Generated by All in One SEO v4.8.9, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # St Nicholas of Tolentino RC Church Lawford's Gate, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0RE ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://tolentino.org.uk/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [THIRD SUINDAY OF ADE=VENT 'GAUDET' or 'REJOICING' SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/12/15/third-suinday-of-adevent-gaudet-or-rejoicing-sunday/) - PRIEST: My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This third Sunday of Advent is a day for rejoicing...rejoicing that the coming of our Saviour is close at hand; rejoicing that we are called to work joyfully for the Great Day of the Lord, when all creation will ring with the - [THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT - 'GAUDETE' or 'REJOICING' SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/12/15/third-sunday-of-advent-gaudete-or-rejoicing-sunday/) - That the People of God inspired by Pope Francis and Bishop Bosco will, in the midst of every wilderness of heart or world, give the nations the witness of a joy none can take from us: the joy of yearning for Jesus, and the joy of loving Him who is the fulfilment of our destiny, - [FEAST OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD ('CORPUS CHRISTI')](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/06/02/feast-of-the-body-and-blood-of-the-lord-corpus-christi/) - PRIEST: Today we lift our voices in thanksgiving and praise for the 'inestimable gift' of the Eucharist; we lift our eyes to gaze upon the awesome presence of our Lord and Saviour in the poverty of bread and wine; we lift up our hearts to embrace the love whereby God touches the depths of our - [FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/06/02/feast-of-corpus-christi-5/) - Jesus is Bread of Life ... that the People of the Eucharist may give life and love to the world, becoming God's broken bread given to nurture a New World [READER] LORD, GIVE - [FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/05/25/feast-of-the-holy-trinity-4/) - PRIEST: Having for months celebrated the great actions of God in Christ that bring us salvation and life, today we celebrate the being of God: not what God does, but Who God is! Today is a day for gazing with wonder, a day to contemplate the mystery of God Who is - [FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/05/25/feast-of-the-holy-trinity-3/) - God is perfect Relationship - Love that creates, that both gives and receives, that shares and binds in perfect harmony .... may the Church everywhere be a living Sacrament of this creative love and unity, that all people might know their true identity and destiny. - [FEAST OF PENTECOST](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/05/19/feast-of-pentecost-4/) - PRIEST: Fifty days ago we celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection - now we celebrate the Power of Resurrection set free to transform the world! Today is not only the birthday of the Church in a ferment of Praise and Mission, it is also the beginnings of a New World, a New Creation, for through the Church and - [PENTECOST DAY MASS](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/05/19/pentecost-day-mass/) - The Spirit clothes the Church with Divine Love ... we pray that the Church, led by Pope Francis, Bishop Bosco and the College of Bishops, may unite all peoples, races, classes and cultures in one great human family, building a universal civilisation of love - [PENTECOST VIGIL MASS - FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/05/19/pentecost-vigil-mass-fruits-of-the-spirit/) - [1] THE SPIRIT BRINGS LOVE: The Scripture says ‘Love is always patient and kind’ O God our Father, may we always be filled with the Spirit of Love. Help us love one another as Jesus loved us. May it be our joy to share your love with all the world, healing every wound and reconciling - [FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/04/27/fifth-sunday-of-easter-year-b/) - For the unity of the Church, the Vine of God bearing the fruit of love in the world: for Pope Francis, Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, for the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Moscow, Free Church and Pentecostal leaders [Reader] - [Third Sunday of Easter YB](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/04/13/third-sunday-of-easter-yb-2/) - The disciples told how they recognised Him in the Breaking of Bread: May the Church always know deeply and love profoundly the Lord's presence among us in the Eucharist, and proclaim to the world that He is Risen - [Third Sunday of Easter YB](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/04/13/third-sunday-of-easter-yb/) - PRIEST: The disciples at Emmaus recognise the Risen Lord in the breaking of Bread and rush to tell the Good News to the others in Jerusalem. And there He comes once again to meet us his People: to stretch out his wounded hands, to walk our path with his feet pierced with love. He asks - [Fourth Sunday of lent YA - Laetare Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/03/10/fourth-sunday-of-lent-ya-laetare-sunday/) - That God’s People will reject every darkness and choose the Light of Christ, work for peace and liberating our world of injustice, discrimination and poverty so that all can live together in joy, freedom and equality [reader] SHINE ON US, LORD... [response] - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A - 'LAETARE' SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/03/09/fourth-sunday-of-lent-year-a-laetare-sunday/) - PRIEST: Today we rejoice: it is 'Laetare Sunday' - a day to celebrate that the call to Lenten conversion is a call to a deeper joy. We hear the Gospel of the healing of the blind man at the pool of Siloam. Our deepest joy is to grow into Christ; to reflect his light onto - [Fifth Sunday of Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/02/04/fifth-sunday-of-year-b-2/) - PRIEST: We hear today how Jesus begins his ministry - immersed in a world of pain and oppression, he brings an explosion of life-giving and healing! Healing was his chosen way to proclaim the Good News of New Life in God's love. Healing was the gift of his compassion as well as the sign - [Fifth Sunday of Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/02/04/fifth-sunday-of-year-b/) - That all disciples of the Jesus who immersed himself into the world of pain will ‘go and do likewise’, bring hope where there is despair and seek by our love to ‘heal the broken-hearted’ [READER] - [FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/01/06/feast-of-the-epiphany-of-the-lord-7/) - Seekers after wisdom followed the Light of the Star ... we pray that the whole Church will let light of the Spirit guide us during this Global Synod along paths of renewal and reform, the better to guide all in today’s world who search for the wisdom to live their lives in love - [FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2024/01/06/feast-of-the-epiphany-of-the-lord-6/) - PRIEST: The Wisdom of God has guided each of us here today, as surely as the Magi's Star: for we too are pilgrims on a journey searching for wisdom, walking by faith and yearning in hope for the peace for our world. We gather to offer our gifts, our talents and our very selves on - [Feast of Mary, Mother of God - Day of Prayer for the Peace of the World](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/30/feast-of-mary-mother-of-god-day-of-prayer-for-the-peace-of-the-world-2/) - PRIEST: On this first day of the New Year, the Church celebrates Mary “Theotokos’, the Bearer of God to the world. We look to the first and greatest disciple as we are about to embark on making this year truly the Year of Our Lord 2024. We commend all that is past into the - [Feast of the Holy Family](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/30/feast-of-the-holy-family-10/) - PRIEST: As we draw near the end of this year we gather as a family of families ... around the simplicity and poverty, the love and the faith of the Holy Family of Bethlehem and Nazareth. Like too many families today, torn by poverty, oppression and war, Jesus’ family was far from trouble-free family - [Feast of Mary, Mother of God - Day of Prayer for the Peace of the World](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/30/feast-of-mary-mother-of-god-day-of-prayer-for-the-peace-of-the-world/) - Mary is Mother of all Christians ... we pray that the year just begun will see the whole Church journey towards visible unity in faith, service and mission, and so be a more effective sign and instrument of God’s Peace, Justice and Love to the world - [Feast of the Holy Family](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/30/feast-of-the-holy-family-9/) - Jesus in the midst of the Holy Family teaches us that the Church is called to be a family of love and faith, safeguarding life and sharing compassion ... may the Church always live the challenge of being family in Christ [reader] - [ASSEMBLING & BLESSING OF THE CRIB](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/23/assembling-blessing-of-the-crib/) - [PRIEST] We come to bless our crib ... by that we mean to ask God to bless everyone who will come to pray, with wonder, awe and love, before this visual image of the poverty and simplicity of our Saviour's birth. St Francis of Assisi, who lived over 800 years ago, was the first to - [Blessing of Christmas Tree](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/23/blessing-of-christmas-tree-4/) - READER: The erecting and decorating of Christmas Trees originated in Germany some three hundred years ago, and came to this country during the reign of Queen Victoria. It’s meaning comes from the story of the Fall in the Garden of Eden which we find in the Book of Genesis. It was originally called the ‘Paradise - [Fourth Sunday of Advent B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/23/fourth-sunday-of-advent-b-2/) - ‘Rejoice so highly favoured’ … The Angel announces the Good News to Mary ... as we listen to one another in this Global Synod, may the Church always be faithful in announcing Good News to the world, and inviting all to utter their ‘Yes’ to God’s call - [Fourth Sunday of Advent B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/23/fourth-sunday-of-advent-b/) - PRIEST: My dear sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus, We gather today on this last Sunday of Advent Preparation to share in this Eucharist God's great call to bear Christ to the world. Mary heard this call and answered with such love - [Third Sunday of Advent Year B ('Gaudete' Sunday)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/16/third-sunday-of-advent-year-b-gaudete-sunday-2/) - PRIEST: My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This third Sunday of Advent is a day for rejoicing...rejoicing that the coming of our Saviour is close at hand; rejoicing that his coming will bring Good News to the Poor, a new freedom and an era of healing and liberation; rejoicing that God still sends prophets - [Third Sunday of Advent Year B ('Gaudete' Sunday)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/16/third-sunday-of-advent-year-b-gaudete-sunday/) - That the People of God will seek always to be prophets of the Light of Christ, bringing freedom to those imprisoned in poverty and bitterness, and offering the nations the witness of the joy of Christ that no-one can take from us [reader] - [Second Sunday of Advent YB - 'Bible Sunday'](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/10/second-sunday-of-advent-yb-bible-sunday-2/) - May the Global Synod, entering a new phase, lead the whole Church always to root its life and decisions in the disturbing and life-giving Word of God, and to proclaim with integrity and joy the Gospel of Jesus, that the world may believe - [Second Sunday of Advent YB - 'Bible Sunday'](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/10/second-sunday-of-advent-yb-bible-sunday/) - PRIEST: We gather on this Bible Sunday, at the beginning of our second week of Advent Preparation and Prayer. On this Bible Sunday, we come together to listen to God's Holy Word in the Bible, so that we may allow His Word to be made Flesh in our lives. That same Word will be spoken - [First Sunday of Advent YB](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/09/first-sunday-of-advent-yb/) - PRIEST: My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, In the midst of our war torn world and of the immense crisis of Global Warming, we have come to the Holy and Joyful Season of Advent, these four weeks of preparation...learning to watch with faith for the Coming of the Lord in Glory...learning to welcome with - [On Social Friendship - Visionary!](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/09/on-social-friendship-visionary/) - POPE FRANCIS CALLING US TO PRAYER AND SOCIAL FRIENDSHIP ‘The Bible says that whoever finds a friend has found a treasure. I would like to invite everyone to go beyond their groups of friends and build social friendship, which is so necessary for living together well. We especially need to have a renewed encounter with the - [Pope's Prayers for Action on Global Warming](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/12/09/popes-prayers-for-action-on-global-warming/) - PRAYER FOR ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE Loving God, we praise Your name with all you have created. You are present in the whole universe, and in the smallest of creatures. We acknowledge the responsibilities you have placed upon us as loving stewards of Your creation. - [FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/02/25/first-sunday-of-lent-year-a-4/) - PRIEST: We have begun our journey of these 40 days of Lent - like Jesus we enter into the desert to face the demons of our own hearts - demons of selfishness and of comfort, demons of greed and exploitation, demons of ambition and power. Whatever our demons are, Lent is the appointed - [TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/10/14/twenty-eighth-sunday-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: We are gathered today for the Eucharist during the Synod Assembly in Rome...to share this glimpse of the great banquet of God's love with our sisters and brothers who are marginalised, suffering and poor. We and they have been invited and called, simply because God loves us so much. The Holy Spirit is - [TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/10/14/twenty-eighth-sunday-year-a/) - ‘He sent his servants to all who were invited to the Feast’ ... that the Synod Assembly gathered in Rome as part of the Global Synod will be led by the Holy Spirit to walk the path of reform and renewal, building a radically inclusive Church, where all are welcome and valued - [Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/09/09/twenty-fifth-sunday-of-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: Today we hear the Lord’s call to each one of us to work in His vineyard ... the world. He challenges us to build up His Kingdom upon the earth. Even if we respond only at the eleventh hour, He rewards us with a most generous love that fulfils the yearnings of our heart - [Twenty-Fourth Sunday of Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/09/09/twenty-fourth-sunday-of-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: On this ‘Joy of the Gospel’ Sunday, Jesus challenges us to be a community of endless forgiveness, ever opening the gates of mercy to all peoples. For His Gospel of Joy is news of limitless forgiveness. Broken, hurting and embittered people need to know a community that will go the extra mile to - [Twenty-Third Sunday of Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/09/09/twenty-third-sunday-of-year-a/) - PRIEST: Today, the Word of God presents us with the vision of a community centred upon the Christ who is alive among us ... a community that takes seriously the call to holiness: and takes equally seriously the fact that each one of us is responsible in some measure for each other's growth and - [Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/09/09/twenty-fifth-sunday-of-year-a/) - As the Church celebrates the ‘Joy of the Gospel’ may all God’s People witness joyfully to the free gift of God’s love in our lives so that many more will come to know the God who gives not less than everything to all willing to receive His love into their lives - [Twenty-Fourth Sunday of Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/09/09/twenty-fourth-sunday-of-year-a/) - That the Christian Church in our land will continue to ‘fling wide open the doors of God’s mercy’, to develop the New Evangelisation and so invite to all to come and find new life in Christ Jesus; that mission will be our joy and our fulfilment - [Twenty-Third Sunday of the Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/09/09/twenty-third-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - For the Church ... that through the Global Synod we will not be afraid to listen to each other and the modern world in all its struggles and dilemmas, while proclaiming the challenging truth of Christ with both compassion and boldness [READER] - [FEAST OF ST NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/09/03/feast-of-st-nicholas-of-tolentino-2/) - For 175 years, the Eucharist has been the centre of our parish’s life, community and mission: may this celebration of the Breaking of the Bread heal our brokenness, deepen our love for Christ Jesus, bind us together in life-giving community and empower our mission to be Good News to the Poor - [LITURGY OF REDEDICATION ON FEAST OF ST NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/09/03/liturgy-of-rededication-on-feast-of-st-nicholas-of-tolentino/) - St Nicks Patronal Feast 2023 - [Synodality/Climate Change/Nuclear Weapons](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/08/29/synodality-climate-change-nuclear-weapons/) - On 'Synodality' “Breakthrough comes about as a gift of dialogue, when people trust each other and humbly seek the good together, and are willing to learn from each another in a mutual exchange of gifts. This is an ‘overflow’ of love, breaking the banks that confined our thinking and causes to pour forth answers that - [TWENTIETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/08/19/twentieth-sunday-of-the-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: Today we find strangely harsh words on the lips of Jesus, words that seem to reject a woman who comes to him in her need. Yet her coming leads him to discover the depth of his mission from God his Father and to offer all peoples his saving love. Let us ask forgiveness - [TWENTIETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/08/19/twentieth-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - For the whole Church that we might all share in the Universal Love of God for all peoples and nations and, becoming truly Catholic, serve the world’s peace; that God will give wisdom, compassion and prophetic courage to our Universal Pastor, Pope Francis as he enables the Church’s Global Synod - [NINETEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/08/12/nineteenth-sunday-of-the-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: We have powerful images presented to us this morning: the prophet meeting God on the mountain; Paul willing to loose salvation if only his Jewish people would embrace His Lord; and Peter walking towards Jesus on the storm tossed sea. Powerful images that speak to us of the power of faith and prayer. We - [NINETEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/08/12/nineteenth-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - That the Church of God will teach us how to pray, to go up the Mountain of God’s Presence and listen to the whispering voice of God deep in the heart and at the centre of the storm: may the renewal of the Church be energised by a renewal of prayer and faith - [FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/08/05/feast-of-the-transfiguration-of-the-lord-4/) - PRIEST: As we celebrate today the beautiful Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, we behold the Glory of God, the glory that each of us carries deep within our being. For we are all created in God's image and likeness. And the Glory of God is humanity fully alive. Transfiguration is only complete, however, - [FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/08/05/feast-of-the-transfiguration-of-the-lord-3/) - That the Church of Christ may seek to glorify God by listening to the Master, each other and the world, proclaiming hope and humanity to all, and building a Kingdom of Justice and Peace upon the Earth [reader:] LORD, REVEAL - [SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/07/29/seventeenth-sunday-of-the-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today that Jesus is the Wisdom of God, and we should give everything for the rich treasure that He is. We celebrate also that Jesus has given His whole self for us whom he speaks of as the pearl of great price. Jesus challenges us to help others discover the treasure, - [SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/07/29/seventeenth-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - That the People of God might always seek Christ and live by His Wisdom which alone can give life: we pray especially for the Holy Spirit to guide Pope Francis and the Church’s Global Synod - may the voices and experience of the whole People of God be allowed to reform and renew the Church, - [FIFTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/07/15/fifteenth-sunday-of-the-year-2/) - ‘A sower went out to sow the seed’ ... that all God’s People will sow the seed of the Word of God’s Love into the field of the world, and seek with our whole heart the harvest of the Kingdom [READER] - [FIFTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/07/15/fifteenth-sunday-of-the-year/) - PRIEST: We celebrate God's great generosity in sowing so liberally the seed of His Word into our world and into our hearts. He challenges us to be open soil, prepared and receptive to welcome the Divine Gift of the Word that is Life. He further challenges us to become new sowers of the seed - [Feast of the Holy & Undivided Trinity](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/06/03/feast-of-the-holy-undivided-trinity-3/) - PRIEST: Having for months celebrated the great actions of God in Christ that bring us salvation and life, today we celebrate the being of God: not what God does, but Who God is! Today is a day for gazing with wonder, a day to contemplate the mystery of God Who is Love - always Love, - [Feast of the Holy & Undivided Trinity](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/06/03/feast-of-the-holy-undivided-trinity-2/) - God is perfect Relationship - Love that creates, that both gives and receives, that shares and binds in perfect harmony .... may the Church everywhere be a living Sacrament of this creative love and unity, that all people might know their true identity and destiny. - [FEAST OF PENTECOST](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/05/27/feast-of-pentecost-3/) - PRIEST: Fifty days ago we celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection - now we celebrate the Power of Resurrection set free to transform the world! Today is not only the birthday of the Church in a ferment of Praise and Mission, it is also the beginnings of a New World, a New Creation, for through the Church and - [FEAST OF PENTECOST - Day Mass](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/05/27/feast-of-pentecost-day-mass/) - The Spirit clothes the Church with Divine Love ... we pray that the Church, led by Pope Francis, Bishop Declan and the College of Bishops, may unite all peoples, races, classes and cultures in one great human family, building a universal civilisation of love [reader] - [FEAST OF PENTECOST - Fruits of the Spirit](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/05/27/feast-of-pentecost-fruits-of-the-spirit/) - [1] THE SPIRIT BRINGS LOVE: The Scripture says ‘Love is always patient and kind’ O God our Father, may we always be filled with the Spirit of Love. Help us love one another as Jesus loved us. May it be our joy to share your love with all the world, healing every wound and reconciling - [Seventh Sunday of Easter Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/05/20/seventh-sunday-of-easter-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: A few days ago we celebrated our mission as a Church to proclaim the Good News to all; in a few days time we shall celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit with the power needed to fulfil our Christ-commissioned task. Today, on this World Communication Sunday, we pray for wisdom and - [Seventh Sunday of Easter Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/05/20/seventh-sunday-of-easter-year-a/) - God speaks His Word to all the world: that the Spirit of God will come and guide us to harness the Internet and other modern means of Mass Communication to proclaim the Gospel, the Good News to our world [reader] - [Sixth Sunday of Easter Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/05/13/sixth-sunday-of-easter-year-a-4/) - PRIEST: Today the Word of God begins to point us towards the coming Feast of Pentecost, speaking as it does of the Spirit, the other Advocate who will stand with us and speak up for us. Today we mark as a parish the Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse caused in any - [Sixth Sunday of Easter Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/05/13/sixth-sunday-of-easter-year-a-3/) - Jesus promises to send the Spirit, the Advocate ... that the Church will with humility listen to the pain of all who have been abused by priests and religious and others in authority in the Church;; that we will allow the Spirit to teach us through their experience and courage how to build safe and - [Fifth Sunday of Easter Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/05/07/fifth-sunday-of-easter-year-a-3/) - Jesus is the Servant ... we pray for our Pope Francis in his universal service of the Church and the World as the Servant of the Servants of God; for all deacons and their wives as they offer us new models of ministry and teach us how ordained ministry and marriage can enrich each other - ['LOW' SUNDAY YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/04/15/low-sunday-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: On this Octave Day of Easter we hear in the Gospel a story of doubt that becomes magnificent faith; a story of wounds that breath peace and healing; a story of frightened empty disciples who become courageous in the Holy Spirit; a story of a community witnessing the Risen Christ. It is the story - ['LOW' SUNDAY YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/04/15/low-sunday-year-a/) - Thomas remained in doubt until he returned to the community of faith: for the unity of all God's Church, that together we will offer to an unbelieving world a convincing sign of faith, proclaiming the Risen Lord of the Church [reader] JESUS - [Feast of the Resurrection - EASTER](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/04/11/feast-of-the-resurrection-easter/) - Jesus is Risen! May all God's People shout proclaim from the housetops that He is alive among us ... may the Global Synod reshape the Church and renew our communities the better to witness to Christ in our 21st Century world; bless Pope Francis and Bishop Declan so that they offer powerful witness to the - [Holy Thursday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/04/10/holy-thursday/) - PRIEST: On this Passover Night, Jesus commands us to bring His love to one another, and to our world. Each one of us is called a 'servant', summoned to work with one another in shared ministry. This night we celebrate that we are called to be a community of unity, a community of prayer and - [FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/03/26/fifth-sunday-of-lent-year-a-5/) - For our Universal Pastor, Pope Francis, that God will gift him with strength, wisdom and courage as he serves to unbind the Church from dysfunction and disunity, leading us through the Global Synod along the paths of reform and renewal and inspiring us for mission; that we might proclaim Life to a world seeking to - [Fourth Sunday of Lent A- Laetare Sunda](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/03/18/fourth-sunday-of-lent-a-laetare-sunda/) - PRIEST: Today we rejoice: it is 'Laetare Sunday' - a day to celebrate that the call to Lenten conversion is a call to a deeper joy. We hear the Gospel of the healing of the blind man at the pool of Siloam. Our deepest joy is to grow into Christ; to reflect his light onto - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT A - 'LAETARE SUNDAY'](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/03/18/fourth-sunday-of-lent-a-laetare-sunday/) - That God’s People will reject every darkness and choose the Light of Christ, work for peace and free our world of injustice, discrimination and poverty so that all can live together in joy, freedom and equality [Reader] SHINE ON US, LORD... [response] - [Second Sunday of Lent Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/03/05/second-sunday-of-lent-year-a-2/) - The Transfigured Christ reveals to the company of the disciples the Glory of God within each of us: may the Church reveal to the world the glory of God's love by our courage to love, to care and to struggle for justice... [reader] - [Second Sunday of Lent Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/03/03/second-sunday-of-lent-year-a/) - PRIEST: In today's celebration, we behold the Glory of God, the glory that each of us carries deep within our being. For we are all created in God's image and likeness. And the Glory of God is humanity fully alive. We also have the joy of welcoming and anointing our Catechumen preparing for baptism, - [FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT - YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/02/25/first-sunday-of-lent-year-a-3/) - Jesus is tempted to turn stone into bread: that God's People will always hunger for the Bread of God's Word and use only the power that comes from the Gospel, which is Love - that this Lent we will answer the call to be disciples and discover the Joy of the Gospel! - [Seventh Sunday of the Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/02/18/seventh-sunday-of-the-year-a-3/) - PRIEST: As we gather to celebrate today’s Eucharist, Jesus reveals the essence of God’s love - to forgive without limit! So He challenges us to be a people of reconciliation, a community of peacemakers, to live in God's endless and unconditional forgiveness. Called to refuse to allow bitterness to arise from our wounds, we seek - [SEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/02/18/seventh-sunday-of-the-year-a-2/) - Jesus says: ‘Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile’ … that the Church of God everywhere will be a community of forgiveness, ambassadors of reconciliation and peace, prophets of hope in a war-torn world [reader] LORD WE PRAY - [WORLD DAY OF THE SICK](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/02/11/world-day-of-the-sick-2/) - We pray that the Church of God will everywhere seek to be the field hospital where the wounded and hurting know they will be accepted and held in healing [Reader] Lord we pray .... - [WORLD DAY OF THE SICK](https://tolentino.org.uk/2023/02/11/world-day-of-the-sick/) - PRIEST: We gather to celebrate the World Day of the Sick associated with yesterday’s Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Gospel speaks to us of a Jesus who overflows with healing and life for the broken and the outcasts. Mary as the servant of God’s healing in Lourdes challenges us to work for that - [Feast of Christ the King Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/11/20/feast-of-christ-the-king-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: As we come to this last Sunday of our Liturgical Year, we celebrate Jesus Christ, King of all Creation. We celebrate the One who came with a dream for the world, for the Universe - a dream of creation alive with divine love, drawn together in the deepest Unity in Christ. We celebrate - [Feast of Christ the King Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/11/20/feast-of-christ-the-king-year-c/) - We pray for the Church throughout the world ... for our unity in love and faithfulness to the Gospel, for our dedication to the Mission of growing the Kingdom upon the Earth, and for our prophets crying out for world-wide solidarity and global co-operation in building Justice and humanity - [Thirty-Third Sunday Year C, Remembrance Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/11/13/thirty-third-sunday-year-c-remembrance-sunday/) - That the Universal Church may witness to a higher loyalty than any nationalism, building unity and reconciliation among all the peoples of the Earth as the world continues to be be torn and wounded by war and conflict [reader] - [Thirty-Second Sunday of Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/11/06/thirty-second-sunday-of-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: November is the month of remembrance - remembering those who have died in both war and in peace; remembering those we have loved and are now ‘gone before us marked with the sign of faith.’ But we are an Easter People and Alleluia! is our song - we are children of the Resurrection, children - [Thirty-Second Sunday of Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/11/06/thirty-second-sunday-of-year-c/) - That the People of God will witness to the reality of eternity and proclaim Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, for all the world to know and so come to New Life [READER] GOD OF - [Thirty-First Sunday Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/10/30/thirty-first-sunday-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: Today we celebrate God’s great yearning for us, His compassion and acceptance of us - His passionate desire that we should allow him to love us and so to change us ... to restore us to our truest selves. We hear how Jesus reaches out to someone everyone else rejects and calls a corrupt, - [Thirty-First Sunday Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/10/30/thirty-first-sunday-year-c/) - That Christians everywhere will offer to all the peoples the invitation of Jesus to find salvation, forgiveness and peace by welcoming His love into their hearts and making a place in their lives for mercy and justice [READER] - [Thirtieth Sunday of Year C (World Mission Sunday)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/10/22/thirtieth-sunday-of-year-c-world-mission-sunday-2/) - PRIEST: The familiar story in today's Gospel - the Pharisee and the sinner - reveals God's way of looking at the sinful one and the religious person. Not at all what we might expect! Jesus’ words challenge every form of religious pride, as well as our hardness of heart. God urges us today, on - [Thirtieth Sunday of Year C (World Mission Sunday)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/10/22/thirtieth-sunday-of-year-c-world-mission-sunday/) - That the Church will throw wide open the gates of God’s Mercy for all peoples, and serve reconciliation and peace in a our conflict ridden world [reader] GOD OF ALL NATIONS... - [29th Sunday Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/10/16/29th-sunday-year-c/) - PRIEST: Jesus teaches us today about the need to continue praying - especially when nothing seems to be happening. Can we trust God even when God seems silent? when God seems uninvolved? Do we believe that God always listens to us … and with love? Or do we need God to be constantly reassuring us - [29th Sunday of the Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/10/16/29th-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - That the People of God everywhere will be steadfast in prayer and Mission, holding up the weary arms of believers until Justice is truly done for the oppressed and vulnerable of the world [READER] LORD - [Twenty-Eighth Sunday Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/10/09/twenty-eighth-sunday-year-c/) - That God’s People in every land and culture will be faithful to the call of Christ to be a healing community that welcomes the broken and the excluded, revealing the merciful face of the Father; that the Church will truly listen to the Word God is speaking through both St John Henry Newman, commemorated today - [23rd Sunday of the Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/09/03/23rd-sunday-of-the-year-c-4/) - PRIEST: Today Jesus challenges us as to the nature and demands of being His disciples: whether we prize our relationship with the Lord before all else? Whether we are willing to persevere in the task of loving by shouldering with Him the Cross of humanity’s suffering? Shamefully, the slave trade is a very real - [23rd SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/09/03/23rd-sunday-of-the-year-c-3/) - For Christians everywhere, that all might hear the call to deeper discipleship, model their lives upon the life and love of Jesus Christ, and choose each day to shoulder with Christ the Cross of humanity’s suffering and walk His Way of Love [READER] - [21st Sunday of the Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/08/21/21st-sunday-of-the-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: Jesus challenges any temptation to complacency: we do not have an automatic ticket into the Kingdom. Everyday, we need to say 'YES' again to entering by the narrow gate of Christ's radical and universal love. That we come often to Mass, that we pray frequently, that we keep the Catholic rules - none of - [21st Sunday of the Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/08/21/21st-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - That the People of God will walk with Christ through the ‘Narrow Door’ of God’s radical and universal love and so guide the Nations along the Way that leads to Life and Freedom: [READER] LORD, LEAD US - [FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/06/18/feast-of-corpus-christi-4/) - PRIEST: Today we lift our voices in thanksgiving and praise for the 'inestimable gift' of the Eucharist; we lift our eyes to gaze upon the awesome presence of our Lord and Saviour in the poverty of bread and wine; we lift up our hearts to embrace the love whereby God touches the depths of our - [FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/06/18/feast-of-corpus-christi-3/) - Jesus is Bread of Life ... that the People of the Eucharist may give life and love to the world, becoming God's broken bread given to nurutre a New World [READER] LORD, GIVE US THAT BREAD... [response] - [SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/05/29/seventh-sunday-of-easter/) - PRIEST: Today we gather with Mary and those first disciples, some 120 in number, as they prayed and waited in the Upper Room of their fears soon to be turned to hopes. We also like them have heard Jesus pray that we may all be one; we have heard Him entrust his mission to us; - [SEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - COMMUNICATIONS SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/05/29/seventh-sunday-of-the-year-communications-sunday/) - God speaks His Word to all the world and calls us to Unity: that the Church will use all modern means of Mass Communication and social media to foster deeper unity and love between the Churches and in the world, and so proclaim the Good News to all our world - [2nd SUNDAY OF EASTER 'LOW SUNDAY'](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/04/23/2ndsunday-of-easter-low-sunday/) - Thomas remained in doubt until he returned to the community of faith: for the unity of all God's Church, that together we will offer to an unbelieving world a convincing sign of faith, proclaiming the Risen Lord of the Church [reader] - [3rd SUNDAY OF EASTER](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/04/23/3rd-sunday-of-easter/) - PRIEST: There are many ways of meeting the Risen Christ: one of the most life-giving encounters is to touch the world in mission. Today, we hear how Jesus re-affirms the apostles in their mission, after their experience of failure around the Calvary event. Strengthened and healed, we then hear how they find new courage in - [SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER 'LOW SUNDAY'](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/04/23/second-sunday-of-easter-low-sunday-3/) - PRIEST: There are many ways of meeting the Risen Christ: one of the most life-giving encounters is to touch the world in mission. Today, we hear how Jesus re-affirms the apostles in their mission, after their experience of failure around the Calvary event. Strengthened and healed, we then hear how they find new courage in - [PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/04/10/passion-palm-sunday-year-c/) - May the Church share the humility of our Servant-King, who comes to His world not with the force of power but with the power of love, and so serve the world in its struggles with a humble compassion: we pray both wisdom and courage for Pope Francis as he leads the Church in Reform and - [Fifth Sunday in Lent (Cycle A)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/04/02/fifth-sunday-in-lent-cycle-a/) - PRIEST: In just two weeks time we shall celebrate the incomparable joy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus foreshadows his own resurrection by bringing his friend Lazarus from the tomb into life. He reveals to all that he is victorious over death itself. But the greatest victory Jesus wins is over the death - [Fifth Sunday of lent (Cycle A)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/04/02/fifth-sunday-of-lent-cycle-a/) - For our Universal Pastor, Pope Francis, that God will gift him with strength, wisdom and courage as he serves to unbind the Church from all dysfunction and disunity, leading us through the Global Synod along the paths of reform and renewal and inspiring us for mission; that we might proclaim Life to a world seeking - [Fourth Sunday in Lent](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/03/26/fourth-sunday-in-lent/) - PRIEST: Today we rejoice: it is 'Laetare Sunday' - a day to celebrate that the call to Lenten conversion is a call to a deeper joy. We hear the Gospel of the healing of the blind man at the pool of Siloam. Our deepest joy is to grow into Christ; to reflect his light onto - [Fourth Sunday in Lent (Cycle A)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/03/26/fourth-sunday-in-lent-cycle-a/) - That God’s People will reject every darkness and choose the Light of Christ, work for peace and free our world of injustice, discrimination and poverty so that all can live together in joy, freedom and equality [Reader] SHINE ON US, LORD... [response] - [Third Sunday of Lent (Year A)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/03/20/third-sunday-of-lent-year-a-7/) - PRIEST: God quenches the thirst of His People as they journey through the desert - our world of today still struggling with Covid and afflicted by war in Ukraine and elsewhere is journeying through such a desert journey: have we recognised the water of God’s love and drank of that Water of the Spirit? - [Third Sunday of Lent (Year A)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/03/20/third-sunday-of-lent-year-a-6/) - Jesus says, 'If you only knew what God is offering...': that the People of God will always offer our world the living water of the Holy Spirit to heal the brokenness of war, melt the hardness of violence, cleanse the sinfulness of oppression and bring humanity to a new birth; we pray especially for - [SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/03/12/second-sunday-of-lent-year-c/) - PRIEST: We have hardly begun our Lenten journey, yet we are given a glimpse of the glory to come: the glory Abraham beheld at the moment of covenant; Jesus clothed in the glory of God on the mountain of the Transfiguration. That vision will give him the courage to embrace the Cross that he - [SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/03/12/second-sunday-in-lent-year-c/) - The Transfigured Christ reveals to the company of the disciples the Glory of God within each of us: may the Church reveal to a world, over-shadowed by war, terror and injustice, the glory of God's love by our courage to love and care without limit... - [SEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/02/20/seventh-sunday-of-the-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: Today we hear how David refuses to give way to vengeance on King Saul; St Paul tells us to become more and more like Jesus, the heavenly man; and Jesus himself confronts us with the foolishness of God! He challenges us to love our enemies, to return blessing for a curse. He urges - [Seventh Sunday of the Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/02/20/seventh-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - Jesus says, ‘Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you’ ... That the People of God will be a faithful witness of the Wisdom of God which is foolishness to the world, yet the key to its future - [SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/02/13/sixth-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - PRIEST: Jesus is the Prophet of the Poor - the Voice of the Voiceless. We hear this morning Luke’s version of the Beatitudes - the Blessings of the Kingdom. But if the Poor are blessed and the world is to change to raise up the poor, then the world of the rich must radically - [Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/02/13/our-lady-of-lourdes-and-world-day-of-the-sick/) - PRIEST: We gather to celebrate the World Day of the Sick on this Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, in the midst of the continuing Covid Pandemic. While some are relaxing restrictions others are still fearful of their health We come together as a people of Faith, to entrust this world into the healing love - [Our Lady of Lourdes & World day of the Sick](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/02/13/our-lady-of-lourdes-world-day-of-the-sick/) - We pray that the Church will everywhere seek to be God’s field hospital where the wounded and hurting know they will be welcomed, accepted and held in caring and healing [Reader] Lord we pray .... - [Fifth Sunday of the Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/02/05/fifth-sunday-of-the-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today that Jesus calls and makes disciples: people who will follow him anywhere, do whatever he tells them, share the work with him. Disciples are not some elitist group in the Church - they are you and me. And when he calls, it involves leaving something behind so that we can give - [Fifth Sunday of the Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/02/05/fifth-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - Jesus calls the first apostles ... may your Church founded on these apostles always have the courage to leave behind whatever impedes the proclamation of the Gospel in our present age and through the Global Synod walk the paths of reform and renewal [reader] - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF YEAR C (Holocaust Memorial)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/02/01/fourth-sunday-of-year-c-holocaust-memorial/) - God said to the Prophet Jeremiah, ‘Stand up and tell them all I command you’: we pray that this Global Synod will inspire the People of God both to love the Church and to challenge the Church by embracing our call to to be Prophets of Reform and renewal - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/02/01/fourth-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - PRIEST: We celebrate the Prophet of a Love that knows no limits! He challenges us in today’s Gospel to love the stranger, those different from us, teaching us compassion and generosity of heart: Gospel values so necessary for our own age. Are our parishes, our homes and our communities truly places of welcome where the - [THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (C) - Christian Unity Week](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/01/23/third-sunday-of-the-year-c-christian-unity-week/) - PRIEST: In this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity we listen to Jesus challenging us to fulfil the Text that the captives are set free, the broken healed, the blind liberated with sight. But the Church too is imprisoned in division, too often blind to the scandal of disunity, and wounded by intolerance and - [THIRD SUNBDAY OF THE YEAR (C) Christian Unity Week](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/01/23/third-sunbday-of-the-year-c-christian-unity-week/) - Jesus is anointed by the Spirit to be ‘Good News to the Poor’: that all God's people might be Good News to the poor and Good News to the Earth, seeking together to heal our planet and to liberate our world from poverty and oppression, walking humbly in the Spirit of Christ in the mission - [NEW YEAR 'WATCHNIGHT' MASS](https://tolentino.org.uk/2022/01/01/new-year-watchnight-mass-3/) - PRIEST: We gather the year that is past with thankfulness for the many touches of grace and goodness that have been the gifts of God; with sorrow for all that has wounded our world through sin and selfishness, war and injustice; with healing prayer for hurts we have endured or have inflicted. We seek to - [Feast of the Holy Family](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/12/25/feast-of-the-holy-family-8/) - PRIEST: As we draw near the end of this year we gather as a family of families ... around the simplicity and poverty, the love and the faith of the Holy Family of Bethlehem and Nazareth. Theirs was not a trouble-free family life: homeless, fleeing for their lives into exile because of the fears of - [CHRISTMAS DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/12/25/christmas-day-3/) - PRIEST: Today is a wondrous day ... a day for untold rejoicing as we gaze upon the awesome mystery of our God in vulnerable human flesh ... the All-powerful contained in the powerless frame of a tiny baby. Looking into the eyes of this child we can only treat every child with immense respect - [Feast of the Holy Family](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/12/25/feast-of-the-holy-family-7/) - Jesus in the midst of the Holy Family teaches us that the Church is called to be a family of love and faith, safeguarding life and sharing compassion ... may the Church always live the challenge of being family in Christ [reader:] - [CHRISTMAS DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/12/25/christmas-day-2/) - Jesus was born in the dark of the night, enlightened by the glory of the angels ... may Christians everywhere so love in the power of Jesus that we may give all creation the light of hope for a new humanity to dawn upon our hurting Earth - [Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C with Blessing of Advent Wreath](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/12/19/fourth-sunday-of-advent-year-c-with-blessing-of-advent-wreath/) - PRIEST: My dear sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus, We gather today on this last Sunday of Advent Preparation to welcome in this Eucharist the Visitation of God's Love. Like Elizabeth, we carry humanity's longings within us...longings for a world of peace, equality and justice; like Mary, we carry the Christ - [Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/12/19/fourth-sunday-of-advent-year-c/) - God and humanity meet in the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth: may the Church of Christ with profound faith offer the space for God and humanity always to meet, that God’s saving love and freedom might spring up from the earth [READER:] HEAR US - [Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C -'Gaudete' or 'Rejoicing' Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/12/11/fourth-sunday-of-advent-year-c-gaudete-or-rejoicing-sunday/) - That all God’s People will welcome John the Baptist’s challenge to conversion to the paths of justice; that we might give the world the witness of a joy that none can take from us - the joy of of being Good News to the Poor and yearning for Jesus our fulfilment - [Third Sunday of Advent Year C 'Gaudette' Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/12/11/third-sunday-of-advent-year-c-gaudette-sunday/) - PRIEST: My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This third Sunday of Advent is a day for rejoicing...rejoicing that the coming of our Saviour is close at hand; rejoicing that we are called to work joyfully for the Great Day of the Lord, when all creation will ring with the Glory of God; rejoicing that - [Second Sunday of Advent YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/12/05/second-sunday-of-advent-yc-2/) - May the Global Synod lead the whole Church always to root its life and decisions