Opening of St Mary's, Wycliffe

We are pleased that the Bishop has approved our plans for opening St Mary's, Wycliffe. Sunday Mass will therefore start up this Sunday (26th July) at the usual time of 11.30am. Please keep up to date with the blog for any further details/updates.

This week's newsletter

http://www.wensleydalecatholicchurches.org.uk/downloads/Dales_Mission_Bulletin_19th_July_2020.pdf

St Laurence of Brindisi/priestly ordination anniversary: Instrumentality

Fr Richard's homily from today's Mass in Richmond (optional memorial of St Laurence of Brindisi)

Readings: https://universalis.com/20200721/mass.htm

Homily: Instrumentality

When I was first ordained - people called me the "baby priest"! On my second anniversary, I can probably be called the "toddler priest"!

What does a toddler know? The anniversary of a priest, however, is a good opportunity to simply remind ourselves what, or rather, who the priest is in the Church’s understanding. The priesthood is not an office that an ordained man possesses but merely one that he shares in: for it is Jesus Christ alone who is the True priest.

At his ordination, the priest undergoes what’s called an ontological change – meaning that at the core of the man’s very being he is conformed to Christ, specifically Christ the Head and Shepherd of the Church. The priest is objectively and radically conformed to Christ the High Priest in a sacred bond. It means he therefore acts in the person of Christ the Head. He is called to imitate the Good Shepherd, to lead God’s people to pasture (as the Prophet Micah prays in today’s First Reading).

The priest, then, is simply an “instrument” – a “living instrument of Christ”. The Lord ordains men to be the instruments of his love and mercy - to perform His Divine actions by His Divine power alone. This “instrumentality” of the priest is none more so evident in the celebration of the Sacraments. Today’s reading where the Prophet Micah speaks of the Lord taking fault away points our attention particularly towards the Sacrament of Penance whereby the words of absolution of the priest as the instrument has been the means of salvation for countless saints throughout history.

And so a priestly anniversary should merely make us give thanks to Almighty God for the sacred order of the priesthood by which Christ’s work of salvation is continued day by day.

St Laurence of Brindisi is a wonderful example for priests and lay people alike – particularly the importance of prayer. He once said: “…God is truly present to us when we speak to him in prayer; that he truly listens to our prayers, even if we pray only with our hearts and minds. And that not only is he present and hears us, indeed he willingly and with the greatest of pleasure wishes to grant our requests”.

So, following St Laurence’s advice, let’s pray today for vocations to the priesthood confident that the Lord will hear and answer our prayer.

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time: John Paul I's legacy

Readings and Homily from morning Mass today celebrated by Fr Richard in Ss Joseph and Francis Xavier

Readings: https://universalis.com/20200719/mass.htm

16^th Sunday of Ordinary Time: John Paul I's legacy

Those of you who are more senior than me will no doubt remember Pope John Paul I – known as the “smiling pope” (incidentally whose cause for canonisation is still ongoing). I imagine it will have been a great shock on 28 September 1978 to learn of his death – only 33 days into his papacy.

There’s a story of that day which is handed down to generations of students at the English College in Rome where I trained for the priesthood. Apparently, on hearing the news early in the morning, one of the more senior students thought he’d better tell the Rector. Knocking on his door, the student said: “Fr Rector – the pope is dead!” After a few moments the response came which was something like: “Go back to bed you stupid boy – that was last month!” “No – the new pope is dead,” the student replied.

We might wonder why, in God’s plan, did we have such a short papacy? I’m speculating – but perhaps the Lord wanted John Paul I (Albino Luciani) to remind the Church and the world of just one (or rather three) important things. Because after his first (introductory) Wednesday audience, unbeknown to him, he had just three more - and he chose to give Catechises on faith, hope and love: the theological virtues. We prayed at the beginning of this Mass in the Collect for the Lord to increase the gifts of His grace in us, “that made fervent in hope, faith and charity” we “may be ever watchful in keeping [His] commands.”

