Newsletter for 29/30 August - Sunday 22(B)

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Many things which didn't happen over the summer are starting again, so the newsletter is back to its usual size. Please read carefully, and, if you don't already subscribe in this way, submit your email address in the Follow us by email box on the website. That way you will always be up to date with parish activities.

You have the message of eternal life

Click here to read Deacon Andrew's homily for the 21st Sunday of the Year.

The host that we receive is not a thing!
It’s not a wafer!
It’s not bread!
It’s a person ­ and He is alive!”
So today as we receive Jesus in the Eucharist; as we are asked by Jesus, “Do you also want to go away?”, let us along with St Peter make that wonderful profession of faith:
“Lord who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy one of God.”

Newsletter for 22/23 August - Sunday 21(B)

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‘Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.’

Towards a Culture of Safeguarding

This is from our diocesan website. It gives details of an e-learning package which is free to Catholics. I particularly commend this to those who work with the young or visit the elderly in our parish, but we can all learn from this. No travelling, no meetings, just learning in the comfort of your own home. There are different modules, and some will be more relevant to you than others. Please take a look.
Fr Colin

The Church has a responsibility to ensure all those who undertake work in the name of the Church are adequately trained in safeguarding matters. The Catholic Church is dependent on Clergy, Religious and Lay people using their skills and talents to nurture and support the Catholic community. Some will be paid employees, but the majority undertake their work on a voluntary basis. Whilst some will recognise their role as a volunteer, many rightly see their caring and support contribution as part of their Christian responsibility and ministry. But we all have a role to play in safeguarding the young or adults who may be at risk and it is for this reason that the Catholic Church in England and Wales has worked with EduCare to bring you an e-learning package that will raise awareness throughout the Catholic Community in our countries. The e-learning package is part of the Church’s commitment to safeguarding, and is available to all members of the Catholic community free of charge.

Please download the brochure to see the courses available and how to access them.

What do I need to do to access this training resource?

Email  Admin@familycare-nottingham.org.uk to register your interest.
Your email should contain your name, email address, the name of your parish/order/congregation, and your role. For example: Priest, Member of the Religious, Safeguarding Representative, Youth Worker, Teacher, SVP or Other Volunteers, Parent/Grandparent/Guardian, or Other.
On receipt of your email the safeguarding administrator will register your email address with EduCare.
You will receive a Welcome Email from EduCare where you will set your password.

You will then have instant access to the training programmes.

Email from Bishop's House

Dear Father,

Bishop Patrick has asked me to forward a link to a statement by Bishop Patrick Lynch, who speaks for the Bishops of England & Wales on migration policy, on the situation in Calais and throughout Europe - http://catholicnews.org.uk/calais-statement-080815

He has also asked that prayers for all who are involved in this difficult humanitarian situation be said during Mass and other liturgies, and the following intention is given as a suggestion for use:

'Let us pray for all migrants and others who are far from home: may those responsible for public policy work together to resolve the crises in Calais and elsewhere in Europe, that migrants will be treated with respect and justice, and that we will open our hearts to those who are in particular need. Lord, hear us.'

With best wishes,

Rev Andrew Cole BA STL JCL
Private Secretary to the Bishop of Nottingham

Newsletter for 15/16 August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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This beautiful feast has inspired some wonderful music over the centuries. I love this motet by Palestrina:


Mary is taken up into heaven, the Angels rejoice, praising, they bless God.
Let all rejoice and be glad with righteous heart, for today the Virgin Mary reigns with Christ for evermore.

Newsletter for 8/9 August - Sunday 19(B)

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Assisted Dying Bill

On Friday 11 September 2015 the House of Commons will be debating and voting on a Private Member’s Bill to legalise assisted suicide. This will put the most vulnerable people in our society at risk. You can find out more here.

Our bishops are calling on Catholics to write to their MPs to express our opposition to this proposed legislation. Our own MP has promised to vote against the bill. In his reply to my email about this he said:

In Britain, we lead the world in palliative care. Our response to the physical and emotional pain of terminal illness must be to show compassion by extending and developing this further. Not by letting people die when they most need encouragement and assistance to live. As evidence from other countries has shown, a right to die would for many be a duty to die, and we must fiercely resist this law for that reason.

However, MPs do talk among themselves about what volume of messages they are getting from their constituents on matters like this. So I would strongly encourage you to write. Our bishops have made this very easy. Just click here to find a very simple way of emailing your MP about this.