Friday 30 December 2016

Newsletter for 31 December/1 January - Mary, the Holy Mother of God



Click here to read the latest newsletter.

For fifty years, January 1st has been kept by the Church as the World Day of Peace. Here is this year's message from Pope Francis. It starts:



At the beginning of this New Year, I offer heartfelt wishes of peace to the world’s peoples and nations, to heads of state and government, and to religious, civic and community leaders. I wish peace to every man, woman and child, and I pray that the image and likeness of God in each person will enable us to acknowledge one another as sacred gifts endowed with immense dignity. Especially in situations of conflict, let us respect this, our “deepest dignity”, and make active nonviolence our way of life.

Friday 23 December 2016

Happy Christmas


I pray that the peace of the Christ Child may be in your hearts and homes this Christmas. Here is a reminder of the programme for the weekend:

Our Lady of Lourdes, Ashby 
Christmas Eve
9.30am Confessions (until 10.30am)
4.00pm Confessions (until 4.30pm)
5.30pm Carols
6.00pm Mass
9.00pm Carols
9.30pm Mass
Christmas Day
10.00am Mass

St Charles Borromeo, Measham:
Christmas Eve
9.30pm Mass

For reflection, here is a lovely gentle Christmas piece. Lyrics, and another performance here.



Or for something a bit more lively, try this. An interesting commentary including the lyrics can be found here.

Thursday 22 December 2016

Newsletter for 24/25 December - Nativity of the Lord

Click here for the latest newsletter.


Remaining Confession times before Christmas
at OLOL:
Thursday: after 9.30am Mass and 6.30pm - 7pm
Christmas Eve: 9.30-10.30am & 4 - 4.30pm





In these last days of Advent the Church reflects on the place of Mary in our salvation. You might like find some time to listen to this modern setting of a mediaeval carol to prepare to celebrate the birth of the Lord:




There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu,
Alleluia.

For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in little space,
Res miranda. (wonderful thing)

By that rose we may well see
There be one God in persons three,
Pares forma. (Equal in form)

The angels sungen the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis Deo:
Gaudeamus. (Let us rejoice)

Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth,
Transeamus. (Let us go [across]. - It is used in St Luke's Gospel where the shepherds say "Let us go to Bethlehem.")

Tuesday 20 December 2016

Fr Adrian Chatterton RIP

This morning, I visited the Cemetery at Rearsby Convent where Fr Adrian Chatterton, former parish priest of St Charles, was laid to rest earlier this year. The simple stone marking his grave was put in place. His nephew and two of the Rearsby Sisters joined me as the stone was blessed, and together we prayed for his soul.
Please remember Fr Adrian in your prayers this Christmas.
May he rest in peace. Amen.

Monday 19 December 2016

This week in our parishes

Here are all the Mass and for Confession times for the last week of Advent, and for Christmas:

Thursday 15 December 2016

Newsletter for 17/18 December - Advent 4(A)

Click here to read the latest newsletter. You will find full details of the special confession times before Christmas, and of the Christmas Masses.

And for reflection here is a lovely version of Veni Veni Emmanuel.


Tuesday 13 December 2016

Wednesday evening at OLOL

This Wednesday, 14th December Our Lady of Lourdes  Church will be open for you from 6.30pm - 8.00pm. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed during this time. Please feel free to come when you can and leave when you must. This is a lovely opportunity to:

  • Spend a time of quiet with the Lord in preparation for Christmas.
  • Go to Confession - two priests available throughout the time.
  • Pray for Vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life in response to our Bishop's call.


Thursday 8 December 2016

Newsletter for 10/11 December - Advent 3(A)

Click here to read this week's newsletter.

This Sunday is known as "Gaudete Sunday" from the traditional Entrance Antiphon for the day: "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice." The Chant club at St Charles School have learnt a simple English setting of this and will lead us in singing it on Sunday morning.

Here is the traditional chant setting. You might like to relax, listen to it, and prepare to Rejoice in the Lord always this Sunday.



Also this Sunday, we are invited to bring the figures of the Infant Jesus which we will put into our cribs at home this Christmas to the 10am Mass. These will be blessed at the end of Mass.

Thursday 1 December 2016

Newsletter for 3/4 December - Advent 2(A)

Click here to read the latest newsletter.


As we prepare to hear the message of John the Baptist this Sunday and next, you might like to listen to this work by the seventeenth century English composer, Orlando Gibbons.