Welcome to the Catholic Parish of Stamford

Saint Mary and Saint Augustine The Presbytery, 13 Broad Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1PG Telephone: (01780) 762010

Email: staugustines13@btinternet.com Website: www.staugustinescatholicchurchstamford.co.uk

Parish Priest: Father Simon Gillespie Mobile: 07760 372105 Email: simon@nottinghamcatholic.com

Deacons: Reverend Charles West-Sadler (with Oakham parish); Reverend Robert S Dawson (retired)

Parish Primary School: Saint Augustine’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, Stamford (01780) 762094

Catholic Secondary School: Saint John Fisher Catholic High School, Peterborough (01733) 343646

Part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham Diocesan Website: www.nottingham-diocese.org.uk

Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Company Number: 7151646 Charity Number: 1134449

25th and 26th March 2017 : Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare!

As well as celebrating Laetare Sunday this weekend,

marking the mid-point of Lent, and Mothering Sunday,

when we give thanks to God for our Mothers, Saturday was

the solemnity of the Annunciation, recalling that day when

the angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary, to ask her to be

the Mother of his only Son. This is a great occasion to

rejoice, because Mary said Yes, and so the Word was made

flesh, Jesus was born, and through his death our lives have

been redeemed. But what is Mary had said No?

The question may seem irreverent. How could the Blessed

Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven, Tower of David, and all the other titles; how could

Mary have left us, the whole of humanity, in the lurch like that? But what if she had?

Could she have said No? One answer is to say that of course she couldn’t, she was

far too holy. But to say that is both demeaning and dangerously sentimental.

It is demeaning because it turns Our Lady from a free human being into a sanctified

automaton. The whole glory of the Annunciation is that Mary, the second Eve, could

have said No to God but she said Yes instead. That is what we celebrate, that is what

we praise her for; and rightly so.

The sentimental view is dangerous too. If we believe that the most important

decision in the history of the world was in fact inevitable, that it couldn’t have been

otherwise, then that means it was effortless. Now we have a marvellous excuse for

laziness. Next time we’re faced with a tough moral decision, we needn’t worry about

doing what is right. Just drift, and God will make sure that whatever choice we make

is the right one. If God really wants us to do something he’ll sweep us off our feet

the way he did Mary, and if he chooses not to, it’s hardly our fault, is it?

So Mary could have said No to Gabriel. And what if she had? He couldn’t just go and

ask someone else, like some sort of charity collector. With all the genealogies and

prophecies in the Bible, there was only one candidate! It’s an alarming thought.

Ultimately, of course, God would have done something: the history of salvation is

the history of God never abandoning his people however pig-headed they (we) were.

But God has chosen to work through human history. If the first attempt at

redemption took four thousand years to prepare, from the Fall to the Annunciation,

how many tens of thousands of years would the next attempt have taken?

Even if the world sometimes makes us feel like cogs in a machine, each of us is unique

and each of us is here for a purpose: just because it doesn’t seem as spectacular a

purpose as Mary’s, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. When we fail to seek our

vocation, or put off fulfilling some part of it, we try to justify ourselves by saying that

someone else will do it better, that God will provide, that it doesn’t really matter.

But we are lying. However small a part I have to play, the story of the Annunciation

tells me it is my part and no-one else can do it. Faced with the responsibility of her

choice, how was Mary able to decide? If she said No, unredeemed generations

would toil on under the burden of sin. If she said Yes, she herself would suffer, and

so would her Son; but both would be glorified. Millions of people not yet born would

have Heaven open to them; but millions of others would suffer oppression and death

in her son’s name. The stakes were almost infinite.

We might think that Mary didn’t worry about all this, just obeyed God; but again that

isn’t what God asks of us. What God wanted was not Mary’s unthinking obedience

but her full and informed consent as the representative of the entire human race.

The two greatest miracles of the Annunciation are these: that God gave Mary the

wisdom to know the consequences of her decision, and that he gave her the grace

not to be overwhelmed by that knowledge.

When we come to an important decision in our lives, we can easily find our minds

clouded by the possible consequences, or, even more, by partial knowledge of them.

How can we ever move, when there is so much good and evil whichever way we go?

The Annunciation gives us the answer. God’s grace will give us the strength to move,

even if the fate of the whole world is hanging in the balance. After all, God does not

demand that our decisions should be the correct ones (assuming that there even is

such a thing), only that they should be rightly made. There is one more truth that

the Annunciation teaches us, and it perhaps tells us more about God than we are

able to understand. The Almighty Father created heaven and earth, the sun and all

the stars; but when he really wanted something done, he came, the Omnipotent and

Omniscient, to one of his poor, weak creatures — and he asks.