in the disturbing and life-giving Word of God, and proclaim with integrity and joy the Gospel of Jesus, that the world may believe [reader] IN CHRIST WE PRAY... - [Second Sunday of Advent YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/12/04/second-sunday-of-advent-yc/) - PRIEST: My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus, We gather this morning, at the beginning of our second week of Advent Preparation and Prayer. We come together to listen to God's Holy Word on this Bible Sunday, so that we may allow His Word to be made Flesh in our lives. That Word will - [First Sunday of Advent Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/11/28/first-sunday-of-advent-year-c-2/) - Advent is a time of New Beginning for God's People: as we begin the Global Synod may the whole Church answer God's to listen prayerfully and courageously to all the voices, so that we might hear through each other what the Spirit is saying to the Church in our time, and so better prepare the - [First Sunday of Advent Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/11/28/first-sunday-of-advent-year-c/) - RICHARD: My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, We have come to the Holy and Joyful Season of Advent, these four weeks of preparation ... learning to watch with faith for the Coming of the Lord in Glory ... learning to welcome with love our brother Jesus who has already come ... learning to yearn - [Feast of Christ the King](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/11/21/feast-of-christ-the-king/) - We pray for the Church throughout the world ... for our unity in love and faithfulness to the Gospel, for our dedication to the Mission of growing the Kingdom upon the Earth, and for our prophets crying out for world-wide solidarity and global co-operation in building Justice and humanity - [Feast of Christ the King Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/11/21/feast-of-christ-the-king-year-b/) - PRIEST: As the Church’s Year draws to a close, we celebrate Jesus Christ, King of all Creation. We celebrate He who came with a dream for the world, for the Universe - a dream of creation alive with divine love, drawn together in the deepest Unity in Christ. We celebrate our Brother who suffered and - [32nd Sunday of the Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/11/11/32nd-sunday-of-the-year-b/) - Priest: Today we celebrate the generosity of God in giving us everything when he gave us Jesus … and the story of the poor Widow who has little but gives everything challenges us about the degree of generosity and sacrifice in our own giving. Through Baptism we are utterly identified with Christ and in the - [32nd Sunday Year B - World Day of the Poor](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/11/10/32nd-sunday-year-b-world-day-of-the-poor/) - ‘Beware of those who swallow the property of widows while making a show of lengthy prayers’ … as we mark the World day of the Poor, the whole Church will with determination seek to become ‘Church for the Poor, the Church of the Poor’ challenging all injustice and inequality - [ALL SAINTS DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/10/31/all-saints-day-6/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today the Feast of Holiness - our call and our destiny to be a people of the Spirit, a people of holiness. All the Saints, those known and those unknown, those raised to the Altars of the Church, and those whom we have known in our lives and our - [Feast of All Saints](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/10/31/feast-of-all-saints/) - On this Feast of Holiness, may all God's People respond to the Second Vatican Council’s ‘Universal Call to Holiness’, seek the face of God, love with the heart of God, touch the world with the compassionate mercy of God, and challenge the world with the justice of God - [TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/09/26/twenty-seventh-sunday-of-the-year-b/) - PRIEST: We are made for faithfulness - to live our relationships with commitment and love. For God made us to need each other, and to complete each other. Yet our world finds it so difficult to say ‘forever’! As Christians we are called, in all our weakness, to echo God’s ‘forever’ - [TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY OF YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/09/26/twenty-sixth-sunday-of-year-b/) - PRIEST: Possessiveness is utterly foreign to Jesus...when his disciples resent another using His name, using His power to set others free they want Jesus to stop him: but Jesus yearns that all would set free their world in the power of his name! He challenges us this morning to give up - [TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY OF YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/09/26/twenty-fifth-sunday-of-year-b/) - PRIEST: We hear today how Jesus tries to teach his disciples about the paradoxes of the Gospel: the New Way that Jesus walks - the path of greatness that travels always through the Cross. He urges us to walk with weakness: our own and others, and to discover the joy of serving with - [TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY OF YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/09/26/twenty-fourth-sunday-of-year-b/) - PRIEST: Jesus asks each of us today: 'Who do you say that I am?' He leads the disciples on a Journey of Faith, and as they share with him and each other they begin to discover the depths of Jesus. They also have to come to terms that being His disciples means embracing the - [Twenty-Third Sunday of Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/09/05/twenty-third-sunday-of-year-b-2/) - Jesus yearns for all his people to ‘be opened’ ... may the People of God be open to the new challenges of God in our present age - to proclaim the Gospel in new ways and to heal the world of its many wounds - [PATRONAL FEAST OF ST NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/09/05/patronal-feast-of-st-nicholas-of-tolentino/) - For 173 years, the Eucharist has been the centre of our parish’s life, community and mission: may this celebration of the Breaking of the Bread heal our brokenness, deepen our love for Christ Jesus, bind us together in life-giving community and empower our mission to be Good News to the Poor - [Twenty-Third Sunday of Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/09/05/twenty-third-sunday-of-year-b/) - PRIEST: Today we celebrate Jesus, the Light of God, who opens eyes that they may see; Jesus the Word who opens ears that they may hear; Jesus, the Good News who loosens tongues that they may speak; Jesus the Love of God, who opens hearts that they may wonder at the God of Love - [TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/08/22/twenty-first-sunday-of-the-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: Jesus confronts his disciples with a decision: will they trust him, follow him, reproduce his love; or will they follow their own flawed logic and go their own way? And the Eucharist crystallises this eternal challenge. Our Eucharist demands a similar decision: will we live the Eucharist that we celebrate, following Jesus always, living - [FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/08/14/feast-of-the-assumption-of-mary-4/) - Mary points the People of God to the Glory of Christ: may we always reflect the wonder of our Risen Saviour to a world in need of a vision of glory and humanity... [reader] - [FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/08/08/feast-of-the-assumption-of-mary-3/) - PRIEST: Today is a day of rejoicing, a day of glory: for Mary the poor virgin of Nazareth is raised above the angels; she has gone before us into the fullness of Christ's Resurrection. Her glory is His, she is a mirror, reflecting the wonder of Christ to us. She summons us likewise - [Nineteenth Sunday of the Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/08/08/nineteenth-sunday-of-the-year-b-2/) - PRIEST: We have come together today so that like Elijah the Prophet we too can be nourished from the hand of God, strengthened as we journey through life with all its struggles. In loving obedience to Jesus in today’s Gospel, we come to share Bread ... Bread come down from Heaven - [Feast of the Transfiguration of the lord](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/08/08/feast-of-the-transfiguration-of-the-lord-2/) - PRIEST: As we celebrate today the beautiful Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, we behold the Glory of God, the glory that each of us carries deep within our being. For we are all created in God's image and likeness. And the Glory of God is humanity fully alive. Transfiguration is only complete, however, - [Nineteenth Sunday of the Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/08/08/nineteenth-sunday-of-the-year-b/) - ‘I am the Living Bread come down from Heaven’ ... that the Church may faithfully bring Jesus Bread of Life to the world by true preaching of the Gospel, by worship that reflects our lives of love and by our life-giving communities - [Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/08/08/feast-of-the-transfiguration-of-the-lord/) - That the Church of Christ may seek to glorify God by listening to the Master, proclaiming hope and humanity to all, and building a Kingdom of Justice and Peace in our world [reader:] LORD, REVEAL YOUR GLORY... - [EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/08/01/eighteenth-sunday-of-the-year-b-2/) - PRIEST: Jesus is the True Bread of God, for comes to give life to all our world. He breaks bread with us, so that we too become a fragment of the Bread of God, as we say 'yes' to living and loving in order to give life to our hungry - [EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/08/01/eighteenth-sunday-of-the-year-b/) - ‘I will rain down bread for you ... My Son, Jesus, the Bread of God’ ... As we prepare for the Global Church’s Two Year Synod, we pray that the Catholic community everywhere will always be challenged and formed by the Eucharist around which we gather and by which we are nourished - and so - [Sixteenth Sunday of the Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/07/18/sixteenth-sunday-of-the-year-b/) - ‘The apostles rejoined Jesus and shared all they had done in His power’ ... may all Christians embrace the challenge to be apostles and shepherds in our modern world, placing the mission of the Gospel before all else, reaching out to all with Jesus’ love - [First Eucharist Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/07/18/first-eucharist-sunday-2/) - Jesus gives us the Bread of his love: may all Christians grow in deeper love for Jesus and for one another as we share Him and meet Him in the Eucharist Sunday by Sunday; that the Church everywhere will joyfully break bread with the poor of the world - [Sixteenth Sunday of the Year](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/07/18/sixteenth-sunday-of-the-year/) - PRIEST: This morning we celebrate Jesus the compassionate shepherd. Longing for quiet time with his disciples, he sets aside his own (and their) needs, because the hungry, broken crowds bring their yearnings for life and hope to him. Compassion and caring cost him; as St Paul reminds us today, peace and - [First Eucharist Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/07/18/first-eucharist-sunday/) - PRIEST: Today is a day of great joy for our parish: on this day we share Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time with many of the children of our community. To share Jesus with another is such a joy and a privilege - and these wonderful children express our hope for the - [Fifteenth Sunday of the Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/07/10/fifteenth-sunday-of-the-year-b-2/) - PRIEST: Today we gather to celebrate the richness of the Grace of God - we are all chosen from before all time, and then trusted by Jesus as he sends us like he sent the Apostles. This is perhaps the most prophetic action of God ... to place his Gospel in our frail keeping, vulnerable - [Fifteenth Sunday of the Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/07/10/fifteenth-sunday-of-the-year-b/) - Jesus sent the Apostles to preach and heal in His Name: we pray for Pope Francis, Bishop Declan and all our bishops throughout the world - may they know the power of the Spirit in their ministry and proclaim the Christ whose love heals the world - [Fourteenth Sunday of the Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/07/04/fourteenth-sunday-of-the-year-b-2/) - Jesus the Prophet is rejected by his own people ... we pray that the Church of Christ will always listen to the words of the Prophets among us, pointing the way to new beginnings and greater faithfulness to the Gospel - may we share God’sPreferential Option for the Poor and marginalised, walk alongside them bringing - [Fourteenth Sunday of the Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/07/04/fourteenth-sunday-of-the-year-b/) - PRIEST: Today we celebrate Jesus our Prophet. In some ways it is easier for us to welcome Jesus as the centuries separate us from the simple experience of his humanity - but for his own village, family and friends it was much harder. It is understandable that they could not accept him: how many prophets, - [Ss PETER AND PAUL](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/06/27/ss-peter-and-paul-2/) - Peter is the Universal Pastor: we pray for Pope Francis that listening with a compassionate love to all Christians in our search to live the Gospel in the modern world, he will succeed in bringing renewal and reform to God’s Church - we pray especially that his Encyclical Letter ‘Laudato Si’ will call forth decisive - [THIRTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR YB](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/06/27/thirteenth-sunday-of-the-year-yb-2/) - Jesus heals a despised woman and a powerless child ... we pray that the Church will always side with the poor and powerless ones, those despised and rejected by the world, and in the name of Christ stand with them until their dignity is recognised - [Ss PETER AND PAUL](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/06/27/ss-peter-and-paul/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today the two great founding Apostles, Peter and Paul. In celebrating them we celebrate also who we are as Church, for they more than any others have shaped for all time the Body of Christ. In Peter we have the uniting Shepherd who knows his own weakness only too - [THIRTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR YB](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/06/27/thirteenth-sunday-of-the-year-yb/) - PRIEST: ‘Death was not God’s doing’ ... these words from today’s first reading reverberate throughout our Liturgy. They also challenge us about our attitude to the destruction of the species of creatures with whom we share the planet, the reality of war, violence and the arms trade. We particularly see Jesus giving Life and opposing - [TWELFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR YB](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/06/19/twelfth-sunday-of-the-year-yb-2/) - Jesus says to the disciples ‘Let us cross over to the other side’ ... we pray that the Church will always have the courage to take the Gospel to the uncomfortable places and challenging issues of today’s world, and be a truly missionary community: we pray that Pope’s Francis’s Encyclical Letter on the Environment will - [TWELFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR YB](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/06/19/twelfth-sunday-of-the-year-yb/) - PRIEST: The Word of God is so rich for us today - God speaking to Job from the heart of the Tempest about humanity’s ‘proud waves’ breaking upon the rock of God’s love; the Psalm assuring us that He rescues us from our distress; St Paul speaking of Christ’s overwhelming love that makes us - [Eleventh Sunday of the Year YB](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/06/13/eleventh-sunday-of-the-year-yb-2/) - Jesus says ‘The Kingdom of God is like a great tree with branches that give shelter to all’ ... we pray for the Church in every place that formed by the Eucharist we will be everywhere a community of welcome, accepting and valuing every person, creating a home for all the nations to live together - [Eleventh Sunday of the Year YB](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/06/13/eleventh-sunday-of-the-year-yb/) - PRIEST: Today Jesus teaches us that to be a Christian is to be committed to constant growth - allowing the seed of faith, the seed of Christ to grow within us, ever transforming us. He also encourages us that even though our lives are made up of small beginnings, He can achieve great things - [FEAST OF THE BODY & BLOOD OF CHRIST ('Corpus Christi')](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/06/05/feast-of-the-body-blood-of-christ-corpus-christi-2/) - PRIEST: Today we lift our voices in thanksgiving and praise for the 'inestimable gift' of the Eucharist; we lift our eyes to gaze upon the awesome presence of our Lord and Saviour in the poverty of bread and wine; we lift up our hearts to embrace the love whereby God touches the depths of our - [TRINITY SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/05/30/trinity-sunday/) - PRIEST: Having for months celebrated the great actions of God in Christ that bring us salvation and life, today we celebrate the being of God: not what God does, but Who God is! Today is a day for gazing with wonder, a day to contemplate the mystery of God Who is Love - - [](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/05/30/5051/) - God is perfect Relationship - Love that creates, that both gives and receives, that shares and binds in perfect harmony .... may the Church everywhere give witness to this creative love and unity, that all people might know their true identity and destiny. [reader:] - [Pentecost Vigil - Fruits of the Spirit](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/05/24/pentecost-vigil-fruits-of-the-spirit/) - [1] THE SPIRIT BRINGS LOVE: The Scripture says ‘Love is always patient and kind’ O God our Father, may we always be filled with the Spirit of Love. Help us love one another as Jesus loved us. May it be our joy to share your love with all the world, healing every wound and reconciling - [PENTECOST DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/05/26/pentecost-day/) - The Spirit clothes the Church with Divine Love ... we pray that the Church, led by Pope Francis, Bishop Declan and the College of Bishops, may unite all peoples, races, classes and cultures in one great human family, building a universal civilisation of love - we ask that all hearts of stone expressing discrimination of - [FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/05/02/fifth-sunday-of-easter-2/) - PRIEST: We celebrate the wonder of our unity with Jesus and our unity with each other in Jesus: for we make up the Vine that He is. It is the Church's calling to be of one stock with Christ, branches of the Risen Lord reaching out in fruitfulness to all the earth. If our - [FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/05/02/fifth-sunday-of-easter/) - For the unity of the Church, the Vine of God bearing the fruit of love in the world: for Pope Francis, Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, for the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Moscow, Free Church and Pentecostal leaders LORD WE - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - Good Shepherd Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/04/25/fourth-sunday-of-easter-good-shepherd-sunday-2/) - The Church's deepest call is to love without limit: may all humanity know the love the Father lavishes upon us - may the love Christians bear one another unite the Church and heal our world ... we pray especially for our Chief Shepherd, Pope Francis and our own Bishop Declan: may they listen to God’s - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER - Good Shepherd Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/04/25/fourth-sunday-of-easter-good-shepherd-sunday/) - PRIEST: Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd - as the Flock of Christ we know we are safe and nurtured when we listen to His Voice, follow Him and walk His pathways of New Life. He is the Good Shepherd who calls to us, speaks to our heart. He also lays down his life for - [SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER - 'LOW' SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/04/13/second-sunday-of-easter-low-sunday-2/) - PRIEST: On this Octave Day of easter we hear in the Gospel a story of doubt that becomes magnificent faith; a story of wounds that breath peace and healing; a story of frightened empty men who become courageous in the Holy Spirit; a story of a community witnessing the Risen Christ. It is the story - [Second Sunday of Easter - 'Low' Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/04/13/second-sunday-of-easter-low-sunday/) - Thomas remained in doubt until he returned to the community of faith: for the unity of all God's Church, that together we will offer to an unbelieving world a convincing sign of faith, proclaiming the Risen Lord of the Church [reader] - [HOLY SATURDAY TENEBRAE PRAYER WITH SCRIPTURE READINGS](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/04/02/holy-saturday-tenebrae-prayer-with-scripture-readings/) - Holy Saturday Tenebrae Prayer with Scripture readings - [GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE PRAYER](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/04/02/good-friday-tenebrae-prayer/) - Good Friday Tenebrae Prayer & Readings - [Palm (Passion) Sunday - Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/03/28/palm-passion-sunday-year-b/) - May the Church share the humility of our Servant-King, who comes to His world not with the force of power but with the power of love, and so serve the world in its struggles with a humble compassion: we pray both wisdom and courage for Pope Francis and also our own Bishop Declan who was - [LITURGY FOR FEAST OF ST OSCAR ROMERO](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/03/24/liturgy-for-feast-of-st-oscar-romero/) - Romero Day Mass 2021 - Covid - [PRAYERS FOR THE YEAR OF ST JOSEPH](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/03/21/prayers-for-the-year-of-st-joseph/) - Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend - [FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/03/21/fifth-sunday-of-lent-year-a-4/) - For our Universal Pastor, Pope Francis, that God will gift him with strength, wisdom and courage as he serves to unbind the Church from all dysfunction and disunity, leading us along the paths of reform and renewal and inspire us for mission; that we might proclaim Life to a world seeking to discover how to - [FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/03/21/fifth-sunday-of-lent-year-a-3/) - PRIEST: In just two weeks time we shall celebrate the incomparable joy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus foreshadows his own resurrection by bringing his friend Lazarus from the tomb into life. He reveals to all that he is victorious over death itself. But the greatest victory Jesus wins is over the death that - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A - 'LAETARE'](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/03/13/fourth-sunday-of-lent-year-a-laetare-2/) - That God’s People will reject every darkness and choose the Light of Christ, and free our world of injustice and poverty so that all can live together in joy, freedom and equality [reader] SHINE ON US, LORD... - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A - 'LAETARE'](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/03/13/fourth-sunday-of-lent-year-a-laetare/) - PRIEST: Today we rejoice: it is 'Laetare Sunday' - a day to celebrate that the call to Lenten conversion is a call to a deeper joy. We hear the Gospel of the healing of the blind man at the pool of Siloam. Our deepest joy is to grow into Christ; to reflect his light onto - [THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/03/07/third-sunday-of-lent-year-a-5/) - Jesus says, 'If you only knew what God is offering...': that the People of God will always offer our world the living water of the Holy Spirit to heal the brokenness of war, melt the hardness of violence, cleanse the sinfulness of oppression and bring humanity to a new birth; we pray especially for - [THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT - YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/03/07/third-sunday-of-lent-year-a-4/) - PRIEST: God quenches the thirst of His People as they journey through the desert - our world of today still locked into Covid Pandemic is such a desert journey: have we recognised the water of God’s love and drank of that Water of the Spirit? Have we been a source of such nWater of hope - [SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/02/28/second-sunday-of-lent-year-b-2/) - The Transfigured Christ reveals to the disciples the Glory of God within each of us: may we, the Church, reveal to the world the glory of God's love by our courage to love, to care and to struggle for justice... [reader] - [Second Sunday of Lent - Year B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/02/28/second-sunday-of-lent-year-b/) - PRIEST: In today's celebration, we are appalled by Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, while thrilled with the glory transfiguring Jesus on the mountain! But we human beings carry both the evil and the glory within us. As we join the apostles on the Mountain of the Transfiguration, to behold the Glory of God, the - [FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/02/21/first-sunday-of-lent-year-b-2/) - The Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness ... With the leadership of our Shepherds Pope Francis and Bishop Declan may we and all Christians seek the wilderness of God's silence this Lent and further the reform and renewal of the Church of God [reader] - [ASH-WEDNESDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/02/21/ash-wednesday-2/) - ‘Proclaim a Fast’ - may God’s people journey the path of repentance these 40 days of Lent and so make room in our hearts for God’s tender love, for God’s challenging Word, for God’s Renewing Spirit and discover the true happiness of God-centred lives - may our world fast from the injustice and violence that - [FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT - YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/02/21/first-sunday-of-lent-year-b/) - PRIEST: We have begun our journey of these 40 days of Lent - like Jesus we enter into the desert to face the demons of our own hearts - demons of selfishness and of comfort, of greed and exploitation. Having overcome them, like Noah overcame the flood-tide of evil, Jesus shares the Good - [SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/02/14/sixth-sunday-of-the-year-b/) - PRIEST: Today's Gospel tells us of Jesus curing a leper: but it is not just another healing. He breaks the sacred Law because of his compassion. And in restoring this outcast to his family and community, Jesus then becomes the outcast. Compassion costs, and healing does not often come cheap, even if it - [SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/02/14/sixth-sunday-of-the-year/) - ‘Of course I want to!’ Jesus said: may the Church everywhere be a community of healing, compassion and inclusion, witnessing to the breadth and power of God’s love for the world (Reader:) In a broken world... (RESPONSE:) - [Fifth Sunday of the Year B - marking World Day of the Sick](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/02/07/fifth-sunday-of-the-year-b-marking-world-day-of-the-sick-2/) - PRIEST: We gather to celebrate the World Day of the Sick. We also celebrate the Mission we all share. Indeed our Mission is to be Healing Light for the world. In the Gospel Jesus allows himself to be besieged by the wounded and broken of the world - and like Simon’s - [FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B - MARKING WORLD DAY OF THE SICK](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/02/07/fifth-sunday-of-the-year-b-marking-world-day-of-the-sick/) - We pray that the Church of God will everywhere seek to be the field hospital where the wounded and hurting know they will be welcomed, accepted and held in caring and healing [Reader] - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B - HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MASS](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/31/fourth-sunday-of-the-year-b-holocaust-memorial-mass-3/) - ‘Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach’ … For the work of Jewish-Christian Dialogue, for the healing of centuries of Christian prejudice against the Jewish People, for harmony and mutual understanding between the Peoples of the Covenants and among all who believe in the God of many names - [Fourth Sunday of the Year B - Holocaust Memorial Mass](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/31/fourth-sunday-of-the-year-b-holocaust-memorial-mass-2/) - PRIEST: Today, we hear Jesus the Word begin his Ministry of Proclamation and Power in the synagogue; we celebrate Jesus’ authority - the authority of the Word made Flesh, the authority of the Word that is the Action of God. The people of his own time could recognise in their hearts the Truth he spoke - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B - HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MASS](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/31/fourth-sunday-of-the-year-b-holocaust-memorial-mass/) - ENTRANCE HYMN Allegri’s Misere THE LIGHTING OF THE MINORAH CANDLES Richard lights one of the Seven Candles with each Response of this Jewish Blessing O God, You have called us to peace, for You are Peace itself.May we have the vision to see - [Third Sunday of the Year B - Christian Unity Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/24/third-sunday-of-the-year-b-christian-unity-sunday-2/) - PRIEST: At the heart of this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we listen to Christ call his disciples to follow him closely: to walk his path of unity and love, and become his light in a world darkened by oppression, injustice, conflict and divisions. Like Jonah before Him, His word is 'Repent...'. And - [Third Sunday of the Year B - Christian Unity Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/24/third-sunday-of-the-year-b-christian-unity-sunday/) - ‘Follow me...’ cries Jesus: may all God's people of every tradition and denomination hear the call of Christ to leave behind the divisions and prejudices of past, and walk together in the Spirit of Christ the pathways of unity, mission and peace [reader] LORD - [SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B - PEACE SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/17/second-sunday-of-the-year-b-peace-sunday-2/) - PRIEST: On this Peace Sunday we listen to John the Baptist pointing to Jesus that we might follow him closely, for to walk his path of truth and love is to become his light in a world darkened by war, conflict and divisions. We are called to ‘come and see’ how Jesus lives, and walk - [SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B - PEACE SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/17/second-sunday-of-the-year-b-peace-sunday/) - That Christians everywhere may answer the call of Christ to ‘Come and See’ how He lives in the Peace of God and with courage to become prophets of peace, challenging all peoples to a loyalty to the whole of humanity beyond every narrow nationalism [reader:] - [FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (when Baptism is not celebrated)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/10/feast-of-the-baptism-of-the-lord-when-baptism-is-not-celebrated/) - PRIEST: Today the Christmas Season draws to a close as we celebrate that holy day when Jesus sanctified the waters of baptism by his own humble baptism in the Jordan River at the hands of his servant and prophet, John. Jesus committed himself to be forever the sign of the Father's Love, His Word of - [FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/10/feast-of-the-baptism-of-the-lord-4/) - 'You are my Son, the Beloved' ... that every Christian will know their dignity, chosen to be a daughter or son of God; that the Church will show to all the world its reverence for every human person, and safeguard that divine dignity challenging all the powers that oppress… - [WATCHNIGHT MASS - ACT OF REDEDICATION](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/04/watchnight-mass-act-of-rededication/) - LITURGY OF DEDICATION TO THE MISSION OF CHRIST THIS NEW YEAR Priest This past year has been extraordinary, calling us to dig deep into our spiritual reserves as we were deprived of the Eucharist and gathering together as community in Christ, while at the same time summoned to find new ways of service and presence here - [FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/04/feast-of-the-epiphany-of-the-lord-5/) - Seekers after wisdom followed the Light of the Star ... we pray that the Christian Church will always be a light of truth and mercy to guide all in today’s world who search for the wisdom to live their lives in love - [Second Sunday of Christmas](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/04/second-sunday-of-christmas-2/) - ‘Wisdom speaks her voice to God’s people’ … that the leadership of the Church everywhere will listen to the Wisdom of the Spirit in the voices of the people, especially the excluded [reader] Word - [NEW YEAR'S DAY - Feast of Mary, the Mother of God](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/04/new-years-day-feast-of-mary-the-mother-of-god-3/) - Mary is Mother of all Christians ... we pray that the year just begun will see the whole Church journey towards visible unity in faith, service and mission, and so be a more effective sign and instrument of God’s Peace and Mercy to the world - [NEW YEAR - WATCHNIGHT MASS](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/04/new-year-watchnight-mass-2/) - That God’s People in every land and culture will be faithful to the call of our Baptism to be joyful witnesses of the Gospel of Love and Mercy and to heal the blindness of a world unable to believe; that we will be a people of peace building a New Civilisation of Love in this - [FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/04/feast-of-the-epiphany-of-the-lord-4/) - PRIEST: The Wisdom of God has guided each of us here today, as surely as the Magi's Star: for we too are pilgrims on a journey searching for wisdom, walking by faith and yearning in hope for the peace for our world. We gather to offer our gifts, our talents and our very selves - [Second Sunday of Christmas](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/04/second-sunday-of-christmas/) - PRIEST: The Christmas celebrations are nearly over, and we have greeted the New Year: but the Word of God has pitched his tent among us forever - for the Word is now part of our flesh, with us wherever we are. Never can we finish celebrating Christmas! Never can we - [New Year's Day - Feast of Mary, the Mother of God](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/04/new-years-day-feast-of-mary-the-mother-of-god-2/) - PRIEST: