Newsletter- 32nd Week of Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners
God’s Holy Temple – In the words of our late Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI (9 November 2008): ‘Today’s feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica celebrates a mystery that is always relevant: God’s desire to build a spiritual temple in the world, a community that worships him in spirit and truth’ (cf. John 4: 23–24). The Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome was the first to be built after the edict (313) of Emperor Constantine and is the ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome. As a result, it is called ‘the mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world’.
The readings for today’s feast which we use at our Saturday evening Mass recall an essential truth: the temple of stones is but a symbol of the living Christian community which, baptised in life-giving waters (First Reading), gives joy to God’s city (Psalm). In the era of the new Passover covenant, there is no temple building other than that of the Christian community, in whom the Spirit of Christ lives (Second Reading). Christ is both temple (Gospel) and foundation, from whom we have our food and healing, our refuge and strength, our grace and our holiness.
This Sunday we also keep Remembrance Sunday as we offer our annual Remembrance Sunday Requiem Mass. We remember all who died in the service of their country and for our freedom in the past two World Wars and all subsequent conflicts since. As we remember them so too we pray for peace in our troubled world of today. We recall the horror of war, and our resolution not to repeat the evils of the past. We recall the bravery and sacrifice of so many men and women from so many different nations across the world who stood firm when they could have given way to evil.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, let us pray this coming week that we might, through Christs’ Spirit living in us, imitate him by our steadfastness, courage and joy in the face of deceit, greed and despair which so often surrounds us in the world in which we are living today and let us pray for the precious gift of peace. Peace in our homes and families, peace in our communities and in the wider world around us.
Congratulations! It was a great privilege and pleasure to be able to concelebrate the special Mass offered by Bishop Patrick in the Cathedral this Saturday for the Jubilee of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, at which he commissioned all the new Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion for the Diocese of Nottingham. We remember in prayer this weekend Laura Tester, Cecilia Collins, Darwin Agbay and Keith Streets who were commissioned for our parish alongside so many others from around our diocese. My sincere thanks too to Ann Walker, who accompanied me to the Cathedral on Saturday, and for all she does in organising and supporting our loyal band of EM’s here at St Mary’s.
November: Month of the Holy Souls
Sunday 9th November – 2 pm – Annual Blessing of Graves – I invite you this Sunday to come and join in a simple liturgy of prayer and intercession for the dead buried in our local cemetery as we bless the Catholic graves with holy water and pray for our friends, loved ones and past benefactors of the parish. Please meet promptly by the stone archway as you enter the main cemetery gates.
The November Dead List Envelopes, and printed sheets for writing the names of deceased family members and friends to be included in the envelope with a donation are still available in the entrance as you come into church. Your completed envelopes can either be given to me or dropped through the letter box of the Rectory or put in the collection plate at the weekend. The names of your deceased will then be placed in the basket close to the Altar which will remain there until the end of November. After which I will divide the names up into special Masses for the intentions of ‘The Holy Souls – November Dead List.’ These Masses will be offered by me throughout the year ahead.
With my prayers for you and for your families and loved ones,
Your Parish Priest and friend,
Father Jonathan
2025 9th November – Newsletter – Download