Welcome to the Catholic parish of March and Chatteris.
The Parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel & St Peter
8 St Johns Road, March, PE15 8RJ
Diocese of East Anglia. Registered Charity Number 278742
Serving the communities of March, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington & Doddington
Please remember that the obligation for the faithful to attend Holy Mass on a Sunday or Holyday of Obligation is removed until further notice.
Mass times this week:
Lectionary: Sundays Yr B Weekdays Yr 1 Week 2
Sunday 28th February 2021 2nd Sunday of Lent
Sat 27th Lent Feria.
5 pm First Mass of Sunday
Sunday 28th 2nd Sunday of Lent
11 am Sunday Mass March – (People of the Parish)
Mon 1st March St David, Wales Patron. No Service
Tue 2nd Lent Feria. No Service
Wed 3rd Lent Feria. 10 am Mass
Thurs 4th Lent Feria. No Service
Fri 5th Lent Feria. 1 pm Requiem Mass Susanna Roberts
Sat 6th Lent Feria.
5 pm First Mass of Sunday
Sunday 7th 3rd Sunday of Lent
11 am Sunday Mass March – (People of the Parish)
Please pray for Susanna Roberts RIP whose Requiem Mass will be held at 1 pm on Friday 5th March. A long time member and former organist of the parish, she recently died in a nursing home in Oundle.
Our thoughts are with her family. May she rest in peace.
Please remember in your prayers all those who are sick or housebound in our March & Chatteris parish especially: Carroll Campey, Gerard Bourne, Jack Pettingill, Claire Reynolds, Mary Fabriz, Margaret Griffiths, Beryl Dow, Rita Porter, Anna Sullivan and all those who are known to us.
We also remember those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Margaret Dolan, Eric German, Rosina Cantwell, Imelda Randall, Joseph Naughton, Florence Deering, Jenny McCrudden, John O’Grady, Ken Pope, Eileen Homden and Patrick McGovern.
News and Events
Wednesday Evening Prayer: You are warmly invited to join us for Zoom Evening Prayer on Wednesday, 3rd March at 5.15 pm. I hope to open the “Zoom doors” at 5.00pm. If you would like to join us or know of anyone who would like to share in our Evening Prayer, please feel free to pass on this email to request a zoom link: maryfitzpatrick1623@gmail.com
I look forward to seeing you if you are able to join us. God bless you. Mary
FRANCISCAN MISSIONARIES OF MARY
Stations of the Cross Friday 12th March 3 pm
Lent Courses
The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah – Join us for this illuminating course each Tuesday in Lent with David Rees on Zoom at 7.30 pm. For the zoom link please contact djrees17@gmail.com
Basic Christianity with the Bishop of Aberdeen
Bishop Hugh Gilbert of Aberdeen will be preaching a series of Sunday homilies on the Kerygma each Sunday in Lent at 11 am. (available live online https://www.rcda.scot/bishop/ and available to watch later via the St Mary’s Cathedral web and FB page http://www.stmaryscathedralaberdeen.org/).
The Themes of the homilies are as follows:
- 1st Sunday of Lent Temptation in the Desert – The Dark Side: Sin
- 2nd Sunday of Lent Transfiguration – Cross & Resurrection (Eternal Life revealed)
- 3rd Sunday of Lent Cleansing of the Temple – Response in the Spirit (Conversion and Faith)
- 4th Sunday of Lent Lifting up of the Son of Man – Part of a People (Life in the Church)
Mondays at 4 pm on Zoom from 22nd February –
This will be following the York Course ‘Caring for Creation’, listening to discussion between Church leaders and other well-known people, and sharing in a short Act of Worship on the theme.
Please let Revd Jenny know if you’d like to attend. (revdjennywebb@btinternet.com)
Maximum 1 hour each week
Below is the Pastoral letter from Bishop Alan for the First Sunday of Lent which was read at every Mass last weekend.
RC DIOCESE OF EAST ANGLIA
PASTORAL LETTER OF
THE RIGHT REVD ALAN HOPES
THE BISHOP OF EAST ANGLIA
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
To be read at all Masses during the weekend of February 20/21 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Our observance of the Holy Season of Lent reflects the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert before He began his public ministry of teaching and healing. His ministry culminates in His Passion, Death and Resurrection – a life freely given for our salvation.
