
For it’s Abbot, Michael-John Austin, for all of the community and for those new to its life.
For the Sick:
For Judy Rogers, Heather Burke, Suzanna Moirano, June Reid, Nicola Monaghan, Rosalio Eluna, Susan Carter, Pam Wilderspin, Jean Holden, Peter White, Denis & Yvonne Simpson, Paul Ward, David Lingham, Sandra Walduck, Eugenius Yung and Doris Weatherley.
For the Departed:
For Pope Emeritus Benedict, Barbara Goodman, Benjamin Reid and all the recently departed, and for Leslie Matthews, Father Kenneth Wright, Marjorie Hands, Dennis Hurst and all whose Year’s Mind occurs at this time.
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord.
And let Light Perpetual shine upon them.
Every blessing on you and your families for the New Year ahead.
Father Victor (Brother Cuthbert OSB)