And, day by day, he keeps on asking us.

Welcome to our Parish Primary School

At our 9am Sunday Morning Mass we welcome children and staff

from Saint Augustine’s Catholic Voluntary Academy to help lead

our Mass and celebrate Mothering Sunday with us Thank You to

their parents and teachers who are so supportive, and allow the

children to be supportive of our parish and our Mass!

Gospel Readings in Lent

As last Sunday, this weekend we hear a longer Gospel: the familiar account of Blind

Bartimaeus. As the Gospel will be more dramatic, with different voices proclaiming

the different parts, why not consider listening to the Gospels? Rather than reading

the Mass books try to immerse yourself into the power of the Word of God.

Sunday Vespers in Lent

We celebrate Lenten Sunday Vespers in a slightly more solemn fashion, at 5pm, and

including a reflection on that Sunday’s Gospel, given by a parishioner. Consider

making this part of your Lenten spiritual exercises this year.

Student Cross

A sign-up board for parishioners to host Student Cross pilgrims is at the back of

church this weekend. The pilgrims arrive on Palm Sunday (9th April, at about 6.00pm

– note the later time) and we ask parishioners to provide a shower / bath and a hot

meal for them. They will then spend the night - after re-grouping in the pub (Toby

Norris) - in the parish hall. Morning Prayer (to which all are welcome) is celebrated

at 7.45pm on Monday morning, before they leave at 8.15am.

Thank you very much for your help! Further information from Stephanie Crook.

Reminder – Mid Lent Fair

Broad Street (as well as much of central Stamford) will be closed to vehicular traffic

from 12 noon on Sunday 26th March until midnight on Saturday 1st April.

Our church will be open as usual and Mass times won’t change.

Happy Mothering Sunday to all our Mothers!

Forthcoming Events in our parish, community and diocese

The Parish Finance Committee meets on Monday 27th March at 2pm in the

presbytery, to discuss building matters.

School Mass is on Tuesday this week – all are very welcome to join with Year 3 / 4

at our parish primary school at 9am.

This week’s Deanery Reconciliation Service is at Saint Joseph’s church, Oakham, on

Wednesday 29th March at 7pm. Please come to confession early for Easter!

The Peterborough Theological Society presents How William Blake can help us read

the Bible a talk given by Rev’d Professor Chris Rowland, on Wednesday 29th March

at 7.30pm in the Friends’ Meeting House, PE3 6AB. More details are available from

Rev’d Canon Jonathan Baker, 01773 355300.

Choir Practice in church on Wednesday 29th March at 8pm – all are very welcome.

The next SVP Meeting will be held on Thursday 30th March at 6pm in the parish hall

– come along to find out about the SVP and their help in our parish.

The fifth of our Lenten Study Sessions – I Believe in the parish hall on Thursday 30th

March at 7.30pm (after evening Mass) – all are very welcome.

Stations of the Cross in church on Friday 31st March at 10.40am, after Mass.

Lenten Lunch on Friday 31st March, from 12.30pm until 1.30pm in the URC Hall,

Broad Street. Our parish are providing the food this week so do consider attending!

A Holy Week Liturgy will be celebrated in our parish primary school on Friday 31st

March at 1.30pm – as ever, all parishioners are very warmly invited to attend.

Palmerston Ukulele Band is performing on Saturday 1st April at 7.30pm in Christ

Church – all are welcome (at £10 per person) to this fun evening!

The final Deanery Lenten Station Mass will be celebrated in Saint Augustine’s church

on Wednesday 5th April with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions

from 7pm, and Mass at 7.30pm. We will welcome people from across our Deanery

to our church, and also Father Mamdouh from the School of Joy in Bethlehem, who

will have some carved olive wood religious articles from Bethlehem on sale for us.

The Thursday Club Lunch will be held on Thursday 6th April in the parish hall at

12.30pm. Please contact Eileen for more details or for a place – 01780 753913.

Parish Quiz Night – in honour of Saint George – on Saturday 22nd April from 7.15pm.

Bring your own drinks and picnic. More details from Stephanie Crook.

A Recital will be given by Susannah Sturman (violin) and Adam Pick (piano) in Saint

Edward’s church. Ketton, on Saturday 22nd April at 7.30pm. Tickets from Marilyn

Hughes on 01536 649857, with proceeds to the Northampton Cathedral Centre.

An afternoon of Divine Mercy Sunday Devotions will be held on Sunday 23rd April

at 2.30pm in Saint Joseph’s church, Oakham LE15 6QU. All are very welcome

Being God’s People in an Age of Injustice a day conference at Loughborough

University on Saturday 29th April. See the poster in the porch for more details.

A Foyer de Charité Retreat will be held at the Retreat Centre in Walsingham, from

Sunday 30th April (6pm) – Saturday 6th May (2pm). Contact Monsignor Keith

Barltrop for more information : keithbarltrop@rcdow.org.uk; 07879 953953.

A Celebrate Family Conference will be held in Lincolnshire on Saturday 8th and

Sunday 9th July. To book, visit : cleethorpes@celebrateconference.org

Nottingham Blessed Sacrament Procession

Bishop Patrick will lead a Blessed Sacrament Procession in honour of The Venerable

Mary Potter through the streets of Nottingham on Sunday 21st May at 2.30pm. The

procession will start from Saint Mary’s Church (where Mary Potter founded the Little

Company of Mary) and proceed to the Cathedral (where she is buried) and where

Benediction will be given by Bishop Patrick at 4.30pm. If you’re interested in

participating please speak to Father Simon.

Deanery Station Masses and Reconciliation Services

The remaining opportunities to gather as a deanery and celebrate the sacrament of

reconciliation this Lent, are:

• Wednesday 29th March – in Oakham – Confessions at 7pm

• Wednesday 5th April - here in Saint Mary and Saint Augustine, Stamford,

Confessions and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 7pm, Mass at 7.30pm

Holy Week and Easter – an Advance Invitation

We can’t begin Lent without thinking about the journey’s end – Holy Week and

Easter itself. Please put these dates in your diary now and make every effort to come

to church over that Great Week, to really enter into the passion, death, and

resurrection of Jesus. We will celebrate:

Palm Sunday (9th April)

• The 6pm Vigil Mass and 11am morning Mass will both be celebrated as usual,

with the Solemn Entrance, Blessing of Palms, and proclamation of the Gospel.

• The 9am morning Mass will be moved to 9.30am and will start from Saint

John’s church where we will join with our Anglican friends from All Saints

church for the opening liturgy, before sharing a procession along the High

Street and Ironmonger Street, and thence to our respective churches for (in

our case) the Mass.

Maundy Thursday (13th April)

• The Mandatum Mass of the Lord’s Supper, with the washing of feet, at 7pm,

and then Watching before the Blessed Sacrament until midnight.

Good Friday (14th April)

• The Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday at 3pm.

Holy Saturday (15th April)

• We will spend the day in silence and

stillness, waiting at the tomb; during the

day we’ll pray the Liturgy of the Hours in

church; there will also be chance to have

food blessed with the Polish Blessing..

EASTER DAY (16th April)

• We will begin Easter with the Solemn Vigil

and Mass of the Resurrection at 4.30am

(followed by bacon sandwiches and

prosecco in the parish hall);

• Masses as usual at 9am and 11am.

Churches Together in Stamford – Lent Lunches

The traditional Lent Lunches, organised by Churches Together in Stamford, will be

available every Friday in Lent (until 7th April) in the URC Hall, Broad Street (opposite

our church), from 12.30pm – 1.30pm. A tasty was to unite in Lent.

“Come and share God’s love with those from other churches, and none”.

From Wajir – An Emergency Situation

Most of you will have seen the desperate situation; it is bad in Wajir. If anyone

wishes to donate to an emergency funding gift please do so before 29th March;

donations can be handed into the presbytery, and cheques made out to Saint Mary

and Saint Augustine RCP. Please pray for the Daughters of Saint Anne and the

helpers. Please pray for rain. Thank You Pat Gallagher

Planned Giving Envelopes

Thanks to all those who have collected their envelopes. Some boxes remain

especially for those who have standing orders (boxes of second collection

envelopes only). Please take yours this weekend.

Mass Intentions

The Mass Intention envelopes have changed slightly (they’re now white, not brown)

and include the option to gift aid the donation. Any extra amounts received through

gift aid will be applied to Masses for the Holy Souls. There are spaces in the diary,

especially over Easter, if anyone wants to book a Mass for a loved one, living or

having died. Mass offerings are the only regular financial support our priests receive.

Job Opportunity – Parish Director of Music

There is a desire to appoint a (paid) parish Director of Music. If you’re interested and

want a full job description please speak with Father Simon before the end of March.

The Parish Director of Music will empower all parishioners to come closer to God

through their worship of God in the liturgy, particularly through singing and music.

The Director’s role will be to model the musical tradition of the Church through use

of both the Church’s musical patrimony and incorporation of contemporary music,

so that the worshipping community is brought to contemplation of the Divine.

From Stamford Foodbank

Stamford Foodbank continues to do great work in helping those who are in need in

our local community, but are running low of the following items:

• Breakfast cereals

• Long Life fruit juice

• Dry rice

• Coffee

• Rice puddings

• Pasta sauce

• Tin spaghetti, hoops etc

• Dry pasta

Tinned fruit and vegetables of any sort are always welcome. Simply bring any items

to church or to the presbytery.

Thank You from Kairos Prison Mission

Thank God for you, for 14,000 cookies and 500

prayer slips, for artwork from children and generous

financial contributions from sponsors and churches and most preciously from ex

offenders. These five days in prison with offenders allow the Mission Team to share

their lives and express God’s hope that prison will for the participants no longer be

a place of punishment but a place of healing from battered emotions where

bitterness can be released, remorse can be validated, forgiveness can be found and

the envisioning of men by Jesus will begin so they go out from Kairos ‘in peace and

be led forth in joy’ into a new-life direction animated with a new spirit. None of this

could have happened without your prayers and generous support.

Heaven will be smilling! Richard Stephens UK Chairman of Kairos Prison Ministry

Building Work – Update

You’ll see on the noticeboard information about three small projects to be

undertaken in Saint Joseph’s chapel:

• Removal of the second (very squeaky!) step in the sanctuary, so that the whole

of the sanctuary area is on one level;

• Work to remove areas of dry rot around the recently-revealed doorway;

• Installation of a second candle money box, in the wall under the aumbry.

The PA system has been tweaked recently to get rid of a few outstanding issues, and

preparation work is being undertaken to update the lighting. It’s hoped that early in

April a fuller report will be put into the newsletter for parishioners. In the meantime

if you have any questions please speak to Chris King or Father Simon.

Thank you for your support and generosity for the fabric of our church and hall!

Prayer for Priestly and Religious Vocations

Almighty God, we pray, give us holy priests to strengthen us in our Christian calling,

that we may be more closely conformed to Christ and share more effectively in his

saving work. Through their ministry at the altar, and by their administration of the

sacraments, may our lives be sanctified and become more closely associated with

the redemptive sacrifice of Christ. As they preach the Gospel and teach the faith

may we be inspired to dedicate ourselves to the work of evangelisation. As they

serve our parishes may we be led into deeper communion of faith, hope and charity.

O God, bless our diocese also with men and women who will serve the mission of

the Church by taking religious vows, inspiring us with lives consecrated to you.

Mary Immaculate; Saint Hugh of Lincoln; The saints of our diocese – pray for us.

Prayers for Vocations this week

Monday 27th March – The Presentation Sisters in Market Harborough

Tuesday 28th March – Father David Bowler (Diocesan Hermit)

Thursday 30th March – Father Stanley Ofoegbu (Saint Patrick, Mansfield)

Friday 31st March – Father Simon Robson OP (Leicester)

Saturday 1st April – Father David Senyk

Readings at Mass this Week

Consider reading some of the scripture readings from Mass each day:

Monday Isaiah 65:17-21; Psalm 29(30):2.4-6.11-13; John 4:43-54

Tuesday Ezekiel 47:1-9.12; Psalm 45(46):2-9; John 5:1-16

Wednesday Isaiah 49:8-15; Psalm 144(145):8-9.13-14.17-18; John 5:17-30

Thursday Exodus 32:7-14; Psalm 105(106):19-23; John 5:31-47

Friday Wisdom 2:1.12-22; Psalm 33(34):16-23; John 7:1-2.10.25-30

Saturday Jeremiah 11:18-20; Psalm 7:2-3.9-12; John 7:40-52

A reflection from ‘Marriage Matters’

Stop and see, be aware

God was aware of David’s adultery with Bethsheba, Uriah’s wife, and how he

arranged Uriah’s murder to cover his sin. Amid political and business ‘cover ups’ in

today’s world, it’s important to ‘stop and see’ ‒ the beauty of nature, the beauty and

goodness of your spouse. Don’t be too busy to recall the joys you have brought to

each other.

Last week in our Parish Primary School

This term Miss Williams and Miss Auton

have been super impressed with how

well the children at gym club have

worked. They have been practicing

different routines that include some

really tricky moves. They have been

particularly pleased with how

motivated the children have been to

perfect the shaping of their body to

help them when they vault.

Early Years have been enjoying the weather

and looking in their garden for signs of

Spring. They have spotted daffodils,

hyacinths, blossom, birds’ nests and buds on

the trees. They have been busy making a

spring display to show some of these

wonderful spring sights.

