SOLEMNITY OF SAINT MARTIN OUR PATRON / REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY - 12th November 2023
My Dear Friends,
November the 11th marks for us a great Feast. Our Patron Saint, of whom we are justifiably proud, was born around 316 in what is now Hungary. At the age of 15, Martin was forcibly enrolled in the imperial cavalry by his parents. The episode of his sharing his cloak with a poor beggar and the subsequent heavenly vision which led to his baptism has become famous. He finally left the army and lived for ten years as a hermit under the guidance of Saint Hilary of Poitiers.
In 372, he was made Bishop of Tours, but he accepted the office with great reluctance and establishing another great monastic centre at Marmoutier, he continued to live there as a monk, while publicly devoting himself zealously to his episcopal duties.
He opposed Arianism and other heresies but condemned the practice of invoking civil power to punish heretics. He was one of the greatest pioneers of Western monasticism before our Holy Father, Saint Benedict.
November the 11th also marks a more somber occasion. That of Remembrance Day.
We are mindful that with every passing year there are fewer and fewer people who can claim direct contact with the two world wars of the twentieth century. Yet millions are touched by the devastation they caused. Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday remain the principal occasions for recalling the sacrifice made by men and women of our nation who gave their lives that we might live in freedom.
We also call to mind the many thousands of people who die every year in conflicts around our world in our own day. As we pray for them and their families, we ask God to strengthen the resolve of all who work for peace and we pray for a just settlement wherever there is common grievance.
SERVICES FOR THIS WEEK
12th November 2023
THIS SUNDAY -
Community Act of Remembrance at the Bletchley cenotaph outside Knowles School at 9.00 am.
Requiem Mass and Act of Remembranceat 10.00 am in Church.
13th November
MONDAY - No Mass today.
14th November
TUESDAY - Mass at 6.30 pm.
15th November
WEDNESDAY - Eucharistic Adoration at 11.45
am.
Mass at 12.15 pm.
16th November
THURSDAY - No Mass today.
17th November
FRIDAY - Mass (Book of Common Prayer) at
10.00 am.
18th November
SATURDAY - Mass at 10.00 am.
- Adult Baptism / Confirmation
Class this week at 11.30 am at the
Vicarage.
19th November
SUNDAY - Parish Mass at 10.00 am.
TEA AND COFFEE IS AVAILABLE AFTER MASS ON SUNDAYS - DO JOIN US FOR FELLOWSHIP.
PARISH NEWS
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
A BIG THANK YOU to those who helped and supported our Parish Patronal Festival Events. Two beautiful Services. A wonderful Sermon by our very own Father Ian at our Patronal Mass and a fascinating presentation of the literature and arts as they were at the time of our Founding Father, Browne Willis by Mr Bryan Clarkson at the Browne Willis Dinner. A rich and enjoyable weekend in praise of Saint Martin. Special thanks to Shanny, our Chef Kerry and to the team who beautifully decorated and prepared the Chuch for this weekend.
THE HEALTHY CHURCH INITIATIVE. There is a questionnaire for each member of the parish family to fill in as part of our campaign to improve our Parish life and Mission outreach. As these are meant to be filled in online, could you please leave your email addresses with Shanni. Paper copies will be supplied to those who do not have access to a computer.
THE ADULT BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION CLASS continues to meet on Saturday mornings for those preparing for the reception of these Sacraments. It takes place at 11.15 am at the Vicarage. It’s not too late to join us.
REPOSITORY - CHURCH GIFT SHOP
This is open before and after Mass on Sundays and weekdays selling a wide range of items from religious cards, rosaries, books, crucifixes and icons to mugs, fridge magnets, church diaries, pens and note books.
Items can be seen in the glass case by the font at the back of church and in the glass case in the Vestry Hall. Please take a look.
OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL takes place each and every Sunday. If you have children between the ages of 5 - 12 they will be most welcome from 10 am in the Vestry Hall. Hope to see you there.
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: 07714190663
Email: Vicarstmartin@outlook.com
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 our Parish as it celebrates its Patron Saint Martin. That we may emulate him in our faithfulness to the Gospel and its proclamation and to the care of our brothers and sisters in their need.
For our Bishop Paul and all the Parishes that look to him in the Oswestry Episcopal District.
For our Sunday School and for the children attending.
That the gifts of the Holy Spirit may be ours so that we may grow our Parish and serve the people of Fenny and Bletchley more effectively.
For the success of our ‘Growing Healthy Churches’ initiative.
For the success of our part of the Fenny Poppers Festival, that it may be an opportunity for others to experience our Church and community positively.
For the successful launch of our new Sunday School.
For a deepening of our faith and a greater commitment to Christ.
For the strength to remain firm in our Christian faith and to give witness to it through our own example.
For the people of Turkey after the recent devastating earthquake and for those seeking to aid them at this time.
For an end of war in the Ukraine and in Somalia and the re-establishment of Peace.
That we may continue to remember, the needs of those so less fortunate than ourselves.
For those at school, college or University, that they may be kept safe and well.
For those who work, particularly those who have families or other dependents.
For the Government, that in this time of rising costs we may see increased integrity within the world of politics.
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 continues 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 Doris Weatherley, Yvonne and Denis Simpson, Judy Rogers, Benyamin Kha-jeh-pour, Gary Ashby, Richard Lyons, Heather Burke, June Reid, Nicola Monaghan, Rosalio Eluna, Susan Carter, Pam Wilderspin, Jean Holden, Peter White, Paul Ward, David Lingham, Sandra Walduck and Eugenius Yung.
For the Departed:
For all the recently departed, for those that rest in our Churchyard, and for David Webb, Arthur Kemp, Mary Wilford, Muriel Hover, Ada Osborne, Bishop John Richards (First Bishop of Ebbsfleet), Thomas Willis, Dan Collier and all whose Year’s Mind occurs at this time.
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord.
And let Light Perpetual shine upon them.
Every blessing on you and your families as we come together to celebrate our Patron Saint, Martin this week,
Father Victor (Brother Cuthbert)
