WE THANK GOD THAT WE ARE NOW ALLOWED TO CELEBRATE HOLY MASS IN OUR CHURCH
APPEAL: CAN YOU HELP THE CHURCH WITH PROVIDING ITEMS SO WE CAN SANITIZE THE CHURCH – PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE IN THE CHURCH PORCH
Track and trace: code. Please use the QR Code (on the back of the church). Simply hold your camera app over the code and follow the instructions. This would be helpful should a local outbreak of the virus be detected.
Ventilation: In order for us to comply with regulations and therefore be considered a ‘COVID secure environment’ the doors must be left open. As the temperature drops in the weeks ahead it will be important to wrap-up warm for Mass! Please do bear this in mind.
-
Service Times This Week:
- Click here: You can find the actual daily services here:
- Click here: If you want the daily readings then go here:
Our Services resume as normal in St Swithun’s Church Southsea= from Saturday October 31st 2020
| Dates | Time | Service |
| Weekdays Monday to Friday | 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am |
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Devine Chaplet followed by Benediction The Holy Mass |
| Weekdays Tuesdays and Fridays | 7:00pm | The Holy Mass |
| EVERY SATURDAY – Vigil Mass | 6:00pm | The Holy Mass |
| SUNDAY SERVICES | 8:30am | The Holy Mass |
| Sunday November 1st 2020 | 10:15am | The Holy Mass |
| 12:00 noon | Mass in Polish | |
| Every Friday on line only in November | 6:00am | Streamed only – Mass in Polish |
Download this week’s Newsletter here: Newsletter – All Saints Day Sunday November 1st 2020
My Dear Friends, Brothers & Sisters in Christ
Today we honour those holy men and women who have gone before us in faith and have done so in a glorious way. As we honor these great champions of faith, let’s reflect upon who they are and what role they continue to play in the life of the Church. The following excerpt is from Chapter 8 of My Catholic Faith!:
The Church Triumphant: Those who have gone before us and now share in the glories of Heaven, in the Beatific Vision, are not gone. Sure, we do not see them and we cannot necessarily hear them speak to us in the physical way they did while on Earth. But they are not gone at all. St. Thérèse of Lisieux said it best when she said, “I want to spend my Heaven doing good on Earth.”
The saints in Heaven are in full union with God and make up the Communion of Saints in Heaven, the Church Triumphant! What’s important to note, however, is that even though they are enjoying their eternal reward, they are still very much concerned about us.
The saints in Heaven are entrusted with the important task of intercession. Sure, God already knows all our needs and He could ask us to go directly to Him in our prayers. But the truth is that God wants to use the intercession, and therefore, the mediation of the saints in our lives. He uses them to bring our prayers to Him and, in return, to bring His grace to us. They become powerful intercessors for us and participators in God’s divine action in the world.
Why is this the case? Again, why doesn’t God just choose to deal with us directly rather than go through intermediaries? Because God wants all of us to share in His good work and to participate in His divine plan. It would be like a dad who buys a nice necklace for his wife. He shows it to his young children and they are excited about this gift. The mom comes in and the dad asks the children to bring the gift to her. Now the gift is from her husband but she will most likely thank her children first for their participation in giving this gift to her. The father wanted the children to be part of this giving and the mother wanted to make the children a part of her receiving and gratitude. So it is with God! God wants the saints to share in the distribution of His manifold gifts. And this act fills His heart with joy!
The saints also give us a model of holiness. The charity they lived on Earth lives on. The witness of their love and sacrifice was not just a one time act in history. Rather, charity is living and continues to have an effect for the good. Therefore, the charity and witness of the saints lives on and affects our lives. This charity in their lives creates a bond with us, a communion. It enables us to love them, admire them and want to follow their example. It is this, coupled with their continuing intercession, that establishes a powerful bond of love and union with us.
Lord, as the saints in Heaven adore You for eternity, I beg for their intercession. Saints of God, please come to my aide. Pray for me and bring to me the grace I need to live a holy life in imitation of your own lives. All saints of God, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.
with Blessings and prayerful best wishes, Father Marcin Drabik
REFLECTION
Introductory Prayer: Holy Spirit, gentle guest of my soul, I open my soul now to you. Too often I am carried away by the immediate because I am so tunnel-visioned and oblivious to the greater spiritual heights. Superficiality corrodes my heart as I yearn for values that disappear as quickly as morning dew. I believe you will sustain me with your light and fortitude to strengthen my weak will.
Petition: Lord, come down to my level to lift me up. I can do all things with you who give me strength!
