FROM CATHEDRAL HOUSE
Next Sunday (20th May) sees the launch of this year’s Shropshire Week, a week of ongoing formation and catechesis for Shropshire. This is the second year the week has run and it is hugely exciting to have such fabulous events happening here in Shropshire. Please do come along and join in what will be an excellent week. The keynote presentation is being given by Canon Philip Gillespie, a familiar friend to us here at The Cathedral. Details of the week are given elsewhere in the newsletter and there are leaflets available at the back of church.
Wishing you all every blessing of Eastertide.
Canon Stephen and Father Christopher
Money Matters:
Offertory Collections:
Cathedral: £ 1,007.28 Our Lady of Pity: £ 255.81 St Winefride: £ 403.75
Thank you for your on-going generosity.
The visit of the Relic of Saint John Vianney: it is just 52 days until the relic arrives in our diocese on this historic visit to the UK. Watch this space for more information, and check out www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/news/st-john-vianney/ and put Saturday 7th of July in your diaries: that is the day the heart of Saint John Vianney will be here in The Cathedral, the same heart that was processed through Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome for the opening of the Year of the Priest. Also, please pray for the success of the visit; for those charged with the organisation of the events, for those who will gather before the relic to pray for vocations, and for the graces the visit will bring to each of us and to our diocese.
The Rosary will be said at 9.10am before Mass at Our Lady of Pity on Tuesdays and Thursdays during May.
Sung Vespers: please note there is no Sung Vespers on the Solemnity of the Ascension (20th May) or on Pentecost Sunday (27th May). Please also note there is no 6pm Mass on Pentecost Sunday due to the Confirmation Mass taking place at 3pm that day. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Father Chris says … “I am really sorry for putting the wrong readings on the back of last week’s newsletter; I was obviously having a mad half hour or something! I won’t promise it won’t happen again!”
Mass Intentions: you may have noticed that for the last few weeks there have been a lot of ‘Priest’s Intentions’ listed on the front of the newsletter. This is because we have just about run out of Mass intentions! If you wish to have a Mass celebrated in memory of someone, for a friend or family member who is sick, in thanksgiving, or for many other intentions, please contact The Cathedral Office or complete one of the envelopes at the back of each of our churches.
Fun Day to celebrate CAFOD’s 50th Anniversary – at Ellesmere on Saturday 19th May. Mass at the Convent of the Poor Clares at 11.30am followed by lunch (BYO) then walking by the Mere and tea supplied at the Convent; see posters in church. If you will need a lift, or can offer one, please ring Sue Ragdale on 01743 851213.
Retreat Weekend. Places are available at a retreat weekend, 18 – 20th May, at the Noddfa Centre, in Penmaemawr on the North Wales coast. Noddfa is a Welsh word meaning haven or refuge and, as its name suggests, is a place of great peace and welcome set in beautiful gardens overlooking the sea and run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary. Contact: Margaret 01743 240401.
Interfaith Forum: The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 12th June at 1.00pm at the United Reformed Church. Please come to take part in a discussion about how our different traditions approach death and bereavement. The discussion will be chaired by Ken Chippindale. It will be good to get as many perspectives as possible so let’s hope for a good attendance from all the different faith groups.
Cafe Church: Come for a coffee and a chat on Wednesday 23rd May 7.30 – 8.30pm at The Shrewsbury Coffeehouse, 5 Castle Gates, Shrewsbury.
Visitors to The Cathedral always comment on our fabulous Cathedral, but on Bank Holiday Monday we had to ask a large number of visitors to leave so we could lock the church – why? Because we had no stewards available. Very sad that people had travelled a great distance to see us and our great team of stewards were stretched to breaking point. Please consider joining the team, we need your help to keep our beautiful Cathedral open to the public. More info is available at the back of all our churches or contact The Cathedral Office. Please give it some thought.
