Second Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy (Year A) 19th April 2020
MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS
NO PUBLIC MASS
Sun 19th April
10 am People of the Parish
Mon 20th April Easter Feria
10 am Esther Smith, RIP
Tues 21st April St Anselm, Bishop and Doctor
10 am Maurice Bloom, RIP
Weds 22nd April Easter Feria
10 am Tom Lobo, RIP
Thurs 23rd April St George, Martyr
10 am David and Eileen Scott, RIP
Fri 24th April Saints Erkenwald & Mellitus, Bishops
10 am Deborah Longford-Ross, intentions
Sat 25th Apr St Mark, Evangelist
10 am Bridie Carolan, RIP
Please pray for the sick and those who care for them, today especially for the frail elderly and for those who work as carers.
Mary Myles RIP
Fr Peter writes: It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Mary Myles passed away recently. I will offer Mass for the repose of her soul, and we must remember her family and many friends in our prayers. May she rest in peace.
Mass on the Radio:
Cardinal Vincent writes: “I have received messages expressing concern about those not on the internet and the lack of opportunities for them to follow the celebration of Mass. One tenacious correspondent has found out that regular celebrations of Mass broadcast by RTE Radio are accessible here on a standard radio, on 252 Long Wave. Please tell those who receive the information to share it verbally with any people who, through lack of internet links, would otherwise not receive it. I understand that the full quota of Holy Week ceremonies will be broadcast on RTE. More detail is available from roger.childs@rte.ie.”
Being St Mary’s Parish - Staying in touch - Registration & Parish Census:
Fr Peter writes: It is very important that I am able to keep in touch with you. The shepherd needs his flock. Please update your parish details using the parish census sheet and return to me, hand delivered via a volunteer who can come to the presbytery. It is so important that we stay in touch with each other. I will endeavour to send out a weekly email and a letter to those without computers. I will also use the live streamed Masses to convey notices.
Important Finchley Foodbank Appeal:
Fr Peter writes: In light of the uncertainty over the Coronavirus, it is understandable that we want to ensure our kitchen cupboards are well stocked. However, we must not forget that this can leave foodbanks struggling. Hundreds of people rely on generous donations from our parishioners. If possible, our foodbank would be grateful if you could spare: a carton of UHT milk, a tin of meat, fish, fruit, custard, rice pudding, vegetables, or tomatoes, aA packet of pasta, pulses cereal, tea, biscuits or soap. If you able to spare any of these items please ask a neighbour to hand them in either to Fr Peter at the presbytery or leave them outside his door and ring the doorbell.
UK Mutual Aid
We connect volunteers to those needing assistance while self-isolating during covid-19.To request help leave us a message: 020 31 377 488. We have volunteers in Barnet. We are good at Picking up Shopping • Sending Post or providing useful information • or just a friendly chat.
Prayer for Doctors and Nurses
O merciful Father, who have wonderfully fashioned man in your own image, and have made his body to be a temple of the Holy Spirit, sanctify, we pray you, our doctors and nurses and all those whom you have called to study and practice the arts of healing the sick and the prevention of disease and pain. Strengthen them in body and soul, and bless their work, that they may give comfort to those for whose salvation your Son became Man, lived on this earth, healed the sick, and suffered and died on the Cross. Amen.
Do not forget…
Fr Peter writes: Even though you cannot come to church, I can still light a candle for your intentions. If you would like me to place a lighted candle underneath the statue of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady or St Anthony, please email, give me a call, or leave a message, and I will do so before the daily 10am Mass.
I have also been putting up intentions and petitions near to the tabernacle – I am sure you can see them via the streaming service – please continue to send them. They will stay near to Jesus during these difficult days.
May is the month of Our Lady:
Fr Peter writes:I had set aside the first weekend in May to be the parish feast day. It looks like we will still be in lockdown, but I think we can still celebrate our extraordinary parish. So, during the first week of May, I am going to email you some amazing photographs taken when St Mary’s was being built. They might look a bit grainy – but they will enable you to see the arch over the altar being constructed, the concrete pillars in position without walls and roof – and even a glimpse of the old church and presbytery.
How to see St Mary’s 10am Daily Mass.
Fr Peter writes: With the excellent assistance of Peter (a talented young man in the parish) and Holly you will be able to see me celebrate a daily 10am Mass in the Church via www.saintmarys.online Please let others know of this website -every day at 10am. We are working on the sound quality – hopefully will improve – but please turn up your volumes or wear headphones.
Baptisms, Sacrament of Marriage and Funerals.
Fr Peter writes: Sadly baptisms and the Sacrament of Matrimony will be deferred until such time that the public health advice is that congregations can gather safely. Funerals will now take place at the graveside or at a crematorium, subject to the conditions laid down by the cemetery or crematorium authorities. Mass will be celebrated in memoriam when we are allowed to gather. We must keep in prayerful solidarity those who are grieving the loss of a loved one at this difficult time and offer as much support as we can.
Saturday Evening & Sunday Mass Intentions:
Fr Peter writes: As public Masses cannot be celebrated at this time, it is generally no longer appropriate for priests to celebrate Mass more than once a day, including on Sundays. This will mean that all Saturday evening and Sunday Masses which were to be celebrated for a special intention will now not be celebrated. Instead I will celebrate one Sunday Mass at 10am for the “People of the Parish”. If you have arranged for an intention for a Sunday Mass, I will defer this to the first available weekday Mass. I totally understand your disappointment, and if you would prefer to send your Mass intention to a missionary or enclosed community, let me know and I will arrange a refund.
This weekend is Divine Mercy Sunday:
Divine Mercy Sunday grew out of Jesus’ appearances to a Polish nun and mystic, Sister Faustina Kowalska, in 1931, with a message of mercy. She reported seeing a vision of Jesus, who called on her to have a painting made of his image. She wrote in her diary: “I saw the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand raised in the gesture of blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment, slightly drawn aside at the breast, there were emanating two large rays, one red, the other pale.” Jesus promised that the soul that venerates this image in the chapel and throughout the world will not perish. Pope John Paul II canonized Sister Faustina in 2000 and five days later he instituted “Divine Mercy Sunday”, calling us to celebrate God’s Divine Mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and receiving Holy Communion. This year, for those who love this devotion, they are asked to reflect and make an Act of Contrition at the beginning of Mass and to pray an act of Spiritual Communion at the appropriate time.