On this first day of the New Year, the Church celebrates Mary “Theotokos’, the Bearer of God to the world. We look to the first and greatest disciple as we are about to embark on making this year truly the Year of Our Lord 2021. We commend all that is past into the Mercy - [New Year Watchnight Mass](https://tolentino.org.uk/2021/01/04/new-year-watchnight-mass/) - PRIEST: We gather the year that is past with thankfulness for the many touches of grace and goodness that have been the gifts of God; with sorrow for all that has wounded our world through sin and selfishness, war and injustice; with healing prayer for hurts we have endured or have inflicted. We seek to - [FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/12/27/feast-of-the-holy-family-6/) - PRIEST: As we draw near the end of this strangest of years we gather as a family of families, recognising there has been much grief, fear amd anxiety in the story of our families this year, and it is not yet over. Nevertheless, we gather around the simplicity and poverty, the love and the - [FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/12/27/feast-of-the-holy-family-5/) - Jesus in the midst of the Holy Family teaches us that the Church is called to be a family of love and faith, safeguarding life and sharing compassion ... may the Church always live the challenge of being family in Christ - [FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/12/26/feast-of-the-nativity-of-the-lord-2/) - Jesus was born in the dark of the night, enlightened by the glory of the angels ... may Christians everywhere so love in the power of Jesus that they may give the light of hope and mercy to the world of today - [FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/12/26/feast-of-the-nativity-of-the-lord/) - [PRIEST] We have prepared these past four weeks of Advent for the coming of our Saviour. Now, we come together on this dark but glorious night, to hail redemption's dawn, to hasten with the shepherds to see the wondrous sight, and, after some 2000 years, to kneel with them again - [ASSEMBLING OF THE CRIB at Midnight Mass](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/12/26/assembling-of-the-crib-at-midnight-mass/) - [READER A] We come to bless our crib ... by that we mean to ask God to bless everyone who will come to pray, with wonder, awe and love, before this visual image of the poverty and simplicity of our Saviour's birth. St Francis of Assisi, who lived some 800 years ago, - [Blessing of the Christmas Tree](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/12/20/blessing-of-the-christmas-tree/) - READER: The erecting and decorating of Christmas Trees originated in Germany some three hundred years ago, and came to this country during the reign of Queen Victoria. It’s meaning comes from the story of the Fall in the Garden of Eden which we find in the Book of Genesis. It was originally called the ‘Paradise - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/12/20/fourth-sunday-of-advent-3/) - ‘Rejoice so highly favoured’ … The Angel announces the Good News to Mary ... may the Church always be faithful in announcing Good News to the world, and inviting all to utter their ‘Yes’ to God’s call - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/12/20/fourth-sunday-of-advent-2/) - PRIEST: My dear sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus, We gather today on this last Sunday of Advent Preparation to share in this Eucharist God's great call to bear Christ to the world. Mary heard this call and answered with such love - [THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/12/20/third-sunday-of-advent-2/) - PRIEST: My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This third Sunday of Advent is a day for rejoicing...rejoicing that the coming of our Saviour is close at hand; rejoicing that his coming will bring Good News to the Poor, a new freedom and an era of - [SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT - BIBLE SUNDAY - YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/12/06/second-sunday-of-advent-bible-sunday-year-b-2/) - That the Church may always root its life and decisions in the disturbing and life-giving Word of God, and proclaim with integrity and joy the Gospel of Jesus, that the world may believe IN - [SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT - BIBLE SUNDAY - YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/12/06/second-sunday-of-advent-bible-sunday-year-b/) - PRIEST: We gather on this Bible Sunday, at the beginning of our second week of Advent Preparation and Prayer. On this Bible Sunday, we come together to listen to God's Holy Word in the Bible, so that we may allow His Word to be made Flesh in our lives. That same Word will be spoken - [FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR B (with Blessing of Advent Wreath)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/11/29/first-sunday-of-advent-year-b-with-blessing-of-advent-wreath/) - PRIEST: My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, We have come to the Holy and Joyful Season of Advent, these four weeks of preparation...learning to watch with faith for the Coming of the Lord in Glory...learning to welcome with love our brother Jesus who has already come among us...learning to yearn with hope for the - [FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT - YEAR B](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/11/29/first-sunday-of-advent-year-b/) - Advent is a time of New Beginning for God's People: may the whole Church answer God's Advent call to repentance, renewal and change, that we may move into God’s future as a People of Hope, making the coming year truly a year of healing and mission - [Re-Dediction to serve the Kingdom - Feast of Christ the King](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/11/21/re-dediction-to-serve-the-kingdom-feast-of-christ-the-king/) - PRIEST: Do you believe in God, the creator of all that is, whose name is 'Abba, Father', and who has chosen you to be both beloved child of His and partner with Him in the creation of our world and its future? ALL: I DO BELIEVE IN MY FATHER WHO CALLS ME BY NAME. PRIEST: - [Eucharistic Prayer for the Feast of Christ the King](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/11/21/eucharistic-prayer-for-the-feast-of-christ-the-king/) - (A Note: this Eucharistic prayer grew out of the experience of life and mission of a parish dedicated to Christ the King, but has a more universal relevance and usefulness - as any Eucharistic Prayer should express) GOD OF COMPASSION AND LOVE, WE DO WELL ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE TO GIVE YOU THANKS, BUT ESPECIALLY TODAY AS WE - [34TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A - FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/11/21/34th-sunday-of-the-year-a-feast-of-christ-the-king/) - We pray for the Church throughout the world ... for our unity in love and faithfulness to the Gospel, for our dedication to the Mission of growing the Kingdom upon the Earth, and for our prophets crying out for world-wide solidarity and global co-operation in building Justice and humanity - [34TH SUNDAY YEAR A - FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/11/21/34th-sunday-year-a-feast-of-christ-the-king/) - PRIEST: As we come to this last Sunday of our Liturgical Year, we celebrate Jesus Christ, King of all Creation. We celebrate the One who came with a dream for the world, for the Universe - a dream of creation alive with divine love, drawn together in the deepest Unity in Christ. We celebrate - [THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF YEAR A - WORLD DAY OF THE POOR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/11/15/thirty-third-sunday-of-year-a-world-day-of-the-poor/) - ‘Well done Good and faithful Servant’, says the Lord: we pray for the whole Church on this World Day of the Poor - may all Christians use the gifts of the Spirit to build a world of justice where the pained cries of the poor will be heard and change our priorities - [THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/11/15/thirty-third-sunday-of-year-a/) - RICHARD: Today we celebrate that God is the generous giver of so many gifts … He lavishes His Gifts upon us. But on this World Day of the Poor we recognise each gift is also a responsibility, a call to action in the service of the Kingdom. We are given these gifts of the Spirit - [REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/11/08/remembrance-sunday-2/) - That the Universal Church may witness to a higher loyalty than any nationalism, building unity and reconciliation among all the peoples of the Earth as the world continues to be be torn and wounded by war and conflict - [REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/11/08/remembrance-sunday/) - PRIEST: We gather on this day of Remembrance, while there continues to be fear of terror attacks and war rages in so many nations. We bring to mind those too many who have died in the innumerable and tragic wars and conflicts of the past more than one hundred years. We gather too that we - [ALL SOULS DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/31/all-souls-day-5/) - PRIEST: Let us pray with faith in the Resurrection, with thankfulness for friends and family who have gone before us, and with hope of that great day when we shall all be united in the eternal love of our God READER: For those of our families, parish community and friends who have died - [ALL SAINTS DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/31/all-saints-day-5/) - On this Feast of Holiness, may all God's People respond to the Second Vatican Council’s ‘Universal Call to Holiness’, seek the face of God, love with the heart of God, touch the world with the compassionate mercy of God, and challenge the world with the justice of God - [ALL SOULS DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/31/all-souls-day-4/) - PRIEST: We gather to proclaim our faith in the Resurrection, which alone gives meaning to today’s Celebration: for we come to be with the ‘Living who have Died’. Our love for those who have ‘gone before us marked with the sign of faith’, is matched by our trust in mercy so freely given by our - [ALL SAINTS DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/31/all-saints-day-4/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today the Feast of Holiness - our call and our destiny to be a people of the Spirit, a people of holiness. All the Saints, those known and those unknown, those raised to the Altars of the Church, and those whom we have known in our lives and our - [THIRTIETH SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/25/thirtieth-sunday-of-year-a-2/) - ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind’: that Christians everywhere will fulfil the Mission of the Gospel by offering the world the witness of lives on fire with love for God and world - a love that will shape every decision and priority - [THIRTIETH SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/25/thirtieth-sunday-of-year-a/) - PRIEST: Jesus came to abolish that Law which limits our love. But he brought us a law at once more human and more demanding: the law of limitless love. And this Law is always on the side of the poor, the victim, the stranger, the dispossessed. Today we celebrate the gift of that Law of - [TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/18/twenty-ninth-sunday-of-year-a-2/) - That Christians everywhere will bear the imprint of Christ, uniting to witness that we are One World, One Family and dare to challenge the Caesars of our world who abuse their power to divide and dominate [READER] - [TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/18/twenty-ninth-sunday-of-year-a/) - PRIEST: On this World Mission Sunday we celebrate today that we are a People who belong at once to God and to our world. But we are in the world as God’s People, a People of Hope, a People of Mission, disciples who bear the image of the Christ and who challenge every Caesar of - [27th SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/12/27th-sunday-of-year-a/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today Jesus, the stone rejected by us, but accepted by the Father, the source of our life. We, the People of God, are His precious vineyard. We are beloved of God, nurtured and pruned and cared for by God - and we are meant to bear the fruit of dedicated love and - [28th SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/12/28th-sunday-of-year-a-2/) - ‘He sent his servants to all who were invited to the Feast’ ... that ‘Fratelli Tutti’, the new Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis, Servant of the Servants of God, will help the Church and world find a new vision of social friendship so as to be a new world of equality, freedom and justice, bringing - [27th SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/12/27th-sunday-of-year-a-2/) - For the whole Church of God ... that united in the love of Christ and around our Pastors Pope Francis and Bishop Declan, we will better tend the Vineyard of Christ, and yield the fruit of the Kingdom, a world made new, that many will know the Lord’s love - [28th SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/10/12/28th-sunday-of-year-a/) - PRIEST: We are gathered today for the Eucharist during this Prisons Week...to share this glimpse of the great banquet of God's love with our sisters and brothers serving time in prison, with their families and those entrusted with the care of prisoners. We also share this Eucharist with those unjustly imprisoned in our Immigration Detention - [26th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/09/27/26th-sunday-of-the-year-2/) - PRIEST: Jesus comes into our lives and challenges us to renounce all sin and injustice, all that oppresses us and our brothers and sisters; Jesus asks us whether we are willing to build a Church of unity and love, a Church that throws open the door of God’s Mercy to the broken, sinful and chaotic; - [25th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/09/27/25th-sunday-of-the-year-2/) - PRIEST: Today we hear the Lord’s call to each one of us to work in His vineyard ... the world. He challenges us to build up His Kingdom upon the earth. Even if we respond only at the eleventh hour, He rewards us with a most generous love that fulfils the yearnings of our heart - [26th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/09/26/26th-sunday-of-the-year/) - St Paul writes, ‘Be united in your convictions and united in your love’ ... for the unity of the Church in every aspect of its life: between denominations and traditions, and within individual parishes - that nothing might obscure the witness to Christ - [25th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/09/26/25th-sunday-of-the-year/) - That all God’s People will witness joyfully to the free gift of God’s love in our lives so that many more will come to know the God who gives not less than everything to all willing to receive His love into their lives - [Mass of Patronal Feast of St Nicholas of Tolentino - Mass of Rededication](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/09/13/mass-of-patronal-feast-of-st-nicholas-of-tolentino-mass-of-rededication/) - ENTRANCE LITURGY PROCESSIONAL SONG African THE RITE OF CATECHUMEN IS CELEBRATED GLORIA said OPENING PRAYER LITURGY OF THE WORD AT THE LECTERN - Rededication to the Word Our priest and Readers go to the Lectern - [Blessing of 'St Nicholas Bread' Food Bank](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/09/13/blessing-of-st-nicholas-bread-food-bank/) - THE WORD OF GOD The Apostles said: ’It is late, send the crowds away to buy some food.’ But Jesus replied: ‘There is no need for them to go - give them something yourselves’… On the night before He dies, Jesus was with his disciples and he got up from table, took off his outer - [Feast of St Nicholas of Tolentino - Mass of Rededication](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/09/12/feast-of-st-nicholas-of-tolentino-mass-of-rededication/) - For 172 years, the Eucharist has been the centre of our parish’s life, community and mission: may this celebration of the Breaking of the Bread heal our brokenness, deepen our love for Christ Jesus, bind us together in life-giving community and empower our mission to be Good News to the Poor - [TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/09/12/twenty-fourth-sunday-of-the-year/) - PRIEST: On this Home Mission Sunday, Jesus challenges us to be a community of endless forgiveness, ever opening the gates of mercy to all peoples. For His Gospel is news of limitless forgiveness. Broken, hurting and embittered people need to know a community that will go the extra mile to understand and forgive, before - [TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/09/05/twenty-third-sunday-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: Today, the Word of God presents us with the vision of a community centred upon the Christ who is alive among us ... a community that takes seriously the call to holiness: and takes equally seriously the fact that each of us are responsible in some measure for each other's growth and development. - [TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/09/05/twenty-third-sunday-year-a/) - For the Church ... that it will not be afraid to listen to the modern world in all its struggles and dilemmas, while proclaiming the challenging truth of Christ with both compassion and boldness: in this ‘Season of Creation’ may we not be afraid to raise our voices and proclaim Good News to all Creation - [TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/08/30/twenty-second-sunday-year-a/) - ‘You are an obstacle in my path’, says Jesus to Peter ... we pray that inspired by the Gospel and the witness of Pope Francis, all God’s People will seek always the path of on-going conversion, so that we will think God’s way, and not the way of the world - [TWENT-SECOND SUNDAY YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/08/30/twent-second-sunday-year-a/) - PRIEST: Last Sunday we heard Peter's great act of faith in Jesus as the Christ of God: today we hear how weak his and our faith can be, how shallow his vision and understanding of Jesus. Peter cannot cope with a Messiah who would suffer, a Saviour who is a humble servant. As we begin - [TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/08/22/twenty-first-sunday-of-year-a/) - PRIEST: Today Jesus asks Peter – and each of us – a vital question: ‘Who do you say I am?’ We then hear of Peter’s great act of faith in Jesus, and Jesus greater act of faith in his weak, impetuous but loving disciple. Let us today celebrate who Jesus is for each of us, - [TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/08/22/twenty-first-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - For Pope Francis as he serves the Universal Church as the Bishop of Rome: as the Servant of the servants of God, may he always journey with God’s People sharing the search for truth and the exploration of Divine Love, leading the Church in the paths of Renewal and Mission - [FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/08/15/feast-of-the-assumption-of-mary-2/) - PRIEST: Today is a day of rejoicing, a day of glory: for Mary the poor virgin of Nazareth is raised above the angels; she has gone before us into the fullness of Christ's Resurrection. Her glory is His, she is a mirror, reflecting the wonder of Christ to us. She summons us likewise to - [Feast of the Assumption of Mary](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/08/15/feast-of-the-assumption-of-mary/) - Mary points the People of God to the Glory of Christ: may we always reflect the wonder of our Saviour to a world in need of a vision of glory and humanity... [reader] LORD WE PRAY... - [19th Sunday of the Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/08/08/19th-sunday-of-the-year-a-2/) - That the Church of God will teach us how to pray, to go up the Mountain of God’s Presence and listen to the whispering voice of God deep in the heart and at the centre of the storm: may the renewal of the Church be energised by a renewal of prayer and faith - [19th Sunday of the Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/08/08/19th-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - PRIEST: We have powerful images presented to us this morning: the prophet meeting God on the mountain; Paul willing to lose salvation if only his Jewish people would embrace His Lord; and Peter walking towards Jesus on the storm tossed sea. Powerful images that speak to us of the power of faith and prayer. We - [18th Sunday of the Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/08/02/18th-sunday-of-the-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today a Jesus who is the answer not only to all humanity's hunger for God and meaning, but also hunger for hope of a full life, for justice and dignity. And when the people voice their hunger, he tells his disciples to give them food. We celebrate our Mass while millions of - [18th Sunday of the Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/08/02/18th-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - That all God’s People will hunger for God and thirst for the Spirit, and so grow in love for the Jesus who nourishes us in the Breaking of the Bread and Sharing of the Cup [READER] LORD YOU ARE BREAD - [17th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/07/26/17th-sunday-of-the-year-a-2/) - That the People of God might always seek Christ and live by His Wisdom which alone can give life: we pray especially for the Holy Spirit to strengthen Pope Francis as he seeks to lead us all to become ‘the Church of the Poor , the Church for the Poor’ - may the voices and - [17th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/07/25/17th-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today that Jesus is the Wisdom of God, and we should give everything for the rich treasure that He is. We celebrate also that Jesus has given His whole self for us whom he speaks of as the pearl of great price. Jesus challenges us to help others discover the treasure, to - [16th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/07/19/16th-sunday-of-the-year-a-2/) - ‘Let both the darnel and wheat grow together’ ... may God’s people be slow to judge, even slower to condemn, and ready always to see the goodness that lies in the field of the world; may the whole Church respond to Pope Francis call to become a more humble, compassionate and merciful Church that listens - [16th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/07/19/16th-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - PRIEST: Today Jesus continues his ‘Parables of the Kingdom’. They nearly all speak of the Kingdom growing from tiny beginnings to quite immense and transforming proportions. And as He speaks of wheat and weeds growing up together, He teaches us to be accepting of brokenness, failure, and ambiguities in others and in ourselves. Jesus combines - [15TH SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/07/12/15th-sunday-of-year-a/) - ‘A sower went out to sow the seed’ ... that all God’s People will sow the seed of the Word of God’s Love into the field of the world, and seek with our whole heart the harvest of the Kingdom [READER] LORD WE PRAY... [Response]May Your Word - [Fourteenth Sunday of Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/07/12/fourteenth-sunday-of-year-a/) - PRIEST: Today we gather around the Table of the Word and the Table of the Eucharist - at least some of our community can - for the first time in over three months. We bring with us all we have experienced during this difficult and times tragic time of lockdown. We grieve those who have - [FEAST OF SS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/06/28/feast-of-ss-peter-and-paul-apostles-2/) - Peter is the Universal Pastor: we pray for Pope Francis that listening with a compassionate love to all Christians in our search to live the Gospel in the modern world, he will succeed in bringing renewal and reform to God’s Church - we pray especially that his Encyclical Letter ‘Laudato Si’ will call forth decisive - [FEAST OF SS PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/06/28/feast-of-ss-peter-and-paul-apostles/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today the two great founding Apostles, Peter and Paul. In celebrating them we celebrate also who we are as Church, for they more than any others have shaped for all time the Body of Christ. In Peter we have the uniting Shepherd who knows his own weakness only too - [TWELFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/06/21/twelfth-sunday-of-the-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: Today, Jesus both warns and comforts his disciples: he warns us that if we take the Gospel seriously, then like him we shall experience opposition, even persecution; and he comforts us that whatever happens, we are precious in the eyes of our God and he will protect us - our eternity is safe, - [TWELFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/06/21/twelfth-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - Jesus says: ‘What you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops’... that the Church will live a renewed vision of Mission, seeking to bring the Good News to all humankind in a genuinely New Evangelisation especially throughout post-Christian Europe - [FEAST OF THE B ODY & BLOOD OF CHRIST (Corpus Christi)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/06/14/feast-of-the-b-ody-blood-of-christ-corpus-christi/) - PRIEST: Today as we celebrate this beautiful Feast of Corpus Christi, we lift our voices in thanksgiving and praise for the 'inestimable gift' of the Eucharist; we lift our eyes to gaze upon the awesome presence of our Lord and Saviour in the poverty of bread and wine; we lift up our hearts to embrace - [FEAST OF THE BODY & BLOOD OF CHRIST (Corpus Christi)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/06/14/feast-of-the-body-blood-of-christ-corpus-christi/) - Jesus is Bread of Life ... that the People of the Eucharist may give life and love to the world, becoming God's broken bread for a New World [READER] LORD, GIVE US THAT BREAD... - [Feast of the Holy Trinity](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/06/07/feast-of-the-holy-trinity-2/) - God is perfect Relationship - Love that creates, that both gives and receives, that shares and binds in perfect harmony .... may the Church everywhere give witness to this creative love and unity, that all people might know their true identity and destiny. [reader:] - [FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/06/07/feast-of-the-holy-trinity/) - PRIEST: Having for months celebrated the great actions of God in Christ that bring us salvation and life, today we celebrate the being of God: not what God does, but Who God is! Today is a day for gazing with wonder, a day to contemplate the mystery of God Who is Love - always - [VIGIL OF PRAYER FOR PENTECOST](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/06/01/vigil-of-prayer-for-pentecost/) - SONG TO INVOKE THE SPIRIT Shona Processional Song No 458 vv 1, 3, 5 PENITENTIAL RITE Genesis 11: 1-9 Diverse Languages ruin the building of the Tower of Babel: so division hinders the building of the Kingdom. The Pentecost event is the healing of Babel. Sung Response: No - [PENTECOST SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/06/01/pentecost-sunday-2/) - The Spirit clothes the Church with Divine Love ... we pray that the Church, led by Pope Francis, Bishop Declan and the College of Bishops, may unite all peoples, races, classes and cultures in one great human family, building a universal civilisation of love - we ask that all hearts of stone expressing discrimination of - [PENTECOST SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/06/01/pentecost-sunday/) - PRIEST: Fifty days ago we celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection - now we celebrate the Power of Resurrection set free to transform the world! Today is not only the birthday of the Church in a ferment of Praise and Mission, it is also the beginnings of a New World, a New Creation, for through the Church - [SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A (WORLD COMMUNIUCATUIOINS)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/24/seventh-sunday-of-easter-year-a-world-communiucatuioins/) - God speaks His Word to all the world: that the Spirit of God will come and guide us to harness the Internet and other modern means of Mass Communication to proclaim the Gospel, the Good News to our world [reader:] HOLY - [ASCENSION OF THE LORD YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/24/ascension-of-the-lord-year-a-2/) - Jesus is ascended into glory: that the Church will be faithful to Christ's commission to be a community in mission, witnessing to the world by the power of our love - we pray that the Spirit will guide us to use wisely and well the New technologies and social media to communicate the Gospel - [SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A - WORLD COMMUNICATIONS SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/24/seventh-sunday-of-easter-year-a-world-communications-sunday/) - PRIEST: A few days ago we celebrated our mission as a Church to proclaim the Good News to all; in a few days time we shall celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit with the power needed to fulfil our Christ-commissioned task. Today, on this World Communication Sunday, we pray for wisdom and - [ASCENSION OF THE LORD - YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/24/ascension-of-the-lord-year-a/) - PRIEST: Today we celebrate our Mission as a Church - for Jesus sends us out to the whole world to be his witnesses. Today we celebrate Jesus enthroned as our King, as he goes up to his throne with shouts of Joy and in the Cloud of divine Presence, and all the powers of - [SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/17/sixth-sunday-of-easter-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: Today the Word of God begins to point us towards the coming Feast of Pentecost, speaking as it does of the Spirit, the other Advocate who will stand with us and speak up for us. As we approach this great Feast of the Spirit’s Power and Love and as we prepare for the Confirmation - [SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/16/sixth-sunday-of-easter-year-a/) - Jesus promises to send the Spirit, the Advocate ... that the Church of Christ in every land will accept with courage to be the Advocate of the poor, the powerless and the oppressed; on this Fifth Anniversary of Pope Francis' Encyclical on Global Warming, ‘Laudato Si’, may the world hear the cries of the poor, - [ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/10/act-of-spiritual-communion/) - This prayer off offered to all who are unable to receive Holy Communion during this Coronavirus pandemic. May it help us to recognise the Risen Christ, our Emmanuel, God always with us, reaching into the 'locked rooms' of our isolation and binding us together in Him, whom we know Risen from the Dead in the - [STATIONS OF CREATION](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/10/stations-of-creation/) - The 'Stations of Creation' are inspired by Str Francis of Assisi and his 'Canticle of the Creatures, and Pope Francis epoch-making Encyclical Letter of Climate Change and Social Justice. This communal Devotional Prayer is offered to help us all reflect upon the greatest crisis of our time - global warming - and to pray for - [Fifth Sunday of Easter Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/10/fifth-sunday-of-easter-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: Jesus Christ is risen among us ... to be our Way, our Truth and our Life. And His Way is a journey of service to the poor; His Truth is freedom for the broken and despairing; His Life is healing and hope for a fractured world. Like the seven Deacons, whose appointment we - [Fifth Sunday of Easter Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/10/fifth-sunday-of-easter-year-a/) - Jesus is the Servant ... we pray for our Pope Francis in his universal service of the Church and the World as the Servant of the Servants of God; for all deacons and their wives as they offer us new models of ministry and teach us how ordained ministry and marriage can enrich each other - [VOCATIONS SUNDAY - EASTER 4/YA](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/03/vocations-sunday-easter-4-ya-2/) - PRIEST: Jesus calls himself the Gate of the Sheepfold - as the Flock of Christ we can go freely into God’s presence through Him. He is the Good Shepherd who calls to us to listen to His voice and follow Him wherever He leads. He also lays down his life for his sheep - for - [VOCATIONS SUNDAY - EASTER 4/YA](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/05/03/vocations-sunday-easter-4-ya/) - The Church's deepest call is to be like the Good Shepherd, loving without limit: may all know that we are Christians by our love for one another, love enough to unite the Church and heal our world ... we pray for our Universal Shepherd Pope Francis, our bishop Declan and the whole College of - [THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/04/26/third-sunday-of-easter-year-a-2/) - Jesus listened to the distressed disciples: that the Church may never tire of listening to the pain of the world, and with faith and sensitivity bring the healing of new hope to the broken everywhere [reader:] LORD, SPEAK YOUR LOVE.. - [THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/04/26/third-sunday-of-easter-year-a/) - PRIEST: We gather today to celebrate Resurrection, and like the Emmaus disciples have a story to tell. But our story is our experience of Jesus in the Church and in the broken bread of Word and Eucharist. So at this moment in the Church’s story, we once again recognise Him in the Breaking of - [STATIONS OF THE RESURRECTION](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/04/19/stations-of-the-resurrection/) - Please open this link to use the 'booklet' for the Stations of the Resurrection. Between the Scripture reading and the Prayer, please reflect quietly with your own meditation on the joy of encountering the Risen Christ in today's world. Way of the Resurrection illustrated - [SECOND SUNDAY EASTER - YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/04/19/second-sunday-easter-year-a/) - PRIEST: In today's Gospel we hear a story of doubt that becomes magnificent faith; a story of wounds that breath peace and healing; a story of frightened empty men who become courageous in the Holy Spirit; a story of a community witnessing the Risen Christ. It is the story not only of the apostles, but - [SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER - YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/04/19/second-sunday-of-easter-year-a/) - Thomas remained in doubt until he returned to the community of faith: for the unity of all God's Church, that together we will offer to an unbelieving world a convincing sign of faith, proclaiming the Risen Lord of the Church - [GOOD FRIDAY - JESUS CRUCIFIED TODAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/04/12/good-friday-jesus-crucified-today/) - After the Cross is brought forward for Veneration, we reflect upon how we see Christ crucified in today's world. As each section is read, a Jerusalem Cross is brought forward and placed near the Altar. 