1. Perseverance Comes from Grace Jesus came down and stood among them on level ground, and they all gathered around him. This introduction is significant because it demonstrates that God always descends to come to our aid. How often have we relied upon our virtue reserves for strength only to come up short and frustrated? Let’s take a look at our New Year’s resolutions––are they still intact? Yet it is Christ who comes to us, giving us strength through his grace. We must never forget this lest we perpetuate our frustrations through constant failure. A secret to growing strong spiritually is to admit and accept our weakness and to turn to Christ, allowing him to act as God in our life. Christ knows what we are made of; he knows we possess within the depths of our soul’s great desires for good, but also forces of evil that can lead us toward ruinous decisions beyond repair. Looking at our weakness, let’s exclaim with Paul, “When I am weak, then I am strong!”(2 Corinthians 12:10).
2. God Knows Our Hearts On the day of his inauguration Pope Saint John Paul II forcefully proclaimed that Christ knows what is in man. Only he knows, and what is most heartening is that Jesus isn’t shaken. Jesus always sees within our heart a great potential for holiness, which explains why the Holy Spirit ceaselessly inspires us to greater virtue. He looks at us with eyes of hope, for “a bruised reed he will not break, a smouldering wick he will not quench” (Matthew 12:20). If we but accept our limitations and humbly open ourselves to his grace and divine plan, spiritual richness and fruitfulness will be ours for the picking! “With the light of God, the soul makes steady progress in seeing its own misery. (…) We can always sink deeper into our misery. And to the measure that we descend, we ascend, because thus we come nearer to God, for one can see God better from below, and thereby more sweetly enjoy his caresses and more intimately experience the charm of his divine presence” (Archbishop Luis M. Martinez, Secrets of the Interior Life).
3. Our Hearts Are Made to Love Jesus begins his discourse praising poverty of spirit, which shows its importance. As Jesus raised his eyes to the crowd, his gaze penetrated their interior fortress––the heart––where the battle is waged every day, the battle between “serviam” –– I will serve! –– and “non serviam” –– I will not serve! The heart is made for love, but there within, a spiritual war wages battle between loving God or loving creatures, which is the love of self. There in the heart, battle for God’s will and plan must be waged relentlessly, because life and eternity are “for keeps.” “For it is impossible to achieve perfection without renouncing our possessions, without freeing our hearts of them. God will not take full possession of our hearts until everything else has been expelled. As long as the root of the last disordered affection that abides in us is not extirpated, the love of God cannot reign with full sovereignty” (Archbishop Luis M. Martinez, Secrets of the Interior Life).
Conversation with Christ: Enable me, Lord, to keep my eyes always fixed upon the goal, which is you! Grant me the courage to root out attachments that keep me from loving you more and becoming the saint you have called me to be.
Resolution: I will proactively fast from manifestations of pride by implementing concrete actions of humility.
Holy Souls – The November Mass list to Remember our Dead.
November is the month we traditionally remember those who have died and gone before us. It is a work of mercy to pray for our dead. The Church commemorates all her faithful children who have departed from this life, but have not yet attained the joys of heaven. St. Paul warns us that we must not be ignorant concerning the dead, nor sorrowful, “even as others who have no hope … For the Lord Himself shall come down from …Read more here
AS WE ENTER HEAVEN, WE WILL BE GREETED BY THE GRATEFUL SOULS WE PRAYED FOR IN PURGATORY
As we enter Heaven, we will see them, so many of them, coming toward us and thanking us. We will ask who they are and they will say: “A poor soul you prayed for in purgatory.” –Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen It is the time of year to think of the deceased. All Souls’ Day is nearing, and the entire month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Are we ready? Are we preparing ourselves for the …Read more here
Why Jesus Desires Forgiveness
By the time I hit my knees in the Adoration chapel, I considered it a minor miracle that the anger coursing through my veins hadn’t yet decided to burst forth through my ears as steam, cartoon-style. How a seemingly-innocent comment had wound up causing a veritable family feud was anybody’s guess, and yet here I was, estranged from my only sibling over a misunderstanding that had gotten way out of hand.
