Fr Tim

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

AWARENESS:

If you tuned into my weekly message, you will have noted that I shared some of my heartfelt message to the parents of those preparing for First Communion. I remain concerned that so many people have not seriously taken on board the huge challenges that lie ahead for all of us.

Vocations to the priesthood are not forthcoming to sustain anything like even the limited provision of the Eucharist and the Sacraments, which we have at present. We really are going to have to think carefully about how we build our communities so that they remain vibrant, life-giving and missionary.

The results of the Archdiocesan Synod are gradually being put into place, but I remain anxious that the process, which is the essence of the project, has not really touched the vast majority of the congregation. It is based on the experience of the disciples, who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Their eyes were opened and they “put the jigsaw together” to use one of my favourite images! We need to think of ways in which we can walk together and get our act together.

Hopefully, we can use the summer to reflect. Then, in the autumn we may be able to form teams in both parishes to plan the future.

 A BUSY MONTH AHEAD:

As I jot a few notes for this weekend’s bulletin, we have moved into July, and I am conscious of what a busy month this is going to be. This weekend we have the postponed celebration of First Reconciliation for the children due to make their First Holy Communion at Bishop Eton later in the month. Also, this weekend we have quite a number of young people from both parishes completing their preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, which they will be receiving at special ceremonies at St Ambrose in Speke  either next week or the following week. Please keep all these youngsters and their families in your prayers. These are momentous occasions and I hope and pray that they will provide solid spiritual foundations to sustain them throughout their lives.

Then, it is worth noting that the celebration of First Holy Communion will be a major feature of the lives of both our parishes during July. The first ceremony will be at Bishop Eton next Saturday and then we have reserved the week, beginning Monday 18th July, to have ceremonies in both parishes each day: Bishop Eton at 11am and St Mary’s at 3pm. Please note that there will be no other public Masses in either church during that week.

FAREWELL:

Mrs Debbie Bostock, the Head Teacher at Bishop Eton is retiring at the end of this term after a remarkable 26 years at the school, with 22 as Head. As a legacy to her selfless dedication to our children the parish is financing a Prayer Garden in the school, which Debbie has been planning for some time. It will always remind me of her mantra with the children: “I want you to be quiet on the outside, so that you can be quiet on the inside.” A lesson we would all do well to strive for each day

A BUSY JULY:

The end of the academic year will provide a few challenging weeks in July. As well as the end of year Masses, we will also have the First Communion Masses. Sadly, we have also had a number of deaths recently and, accordingly, the funerals are now being arranged.

WEDNESDAY IS THE SOLEMNITY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL:

There will be a Vigil Mass on Tuesday at 7:00pm at St Mary’s Masses on Wednesday: Bishop Eton: 12 noon and 7:00pm; St Mary’s: 12 noon

THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR:

This Monday we celebrate this very special Redemptorist Feast. Although we have not attempted a special Novena in preparation for the feast this year, I know that many of you have a great devotion to Our Lady under this title and that some of you have been tuning into the Novenas being streamed from our houses in Ireland. For the feast we will once again place on the sanctuary our treasured copy of the icon (the first to leave Rome after the original was given to the Redemptorists in 1866). Prayer cards and blessed medals will also be available.

MASSES FOR THE FEAST: Bishop Eton: 12 noon and 7pm; St Mary’s: 12 noon

FR TIM'S WEEK AWAY JUNE 2022

Fr Tim called to tell us that the Mission has gone far better than he could have hoped, the response from the parish and
the school has been wonderful and they are very heartened.

They are celebrating the great joy of 100 years of Redemptorist service in Birmingham.

Fr Tim is giving this Mission along with Fr Charles Corrigan and Fr Charles Randall, he will be back in Liverpool on Saturday evening but will need a long sleep in on Sunday!

FR PAT O'BRIEN

Congratulations to Fr Pat O’Brien who celebrated his Diamond Jubilee of priesthood on Thursday. I remain indebted to Fr Pat for the parish he left me at St Mary’s and for his unwavering support and encouragement over the years.  

LIVE-STREAMING:

As you know, we now have our cameras installed in both churches and plan to live-stream all the Masses and Services so that the housebound and others unable to attend may participate. I think this is a wonderful development and provides us with new opportunities to reach out and evangelise.  I am conscious that we need to ensure that everyone is aware of the data protection and safeguarding issues.

Therefore, should you be concerned, please ensure that you do not take the front benches and if you or your children do not wish to be on camera, please queue for Communion in a side aisle. If you are at St Mary’s, you will receive Communion when those coming down the centre of the church have finished.

And finally, we will be grateful if servers, readers and ministers sign a consent form, which will be available in the sacristy.

BEING PREPARED:

The Mission week in Erdington Abbey, Birmingham, last week was a truly blessed occasion and marked the centenary of the Redemptorists serving the people there. However, I was not prepared for the news that, back in Liverpool, plaster from the ceiling at St Mary’s had crashed onto the sanctuary. At this juncture, we are not sure of the extent of the problem and await a thorough investigation. In the meantime, the sanctuary is out of bounds, and we have a temporary altar and sanctuary at the top of the nave.

May I pay tribute to our administrator, Ann O’Neill, who immediately responded to this new crisis with the utmost efficiency. This meant that we were able to celebrate the weekend Masses and the funeral of Leo Murray last Tuesday as planned.

Each day I give thanks for the magnificent administrative teams we have in both parishes. Alongside those who are employed by the Archdiocese, we have groups of volunteers who have ensured that, in spite of the challenges of the past two years, we have managed to function.

May I gently encourage others to think about volunteering to train as catechists, ministers of funerals etcetera.

In the autumn I hope to have conversations with you about structuring for the future so that we are as well prepared as possible for a future which promises to be very different from the past, but which, I hope will be equally as vibrant and life-giving.

CATHOLIC PICTORIAL:

My thanks to Simon Hart for writing such a balanced article about the wonderful evening we had for my Mass of investiture and the reception afterwards.  An electronic copy of the pic is available just click here