Fr Tim

Weekly messages from Fr Tim.   When Fr Tim is away Fr Maurice's message will be added to this section.

RENEWED THANKS:

I wish to renew my thanks to all those who helped prepare and celebrate the First Communion Masses this year. It is the first time since the pandemic that we have been able to return to something closer to normal. I believe it was providential that I was able to share the recorded meditation from the devastated Basilica in Chile: it seemed to touch many hearts and set the scene for each Mass. For this I am grateful for the cooperation of both schools: Bishop Eton for making the large screen available and Much Woolton for helping to transport it to St Mary’s.

Now we turn our attention to the Sacrament of Confirmation for our young people in the middle of next month. Unfortunately, because of the large numbers, it has not been possible to arrange for both parishes to participate at the one ceremony and my timetable is such that I will not be able to be with the group from St Mary’s. However, I do hope that in the autumn we may be able to arrange some kind of joint celebration for both parishes, reassuring all those who have chosen to make this commitment of how important they are to our parishes and indeed for the future of the Church.

A WEEK OF FEASTS


TUESDAY: OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR.

As we strive to develop our Shrine Ministry project, I hope we can use the Feast this year as a focus for prayer to Our Lady, asking for the wisdom to know how best to plan for the future for the good of our communities and the wider Church.

Masses: Noon in both parishes and a Sung Mass at 7.00pm in Bishop Eton.

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THURSDAY: SAINTS PETER AND PAUL

Masses:

St Mary’s (7.00pm Vigil) on Wednesday evening and noon on Thursday.

Bishop Eton: Noon and 7.00pm on Thursday.

Please remember that we are taking the opportunity of celebrating Fr Richard Reid’s Silver Jubilee at the evening Mass on Thursday: you will be welcome to join us for asimple reception in the monastery afterwards.

FEAST OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL:

At the evening Mass on the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul (June 29) we will celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Priesthood with Fr Richard Reid (Provincial). We are also inviting his two contemporaries to join us if they are able. There will be light refreshments in the monastery afterwards.

REMINDER OF OUR SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS:

Today 16th June at Bishop Eton, the 10:00am Mass will be celebrated by Fr Maurice O’Mahony and will provide us with an opportunity to say ‘farewell and thank you’ to him and Bro Michael Duxbury who shortly will be moving to their new communities in London and Birmingham. There will be coffee in the Fisher-More hall afterwards.

CONFIRMATION AND FIRST HOLY COMMUNION:

This weekend and next weekend our young people in the Confirmation programme will be meeting to prepare for the reception of this Sacrament. Hopefully, we will soon have definitive dates for the celebrations. The last of our First Holy Communion Masses at St Mary’s take place this weekend.

Once again, I want to thank all those who work so hard to ensure that our young people and their families are prepared for the Sacraments and that the celebrations are so special.

REDEMPTORIST MOVES:

This weekend we welcome Fr Philip Jones to our Bishop Eton community. For many years he has been chaplain to the Carmelite Convent at Dysart, outside Edinburgh. We know how much the sisters have valued his ministry, but at 80 years of age and with some health problems, he is now retiring back to his home city of Liverpool. He was ordained here at Bishop Eton on 17 September 1967, along with Fr Michael Henesy and the recently deceased Fr Tony Hunt.

Fr Maurice O’Mahony and Bro Michael Duxbury will soon be moving to their respective new communities of Clapham and Erdington and it will be good to say farewell to them, so Maurice will celebrate the 10:00am Mass at Bishop Eton on Sunday, 18 June. There will be coffee and biscuits in the Fisher-More Hall afterwards.

THE MOST HOLY TRINITY:

We continue with a series of special Sunday celebrations, even though we have now returned to Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar. The Easter Season concluded last Sunday with the Birthday of the Church at Pentecost and now we are invited to reflect on the wonder of the God revealed to us by Jesus. He constantly spoke of how he had come to do the will of his Father and he promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, who would help us to bring to fulfilment all that he had initiated. Therefore, I never tire of reminding myself and you that the Holy Trinity is not some mathematical problem, that we cannot get our heads around, but the wonder of a God, who has been revealed to us, so that we can find our own fulfilment as children of the Father and adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus.

THE DAILY DEMANDS AND NEED FOR MORE LAY MINISTRY:

As I try to plan the coming weeks and months, I am constantly reminded of the daily demands, which can be unpredictable. Naturally, this is especially true when it comes to sick calls and funerals. Once again, may I ask you to consider whether the Lord may be calling you to help in these areas. If so, please do come and explore the possibility with me.

FR RICHARD SILVER JUBILEE OF ORDINATION

At the evening Mass on the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul (June 29) we will celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Priesthood with Fr Richard Reid (Provincial). We are also inviting his two contemporaries to join us if they are able. There will be light refreshments in the monastery afterwards.

THE NEW CARD MACHINE:

You may have noticed that we now have a Card Machine in the porch at Bishop Eton. This may provide a more convenient way for some of you to contribute to the life of the parish. At the First Communions I quoted from the wonderful description of the Mass in the Second Century by St Justin Martyr. His description even includes a reference to the collection! Once St Mary’s Finance Team are convinced that the machine is a success, we will install one there too!

HALF-TERM:

We hope the staff and children of our schools will enjoy a good half-term break. Bishop Eton will be off for the next fortnight, but the others for just the coming week. Ann-Marie will keep an eye on the office at Bishop Eton during the coming week, while Hayley has time off during this holiday period.