Saturday 29th March - Sunday 6th April 2025
- bostallpark
- Mar 28
- 7 min read
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
MOTHERING SUNDAY 30TH MARCH 2025
A LENTEN CALL TO PARISH RENEWAL
SUSTAINING A LIVELY FAITH COMMUNITY THROUGH
“FULLY CONSCIOUS, AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION”
“Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. In the restoration and promotion of the sacred liturgy, this full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else; for it is the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit...”
Constitution on Sacred Liturgy,
Sancrosanctum Concilium, Number 14 (emphasis added) promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on December 4, 1963.
Faith Community Examination of Conscience
Based on the 3 Point Agenda taken from Sacrosanctum Concilium, 14
1. Conscious Participation
2. Active Participation
3. Full Participation
Do I know why I go to church? Am I well aware of what my roles are in the church? Am I really aware of why I need to perform some duties in the church? Do I know that I come to church to serve the God of all creation? Do I take time to prepare myself before each Mass? Do I really open my mouth during the liturgy by singing and responding verbally as proper? Am I well aware of the deeper meaning of the church building as a dwelling place of God, where the saints and angels are always adoring and worshipping him? Do I respect this divine presence by conducting myself appropriately? Do I really confess my sins during the penitential service in Mass? Do I really listen to the Word of God during Mass? Do I take home a message from the homily? Do I really know the meaning behind my offertory gift? Do I really connect with my offertory gift and mean to really offer it to God as an embodiment of my gratitude for his love? Do I really appreciate the gift of the Eucharist? Can I say that going to church helps me, gives meaning and purpose to my life? Do I know that the church can help me to gain salvation? Do I know all that the church offers to help me gain salvation? Do I always access the benefits in the Word of God and the sacraments of the church?
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Do I get involved in parish ministries? Do I get involved in welcoming people for Mass? Do I get involved in cleaning the church? Do I get involved in cleaning the church compound? Have I volunteered to read during Mass and services? Do I get involved in singing or helping with church music? Do I get involved in offering my services to the church whenever I can help? Do I use my skills in promoting the kingdom of God? How can I help make the church flourish in many years to come? How can I promote vocations to priesthood and consecrated life? To what extent am I active in living up to the demands of my faith and building up our faith community? To what extent am I encouraging young people and children to embrace the faith and benefit from the spiritual wealth of the church? To what extent am I participating in social activities of the faith community? To what extent do I participate or even lead in prayer activities in the faith community? To what extent do I identify with other persons and families, especially when they are in need, such as in sickness and bereavement?
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Do I fully promote the gospel of Jesus Christ and his ministry within my parish? Do I read all the updates of the parish newsletter and try to play roles in any way I can? Do I make efforts to bring people back to the parish community? Do I think of how I can help others gain salvation? Do I encourage people to baptise, confirm or marry in the church? Do I encourage people to access the sacraments in general? Do I also fully make use of all the sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Confession? Do I make efforts to bring my whole household to prayer? Am I actively involved in all aspects of parish life; socially, spiritually and financially? Do I believe that the family is the domestic church? Do I promote spirituality among family members and dear ones? Do we say daily prayers, and as a family culture come together to share the word of God? Do I have an altar of prayer in my household? Do I have and make use of sacramentals like medals, rosaries and holy water?
Church versus Work - How we treat the Church versus how we treat our Work.
Author: Unknown
1. We don’t mind being late for church but we try our best not to be late for work.
2. We miss church because we say we are tired from work but we never miss work for church.
3. We spend two hours a week in church and complain that it’s too long and go to work for eight hours a day for five or six days a week.
4. When we are confronted with our mistakes in church we quickly transfer to another church. When we are confronted with our mistakes at work we apologise and promise to do better next time.
5. When we are called to be at church other than on a Sunday we make excuses that we are busy. When we are called to work on a Sunday we miss church and give the excuse that we have to work.
6. We miss church because we are not feeling well but go to work even if we are not feeling well.
7. We want our Christmas party in church to be for free but we pay for Christmas parties at work
8. We check our phones during church services but we turn off our phones during meetings at the office.
9. We shy away from responsibilities in church but we work hard at the office to be promoted
10. We complain that the sermon in church is too long but we can work hours of overtime at the office.
11. Many times the boss at the office receives more respect and honour than the pastor of the church.
12. We give the church excuses and give our work results…
PARISH NOTICES.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS.
Every Friday during Lent after 10am Mass and at 7.30pm. Morning stations will be led by the Priest and evening stations will be led by the people.
THE PASSION OF CHRIST.
There will not be a session this Sunday as it is Mothering Sunday.
BIBLE STUDY GROUP.
Meeting every Thursday in the church at 7pm. All are welcome.
WEEKDAY MASSES.
Daily mass on Tuesday will now be at 7.30pm with daily rosary at 7pm. This will be a trial that will run until Eastertime.
SUNDAY OF RECONCILIATION SERVICE.
On Sunday 6th April at 12 noon in the church.
DEATHS.
Please pray for the souls of;
Kathleen Fitzpatrick
Tom McCormack
Elizabeth Woodward
Rita Fernandes
Norma Marshall
Ignatius Pereira, whose funeral will be on the 2nd May at 11.30am.
May they rest in peace.
MONTHLY COFFEE MORNINGS in the porch after each Mass on Sunday starting on the 2nd May. Speak to Patricia Kilgallon if you are able to help.
PENTECOST MULTICULTURAL LUNCH.
We look forward to Pentecost Sunday when we will gather together and share a multi-cultural lunch. More details to follow.
DEANERY JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE to St John Vianney Church on Saturday 5th July. In this Jubilee Year of Hope we are all invited to make a pilgrimage walk from St. Thomas More to St John Vianney. More details to follow.
GIFT AID BOXES.
Please contact the parish office to arrange receipt of your new Gift Aid envelopes or for more information/register.
LUNCH CLUB.
The next meeting will be on the 17th April 2025 at 12.30pm in the hall with fish & chips.
LEGION OF MARY.
Every Tuesday at 5pm in the church. New members welcome.
ST THOMAS MORE GOLF SOCIETY at Pedham Place Golf Course. Thursday 29th May. If interested please call Tony Brooke 07833707016. Raffle tickets to support this event will be available closer to the date.
CELEBRATION MASS FOR THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE, July 12th, at St George’s Cathedral
If you are celebrating your 1st/10th/25th/40th/50th/60th + wedding anniversary this year, please let us know by the middle of May, providing your names (e.g. John and Mary Smith), address, parish, and the anniversary you are celebrating, so you can receive an invitation from the Archbishop for the renewal of vows during Mass. Spaces are limited. Contact us at mflse@rcaos.org.uk and the title of your email should be your parish, i.e. Bostall Park.
UCM ENROLMENT MASS.
At 11am on Sunday 11th May. You must confirm your attendance for this Mass by 30th March. There will be 5 members of the committee travelling to be with us on the day and exact numbers are needed well in advance, so that badges can be ordered for the ceremony. There will be light refreshments after Mass for our visitors and so that the ladies can spend some time with each other socially. It is also necessary to thank Fr Innocent, who will be saying Mass and for all the support he has given us, in many ways, leading up to this day. We are very grateful for his help and he has been invited to the lunch. For more information about the day or to join the UCM, please come along to the next meeting on Wednesday 26th March at 7pm in the Porch. With thanks to all the women who have participated and given their valuable time to serve the parish in practical ways and during meetings since last May.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK