Today at a Consistory in Rome, Archbishop Vincent Nichols was made a Cardinal by Pope Francis. Archbishop Nichols, from Liverpool, England, is the Archbishop of Westminster, and is head of the Church in England and Wales. Each cardinal is nominally parish priest of a parish in Rome, and Cardinal Nichols has been nominated as parish priest of St Alfonso — the church which houses the original shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and is part of the headquarters of our Redemptorist order. This is a significant moment for Redemptorists and for our shrine.
LITURGY 23 FEBRUARY – 7 OT (A)
7th Sunday of Ordinary Time year A
Readings:
First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2. 17-18 Through Moses, God calls the people to holiness, a state which will mean them living peacefully with each other
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 The Christian community is the temple where God lives
Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48 The Christian is called to be perfect, as God is perfect
Mass music for 23 February
Entrance : Praise my soul the King of Heaven 807
Lord Have Mercy Responsorial
Lord Have Mercy Responsorial
Gloria Peruvian
Psalm : sung from missal ‘The Lord is compassion and love’ sung
Alleluia
Offertory : In bread we bring you 609
Sanctus: echo
Lamb of God: Lourdes
Communion: I will be with you 627
Recessional: As I kneel before you 360
DAN BRENNAN DIACONATE
Dan was well known in our parish community until his return to the United States last year. He is due to be ordained Deacon on 31 May this year. As part of the process, ‘banns’ are published, inviting anyone objecting to the ordination to contact his home diocese. Details can be found here. We keep Dan in our prayers, and assure him of our very best wishes as he approaches this important stage in his life, remembering also his family. Fr Ed
HEALING OF MEMORIES
At the 19:00 Mass on 22 March, Michael Lapsley will speak, introducing his ministry of Healing of Memories. I received the following message from Patrick Byrne:
I don’t know whether you received the infromation about the healing-of-memories workshop which Fr Michael Lapsley will be leading on Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 March (just after the weekend when he will be preaching at your Saturday evening Mass). You should have got it from the Archdiocese since it was sent to all priests and pastoral agents, as well as being publicised more widely.
Could I ask you to publicise it in your parish? It’s an experience I can strongly recommend, having participated in two previous healing-of-memories workshops. People are sometimes a bit hesitant to take part, thinking it might be some alternative form of psychotherapy. It’s much simpler than that. The title “One step towards healing” conveys what it’s about: taking the time to look at one’s past and being given a chance to talk about certain aspects and to be listened to with respect, in a sacred and safe space, while also listening to other people’s experiences. It’s open to anyone. And it’s also a method which is useful to learn for anyone working with people in difficulty.
Attached is an info sheet about the workshop. Sorry it’s in French. The workshop will obviously be led in English, but participants may also speak French, German or Luxembourgish and we will have interpreters to help out.
I’m also attaching a text which was written by Véronique Grimée, who took part in last year’s workshop and explains how she felt about it.
The official registration deadline is 28 February
Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Best wishes.
Patrick Byrne
Fr Michael will also be giving a talk at the ‘Abbaye de Neumünster” on Monday 17 March, at 7 p.m. This is an event to launch the German edition of his autobiography, but also – more generally – to publicise his work. Attached is an invitation card, which you are welcome to pass on to others.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION
We are delighted that so many couples have signed up for our next Marriage Preparation Course, which commences next Tuesday. 16 couples, to be married before God in Luxembourg, Italy, Mexico, Ireland, Slovakia, Malta, Argentina, France and Indonesia. We now invite all couples not enrolled on this course to join us when we next meet together — date to be announced. Requests for marriage preparation, applications for Catholic marriage for couples resident in Luxembourg, or any questions, may be addressed to me. Best wishes, Fr Ed.
