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
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: Sundays Yr A Weekdays Yr 2 Week 3
Masses this week
Sat 8th St Dominic. Mass March 11 am (Open Intention)
6 pm Mass March Saturday Evening Vigil (Emergency Services of March)
Sunday 9th August 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
9 am Sunday Mass March (+ Paul)
11 am Sunday Mass March (+ Mr. A & Mrs. F Eden)
5 pm Sunday Evening Mass March (vulnerable) – This Mass will have access to the toilets, but is designated for the vulnerable and the older members of our congregation only please. (People of the Parish)
There will be a second collection this weekend for Aid to the Church in Need for their efforts in Lebanon; Beirut because of the explosion.
Mon 10th St Lawrence. Mass March 10 am – (HMP Whitemoor – Prisoners and Staff)
Tue 11th St Clare. Mass March 10 am – (+ Bill Marsh – RIP, died Monday 3rd August 2020)
Wed 12th Feria. Sr Mary is holding a Zoom service at 5.15 pm for the feast of St Clare of Assisi. See News and Events for further details
Thurs 13th Feria. Mass March 10 am – (Rebecca and Steve – 32nd Wedding Anniversary)
Fri 14th St Maximillian Mary Kolbe. Mass March Exposition from 11 am
Mass at 12 noon (Deacon Jacob Cheryian and Family)
Sat 15th
6 pm Mass March Saturday Evening Vigil – (Wilfred Lockwood’s Intention)
Sunday 16th August The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9 am Sunday Mass March – (People of the Parish)
11 am Sunday Mass March (+ Anthony Hyde)
5 pm Sunday Evening Mass March (vulnerable) – This Mass will have access to the toilets, but is designated for the vulnerable and the older members of our congregation only please. (+ Bill Marsh)
Confessions – Saturday between 12 noon and 1pm
The Church door into the Church will only open 30 minutes prior to Mass starting. This ensures that our Stewards are in place and that people are not sitting too long inside the building. The windows will be open and the emergency exit will be too, so that good ventilation is maintained…so you may want to wear a coat, just in case you get chilly. You are reminded that you must wear a face mask and that your hands will be sanitised before and after Mass. I must encourage people to remain vigilant and cautious. Please only attend the Sunday afternoon 5pm if you fall into the specific category that it has been established for.
For those of you who are not able to attend Mass, if you have a Facebook account you can follow the Mass on Fr Paul’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pfsspellman
Due to the limited amount of space available we will be restricted to around 28 people/couples at each Mass and once the church is full further arrivals will be asked to attend a later Mass. Please follow the instructions of the stewards as rows will be filled from the front and it will not be possible to reserve seats beforehand. Stewards will guide everyone out through both church entrances at the end of Mass.
An Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Mary, mother of health and hope, pray for us!
Mass intentions: If you have any intentions for which you would like Mass to be offered please email them to marchcatholicpriest@gmail.com. or send them by post to March Catholic Priest, Our Lady of Good Counsel & St Peter, 8 St Johns Rd, March, PE15 8RJ or pop a Mass Intention envelope through the presbytery door.
Please remember in your prayers all those who are sick and housebound in our March & Chatteris parish especially: Jack Pettingill, Bill Marsh, Claire Reynolds, Susanna Roberts, 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: Ellen Lambert, Helen Morrison, Tony Sheeran, Joyce Matthews, Catherine Chaimberlain, Charles Coombes, Danny Morrssey, Maria Vujcic and Bobby Collins.
Financial Matters
Thank you for the collections on 1st/2nd August: £368 and £115.05 in standing orders.
This Sunday there will be a second collection collection for Aid to the Church in Need for their efforts in Lebanon; Beirut because of the explosion.
Although we are still carrying a large debt on our hall (funded by a Diocese loan) we are reasonably healthy with our local bank balance. Whilst our outgoings are relatively light at the moment our main source of income is the weekly offertory which is obviously well down. 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
News and Events
Zoom evening service: Sister Mary Fitzpatrick is holding a Zoom evening service at 5.15 pm on Wednesday 12th August for the feast of St Clare of Assisi. If you are free to join us we will be delighted to see you and have you join us in prayer. If you have not received an invitation by Monday 10th, please email marchrcnewsletter@gmail.com to be sent a copy of the Zoom link. All welcome.
Gospel Sharing: Our next Gospel Sharing will be on Thursday 13th August 3pm on Zoom. Our Gospel will be the one for the following Sunday.
Please join us for 30 minutes of prayer and reflection.
Email marchgospelsharing@gmail.com and Rebecca will send you a zoom link and more information on the day.
Fr Paul Spellman celebrated his first two Masses in the garden. The Mass was live streamed and those who have a Facebook account may follow it and the daily Masses on Father Paul’s Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pfsspellman
There is also a news item about the Mass on the diocesan website rcdea.org.uk. Future Masses will be live streamed where possible.
This reflection appeared on Fr Sean’s St George’s parish website :
Perhaps those of us who are now able and choosing to come to Mass might be conscious of those who cannot yet join us or who feel they are not ready for this next step in the easing of lockdown. Remember Aaron’s breastplate: whenever Aaron entered the Holy of Holies and came before God as high priest, he donned a breastplate with 12 glittering jewels fixed into it to represent all the peoples of the twelve tribes of ancient Israel. Those of us coming to Mass, exercising our priestly ministry as baptised members of Christ’s Church can wear a mental breast plate and bring to the sanctuary all our friends, family, and fellow parishioners who are not yet physically with us.
Deacon Martin has had some good news from Father Ivan. The critical treatment he underwent late in June, and on which so much depended for him, has proved completely clear. Ivan has had a great love for and commitment to this parish, so often covering Mass in church or the convent when the incumbent has been indisposed or away. It is very encouraging to think we might see him covering here once again when necessary. He sends his love to us all.
Online Masses
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
The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales has produced a very useful searchable guide to Masses across the whole county, including East Anglia.
It’s easy to search just using your postcode or by selecting a diocese. Narrow down your search results by selecting the Mass Type (Daily, Vigil or Sunday) and you can select from the available languages. Please follow the link: Live Catholic Mass Directory
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.
Free Online Catholic Education for All: Your Catholic Voice Foundation offers an online school that provides a Free, World Class Catholic Education for Anyone, Anywhere (yes, Catholic Online School is 100% Free…). It offers over 5,000 Free video lessons with over 295,000 student enrolments across 193 countries. Lessons are included for children as well as adults.
Quarantined Catholic Hub: Scott Hahn of the St Paul Center for biblical studies has introduced an online Catholic hub, featuring free livestreaming of Bible study resources. https://stpaulcenter.com/hub/
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.
CCORRN have supplied more craft and activity boxes and Cambs CC provided 50 craft bags. These are so valuable to families with limited resources.
Eastern Spice are offering free meals to several clients each week with a voucher from the Foodbank.
Chat-tea are providing free take away hot meals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from St. John’s church hall.
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 since its launch last week, with callers being signposted to more than 50 known support services.
Its dedicated helpline – 01354 654321 – is open 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 12noon on Saturday. The lines and email are manned by the Council’s core customer services staff and staff who have been repurposed from non-critical services and quickly trained to provide support and signpost accordingly. Requests for help can also be emailed to: covid19@fenland.gov.uk
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 Paul Spellman 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
Please visit the Parish website for the latest updates: https://www.catholicchurchmarch.co.uk/
Hall Bookings: marchcatholichall@gmail.com and Iris Dean
All Saints Inter-Church Academy Primary, County Road March 01354 659000
May God bless you and keep you safe this week