As we follow in Our Lord’s footsteps, our observance of the forty days of Lent also culminates in the sacramental celebration of His Passion, Death and Resurrection. Holy Week and Easter: a celebration which renews our lives with the fruits of forgiveness and eternal life.
That number 40 has a rich and mystical significance in the Sacred Scriptures. It is a period of testing and preparation. It is also a time that looks forward to reconciliation with God, and to new life lived according to His ways.
Noah spent 40 days in the ark when the whole earth was covered in flood – yet he, and all in the ark, were saved. Moses spent 40 days fasting on Mount Sinai before receiving the ten commandments, and a new covenant with God’s chosen people. This same people spent forty years of testing in the desert, before entering the promised land and the new life that God had promised them.
For Jesus, His time of fasting and prayer in the desert was a time of discipline and preparation for His mission of salvation.
For us, these 40 days are a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that enable us to give our particular attention to God – putting Him and our neighbour first – as we prepare for the new life of Easter.
For those among us who are preparing to be welcomed into the Church at Easter, through the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion – it is a time of intense prayer and reflection.
For all of us this past year has been a time of great testing and privation.
We remember in our prayers the tens of thousands who have died with the virus in our country alone, and all those who grieve for them. We continue to pray for all who are still suffering; and for those who work tirelessly among them in our hospitals, hospices and care homes.
However, we are also beginning to see light in the middle of the darkness. The global vaccination process is underway. Our support of this process, in the midst of the pandemic, reflects our Catholic obligation to work together for the common good.
So, we can look to the future with hope and embrace the possibility of things returning soon to some degree of normality.
But like our scriptural forbears, we need to prepare for that future.
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has been reflecting on precisely this. He has, therefore, proclaimed a Year of the Family within a year that also marks the 150th anniversary of St Joseph as the Protector of the Church.
During this past year, we have seen just how important the Family is. So many have experienced how vulnerable relationships within our families can be. Children who no longer live at home have been unable to visit their parents. Grandparents have not been allowed to hug or see their grandchildren. Journeys to visit friends have not been possible. Like our faith, our family life was not intended to be lived in isolation.
So this will be a year, when the pandemic is over, for coming together once more and renewing those essential and close family ties.
Plans are underway for each Diocese and each parish to be able to mark this important year. Our Diocesan Marriage and Family Life Commission have already been discussing how we might assist in this renewal of the Family. Over twenty people are being trained across the Diocese for a Prayer and Listening Ministry to discuss problems big and small.
There will be Masses and retreats to celebrate Marriage and the Family during the course of the year, together with occasions when those who have lost a child, or who cannot have children, can come together to share their griefs and hopes. Every parish will need to reflect on how it might celebrate this year, helping to strengthen family life and assisting those who have gone through difficulties.
Renewing those essential and close family ties will also be vital for the Family of God – the Church.
We also need to look towards that time when we all come together as the Church – to celebrate and renew our common faith and friendship with God and with each other; to celebrate our common need for the grace we receive in the Sacraments – especially the Eucharist. For the Mass is the foretaste of heaven – it is our Promised Land.
May the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us all as we begin our journey towards Easter.
With warmest good wishes and prayer for you all,
Yours devotedly in Jesus Christ,
+Alan S. Hopes
The Right Reverend Alan S Hopes
Bishop of East Anglia
Registered Charity No. 278742
Thank you for your offerings last Sunday.
We are still carrying a large debt on our hall (funded by a Diocese loan) and whilst our outgoings are relatively light at the moment our main source of income is the weekly offertory which is obviously well down.
The offertory is to support your Priest, the church and the poor.
Many will be struggling or have lost work at this time, so no one should feel under any pressure or obligation. However, if you can, please consider setting up a Standing Order monthly into our Bank Account – you can cancel at any time needed. Or you can send one-off donations direct if you bank online:
The Parish’s bank details are:
Bank; Barclays Bank Plc
Account Name: Our Lady’s RC Church
Sort Code 20 – 46 – 65
Account Number 1395 0476
Please add your name in the reference box
Please make cheques payable to ‘Our Lady’s RC Church’
When possible Mass will be live streamed to the March Catholic Parish Facebook page.
