MASSES AT OUR LADY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS ARE BROADCAST LIVE AT
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JANUARY 31ST, 2021
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Second collection: Catholic Association for Racial Justice
MASS (OLHoC): 6.00pm (Saturday) (Michael Galvin RIP)
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (People of the Parish)
MASS (OLHoC): 11.00am (Sheila Temple RIP)
• MONDAY, February 1st - Feria
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Fr John Gbakaan Yaji RIP)
• TUESDAY, February
2nd
THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Vladimir Borovsky RIP)
• WEDNESDAY, February
3rd – St Blaise
MASS
(OLHoC): 10.00am (Health &
welfare of the UCM)
• THURSDAY, February
4th - Feria
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Paul McHale
RIP)
• FRIDAY, February
5th – St Agatha
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Mary Burt RIP, UCM Diocesan President)
• SATURDAY, February 6th – SS Paul Miki & Companions
MASS (OLHoC): 10.00am (Blessings for a London family)
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Next Sunday: February 7th
FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
MASS
(OLHoC): 6.00pm (Saturday) (People of the Parish)
MASS
(St Joseph’s): 9.00am (Dick Gaul RIP)
MASS
(OLHoC): 11.00am (David Stapley RIP)
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ATTENDANCE AT MASS – We continue to have Mass every day in our Parish and you are all
very welcome to attend. All Masses held at Our Lady, Help of Christians are
broadcast live at https://www.churchservices.tv/folkestone
ST BLAISE – because of the present restrictions the individual blessing of throats will not be able to take place.
A short service of blessing will take place at Mass on 3rd February for
those who wish to receive it. Please remain in your place after Mass if you
wish to receive it.
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AND
RECONCILIATION BOOKS: We have now received the books accompanying
the first part of each candidate’s studies. These can be collected from the
Presbytery at Our Lady Help of Christians any day immediately after Mass.
Please collect your child’s book, as a matter of urgency, to assist with their
studies.
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OFFETORY – last week’s collection (excluding standing orders) was £440.70. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.
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CONFIRMATION – is now open to all children aged 13 and over who have not been confirmed. You are invited to apply in writing to Fr Alex Saba and the deadline for applications is Friday 12th February, 2021. Application forms, one for the candidate and one for the Sponsor, are available at the back of the two Parish churches or you can email folkestone@rcaos.org.uk for further information.
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SECOND COLLECTION: Our retiring collection this weekend, 30/31 January 2021 is for The Catholic Association for Racial Justice. This collection is taken to support the work of the Catholic Church to promote racial justice in our schools, parishes and in wider society.
At the beginning of his public ministry Jesus outlines his Mission in the synagogue in Nazareth:
‘He has sent me to
bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the
blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free,
to
proclaim the Lord’s year of favour’
His ministry was one of compassionate involvement, concern for the disadvantaged. Aware of obstacles, including those of the Law, which limited joy and fulfilment Jesus acted. He confronted, sometimes angrily, what undermined a person’s dignity.
The theme of Racial Justice Sunday 2021 is A Time to Act.
Racial issues and inequalities were identified nationally and internationally in 2020 generating awareness, emotion and outrage. In light of this Racial Justice Sunday 2021 is particularly significant.
Action is needed
Action is needed to further the cause of racial justice. What can we do?
In recent years Pope Francis has repeatedly used four verbs encouraging positive and direct action in relation to migrants and refugees, ‘Welcome, Protect, Promote and Integrate’. These same words are essential to advancing the cause of racial justice. None can be omitted, it is as necessary to have plans to Promote and Integrate as it is to Welcome.
Mark 1:21-28 is the Gospel reading on Racial Justice Sunday.
Jesus’ sermon in the synagogue in Capernaum triggered a reaction from a member of the congregation. (It is always unnerving to have your sermon interrupted by someone who disagrees with your words). ‘What do you want with us?’ ‘Have you come to destroy us?’
The duty of the Prophet in speaking God’s words and so bringing God’s light into lives and situations is to enlighten, to encourage, sometimes to warn. To identify what action is needed to ensure that all God’s people know they are equally valued by society and the Church.