Read more here
Dress as you favorite Saint !!! – Message for our Children -Sunday 1st November is all Saints Day
ALL the CHILDREN are very welcome to celebrate ALL SAINTS DAY (next Sunday 1st November) in a very special way. Please, come for the Holy Mass at 10.15am, or at 12.00noon (in Polish) dressed like your favourite Saint, or like your Patron from the Sacrament of Baptism. We will make a short competition and have a photo all together …Read more here
Bamenda Sunday 2020- Bamenda and Portsmouth Diocese Twinned
Read more here
How Poles celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day
If you happen to be in Poland around the time when October turns to November, you will have a hard time finding a Halloween party. Although the custom is gaining popularity thanks to the commercial world’s never ending quest to introduce the same holidays and feasts everywhere and thus cut bulk production costs on plastic pumpkins, it is not in Polish tradition to dress up and go trick or treating. Instead, we light thousands and thousands of candles in the …Read more here
Marriage and Family Life Breakthrough Workshop in Southsea
Read more here
Hymn for Today: Lyrics – The Beatitudes – John Michael Talbot
Read more here
Children – Read today’s Holy Readings here again 01-11-2020
Read more here
Dr. Scott Hahn – Gospel Reflections 01-11-2020
Read more here
Commentary on Revelation 7:2-4,9-14, 1 John 3:1-3 and Matthew 5:1-12a
Read more here
Thoughts on Today’s Gospel and Readings for the Week – 01-11-2020
Read more here
Mario J. Paredes – A Devotion to Holy Scripture”: Love what St. Jerome loved
Read more here
Philip Kosloski – Why did Satan rebel against God?
Read more here
Mario J. Paredes – On the power of Scripture in the healing of trauma
Read more here
Pope Francis on Civil Unions
Read more here
Fr. Mike Schmitz Answers – CONSEQUENCES OF SOME PARENTING STYLES INVITE QUESTIONS
Read more here
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WE are coming back to our evening meetings with a glass of wine (not necessary) for our Q&A of The Catholic Faith. This will happen every Tuesday at 8.00PM through our Facebook Profile: @Stswithuns.org.uk. Everyone is welcome to join, to send the questions about our Catholic Faith, or just join us to listen to, pray for each other and keep in touch. So, we start every Tuesday 8:00pm |
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ALSO, we are coming back to our Morning Coffee (in POLISH). – Through our Facebook Profile for Polish Community: St Swithuns RC Kościół Southsea. These Mornings will happen every Thursday at 11.00am. All Polish speaking people are very welcome to send your questions or to join us to talk about the interesting things about our Catholic Faith. |
Keep up with what’s Happening in our Parish over this coming Year
Scroll through to see all the events happening from the 31st October 2020 till the 30th November 2020
Or Go to our Parish Events Diary and search a specific date or event here https://stswithuns.org.uk/events/
Message to our Altar Servers
Read more here
CELEBRATE Back to Basics 21st Sept – 14th December
Read more here
GOING INTO HOSPITAL?
Read more here
CLICK HERE – NEW SECTION: LINK TO THE LATEST PORTSMOUTH DIOCESE E_NEWSLETTER
UPDATE ON FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2021 Programme
This TUESDAY 3rd November 2020 at 5.30pm, at St Swithun’s church will be held the next Formation Meeting for the Parents of The First Communion Children 2020 -2021 – followed by The ‘ZOOM’ Meeting on Friday 6th November at 8.00pm.
The First Communion Children, who already received the Holy Sacraments this year, (and the past years as well) are very welcomed to continue their journey with Merciful Lord. This Saturday is the First Saturday of the Month – a big chance to come for your monthly Holy Confession. If You would like to.
You are very welcome to continue the devotion of The First Saturdays of the Month as the reparation to The Immaculate Heart of Mary. So, this coming Saturday – 7th November 2020 I do increase a time for the Sacrament of Confession – especially for You. You can come between 9.00am and 9.55am, between 10.40am and 11.15am.
ALL interested in the First Communion Preparation for the next year, please collect the Registration Form from the porch of the church, and give back to Fr Marcin, or to the office of the Parish
UPDATE ON BAPTISM REQUESTS
- If you need a copy of Baptism certificate please contact the Parish Office.
- If you want to get someone baptised then feel free to make an appointment with father Marcin.
For those who would like to arrange a Baptism for their child:
– Please collect a Baptism Application Form from the porch of the church (or found on the Parish Website);
– Read carefully what is expected form the Parents and Godparents of a child for this Sacrament;
– Contact Parish Priest to arrange the very first meeting of getting now each other and to make the individual decision about the process of the preparation;
A Big Thankyou
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A huge thanksgiving to all the Parents, who let their children, assisted them, and joined them in our ‘ZOOM’ Holy Rosary Prayer’s time in October.