CATHOLIC CHURCH
ENGLAND AND WALES
Click Live Catholic Mass online to visit https://www.cbcew.org.uk/ for an online directory of churches in England and Wales streaming Catholic Mass live online. You may enter a post code to see Masses in your area.
Daily Masses will be live streamed from St John’s Cathedral every day at 10am. You can watch all of these Masses at: www.sjbcathedral.org.uk
St. Luke’s https://twitter.com/saintlukesbull
Link from parish website saintlukesparish.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/105785057750972/live/
Walsingham https://www.walsingham.org.uk/live-stream/
And also churchservices.tv has Masses from all over Britain and Ireland.
Children’s Liturgy Websites (They can be accessed via google search engine)
Children’s Liturgy-Cathedral-St Marie’s Cathedral
Sermons4Kids
Cafod – Children’s Liturgy
Diocese of Westminster Children’s Liturgy
Catholicmom.com
For craft orientated sites, see Catholic Inspired and Catholic Icing
Sunday Liturgy for Children
Also some hymns –
You have called us (with lyrics) – You Tube By Bernadette Farrell
Shepherd Me, O God – You Tube By Marty Haugen:
Here I am Lord (with lyrics) – YouTube: by Eric Tom
One Bread, One Body with lyrics.wmv You tube
Dial A Mass opportunity: Telephone Sunday Mass from St Mary’s cathedral, Middlesborough is being offered by Middleborough diocese.
The Mass is recorded at 12noon on Sunday and is available once it’s been uploaded so after 1pm is best. It is then available all week.
The number to call is 01642 130120. Calls are charged at local rate and free if in your included minutes.
Rebecca tried it and you can hear it hands free with your speaker volume up so a couple can listen together.
Foodbank: As we can’t do our usual monthly collection for the Foodbank in church, if you are able to do so please consider adding an item if you are shopping in Tesco, Sainsburys, Iceland, Badgeney Road Co-op and direct to the Foodbank on Monday mornings (10:30-11:30). Both stores have collection boxes which are emptied weekly. The Foodbank continue to distribute supplies to about 25 families a week in March and the surrounding areas. All donations gratefully received but they are short of uht milk, coffee, peas, carrots, mashed potato, and even baked beans at the moment. Also household items and toiletries; bleach, washing up liquid, shampoo, toothpaste, and shower gel.
If you or someone you know is in difficulties at this time, it may help to know that March Foodbank is open 1pm – 2.30pm on Tuesdays at Centenary Baptist Church in the High St in March. Just turn up to speak to someone.
Fenland District Council’s local COVID-19 response hub is coordinating help and support throughout the district to ensure the most vulnerable members of community can access critical support as soon as they need it.
The hub took over 300 calls in its first three days of its launch with callers being signposted to more than 50 known support services.
The Customer Services and Community Hubs has been re-opened on an appointment only basis. To book an appointment, please complete the webform. For further information on attending appointments, please refer to the Appointment Booking Guidance [409kb].
A community hub service has been setup that brings together volunteers, support groups and partners across Fenland to help those most at risk during the coronavirus pandemic. If you’re a resident and need help with food shopping or collecting medicines, they can provide details of a local voluntary service who can help you. Call on 01354 654321 or email covid19@fenland.gov.uk. If you’re a resident and are able to offer help to people in need, please email covid19@fenland.gov.uk.
Some of the committee meetings have been postponed. Others will be available to view online via our YouTube channel.
Further details can also be found at https://www.fenland.gov.uk/coronavirus, where there is also advice and information for local businesses.
Parish Contacts
• Parish Priest: Fr Nicholas Kearney 01354 650788 email: marchcatholicpriest@gmail.com
• Deacon: Rev Martin Wells 01354 741488 email: mwells42@btinternet.com
• Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (fmm) 01354 652266
• Newsletter: Please submit items for consideration to: marchrcnewsletter@gmail.com
• All Saints Inter-Church Academy Primary, County Road March 01354 659000
• Please visit the Parish website for the latest updates: https://www.catholicchurchmarch.co.uk/
May God bless you and keep you safe this week