Friday 29 September 2017

Parish boundaries


Have you ever wondered about the extent of our parishes? Here is a map of each. I have put this as a permanent feature on the sidebar of this site. 

You can view a map of all the parishes in our diocese here.

Thursday 28 September 2017

Double issue Newsletter for Sundays 26(A) and 27(A)





Click here to read the latest newsletter.






We welcome children and staff from St Charles Catholic School to participate in a special way in the 10am Mass at OLOL on Sunday, 1st October.

Also on the weekend of 30 September/1 October we shall hear about the CAFOD Harvest Fast Day (Friday, 6th October). The envelopes for this will be distributed this weekend and should be returned at Mass on 7/8 October.

You will find in the newsletter some basic details of Adoremus, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress in Liverpool, 7 – 9 September 2018. This is a major event in our national Catholic life, and it is hoped that every parish in the country will be represented. You can read much more about it here. It is possible for people to attend for the whole three days, or just for one or two. We have to submit approximate numbers (though not names yet) of those who are keen to attend within the next fortnight, so please think about this now and contact Fr Colin as soon as possible if you are interested.

Tuesday 26 September 2017

Teaching Vacancies at Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Sports College For January 2018



There  are vacancies in English, Art and Textiles/or Design, Design and Technology (Resistant Materials) and Geography. Please see the school website at www.robertsutton.staffs.sch.uk for further details and how to apply.

Thursday 21 September 2017

Wednesday 20 September 2017

Thursday 14 September 2017

Newsletter for 16/17 September - Sunday 24(A)

Click here to read the latest newsletter.

This Sunday is Home Mission Sunday. You can read more here.

Wish you were here - a Reflection for Home Mission Sunday
In that first moment, when you settle into your seat, waiting for Mass to begin, who is it that you think of? Who is it that you wish were sitting beside you?
After my mother died, it was difficult to come to Church without welling up in tears as I wished she were there. Then one day I asked God to show me that she was with Him, and experienced a sense of peace.
Now my heart aches for those I care about who have stopped coming to Church. Perhaps they have drifted away or something has turned them away. Whatever the situation, I miss them and wish they were here.
In today’s readings we are taken straight to the heart of the matter as we are asked to forgive those who have hurt us and to show mercy if we hope to receive it. This sentiment is as powerful as it is challenging. Whether thinking of an individual or a group of people who have offended us in some way, if we are able to show loving mercy rather than judgement, we open the door for them to turn towards Jesus. How? It all begins with a smile, a welcome, and prayer that we be released from the pain within. Then in going beyond ourselves, we step into Christ and do what may have seemed impossible – we forgive and are forgiven.
Teresa Carvalho, Home Mission Development Officer
Home Mission Office - Department of Evangelisation and Catechesis


Monday 11 September 2017

Follow up to Pastoral Letter on Education

Yesterday I posted the Bishop's Pastoral Letter on Education.

Here are some links which may be useful to anyone wanting to follow up some of the points in the pastoral letter:

Nottingham Diocesan Education Service.

St Charles Catholic Primary School - which serves our two parishes.

Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Sports College, Burton - our parishes are in the catchment area of this Catholic Secondary School.

De Lisle College, Loughborough - a number of our parishioners attend this Catholic Secondary School.

Sunday 10 September 2017

Pastoral Letter on Education

This weekend we heard a Pastoral Letter on Catholic Education from Bishop Patrick. You can read it here.

Thursday 7 September 2017

Newsletter for 9/10 September - Sunday 23(A)



Click here to read the latest newsletter.

This weekend is Education Sunday and we pray especially for our schools. We will hear a pastoral letter from Bishop Patrick on the subject of Catholic Education.

Saturday 2 September 2017

Epiphany and Ascension

From Advent 2017 the Solemnities of the Epiphany and the Ascension will be restored to their traditional days, rather than being transferred to Sunday. However, if Epiphany (Jan 6th) falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday, (as it will do for the next three years) it will still be observed on Sunday. Ascension Day is always on a Thursday, forty days after Easter. These feasts are Holydays of Obligation.

More details here.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor RIP


Please pray for the repose of the soul of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, who died on Friday. You can read more here.

A few days before his death, the Cardinal sent a message to his successor, Cardinal Vincent Nichols. This is what he said:
My dear Cardinal Vincent,
I would be very grateful if you would convey this short message to the priests, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese, of which I as well as you have been privileged to serve as their Bishop.
At this time, the words I pray every night are never far from my thoughts: “Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit”. Please tell them that I am at peace and have no fear of what is to come. I have received many blessings in my life, especially from my family and friends. I thank God for the many priests, religious and lay faithful who have helped and sustained me in my Episcopal life. Nor should I forget the many Anglican and Free Church colleagues whose friendship I have valued very much. Above all, as I now commend myself to the loving mercy of God, I ask them all to pray for me as I remember and pray for them.
Fraternally in the Lord,
+Cormac
A prayer for the departed Cardinal:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that the soul of your departed servant Cardinal Cormac,
to whom you committed the care of your family,
may, with the manifold fruit of his labours,
enter into the eternal gladness of his Lord.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever. 
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
Amen.
May his soul
and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.