WE THANK GOD THAT WE ARE NOW ALLOWED TO CELEBRATE HOLY MASS IN OUR CHURCH
Please pray for all of our First Holy Communion children who will be making their First Confession and First Holy Communion this weekend.
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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 10th 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 October 11th 2020 | 10:15am | The Holy Mass |
| 12:00 noon | Mass in Polish | |
| Every Friday on line only in October | 6:00am | Streamed only – Mass in Polish |
Download this week’s Newsletter here: Newsletter – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A – Sunday 11th October
My Dear Friends, Brothers & Sisters in Christ
REFLECTION: Jesus makes the point that many in the nation will miss the opportunity to sit at the banquet table because they have priorities higher than responding to the host’s current offer. Rejection means that the invitation goes to others, who will flock in. The party will not be delayed, so now is the time to respond! Luke Luke 14:15-24
The parables say something to us on many levels. They tell us something about ourselves and about God; they also reflect realities of the world around us and the culture we live in. In today’s parable we find out something about the inclusiveness of God’s invitation to live with him always, now and into eternity.
People are invited to the banquet of God; some come, some do not. The story goes further that everyone at the crossroads was invited. In the culture of the time the crossroads was where people of all backgrounds gathered, like the village pump in Ireland. The invitation to those at the crossroads is the invitation to all God’s people.
It is also the invitation to each of us at crossroads in our own life. Whenever we are in crisis, in trouble, stuck at a crossroads to make a decision, God is nearby, part of our life’s process, offering the good things of a banquet.
As we look around in our lives, we can realise that all of us are invited. The danger of all religion is to narrow it down to ‘people of our own faith’. The people of God is the whole human race; the call is to sit down with God and be prepared to meet anyone with him.
Lord, may your kingdom come among us everywhere in our world.
Petition: Father, help me to prepare to be received into your heavenly kingdom.
1. A Banquet beyond Belief: In Palestine during Christ’s time, few festive celebrations rivaled any wedding banquet, let alone a royal one. A wedding was a joyous time, the greatest moment in the lives of the newlyweds. For a royal wedding, it was the greatest moment in the life of the whole kingdom. With his parable of the royal wedding banquet, Christ is giving us a sense of the heaven that he is preparing for us. He is telling each of us, “There is nothing greater than what I want to celebrate with you in eternity!” So if any of our ideas of heaven include something that doesn’t seem attractive or worth-while, we haven’t yet understood heaven. We should ask Christ to give us a glimpse of the joy he wants us to have with him in heaven.
2. Worthy Is as Worthy Does: The king sent invitations to many people, but the response was not what he had hoped for. They rejected his generosity, preferring their own less-than-stellar lives (one went off to his farm, another to attend to some business) over accepting the invitation and participating in the king’s rejoicing. Of course, none of them really deserved to be invited: They hadn’t made themselves worthy by some merit of their own. The king invited them out of his generosity. What made them truly unworthy was their lack of response to this generosity. Their “worthiness” was a gift given to them freely, and it was lost only when they refused the gift. We might ask ourselves, “Am I worthy of heaven?” If we are honest, we realize that the answer is “No.” But in Christ’s eyes, that’s not the important question. The real question is, “Am I responding to and accepting the gif ts he has already extended to me?”
3. Under-dressed for the Occasion: It is embarrassing for both host and guest when a guest arrives at an elegant banquet dressed in shorts and a t-shirt—thinking he was going to an outdoor pig roast or because he did not know any better. It is another situation altogether when the guest intentionally doesn’t dress up because he doesn’t care, or is presumptuous. Then the host is offended, not just embarrassed. In this parable the king is offended because the guest knew he needed to wear a wedding robe and chose not to. Living in God’s sanctifying grace and friendship is the wedding robe we need to wear to be received into the eternal banquet. Christ is warning us against the ultimate pride of presumption: showing up at heaven’s gate without the one thing we know we need to share in Christ’s joy. If we strive every day to please our Lord and to live in his grace, we’ll have our wedding gown ready for the banquet.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, the gift of heaven you have gained for me is beyond any merit of my own, but it shows me how great your generosity is. How can I not but thank you? How can I not but strive each day to respond to and accept with joyful humility all the graces you want to give me, even when it is most difficult for me?