Today, I would like to invite your children to join me for our Evening Prayers – on all the Thursdays of November 2020, at 7.00pm (15-20 minutes) through ‘ZOOM’. The invitation will be always set up and published on our Facebook Profile, or You can always send a request to send the invitation by email. Thank You all and see You on Thursdays. |
Prayer of the Month – November2020
Prayer of the Month – Pope Francis Prayer Intentions November 2020 – Artificial Intelligence
Pope Francis Prayer Intentions November 2020 – Artificial Intelligence
Read more here
Prayer of the Month: Prayer for the Dying
Read more here
and for those in Our Own Parish…..
Please pray for those who are ill especially: Robert & Eileen Steward, Louie Muscat, Tony & Julie Duffy, Brian Girling, Shelia Langford; Catherine Morgan, Pam Brown Ward, for all the children suffering and their poor families with them Aidan Molloy, David Shields, Bob Guy, Ms Sini Chacko, Kathleen & Kevin Jones, Heidi Badnell, Rosemary Devonald, Dominic, Carol Langsford, Patricia Ward, Stan Whitnell, Patrick McCreesh, Eddie Coppani, Tony Denny, Betty Foster, Bobby, Eileen Stewart, Joan Smith, John Williams, Margaret Bager, Fred Vuksani, Tom & Lily, Greta Kemp, Magda K, Mary Wallis, Micheline Thompson, Pat Needham, Margaret Badger, Anne Sullivan, Josephine Butler.
And all whose anniversaries occur at this time: 1st November 2020: Diana Clark, David Best,Eileen Inkpen, Mary Hehir, Jo Wheeler, Shirley Parker, Dennis William Johnson, Carmen Muscat, Simon Paul Urwin, Mary Denny, Sheila Merrett, George Cowley, Bernard Donaghy, Bridget Nolan, Terry Kendal, William Lynch, Isabella Graham, Michael Collins, Anne McGowan, Wanda Gant, Suzanne Severs, Rosanna Schofield, Winifred Tripp, Catherine Henney, Johanna Davis, Leonard Hayles, Davina Cameron, Charles Cummins, Frank Hilton, Charles William Rolph, Patrick John Tyrrell, William Deary, Frances Barrett, Albert Brain, Jane Lattan, Gladys Whittle, Mary Young, May Flood, Miriam Keane, Ellen Gray, Janice Margaret Johnson, Archbishop John Henry King, William Smith, Eileen Orme, Herbert Diemer, Ann Mary Froggatt, Mary Patricia Tovey, Christine Ann Hogan (Ann), Bridget Hanvery, Florence Ellen Healey, Annie Evison, Albert Mensell, Elizabeth Mary Hawkins, Nora Parker, Lugrezia (Grace) Veronica Tynan, James Madigan, William Morgan, David Calder, Ellen Green, Percy Spicer, Hilda Clifton, Anne Woolfe, James Patrick Madigan, John Stephen Feeley, John Young (Frank), Ethel Penwell, Florence Casey, Alice Whiles, Mary Diver, Eileen Field, Mary Shute, Antoni Brown, Beatrice McIver, Hilda Lowe and Christina Perseltic Carter., ,Lizzie and Patrick McSharry ,Gemma Litchfield , Ivy Rouse , Stan Pickering and Jozef Michalczuk
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace. Amen
House of Prayer Portsmouth have been praying for the city and feel that God is asking for the churches in the city to prayer walk their boundaries. We would like to invite you as a congregation to walk the boundary of your parish to pray God’s blessing and bring hope, healing and awakening to the area. The Holy Rosary is absolutely perfect for this initiative. You can join the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/937798273059418/
“CAN-DO CHRISTIANS” A MESSAGE FROM FATHER MARCIN
Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Dear Friends: I would like to share with You some things which are about our Parish and for our Parish. I’m absolutely sure, that You have noticed how many things already happen in our Parish to help in our spiritual grow to love God more and more in His Word to us, in His Sacraments for us (which is His real presence among us). We also go out to meet those who still searching for God, or who were not so lucky to have personal contact with Jesus Christ.
Holy Souls in Purgatory
Duration of Purgatory
Offering Prayers and Sacrifices
Indulgences
Daily Devotion Prayer to my Guardian Angel
November Is Devoted To The Souls In Purgatory
POPE FRANCIS Message for 54th WORLD DAY OF PEACE Jan 1st 2021
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OFFERTORY: Thank you for last Sunday’s Collection.
Electronic offertory: If you have not managed to set up your electronic giving yet, please can you do so as soon as possible.