As our pupils and staff come to the end of term

on Friday we wish them a restful Easter break,

and keep in our prayers all those who are

currently involved in the recruitment process for

a new headteacher for our parish primary

school. If you know of anyone who might be

interested do let them know of this opportunity!

Mission Statement this week:

I can recognise comfortable and uncomfortable feelings

Many Thanks for your Generosity

Envelopes £406.52 Loose plate £214.43

Standing Order £274.00 Collection Total £894.95

Second collection next weekend for Easter Flowers

Prayers For . . .

All who have died recently: especially Peter Jacobs, whose body will be received

into church on Sunday 2nd April at 4.30pm, and whose Requiem Mass will be

celebrated on Monday 3rd April at 11.30am; also for Maureen Winstanley, whose

Funeral Service will be celebrated in church on Thursday 6th April at 12noon; also for

Ciaran McCarthy who has died recently. May they rest in peace!

All our sick and housebound parishioners and friends: Paul Sinfield, Mary de Santos

Justos, Margaret West-Sadler, John Herd, Father Dominic O’Connor, Father Joe

O’Hanlon, Jo and Bernard Raffo, Victoria Crouch, Father James O’Hanlon, Eric

Melbourne, Terry Carroll, Father Eamonn O’Hara, Canon Peter Coyle, Peter Herrick,

Father John Cairns, Deacon Bernard Croft, Mark Grab, Rosa Maria Santos, Kenneth

Court, Veronica Hosking, Beth Coleman, Joan Middleton, Pat Dancer, Augusta

Deane, Irene Mulligan, Eileen Cox, Connie Edgar, Father John Abbott, Gladys Brown,

Nora Hunt, Monica Holt, Vivien Faulconbridge, Valerie Pellier, Kitty English, Fiona

Ruddle, David Cooke, Maeve Swann, Helen Allen, Jean Maker, Anna Orme, Lucy

Court, Debbie Reed, Ken Woods, Lilian Popple, Lorraine Watt, Anne Woods, Father

David Bingham, Gill Clark, Daphne Wise, Deacon Bob Dawson, Father Peter Harvey.

Liturgy This Week Next Week

Sunday Fourth Sunday of Lent Fifth Sunday of Lent

Cycle & Psalter Year A, Week 4 Year A, Week 1

Mass page 164 page 170

Penitential Rite B, page 8 B, page 8

First Reading 1 Samuel 16:1.6-7.10-13 Ezekiel 37:12-14

Psalm Psalm 22 Psalm 129

Second Reading Ephesians 5:8-14 Romans 8:8-11

Gospel John 9:1-41 John 11:1-45

Preface Fourth Sunday of Lent, p72 Fifth Sunday of Lent, p72

Eucharistic Prayer Three, page 28 Three, page 28

Memorial Acclamation C (Save us, Saviour) C (Save us, Saviour)

Masses and Services this Week

Saturday 25th March Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare Sunday

6.00pm Vigil Mass Pro Populo (people of the parish)

7.00pm Confessions

Sunday 26th March Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare Sunday

9.00am Mass Luke Flynn RIP

Tea and coffee after

11.00am Mass Peter Jacobs RIP

Tea and coffee after

5.00pm Solemn Sung Vespers with Reflection

Monday 27th March Lenten Feria

9.00am Mass Angus Forbes and Family

1.00pm Internment of the Ashes of Brian Lander RIP at Stamford Cemetery

Tuesday 28th March Lenten Feria

9.00am School Mass November Dead List

Wednesday 29th March Lenten Feria

7.30am Mass November Dead List

7.00pm Exposition and Confession, Saint Joseph’s church, Oakham

Thursday 30th March Lenten Feria

7.00pm Mass November Dead List

Friday 31st March Lenten Feria

10.00am Mass Peter Jacobs RIP (TM)

10.40am Stations of the Cross

1.30pm Holy Week Liturgy in Saint Augustine School

Saturday 1st April Lenten Feria

No morning confessions

Second Collection for Easter Flowers

Fifth Sunday of Lent

6.00pm Vigil Mass Tommie Emerson RIP

7.00pm Confessions

Sunday 2nd April Fifth Sunday of Lent

9.00am Mass Pro Populo (people of the parish)

Children’s Liturgy; Tea and coffee after

11.00am Mass Alexander Horspool – 1st birthday

Tea and coffee after

4.30pm Reception into church of Peter Jacobs RIP

5.00pm Solemn Sung Vespers with Reflection

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament half an hour before weekday Masses in church