Resolution: To respond to God’s love today, I will accept willingly any difficulty or hardship that comes my way.
with Blessings and prayerful best wishes, Father Marcin Drabik
We do rejoice, that Carlo Acutis was beatified yesterday in Assisi – the best patron for those , who use the internet, and most of all such an inspiration and amazing patron of all the First Communion Children. Blessed Carlo Acutis we pray trough your intercessions to protect the children and lead their every Sunday to the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
One million children praying the rosary Oct 18th – 19th at 6pm
Aid to the Church in Need is coordinating a prayer campaign for a world in crisis. For unity and peace on 18th of October at 6.00pm All over the world, kids will be praying the Rosary on the 18th of October. If your child would like to join this special event, please be attentive and use my ‘ZOOM’ meeting invitation shared on Facebook profile on the day or email me with a request to send You an invitation to …Read more here
St Swithun’s Tribute to Diana Clark -RIP and Funeral Arrangements for Our Homeless Mission Angel
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Sadly our parishioner Diana Clark passed away recently.
The message to all our Parishioners and Friends, and those who loved and still love our Dear Angel – Diana, who passed away last week. On 15th October (Thursday) we will receive Her body into the church at 4.30pm. And the Requiem Mass will be celebrated on 16th October (Friday) at 10.00am. So, I would like to ask You …
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Holy Souls – The November Mass list to Remember our Dead.
The November Mass list: During November we offer Masses for the dead. If you would like to enrol a loved one on the Parish November Mass List, they will have Mass offered for them, they will be included in the Masses for the Holy Souls, and they will be prayed for (collectively) during the Intercessions each Sunday. Also – very day from Monday to Saturday all the names will be read loudly and prayed with Holy Rosary Prayer in …Read more here
IN OCTOBER EVERY THURSDAY at 7PM – HOLY ROSARY FOR THE CHILDREN BY ZOOM
| Date and Time | Here are the details of the meeting, You can share with others: |
| Time: … Read more here |
Philip Kosloski – 3 Virtues we can learn from praying the Rosary
The Rosary can teach us the virtues of obedience, humility and detachment.
While the Rosary is primarily a method of prayer that brings us closer to God, it can also be called a “preacher,” teaching us virtues to imitate.
Read more here
Children – Read today’s Holy Readings here again 11-10-2020
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Thoughts on Today’s Gospel and Readings for the Week – 11-10-2020
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Dr. Scott Hahn – Gospel Reflections 11-10-2020
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Commentary on Isaiah 25:6-10: Philippians 4:12-14.19-20; Matthew 22:1-14
Read more here
Tom Hoopes – God’s freeing answer to “Who am I?”
Read more here
Matt Paolelli – St. Paul’s guide to using social media
Read more here
Fr. Mike Schmitz Answers – DEFENDING TRADITIONAL MARRIAGES MAKES ME A HATER?
Read more here
St Swithun’s Diana Clark -RIP – Homeless Mission Angel in the Local News
Read more here
Our Lady of Fatima – The Miracle of the Sun
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 10th October 2020 till the 31st October 2020
Or Go to our Parish Events Diary and search a specific date or event here https://stswithuns.org.uk/events/
Message from the Ascent Group due to Covid
Read more here
Update from St Swithun’s St Vincent de Paul Society
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
Please pray for all of our First Holy Communion children who made their First Confession and First Holy Communion last weekend.
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 by the 8th October 2020.
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;
Prayer of the Month – October 2020
Prayer of the Month – Pope Francis Prayer Intentions October 2020 – The Laity’s Mission in the Church
Pope Francis Prayer Intentions October 2020 – The Laity’s Mission in the Church
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: 11th October 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.
OCTOBER: The Most Holy Rosary
Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina – “The Rosary is a Weapon”
Mary in our Life by Fr. William G. Most
Our Blessed Lady at Fatima – “I am the Lady of the Rosary”
Our Lady of Fatima – The Miracle of the Sun
The Fifteen Promise of Our Lady of the Rosary
- Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall receive signal graces.
- I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary.
- The rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
- It will cause virtue and good works to … Read more here
The Rosary and the Liturgical Year
The Rosary and the Popes
The Mysteries of the Rosary
Saint Dominic Guzman and the Holy Rosary
Blog Topic: The story of the Servant of God, Carlo Acutis
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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 11-10-2020
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 – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A – Sunday 11th October
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
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.
