Leigh Pastoral Area

Thursday, February 24, 2011

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Does a woman forget her baby at the breast, or fail to cherish the son of her womb? Yet even if these forget, I will never forget you.
Isaiah 49: 15

Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.
Glenn Turner

We live with constant pressure, from without and from within, to see more, consume more, buy more, and drink
in more of life. The pressure to increase the dosage is constant and unrelenting. But this is precisely where a deliberate, wilful, and hard asceticism is demanded of us. To quote Mary Jo Leddy, we must, at some point say this, mean it, and live it: ‘It’s enough. I have enough. I am enough. Life is enough. I need to gratefully enjoy what I have.’
Ron Rolheiser

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters
compared to what lies within us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday, January 21, 2011

A Parable

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, ‘Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.’ The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, ‘You have seen Hell.’

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, ‘I don’t understand’. ‘It is simple’, said the Lord. ‘It requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other. The greedy think only of themselves.’

(Source unknown)

The Problem with Dandelions

A man who took great pride in his lawn found himself with a large crop of dandelions. He tried every method he knew to get rid of them. Still they plagued him. Finally he wrote to the Department of Agriculture. He enumerated all the things he had tried and closed his letter with the question: “What shall I do now?” In due course, the reply came: “We suggest you learn to love them.”

(Source unknown)

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Soccer World Cup Prayer

Almighty God, creator of all,
as people from every nation gather with excitement and enthusiasm
for the 2010 World Soccer Cup, may South Africans be good hosts,
our visitors welcomed guests and the players from every team
be blessed with good sportsmanship and health.
May your Spirit of fairness, justice and peace
prevail amongst players and all involved.
May each contribute in his own positive ways to prevent,
control and fight crime and corruption, hooliganism of any kind
and exploitation and abuse, especially of those most vulnerable.
May those far away from home and those in their families
find much joy in this occasion to celebrate the beautiful game of soccer
and the beautiful game of life according to Your plan
for the common good of all.
Amen.

South African Bishops Conference

Thought for the Day

When a homeless woman turned to her Church for help
and received none, she wrote this poem:

I was hungry and you formed a discussion group
to discuss my hunger.
I was imprisioned and you quietly crept off to
your chapel and prayed for my release.
I was naked, and in your mind you debated
the morality of my appearance.
I was sick and you knelt and thanked God
for your health.
I was homeless and you preached to me of
the spiritual shelter of the love of God.
I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.
You seem so holy, so close to God.
But I am still very hungry — and lonely — and cold.

Spiritual Accompaniment Course

Non-Residential
Spiritual Accompaniment Course
Beginning 4th October 2010

A two year course in the art of accompanying others
on their journey of life and prayer.
Monday evenings and some Saturdays
at Loyola Hall, Rainhill.
For further information, please contact Loyala Hall
0151 426 4137 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Blessing of the Advent Wreath

Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.

Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

World Mission Sunday

May the mission of Jesus be our constant hope
May the Lord help us to reach out with love
May he grant us the strength to proclaim his Good News

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Prayer of Thomas Merton

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the
right road, though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore, I will trust you always.
Even though I may seem to be lost and in the
shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thursday, August 06, 2009

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

A teacher recently asked a group of Year 6 children: 
“What is important for Catholics? 
One child said, “Going to church is important. 
So the teacher asked, “If God is everywhere, why is going to Church important? 
A boy at the back of class put up his hand and said, “Because God invites us to be even closer to him at Mass and it is rude to ignore an invitation from God, just like it is to ignore one from a friend.”

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

A PRAYER OF BLESSING

May God, who is present in sunrise and nightfall,
and in the crossing of the sea, guide your feet as you go.
May God, who is with you when you sit
and when you stand,
encompass you with love and lead you by the hand.
May God, who knows your path
and the places where you rest,
be with you in your waiting,
be your good news for sharing,
and lead you in the way that is everlasting.
(Iona Community)

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

A PRAYER

I kneel (or sit) with confidence,
for you hold me in your presence,
you listen to my fumbling words,
you even hear the movement of my heart without words.

Renew in me the simple faith of a child,
a sense of wonder at all creation,
an attitude of gratitude for all that is,
a peaceful spirit in times of trouble,
a joyful heart in times of goodness.

Make your Spirit to pray in me
as I raise my heart and mind to you.
Amen.

Composed by M J Pedersen, T Greisen & R Wasikowski
Published in “More Than Meets The Eye: Finding God In The Crease”

Monday, February 09, 2009

ROCKING WITH ME

There was once an elderly, despondent woman in a nursing home.  She wouldn’t speak to anyone or request anything.  She merely existed - rocking in her creaky old rocking chair.

The old woman didn’t have many visitors.  But every couple mornings, a concerned and wise young nurse would go into her room.  She didn’t try to speak or ask questions of the old lady.  She simply pulled up another rocking chair beside the old woman and rocked with her.

Weeks or months later, the old woman finally spoke.

‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Thank you for rocking with me.’”

Sometimes all it takes to make a difference in somebody’s life is just to be there with them, beside them and often no words are needed just an understanding.  Remember God can always be that person.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

John baptized Jesus with water.

The Spirit broke through Earth’s edges
gushed into the world of time
and told us again

God is with us.

Spirit,
tear open
the heavens.
Break through our
Boundaries, set-in-stone,
and descend right into the depths
of our hearts.

Pour rivers of grace upon us.

Copyright © 2008, The Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University. All rights reserved.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

NEW YEAR IN THE PASTORAL AREA

New Year’s Eve Mass
If you would like to welcome in the New Year in church, there will be a Vigil Mass at 11.15 pm on New Year’s Eve at Holy Family, followed by the chimes of Big Ben (live), a New Year Blessing, and drink or two at the back of church. 

New Year’s Day Mass
On New Year’s Day, there will be a New Year’s Day Mass at 12.00 noon at Holy Family.  Everyone welcome.

Prayer for the New Year
Wherever you are on New Year’s Eve, you might like to
welcome in the New Year with this prayer:

Holy God,
as we enter this new year,
we thank you for your presence with us
in all the years of our lives. 

We have known joy, and also sorrow,
success and failure,
and through it all, you have been with us
– the companion of all our journeys. 

Much of life is fleeting
and so we thank you for things that endure: 
the love of faithful friends,
wisdom gained from experience,
the reliability of nature,
and your steadfast love. 

We thank you for this new year which awaits us. 
Take us by the hand and lead us on. 
Amen.