The three theological virtues were given as a gift by God to us at our baptism. By living them, we come into a relationship with the Holy Trinity. We cannot live without them. They are those habits by which we do the good. Interestingly, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church the virtues are explained before the Ten Commandments are. That’s because to stand any chance of living God’s law, we first need to grow in virtue – especially in these three.

Faith – the virtue by which we commit our entire selves to God, by which we believe in Him and the things He has revealed to us. Hope – by which we desire “the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promise…”[1]

And charity, the greatest of the virtues, “by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbour as ourselves for the love of God.”[2]

If we grow in these virtues we will be like the wheat in today’s Gospel producing a good harvest amid the darnel (the evil in our world). To cultivate faith, hope and love will result in us shining like the sun in the world today and in the Kingdom of our Father.

---

[1] CCC 1817

[2] CCC 1822

This week's joint newsletter

First Public Mass in Leyburn: Homily - Calvary to heaven

It was wonderful to celebrate public Mass at Ss Peter and Paul, Leyburn, for the first time since March. There was a good number of 10 there. Mass was celebrated for Vocations to the Priesthood. There is Mass on Sunday at Ss Peter and Paul at 10am.

Today's readings: https://universalis.com/20200710/mass.htm

Homily: Calvary to heaven

Whenever we gather for Mass on a Friday, we do so remembering especially Our Lord’s passion and death on the Cross for our sake. We recall that Jesus carried the weight of our sins on his way to Calvary and paid the price for them that we might be saved. Today’s Psalm is a plea for the forgiveness that God offers us, an acknowledgment of our need for His infinite mercy.

In Jesus’ suffering, he shows us that part of our Christian life too involves suffering. Jesus Himself warns in the Gospel about the persecution the apostles will face for remaining true to the Faith. Many, of course, have been suffering in different ways recently, not just with the virus, but with fear, loneliness and uncertainty about their future. But to humbly endure suffering and consciously unite those trials with Christ’s Passion, does powerfully aid us along the path to our eternal home. In suffering with Christ, we like the people of Israel in our First Reading will be led to the beauty of the promised land where lilies, shoots, roots, corn, olives, and vines will flourish.

Lord, by your Cross, lead us to the joys of the heavenly Jerusalem.

(Post by Fr Richard)

Second public Mass at Richmond (Homily: Ordination joy)

It was great to celebrate a public Mass (with 10 people) this morning for the first time in nearly four months! Mass was celebrated for the intentions of Albert Lawes, who is to be ordained a (transitional) deacon this coming the weekend for Plymouth Diocese. Please keep him and all those approaching ordination this summer (both diaconate and priesthood) in your prayers.

Readings: https://universalis.com/20200707/mass.htm

Homily: Ordination joy

Rev Andrew Coy lies prostrate for the Litany of Saints at his ordination on Sunday (Photo: Diocese of Northampton)

On Sunday afternoon, I had the great honour of being one of the few who could go to a friend’s diaconate ordination at Northampton Cathedral. We may all feel a bit “dejected” like the crowds in today’s Gospel because of what we’ve been living through. So, Rev Andrew Coy’s ordination brought a deep sense of joy that, even amid these challenging times, the Lord is still sending out young men to serve Him and his people.

It was very moving to see Andrew make his promises publicly before the Church - and with the Cathedral door wide open and the ordination being live-streamed – to the world: promises to be celibate for the sake of the Kingdom, to serve the people of Christ, to proclaim the Catholic faith in word and action, to pray the Liturgy of the Hours for the Church and the world, and to conform his life to Christ’s. To make these promises demonstrates a deep trust in the Lord, the important instruction today’s Psalm puts across.

In the Gospel we hear Our Lord’s words that are always associated with vocations: “The harvest is rich, but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.” And so today we follow the Lord’s instruction and we continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood, especially for our own Diocese.

Mass Intentions Canon michael

It was wonderful to celebrate my first public Mass since lockdown. There were 23 people there. Marvellous!

