A WARM WELCOME TO
THE PARISH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Beeches Green • STROUD • GL5 4AA • (01453) 762442
* stroud.immaculateconception@cliftondiocese.com 8 stroudcatholicchurch.com
Parish Priest: Fr Gary Brassington gary.brassington@cliftondiocese.com
Deacon: Steve Bentley Tel: (01453) 751101 Parish Administrator: Marilynne Morgan Tel: 0784 249 5988
Parish Safeguarding Representative: Caroline Rush *: PSR.stroud.immaculateconception@cliftondiocese.com
Lent Week 4 Psalter: Week 4 & Proper of Season
Lectionary: Sunday Cycle Year A, Weekday Cycle Year 2
Date
Celebration
Readings
Sunday 22nd March
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
(LAETARE SUNDAY)
1Sm 16: 1,6-7, 10-13; Ps 22; Eph 5:8-14;
Jn 9: 1-41
Monday 23rd March
Weekday of Lent
Is 65: 17-21; Ps 45; Jn 4:43-54
Tuesday 24th March
Weekday of Lent
Ez 47: 1-9, 12; Ps 45; Jn 5:1-3,5-16
Wednesday 25th March
SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD
Is 7:10-14; Ps 39; Heb 10:4-10;Lk 1:26-38
Thursday 26th March
Weekday of Lent
Ex 32: 7-14; Ps 105; Jn 5:31-47
Friday 27th March
Weekday of Lent
Wis 2: 1,12-22; Ps 33; Jn 7:1-2,10,25-30
Saturday 28th March
Weekday of Lent
Jer 11: 18-20; Ps 45; Jn 4:43-54
Sunday 29th March
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Ez 37:12-14; Ps 129; Rom 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45
Diocesan Prayer Link: We pray for the parishes of Sacred Heart, Chew Magna and St Pius X, Withywood.
Public Mass is currently suspended at the churches of The Immaculate Conception, Stroud and Our Lady and Saint Thérèse, Painswick.
We pray for all those within our parish and their intentions: including the communities at the Monastery of Our Lady and Saint Bernard, Brownshill and More Hall, Randwick; and all those connected with our schools.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT:
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives sight to a man born blind. First, he can see physically and then with the eyes of faith. We too, through baptism, have been given the eyes of faith, but we can struggle to see what it is that God is asking of us. Through our sinfulness, we can find ourselves overwhelmed by darkness. Jesus longs to bring us out of this darkness. He wants to open our eyes, our minds and our hearts to the compassionate and merciful love he has for us.
Lent gives us this special time and opportunity for facing our darkness and seeking once more the light which heals and forgives. Walking in the light of Christ, we walk in freedom and we walk in hope.
FOR YOUR PRAYERS:
Your prayers are asked for those who are housebound, residing in nursing homes, ill in hospital or sick:
Antonietta Lazdans, Colin Keegan, Vivienne Tarn, Sarah Williams, Jean Barber, Helen Hursthouse, Christopher Browne, Gerardo Capaldo, Michael Flint, Clare McDermott, Margot Williams, Gisele Smart, June & John Privett, Olivia Bouzyk, Raphael Moore, Brian O’Donoghue, Mary Grant, Finley, Nicky Golder, Ursula & Desmond Kyne, Imelda Kucharzyszyn, Kitty McCoy, Lisa Knight, Pat King, Francis Kerrigan, Rebecca Frazier, Lucia Mirkovic, Monika Smit, Joan O’Donoghue, Sr Quentin, Peter Ollis, Peter McCombie, Anne Allen, Sr. Catherine, Daryl Jackson, Lola Long, Grace Harper, Jamie Watt, Maggie, Thea Gregson, Gwen Kimpton, Peter Tay, Woody, Ann Enright, Jill Chapman, Janie Wilmot, Kevin Sivell, Rian Harvey, Theresa Finneran, Niall Walker, Cecilia Redgrave, Christopher & Clifford Browne, Victor Vincent, Bevan, Stephen Carden, Murray Dolan, John Stephens, Phyllis Bruton, Marilyn Anderson, Chris Strong, Kate Thorley, Amanda Mullins, Pilar, Paul O’Keith, Simon Terry, John Cibulskas, Anna Dowdeswell, Stephen & Paul Coupe, Anthea Van Venroy, Maisie McGinley & all their carers.