The Parish Bank Account details are: Account Name (Lloyd’s Bank’): PRCDTR Our Lady of Lourdes’ & St Swithun Church Sort Code: 30-93-04; parish Account no: 01730453.
Financial assistance: If you are able to increase your usual weekly offering (during this time of uncertainty) it will be a huge help to the parish. Even the slightest increase will be a help – THANK YOU!
These weeks of lockdown are difficult for all of us, and we are particularly mindful of those whose jobs and lives are put on hold because of the pandemic. We want to be here for you during these difficult times. Even so, the Church in our Diocese of Portsmouth, its clergy, parishes and schools, is entirely dependent upon your generous charity. So that we can continue to provide the Liturgy of the Lord and our works, both centrally and from our parishes to the local community, I kindly ask all of the faithful who are able to do so, to continue their generous regular-giving to the Diocese and to their parish churches, which would otherwise lose vital income. You can donate via the button on the Parish website – or here
Standing Order and other useful Information
Download Standing Order Form (PDF)
These are difficult times and if you are needing anything from me please message me on Facebook book, email or telephone the office. 02392828305
Lloyds Bank : sort code 30-93-04 ; Account number 01730453
Cheques mad payable to: PRCDTR Our Lady & St. Swithun
with Blessings Father Marcin Drabik
Download Newsletter PDF 01-11-2020
WE’RE SO EXCITED TO SHARE THIS NEWS WITH YOU AND DON’T FORGET USE THE CONTACT FORMS ON OUR WEBSITE ! Download this newsletter in printer-friendly PDF format to read later.
Download this week’s Newsletter here: Newsletter – All Saints Day Sunday November 1st 2020
-
Service Times This Week:
- Click here: You can find the actual daily services here:
- Click here: If you want the daily readings then go here:
Our Services resume as normal in St Swithun’s Church Southsea= from Saturday October 31st 2020
| Dates | Time | Service |
| Weekdays Monday to Friday | 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am |
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Devine Chaplet followed by Benediction The Holy Mass |
| Weekdays Tuesdays and Fridays | 7:00pm | The Holy Mass |
| EVERY SATURDAY – Vigil Mass | 6:00pm | The Holy Mass |
| SUNDAY SERVICES | 8:30am | The Holy Mass |
| Sunday November 1st 2020 | 10:15am | The Holy Mass |
| 12:00 noon | Mass in Polish | |
| Every Friday on line only in November | 6:00am | Streamed only – Mass in Polish |
NEW SECTION ON OUR WEBSITE IF YOU JUST WANT TO SPEND SOME SPECIAL TIME WITH GOD
Read More on our Renewal Pages here
Updated Coronavirus Safety Guidelines
Track and trace: code. Please use the QR Code (on the back of the church). Simply hold your camera app over the code and follow the instructions. This would be helpful should a local outbreak of the virus be detected.
Ventilation: In order for us to comply with regulations and therefore be considered a ‘COVID secure environment’ the doors must be left open. As the temperature drops in the weeks ahead it will be important to wrap-up warm for Mass! Please do bear this in mind.
WELCOME BACK! To those who wish to return to Mass at a time when our Church is not crowded, it is recommended to come to the VIGIL MASS of SUNDAY – on Saturdays at 6.00PM or on SUNDAYS at 8.30AM when there is plenty of room in the body of the Church. Members of the congregation are well spaced out. Now that we have to wear masks, this is an additional precaution which prevents others being infected; however, some people have medical exemption. Sanitising hands on entry lessens the possibility of the virus being spread by touching surfaces.
There are signs on the floor indicating two metres so that we do not crowd up on one another.
TEST & TRACE: We will also take a contact number for all attendees. These details will be destroyed after 21 days according to data management regulations. Anyone is free to decline and still attend Mass but we encourage you to take part.
The Diocese has updated its Coronavirus guidance in the light of the latest Government instructions issued on 14th September 2020. There is a little more flexibility in some areas than previously, for example, in ministry to the sick and housebound, although great care must still be taken. The use of halls and the possibility of reinstating some group meetings are covered. There is limited scope for general socialising because the ‘Rule of 6’ has been imposed. Our churches are very COVID-safe, provided everyone is following the proper safety procedures. Our thanks as ever to clergy and parishioners who are working hard at this. One area, however, that remains a challenge is having sufficient volunteers (e.g. stewards and cleaners) to assist. If you are hale and hearty, please do offer to help– your assistance will enable many more people to return to Mass, thereby bringing them closer to Jesus Christ through His Church. Let us all pray for a speedy end to the pandemic.
