FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT BENEDICT, FATHER OF MONKS AND A PATRON SAINT OF EUROPE
- 10th July 2022
My Dear Friends,
Born at Norcia in Umbria around 480, Saint Benedict, as a young man, left home to study in Rome. In reaction to the decadence and immorality he found there he turned his back on the world and sought solitude as a hermit, living in a cave at Subiaco. Disciples came to him and in time he moved with them to live on the top of Monte Cassino, where he founded a monastery. There he wrote his ‘Rule’ which established the spirituality and way of life of monastic communities in the West ever since. He died amongst his community in 547. The House of Initia Nova, of which I am a Solemnly professed member, is an Anglican monastic community that lives its life, and draws its inspiration from, this Holy Man and his Blessed Rule. Perhaps central to Benedict’s teaching on the spiritual journey we are all engaged upon of seeking Christ, is our need to de-throne our own ego and self importance and to constantly enthrone Christ instead at the heart of ourselves and our lives. This we do through constantly calling Christ to mind in prayer and worship, the active practice of charity and hospitality to those around us and through obedience to the Church, her constant and ancient teachings, and to our priests and indeed anyone whom Christ has placed over us (our parents perhaps or in my case, my Abbot Michael-John). Placing our will’s at the service of our community, our family, of others. Christ truly speaks to us through others.
SERVICES FOR THE WEEK 10th - 17th July
Sunday - 10th July 2022
Festal Mass for Saint Benedict at 10.00 am
Tuesday – Mass at 7.00 pm
Wednesday – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 11.45 am
Mass at 12.15 pm
Thursday - Mass at 10.00 am
Friday - BCP / English Missal Mass at 10.00 am
Saturday - Mass at 10.00 am
Next Sunday - 17th July 2022
Parish Mass for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time at 10.00 am
SUNDAY MASS WILL BE BROADCAST. Tune in via our Parish Facebook page.
TO TUNE IN VIA FACEBOOK TO JOIN IN OUR WORSHIP PLEASE OPEN THE FACEBOOK APP ON YOUR PHONE OR DEVICE AND SEARCH FOR:
“St Martin’s Parish Church, Fenny Stratford."
TEA AND COFFEE IS SERVED AFTER MASS ON SUNDAYS - DO JOIN US FOR FELLOWSHIP.
PARISH NEWS ADVANCE NOTICE OF OUR PARISH SUMMER GARDEN PARTY / BARBECUE which will take place at the Vicarage on Sunday 24th July between 12 noon and 2.30 pm. Pray for the blessing of good weather and be ready to bring garden / camping chairs. Tables we can provide.
Offers of help will be gratefully received by Father Victor. Swooning Vicars are not a pretty sight.
BENEDICTINE STUDY GROUP
The Study Group continues its reflection on the book “Saint Benedict’s Toolbox” and in the practice of Lectio as prayer. The next meeting will take place this Tuesday 12th July at 7pm at the Vicarage. All are welcome.
The FUNERAL OF MAUREEN CASSELL takes place this Thursday, 14th July, at 11.30 am.
IF YOU HAVE ANY PRAYERS or Mass intentions you would like me to offer at Mass or if would like someone added to our parish prayer list of the Sick or Departed.
My contact details are as follows:
Telephone: 01908 372825
Email: victorbullock@talktalk.net
I am also available in person during Surgery Hour on Saturday’s in Church between 10.30am - 11.30am.
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION AND RECONCILIATION is also available at this time.
Please continue to remember the following in your prayers: For all Benedictine Monks and Nuns as we celebrate together our Father and Founder Saint Benedict.
For a grateful heart for the blessings we receive in the gift of the Blessed Sacrament.
Continued thanksgiving for the faithful service to this nation and its people of Elizabeth our Queen for over 70 years.
The strength to witness more diligently to our Christian faith.
For an end of war in the Ukraine and in Somalia and the Reestablishment of Peace.
That we may always remember, the needs of those so less fortunate than ourselves.
For a Holy and Pastoral man to be appointed soon as our new Bishop in succession to Bishop Jonathan Goodall.
For those at school, college or University, that they may be kept safe and well.
That society may now heal from the Covid pandemic and return to normal.
For those who work, particularly those who have families or other dependents.
For the Government, that integrity may return to politics, that Covid mandates may come to an end and that they may continue to rebuild after these very difficult two years.
For peace to reign within our homes and amongst one another.
For the elderly, housebound and those living in residential and nursing homes.
For our Ambulance Service and for our other Emergency Service Staff and for Milton Keynes Hospital and all who work there.
For Father Victor and Father Ian and for all parish clergy as they seek to continue to make present in our midst the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, the other Sacraments of Christ and offer continuing Pastoral care.
For the Monastic Community of the House of Initia Nova of the Order of Saint Benedict as it settles into its new home in Ponce, Puerto Rico and that it finds the funds to furnish its new Motherhouse. For it’s Abbot, Michael-John Austin, for all of the community and for those new to its life.
For the Sick:
For Nicola Monaghan, Father Gary Ecclestone, Rosalio Eluna, Susan Carter, Pam Wilderspin, Paul Ward, Jean Holden, Peter White, Roger D’Elia, Norman Kent, Denis & Yvonne Simpson, David Lingham, Sandra Walduck, Eugenius Yung and Doris Weatherley.
For the Departed:
For Maggie Richards, Tony Ashby, Eileen Welsh and all the recently departed , and for Father Cyril Wheeler, one time Vicar of this parish, Ethel Collier, Audrey Dimmock, Phyllis Hickman, Charles Albert, Alma Johnson and all whose whose Year’s Mind occurs at this time.
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord.
And let Light Perpetual shine upon them.
May our Holy Father, Saint Benedict, pray for you and May God bless you and keep you,
Father Victor (Dom Cuthbert OSB)