Author: Richard Martin

Redemptorist Publications have just made available a FREE one-hour Stations of the Cross video, available on our On-line retreats, courses and reflections page

Why not make time for this devotion over the next 10 days, either in one session or spread out over several?

A special message in these challenging times from Fr John Chadwick, Co-ordinating Pastor for the Avon Stour Pastoral Area

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We live in incredible times. What is happening around us is almost unbelievable! Yet we BELIEVE, most of all, in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, even in these days.

Is it just me or do the readings for this particular Lent seem absolutely tailor made to our current circumstances? Please do make every effort to read, and take to heart, God’s Word as set out in the readings remaining during this period of Lent. God is surely speaking to us. No need for any fancy preaching techniques to apply God’s Word when you hear phrases like these from Psalm 129; the chosen psalm for this coming 5th Sunday in Lent:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ear be attentive to the voice of my pleading.

If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive?
But with you is found forgiveness: for this we revere you.

We absolutely cry out to the Lord! We revere God, absolutely, more than ever before for He has forgiven us.

Brothers and sisters, God is giving each one of us an undeniable invitation today, in these desperate times, to trust in Him anew; to trust the One who is INCAPABLE of unfaithfulness. Today is the day when we turn to God in a new way,

My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word.
My soul is longing for the Lord more than watchman for daybreak.
Let the watchman count on daybreak and Israel on the Lord.

Today, let us count on His Word above all others,

Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption,
Israel indeed he will redeem from all its iniquity.

Dear friends, the clergy of this area are praying with and for YOU. The celebration of Mass continues with you at the forefront of our minds and hearts wherever we are. We particularly bring before God, with utter confidence, the sick, the suffering in mind or body, those who are dying, those who are sacrificing themselves for us in public service, most especially in the health sector. God bless you all. God will not let you down. God will not let us down! This is a promise! A promise that was made by God the Father, personally, and most visibly revealed to us in his beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

• On our website you will find helpful resources to help us to pray, and pray TOGETHER, through these testing moments

 

 

On Tuesday 24th March 2020 Bishop Philip issued a new Decree, updating that of 19th March.

Summary:

All churches and chapels now closed, Baptisms and Weddings deferred.

Full text of new Decree 24th March

Previous Decree 19th March

Resources for when you can’t get to Mass

We have added some resources and ideas to help us now that we cannot go to Mass in person – links to online Masses, prayers, children’s and family resources, ways to explore Scripture, Lenten retreats and courses…

If you have other favourite resources, please let us know!

Bishop Philip has today released new norms for our Diocese.

Headlines:

• Public Sunday and weekday Masses and other public liturgies and services are suspended until further notice
• Churches will be kept open as much as possible during the day for people to visit and to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, always maintaining safe social distance and highests hygiene standards
• Reception of Sacraments will be very limited

Each Parish will now be deciding how best to implement these in their own circumstances.

Full text of the Bishop’s document

9.00 am    Our Lady Queen of Peace, Southbourne

9.30 am    St Thomas More, Iford

10.00 am  Holy Redeemer, Highcliffe
                        Sacred Heart, Ringwood

6.30 pm    Our Lady of Sorrows, Fordingbridge  
                       St Thomas More, Iford

7.00 pm   Our Lady Queen of Peace, Southbourne

7.30 pm   St Joseph’s, Christchurch

Ever wondered what our termly “Welcome to Worship” events are like?
Here first-timer Peter Evans describes his “wonderful first experience” of Welcome to Worship on 7th February and you can see some photos too…

 

 

Friday 7th February in Southbourne, 7.30-9.00 followed by refreshments.
Everyone is welcome – why not bring a friend too?

More information on “Welcome to Worship”

Don’t miss the next in our very popular series of “Welcome to Worship” evenings.        Everyone is welcome – why not bring a friend too?

More information on “Welcome to Worship”

Dear Brothers and Sisters 

On behalf of the Avon Stour Pastoral Area, I wish every joy and blessing during this Christmas season to you and all your families. 

For many, however, the Feast will be anything but festive. We particularly remember in love and prayers those who have lost loved ones recently. It will inevitably be a very testing time for them. Similarly we commend to God those who are seriously ill at this time. 

So let us all be mindful of those who will be suffering this Christmas. May God bless our efforts to be mindful and helpful to them in every way possible, as brothers and sisters should. 

May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your minds and your hearts in the knowledge and love of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 

Fr John Chadwick, Co-ordinating Pastor for Avon Stour Pastoral Area