To add a name to this list please contact the office or email/phone the Editor
– please ensure you have the agreement of the sick person
POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH:
We pray that the Church in China may persevere in its faithfulness to the Gospel and grow in unity
SUSPENSION OF SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
In common with the other bishops of England and Wales, Bishop Declan has issued a decree in light of the current Covid-19 situation. Within this decree it is clear that:
· The obligation of the faithful to attend Mass on a Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation is removed until further notice.
· All churches and chapels, as well as other places where regular Sunday and weekday public Masses are celebrated, are to suspend all public Masses.
· The faithful may choose one of the following alternatives to attending Sunday Mass:
o Taking part may include watching a Sunday Mass online, or on television, and so receive Holy Communion spiritually; OR
o Reflecting on the Sunday Liturgical text, reading the Bible or saying the Rosary
The decree also asks that churches ‘remain open, especially on Sundays, for individual private prayers, without any organised services, and offering prayer before the Blessed Sacrament’. Consequently, the church of the Immaculate Conception will be open every Sunday, at least from 10:00am until 12:00 noon. This week it is hoped that the church will be open for some time each weekday, and it should definitely be open on Tuesday from 10:00am until 3:00pm and Wednesday from 6:00pm until 7:30pm. Over the coming weeks it is hoped to extend the guaranteed times.
A possible form of prayer for use when Mass cannot be publicly celebrated can be found at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/No-Mass-A4.pdf. Copies will also be left at the back of the church.
Sunday and daily Mass readings can be found at https://www.universalis.com/mass.htm.
There will be Sunday Mass and weekday Mass from Clifton Cathedral available online. Details will be available at www.cliftondiocese.com and should be included in next week’s newsletter.
Father Gary will be offering Mass privately during this time as ‘the continued celebration of Mass ensures that the faithful can join in spiritual communion with the priests of the church.’
While the parish administration will continue, access to the parish office will be restricted to appointment only. For those matters normally dealt with by the parish office please use the parish email or telephone number 0784 249 5988 (Tuesday to Friday 10:00am – 3:00pm). The normal parish telephone number should be used to contact Father Gary.
All parish groups and programmes are suspended until further notice.
There will continue to be a weekly newsletter available at the church and on the parish website.
Please speak with Father Gary regarding any other aspects of parish life or sacramental celebration.
First Holy Communion Programme: Congratulations to those who celebrated First Reconciliation on Wednesday. The First Holy Communion programme is suspended until further notice. At this time, it is uncertain whether it will be possible to celebrate the First Holy Communion Mass on 27th June.
200 Club: The next draw has been postponed. There will be more information in the coming weeks.
Rededication of England as the Dowry of Mary takes place on Sunday 29th March:
This will be celebrated around the country on this day. The rededication prayers can be found at https://www.behold2020.com/s/Prayers-of-The-Rededication.pdf. There are also copies at the back of the church. These are ideally used at 12:00 noon on that day but, may be used at any time.
Light a Candle of Hope: A National Day of Prayer and Action has been announced by Churches Together England regarding the coronavirus epidemic. This Sunday 22nd March 2020 at 7:00pm we are being asked to light a candle in the windows of our homes as a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, our source and hope in prayer.
We remember in our prayers Francisco Herrero who died recently. We also pray for his family and friends.
Editor: Richard McDermott, email: rj3mcd@yahoo.co.uk or by post; NB: To avoid disappointment, items for inclusion in the Bulletin; MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY MORNING at the Parish Office.
Clifton Diocese (a Company Limited by Guarantee) Registered Company No: 10462076
Registered Charity No: 1170168 Registered Office: St Ambrose, North Road, Leigh Woods, Bristol BS8 3PW
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