On Monday, Tuesday , Thursday & Friday i am offering Mass for the Holy Souls.
On Wednesday it is my monthly Mass for the Yorkshire Brethren and on Saturday it is my sister Carmel's birthday so I am offering Mass for her intentions. Many of you know Carmel from Lourdes.

Bulletin - 14th Week of Ordinary Time

Here is a joint parishes bulletin published today with the latest information:

http://www.wensleydalecatholicchurches.org.uk/downloads/Dales_Mission_Bulletin_6th_July_2020.pdf

Urgent Message from Bishop Terry

This evening, Bishop Terry has written to draw our attention to the biggest threat to the lives of unborn children since the 1967 Abortion Act. On Monday, two amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill will seek to liberalise the law to make abortion on demand (i.e. for any reason) legal up to 28 weeks in England and Wales. The measure would remove almost all current legal safeguards on abortion.

Bishop Terry asks that people "witness their faith in action on this most important issue" by writing to our MPs asking them to oppose the move. Please go to the Right to Life website (https://righttolife.org.uk/StopExtremeAbortion/), from where you can send a message to your MP in 30 seconds.

St Thomas the Apostle

Thomas is something of a favourite with me. I know he is called doubting Thomas but he has one of the best sayings in the whole of the Gospel. Thomas has the great prayer of adoration when he really sees and believes in the Risen Christ "My Lord and My God", I know many of us say that prayer when we hear the bell ring at the consecration of the Mass and Jesus comes to our altar under the appearance of bread and wine.

Of all the apostles no one travelled further than Thomas in spreading the Good news. He gat as far as Chennai (Madras). When our St Francis Xavier got to India 1,500 years later he met the descendants of Thomas' converts. Thomas for me is a great man of Faith. Do not worry about having doubts, if you place them in the hands of Jesus , you can have the greatest Faith.

Fr Bill East
died July 1st. he had been the parish priest of Pickering until his retirement. Let us pray for him and thank God for his priestly ministry.

Fr Richard's recent Mass intentions

13th June: Priest's Intention
14th June: Priest's Intention: Young People of the Parishes
15th June: Priest's Intention
16th June: Priest's Intention
17th June: Peter Toother
18th June: Fr David Evans
19th June: Priest's Intention
20th June: Priest's Intention
21st June: Priest's Intention
22nd June: Spread of the Catholic Faith in the Middlesbrough Diocese
23rd June: Ints. Fr Benjamin Hilton
24th June: Protection of Unborn Children
25th June: Joyce Burke
26th June: Priest's Intention - Thanksgiving for Holy Orders
27th June: Priest's Intention
28th June: Young People in the Parishes
29th June: Vincent Ashley
30th June: Thanksgiving and Ints. of Paul and Jean Marsden
1st July: Yorkshire Brethren
2nd July: Fr Bill East R.I.P
3rd July: Kathleen Murphy

Reopening for Mass

The Sunday obligation to attend Mass remains suspended. Strict guidelines have been imposed by the Government and the Bishops of England and Wales to make sure everyone is safe. Only those churches that have had risk assessments approved by the Diocese are able to start public Mass. Therefore, for the time being, this means that St Mary’s, Wycliffe, and Ss Simon and Jude, Ulshaw Bridge, aren’t able to open as yet.

I am unable to open Richmond and Leyburn for Mass this coming Sunday. The reasons for this are that I do not have sufficient volunteers under the age of 70. Volunteers are required to sanitise the benches, steward the congregation, and help keep the two-metres social distancing (where possible). I very much hope we can open the Church for Mass in Richmond and Leyburn next Sunday (July 12^th).

You are required to inform us if you would like to come to each Mass either by telephone or by email giving your name, address, contact number, and which Mass you will be attending - in order to comply with the Government’s “test, track, and trace” system.

Daily Mass will recommence in Richmond on Monday morning at 9.30am. There will also be a 12 Noon Mass in Leyburn on Friday, 10^th July.

We are always available for Confessions upon request. Please give us a ring to arrange a time.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! We need your help!

God bless

Canon Michael & Fr Richard