What’s On this week and next
Sun 13 May Parish Day at the Cathedral Primary School 2 – 4pm
Tue 15 Confirmation Session 7.15 – 9.15pm
SVP meeting at Chapter House 8 – 9pm
Wed 16 CWL Lunch at the White Horse, 12.15pm
Amnesty International talk at Claremont Baptist Church (SY1 1QG) 6.30pm
Sat 19 CAFOD 50th Anniversary Fun Day: Poor Clares Convent, Ellesmere 11.30am
First Holy Communion Meeting at 10.15am in the Chapter House
Sun 20 “… In the Breaking of Bread” 3.30pm in The Cathedral
Wed 23 ‘Eucharist Source & Summit’ talk by Canon Philip Gillespie at 7.30pm in The Cathedral
Thurs 24 Chapter Mass at 12noon in The Cathedral
Sat 26 Confirmation Rehearsal in The Cathedral at 10.30am
Sun 27 Ministry Seen & Unseen reflection afternoon in The Cathedral at 1.30pm
Confirmation Mass at 3pm in the Cathedral
Eucharist Source and Summit: A Shropshire week celebrating, deepening and communicating the gift of our Catholic faith facilitated by Sister Catherine Darby SND of the Diocesan Department for the New Evangelisation. Please see the leaflet for the full program; highlights include: Sunday 20th May at 3.30pm in The Cathedral “…In Breaking of Bread” an hour of readings, music and drama led by the Pilgrim Troupe (a liturgical theatre group based on the Wirral): Wednesday 23rd May The Key Note Presentation of the week – Eucharist Source & Summit given by Canon Philip Gillespie at 7.30pm in The Cathedral: Saturday 26th May Ministry Seen & Unseen – an afternoon of reflection for all those involved in ministry (readers, singers, extraordinary ministers of holy communion, cleaners, welcomers, stewards, administrators, flower arrangers, everyone) at 1.30pm in The Cathedral. This is YOUR week, so we hope you will join us for as much of it as you can.
Please note that there will not be a Mass in the Extra-Ordinary Form at St. Winefride’s church next Sunday, 20th May.
First Holy Communion Programme’s next meeting will be on Saturday 19th May at 10.15am in the Chapter House.
The Society of St Vincent De Paul – SVP are having their collection after masses TODAY. We appeal to your generosity once again on behalf of our local people in need. We also give to people in the Sudan. Please help us.
Scripture Group meet every Thursday during term-time at 2pm at the Convent on College Hill. All are welcome.
Catholic Women’s League: Thursday 24th May 10.30am – 12noon: coffee morning and Bring & Buy Sale at Pat Strong’s home. Raffle, cakes, books etc. Guests welcome. Donations for coffee appreciated.
On Monday 28th May at 7.00pm there will be a Talk in St. Winefride’s Parish Centre: “Cure d’Ars, St John Vianney: Patron of priests and laity” by Dr Pravin Thevanthasan. Guests welcome.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes July 24th /25th – July 31st 2012: Bookings for the Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage are coming in steadily with the plane now over 80% full and the train completely full. Regular pilgrims who have not, so far, made contact with the pilgrimage office and are intending to travel should get in touch as soon as possible to reserve a place. This year the theme of the pilgrimage is ‘With Bernadette, praying the Rosary.’ and you can find the pastoral notes on the Lourdes website: http://fr.lourdesfrance.org/sites/default/files/pdf/theme_pastoral_2012_en.pdf
Details of our pilgrimage can be found at www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk
Soul Purpose is a joint church initiative which sees more than 100 young people from across different churches in Shrewsbury serve for a weekend of community events, social action projects and evangelistic outreach; demonstrating the love of God with practical acts of kindness. This year Soul Purpose is over Jubilee Weekend 2nd -4th June 2012…what better way to celebrate the Queen’s birthday than serve Jesus with His good news in our communities. Further details of Soul Purpose can be found at www.soulpurposeshrewsbury.co.uk and Facebook or Twitter.
Catholic Children’s Society Collecting Boxes: Would all box holders please bring the contents of their boxes to Church, in a plastic bag, with a note clearly indicating their name and address and the amount donated. Notes with this information should be addressed to Tony Fielden (St. Winefride’s) or Judith Harding (Our Lady of Pity).
The Cathedral Marian Lamp burns this week in memory of the late Michael Hamrogue. If you would like the lamp to burn for a particular intention, please contact The Cathedral Office. A £5 donation is suggested.
Lectio Divina Gathering: St Winefride’s Convent, Tuesday 22nd May at 10.15am. Everyone welcome.
Cathedral Coffee: Cathedral coffee will be served after 10.45am Mass this week by the Children’s Liturgy Group and next week by the Lourdes Group. All are welcome.