Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The Church teaches as dogma that the Virgin Mary "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”
This was not only as a ‘reward’ for her participation in God’s plan for our redemption but as a wonderful sign of what shall be for us if we remain faithful in our service of Christ. Our humanity comes from having been created as beings that are both body and soul. And as a part of a fallen world, corrupted by sin, we will know death. Yet we too will one day pass through death to new life and be clothed in the gift of a glorified body so that we may be whole once more as God intended us to be from the very beginning. We will then live as part of the new creation knowing neither corruption nor death but eternally basking in the glory of God. This feast simply rejoices in the fact that Mary shares in this state already and that where she is now we hope to follow.
Do we seek the presence of God with all our hearts? Do we live our lives in a way that prepares us for what God wants for us?
SERVICES THIS SUNDAY
Low Mass at 8 am
Parish Mass at 10 am
AND DURING THE WEEK AT THESE TIMES:
Tuesday at 7 pm
Wednesday at 12.15 pm
Thursday at 19 am
Friday at 10 am
Saturday at 10 am
Next Sunday (THE 21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME) at 8 am and at 10am.
PLEASE NOTE: The Wednesday Mass will take place at 12.15 pm aNd will be broadcast.
AND PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IMPORTANT NEW ADDITION TO KEEPING US ALL SAFE AT WORSHIP ON SUNDAY MORNINGS.
It is a requirement that if more than one service takes place on a Sunday, (which means that the 72 hour period of letting the Church interior rest and any viral load break down and disappear) then the chairs kneelers and the top of the chair in front of where you sit needs to be wiped down with a anti-bacterial/ viral agent. This has to be done because our Parish Mass is followed by the Romanian’s Liturgy.
Therefore, following the practice introduced at Portsmouth Cathedral and other churches I would ask that in effect we each clean up our own mess, so to speak. When Mass is over, there will be a plastic box or canister containing anti-viral wipes located on a table immediately in front of the Choir Stalls at the back of Church. I would ask each of you to take a wipe and use it to wipe down the seat where you were sat, the kneeler that you used and the back of the seat in front of you. And do this for your children if they are not able to do it for themselves. Then place the used wipe in the plastic bag provided on the same table next to the canister of anti-viral wipes on your way out. It will only take a minute and it is a much fairer and more reliable way to keep everyone who uses our Church safe. Please help.
The usual procedures to keep everyone safe continue, and they are as follows:
1. The seats within the church have been arranged for spatial distancing.
2. All are asked to use the hand sanitiser dispenser when they enter the church and to wear face masks while within the building attending Mass. The exception to this will be those who are commissioned to read during Mass (while actually reading) and the Celebrant once he is at the Altar. 3. Sadly we have had to close the Children’s Corner for the time being as sharing toys is a big no no.
PLEASE NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE WELCOME TO BRING THEIR OWN TOYS WITH THEM FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN TO PLAY WITH DURING MASS.
4. Communion will be under one kind only, but remember, that one receives Our Lord whole and entire whether one receives one or both of the sacred species.
5. Communion will be given standing since we cannot use the altar rails. Therefore to show our adoration and love towards our Blessed Lord as we approach for communion I would ask you please to genuflect or make a profound bow.
6. At the end of Mass we ask those present NOT TO RETURN SERVICE SHEETS AND NEWS SHEETS TO THE TABLE AT THE BACK BUT TO TAKE THEM HOME WITH THEM OR BIN THEM OFF THE PREMISES.
7. There will be NO DRINKS of any kind supplied after the Parish Mass at 10 am (absolutely NO exceptions as this breaks the law as it is presently) HOWEVER, you may bring your own thermos mug or drinks in your own drinking vessels for your own use, so long as you also take them away with you when you leave.
SO DO PLEASE JOIN US ONCE MORE FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP. You are safer attending Church than you are shopping at your local Supermarket.
I continue to stress: don’t forget to contact me if you have any prayer requests 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.
I am also available in person during Surgery Hour on Saturday’s in Church between 10.30am - 12 noon. The Sacrament of Confession and Reconciliation is also available at this time.
During Lockdown Mass was being broadcast most days via our Facebook page under the Group heading: “Saint Martin’s Parish Church, Fenny Stratford. “ Now that public Masses have resumed people are now free to attend Mass in person. However, the Sunday Parish Mass at 10 am together with the Wednesday Mass at 12.15 pm. will NORMALLY continue to be broadcast for the time being.
From time to time Sunday Vespers and Benediction will also be broadcast. We will also maintain a presence on the Saint Martin’s Parish Church Facebook Page and our Church What’s App group so as to remain in touch with other members of our Saint Martin’s parish family.
Please continue to remember the following in your prayers:
Those who still live in fear of this global pandemic and those who live in fear and are living with anxiety and depression.
For those who have suffered due to racism or bigotry. For those who have suffered violence or torture at the hands of others.
For the Government in their seeking solutions for the common good at this time.
That at the relaxation of Lockdown people may continue to act and behave sensibly.
For those returning to work and for those who now find themselves unemployed.
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 are continuing to work there and for those undergoing surgeries as the hospital seeks to catch up with other vital treatments.
For Bishop Jonathan and all our parish clergy as they seek to work with their people to restore the public celebration of the Mass and other Sacraments.
For the Mother House of the Monastic Community of the House of Initia Nova of the Order of Saint Benedict and for it’s Abbot Michael-John.
For the Sick:
For Shirley Milburn, Jean Holden, Paul Ward, Norman Kent, Peter Woodward, Gay Lavery, David Gregg, Eugenius Yung, Denis & Yvonne Simpson, Mary Collier, Benjamin Duarri, David Lingham, Sandra Walduck & Doris Weatherley.
For the Departed:
For Josie Lawson and for all who have died recently.
For all those who have died of Covid 19.
We pray too for Leonard Masters, John Redmond and for all whose years mind falls at this time.
Continue to stay safe and well and stay in touch.
With best wishes and every blessing,
Father Victor