Our Lady of Lourdes

Welcome to the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Newent and St Michael’s Blaisdon

We are a family of God, a community of disciples, striving to continually deepen our relationship with Christ and with each other. We recognise and value each member of our community, encouraging everyone to share in our life and worship. Together we celebrate the joy of the gospel and witness in faith our hope of eternal life with our heavenly Father.

Lockdown Updates:

Parishes of the Forest and Newent

Parish Priest Barnabas Page 01594 833173

barnabas.page@cliftondiocese.com

Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
4th October 2020

Sunday Mass available from 3pm )
Friday Talk available from 9am )

Blessings
In the midst of a crisis we mustn’t ignore the Blessings that may be hidden by everything else because they are still there. Are you a half full or a half empty person? We can’t help the person that we are but we can help our Faith. As a child before the age of seven we lived on the edge of a village. My mother kept three chickens, Faith, Hope and Charity. Each day they were let out into a medium sized chicken run on our allotment. In the course of the day they cleared the ground within the run of the wire cage. Each night the cage would be moved so bit by bit they cleared the whole ground ready to be dug. How can we prepare the ground for our Faith to grow especially in the midst of a pandemic?
Often the advice is that we should live one day at a time. To live in the present ‘Do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’ This is Christ speaking in Matthew 6:34. Notice He isn’t telling us not to worry but to stick just to today. This was the idea of making a morning offering at the start of the day and a prayer of thanksgiving at the end of the day. Also at night prayer in a Monastery there would be an Examen. This prayer could include asking forgiveness for the faults of the day. But more than this it is a reflection on where God has been present in our lives this day that is coming to a close.
The Monastic Tradition has taught us about the rhythm of the day from waking to sleeping. And I find it comforting that Monks also break the night to pray. While we sleep the pattern of prayer continues for us. This has also been part of Catholic tradition that if I can’t pray at present, someone else will pray on my behalf. As the Body of Christ we support, encourage and pray for one another.
Bless you all.
Barnabas
Second Collection this Sunday will be ‘Peter’s Pence’
This is to enable the Pope to respond to charitable appeals on behalf of the Church. For more information go to http://www.peterspence.va/en.html.
The Collection for CAFOD will now be next weekend Sunday 11th October, envelopes will be available this weekend. The Family Fast Day will be Friday 9th October https://cafod.org.uk/Fundraise/Family-Fast-Day

COVID Track and Trace
‘QR Posters’ are in the progress of being put up in all churches. Once you have downloaded the NHS COVID-19 APP from the Apple ‘App Store’ or ‘Google Play’ you can then scan the QR Code with your phone, which is on the poster when you enter a Church. This is to help trace and stop the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID 19).
Masses
Please book a place by phoning the following contacts for each Church, thank you.
Sunday 4th 9am Cinderford To book phone Fiona 01594 516175
11am Newent To book phone Mary 01531 822 156
Tuesday 6th 10am Coleford To book phone Beverley 01594 861345
Wednesday 7th 12noon Newent To book phone Mary 01531 822 156
Thursday 8th 10am Lydney To book phone Dot and Brian 01594 560054