The plea of the psalmist today is ‘ …listen to his voice, harden not your hearts’.
Racial Justice Sunday is a time to absorb fully this scriptural request.
Listening to the voice of God and the voice of the Church we learn of equal love for all:
- Voices that
discriminate unjustly, attitudes that undermine on the grounds of race
must be opposed.
- Voices of
those who feel rejected or perpetually in second place must be listened
to.
- The dignity of all must be respected and promoted.
In the Church we proclaim that everyone of whatever racial origin should be Welcomed, Protected, Promoted and Integrated.
We need to challenge ourselves to act now
so that this may be achieved.
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STOP DIY ABORTIONS
Respond to Department of Health consultation to stop home abortions:
The Department of Health is holding a consultation on whether to continue the practice of sending dangerous abortion pills to women to undergo abortions at home. We need as many pro-life people as possible to complete the Department of Health's questionnaire in order to stop dangerous DIY abortions becoming permanent. SPUC has prepared a briefing which gives a step-by-step guide to completing the questionnaire.
The consultation ends on 26th of February Please go to
https://www.spuc.org.uk/GetInvolved/Campaigns/England-DIY-AbortionConsultation
If you would like to make a submission but don’t have access to the internet, you can now send a paper submission to the consultation directly to:
Abortion Consultation, Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries Unit, Department of Health and Social Care, 39 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0EU
Packs for responding have also been placed at the back of the church at Our Lady along with postcards, which will be delivered to the Prime Minister as part of the campaign.
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THE ANGELUS
V. The Angel of the Lord
declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, etc...
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to Your Word.
Hail Mary, etc...
V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc...
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of
Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord,
Your Grace into our hearts;
that as we have known the incarnation of Christ,
your Son by the message of an angel,
so by His passion and cross
we may be brought to the glory of His
Resurrection.
Through the same Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
WE FLY TO THY PROTECTION
We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our petitions in our necessities,
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.
PRAYER TO ST MICHAEL
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
Prayer for Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion
Lord Jesus Christ, in your ministry
you were approached by people
of many different nations and cultures.
You listened to their cry for help,
treated them with love and compassion,
and brought them healing and wholeness.
In our own time may we provide
to all those who are suffer
the help that they need
and the care that they require.
May we respond to the invitation of the Holy Spirit
to dream of a world made new
where the poor are not forgotten
but are given the opportunity
to live and flourish
with good health and equal prospects.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen.
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KITTY HART: The funeral of Kitty Hart will take place at Our
Lady, Help of Christians on Thursday 11th February at 11.00am.
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It is with great sadness, that we have to report the death of Vladimir (Vlad) Borovsky. Anyone involved with the Rainbow Centre, Winter Night Shelter or Foodstop would know Vlad, and remember his always kind and polite manner. Vlad died peacefully in hospital on Sunday, after short illness following a cardiac arrest. He was only 40 years old.
He came here from Slovakia, in search of a better life, but unfortunately for a long time it wasn’t easy involving many years of rough sleeping, but always looking for work and independence and of course a home. Many knew him around town from working on the veggie market, through holding the SUBWAY sign outside Asda for years, to collecting scrap metal and helping with people’s gardening or house maintenance. He was a true gentleman, he protected his friends on the street at all times and particularly looking out for all the women he knew, whilst maintaining the right boundaries with professionals and volunteers.
He was always trying to resolve any conflicts in the shelter when anything ‘kicked off’ even though his English wasn’t great. It was a great sense of pride, not only to Vlad but also to the great work of the Rainbow Centre that in 2019 he was able to get his own place.
His famous quote from last
year’s shelter, after he got his bedsit following many years of homelessness was:
‘Are you coming to the Shelter for dinner
tonight Vlad?
“No, l am going home.”’
A fund to help pay for his funeral and possibly a memorial has been set up at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/vladimir-gemer-borovsky
Please pray for the repose of the souls of Vladimir (Vlad) Borovsky and Kitty Hart. May their souls and the souls of the
faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