1. Jesus is being crucified today when families and communities are victims of barrel bombs and gas and chemical attacks; - [MAUNDY THURSDAY - COMMUNITY COMMITMENT](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/04/12/maundy-thursday-community-commitment/) - After the priest renews his promises of Ordination before the his own community, there follows a Community Commitment to be the 'Community of the Eucharist' PRIEST: We are the Community of the Bread: ALL: And so we commit ourselves to the Ministry of Friendship, building a community that welcomes, encourages and values one another. PRIEST: We - [EASTER VIGIL & DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/04/12/easter-vigil-day/) - Jesus is Risen! May all God's People shout to the world from the housetops that He is alive among us ... may Pope Francis and Bishop Declan give powerful witness to the Resurrection and may our transformed lives speak louder than our words [reader] LORD JESUS... - [MAUNDY THURSDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/04/12/maundy-thursday-2/) - PRIEST: On this Passover Night, Jesus commands us to bring His love to one another, and to our world. Each one of us is called a 'servant', summoned to work with one another in shared ministry. This night we celebrate that we are called to be a community of unity, a community of prayer and - [MAUNDY THURSDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/04/12/maundy-thursday/) - PRIEST: This is the Night of the Passover Supper, the night Jesus promised to remain always among his beloved friends in the Broken Bread of Life and the Shared Cup of Love. At this Last Supper he shared the deep vision of His Heart with us: dreaming of a people who served, not dominated, lived - [PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/04/04/passion-palm-sunday/) - May the Church share the humility of our Servant-King, who comes to His world not with the force of power but with the power of love, and so serve the world in its struggles with a humble compassion: we pray both wisdom and courage for Pope Francis and all our bishops - [FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT - YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/03/28/fifth-sunday-of-lent-year-a-2/) - PRIEST: In just two weeks time we shall celebrate the incomparable joy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus foreshadows his own resurrection by bringing his friend Lazarus from the tomb into life. He reveals to all that he is victorious over death itself. But the greatest victory Jesus wins is over the - [FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT - YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/03/28/fifth-sunday-of-lent-year-a/) - For our Universal Pastor, Pope Francis, that God will gift him with strength, wisdom and courage as he serves to unbind the Church from all dysfunction and disunity, lead us along the paths of reform and renewal and inspire us for mission, that we might proclaim Life to a world seeking to discover how to - [FEAST OF ST OSCAR ROMERO, MARTYR & BISHOP](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/03/25/feast-of-st-oscar-romero-martyr-bishop-2/) - This took place after the Homily of the Mass, an alternative 'Litany of the Saints' SUMMONING THE MARTYRS Oscar and other names of El Salvadoran martyrs are called, all respond ‘Presente!’ Not long before his death, Oscar Romero said: ‘My Life has been threatened many times. I have to confess that, as a Christian, - [FEAST OF ST OSCAR ROMERO, MARTYR & BISHOP](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/03/25/feast-of-st-oscar-romero-martyr-bishop/) - Romero was a courageous Bishop who listened to the cries of the poor - we pray for the whole People of God that with Pope Francis leadership we might truly become ‘the Church of the Poor, the church for the Poor’ [reader] LORD WE PRAY [response] Give us courage Romero - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/03/19/fourth-sunday-of-lent-year-a-2/) - That God’s People will reject every darkness and choose the Light of Christ, and free our world of injustice and poverty so that all can live together in joy, freedom and equality SHINE ON US, LORD... [response] WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE Before - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/03/19/fourth-sunday-of-lent-year-a/) - PRIEST: Today we rejoice: it is 'Laetare Sunday' - a day to celebrate that the call to Lenten conversion is a call to a deeper joy. We hear the Gospel of the healing of the blind man at the pool of Siloam. Our deepest joy is to grow into Christ; to reflect his light - [THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/03/14/third-sunday-of-lent-year-a-3/) - PRIEST: Jesus comes among us, to offer the Water of New Life to all the peoples of the world. He calls us to drink deeply of His Spirit and come to a new beginning. As with the Samaritan woman of today's Gospel, so with us - Jesus knows us through and through! Being - [THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/03/14/third-sunday-of-lent-year-a-2/) - Jesus says, 'If you only knew what God is offering...': that the People of God will always offer our world the living water of the Holy Spirit to heal the brokenness of war, melt the hardness of violence, cleanse the sinfulness of oppression and bring humanity to a new birth - [SECND SUNDAY OF LENT](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/03/08/secnd-sunday-of-lent/) - PRIEST: In today's celebration, we behold the Glory of God, the glory that each of us carries deep within our being. For we are all created in God's image and likeness. And the Glory of God is humanity fully alive. Transfiguration is only complete when we have transformed our world from war and injustice into - [SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/03/08/second-sunday-of-lent/) - The Transfigured Christ reveals to the company of the disciples the Glory of God within each of us: may the Church reveal to the world the glory of God's love by our courage to love, to care and to struggle for justice... - [First Sunday of Lent Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/02/29/first-sunday-of-lent-year-a-2/) - Jesus is tempted to turn stone into bread: that God's People will always hunger for the Bread of God's Word and use only the power that comes from the Gospel, which is Love - that this Lent we will answer the call to be disciples and discover the Joy of the Gospel! [Reader] - [First Sunday of Lent Year A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/02/29/first-sunday-of-lent-year-a/) - PRIEST: We have begun our journey of these 40 days of Lent - like Jesus we enter into the desert to face the demons of our own hearts - demons of selfishness and of comfort, demons of greed and exploitation, demons of ambition and power. Whatever our demons are, Lent is the appointed - [SEVENTH SUNDAY YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/02/23/seventh-sunday-year-a/) - PRIEST: As we gather to celebrate today’s Eucharist, Jesus challenges us to be a people of reconciliation, a community of peacemakers, to live in God's endless and unconditional forgiveness. Called to refuse to allow bitterness to arise from our wounds, we seek to understand a God who is at once strong in demanding justice - [SEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/02/23/seventh-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - Jesus says: ‘Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile’ … that the Church of God everywhere will be a community of forgiveness, ambassadors of reconciliation and peace, prophets of hope in a war-torn world LORD WE PRAY … Make us Prophets of Your peace! Jesus says: ‘Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect’ - [CONFIRMATION MASS](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/02/23/confirmation-mass/) - That all God's Church will share the Light and Wisdom of the Holy Spirit with our world, that they will see the presence of God among us LORD WE THIRST... Veni Creator Spiritus (sung) For our Universal Pastor, Pope Francis; for our bishop Declan, as he shares the empowering Spirit with our community today; for - [SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/02/15/sixth-sunday-of-the-year-a-2/) - Jesus said ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than the others’ ... may Christians everywhere seek the paths of holiness, going beyond every law into the realms of unlimited love [READER] HEAR THE CRIES OF YOUR PEOPLE... [Response] - [SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/02/15/sixth-sunday-of-the-year-a/) - PRIEST: Today, we celebrate Jesus as the new Moses: the chosen one of God who gives us a New Law, but a ‘Law’ that takes us beyond Law and invites us to grow an ever wider love. We are called to go beyond relationships that inflict pain and the anarchy of - [FIFTH SUNDAY OF YEAR A - RACIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/02/08/fifth-sunday-of-year-a-racial-justice-sunday/) - Jesus said ‘You are the Light of the World’ ... may the Church of God embrace the call to Mission and shine with the Light of Divine Love, guide with the Light of Christ’s Truth and heal with the Light of the Father’s Compassion - [FIFTH SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/02/08/fifth-sunday-of-year-a/) - PRIEST: On this Racial Justice Sunday, we rejoice in the rich diversity of the human family. Jesus challenges each of us to be His salt transforming life and the earth; to be Light burning with His love before all the world; He challenges us as Church to be a community truly inclusive of all people - [Feast of Candlemas](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/02/01/feast-of-candlemas/) - ‘The Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his Temple’: may the Light of Christ’s Truth, Love and Justice so shine at the heart of the Church that the peoples of the world might seek the Lord in our midst ... and find Him FIRE OF DIVINE LOVE... [response]May Light scatter all Darkness... ‘The Light - [FEAST OF CANDLEMAS (when Blessing of Candles is after the Homily](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/02/01/feast-of-candlemas-when-blessing-of-candles-is-after-the-homily/) - PRIEST: Today we greet Jesus, the Light of the World, just as Simeon and Anna did in the Temple all those centuries ago. He came fulfilling not their hopes alone, but the hopes of all humanity, of every people. Today we also affirm our young people in their decision to accept Confirmation. May they and - [THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR -SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/01/25/third-sunday-of-the-year-sunday-of-the-word-of-god-2/) - Bidding prayer for the day. - [THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/01/25/third-sunday-of-the-year-sunday-of-the-word-of-god/) - Penitential Rites - [SECOND SUNDAY OF YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/01/11/second-sunday-of-year-a/) - Penitential Rites - [FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/01/11/feast-of-the-baptism-of-the-lord-3/) - Penitential Rites - [FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/01/11/feast-of-the-baptism-of-the-lord-2/) - Bidding prayer for the day - [New Year's Eve Watchnight Mass](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/01/03/new-years-eve-watchnight-mass/) - Liturgy - [Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/01/03/feast-of-the-epiphany-of-the-lord-3/) - Seekers after wisdom followed the Light of the Star ... we pray that the Christian Church will always be a light of truth and mercy to guide all in today’s world who search for the wisdom to live their lives in love - [ew Year's Day, Feast of Mary, the Mother of God](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/01/03/ew-years-day-feast-of-mary-the-mother-of-god/) - Mary is Mother of all Christians ... we pray that the year and decade just begun will see the whole Church journey towards visible unity in faith, service and mission, and so be a more effective sign and instrument of God’s Peace and Mercy to the world - [FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/01/03/feast-of-the-epiphany-of-the-lord-2/) - [NB During this Penitential Rite, the figures of the wise men, the Magi, are brought for ward and placed in the Crib] PRIEST: The Wisdom of God has guided each of us here today, as surely as the Magi's Star: for we too are pilgrims on a journey searching for wisdom, walking by faith and - [NEW YEAR'S DAY - FEAST OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2020/01/03/new-years-day-feast-of-mary-mother-of-god-2/) - PRIEST: On this first day of the New Year and a New Decade, the Church celebrates Mary the Bearer of God to the world. We look to the first and greatest disciple as we are about to embark on making this year truly the Year of Our Lord 2020. We commend all that is past - [FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/29/feast-of-the-holy-family-4/) - Jesus in the midst of the Holy Family teaches us that the Church is called to be a family of love and faith, safeguarding life and sharing compassion ... may the Church always live the challenge of being family in Christ - [FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/29/feast-of-the-holy-family-3/) - PRIEST: As we draw near the end of this year we gather as a family of families ... around the simplicity and poverty, the love and the faith of the Holy Family of Bethlehem and Nazareth. Theirs was not a trouble-free family life: homeless, fleeing for their lives into exile because of the fears - [ASSEMBLING OFTHE CRIB (during Midnight Mass)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/22/assembling-ofthe-crib-during-midnight-mass/) - [PRIEST] We come to bless our crib ... by that we mean to ask God to bless everyone who will come to pray, with wonder, awe and love, before this visual image of the poverty and simplicity of our Saviour's birth. St Francis of Assisi, who lived over 800 years ago, was the - [BLESSING OF CHRISTMAS TREE](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/22/blessing-of-christmas-tree-3/) - READER: The erecting and decorating of Christmas Trees originated in Germany some three hundred years ago, and came to this country during the reign of Queen Victoria. It’s meaning comes from the story of the Fall in the Garden of Eden which we find in the Book of Genesis. It was originally called the ‘Paradise - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/22/fourth-sunday-of-advent/) - God shares his dream with humanity through Mary and Joseph: may the Church of Christ offer the world that same dream of a new birth, a new hope for all humankind and for all creation, as we live with love and imagination HEAR US WE PRAY... [response] WE COME TO DO YOUR WILL - [FEAST OF CHRISTMAS](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/22/feast-of-christmas/) - PRIEST: Today is a wondrous day ... a day for untold rejoicing as we gaze upon the awesome mystery of our God in vulnerable human flesh ... the All-powerful contained in the powerless frame of a tiny baby. Looking into the eyes of this child we can only treat every child with immense respect - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT PENITENTIAL RITE YEAR A AND BLESSING OF WREATH](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/22/fourth-sunday-of-advent-penitential-rite-year-a-and-blessing-of-wreath/) - PRIEST: We gather today on this last Sunday of Advent Preparation to share. through our Eucharist, God's great dream that Joseph welcomed as he obeyed with love and took Mary as his wife, and her child as his own. One dream lay shattered, but another grew in its place. We welcome - [ASSEMBLING AND BLESSING CRIB](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/14/assembling-and-blessing-crib/) - [PRIEST] We come to bless our crib ... by that we mean to ask God to bless everyone who will come to pray, with wonder, awe and love, before this visual image of the poverty and simplicity of our Saviour's birth. St Francis of Assisi, who lived over 800 years ago, was the first - [BLESSING OF CHRISTMAS TREE](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/14/blessing-of-christmas-tree-2/) - READER: The erecting and decorating of Christmas Trees originated in Germany some three hundred years ago, and came to this country during the reign of Queen Victoria. It’s meaning comes from the story of the Fall in the Garden of Eden which we find in the Book of Genesis. It was originally called the ‘Paradise - [THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/14/third-sunday-of-advent/) - That the People of God inspired by Pope Francis and our own Bishop Declan will, in the midst of every wilderness of heart or world, give the nations the witness of a joy none can take from us: the joy of yearning for Jesus, and the joy of loving Him who is the fulfilment of - [PENITENTIAL RITE & BLESSING OF ADVENT WREATH 3RD SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/14/penitential-rite-blessing-of-advent-wreath-3rd-sunday/) - PRIEST: My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This third Sunday of Advent is a day for rejoicing...rejoicing that the coming of our Saviour is close at hand; rejoicing that his coming will make the deserts bloom like the jonquil, and the wounded will be healed; rejoicing that God still sends prophets to challenge - [SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Year A - Bible Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/07/second-sunday-of-advent-year-a-bible-sunday-2/) - PRIEST: We gather on this Bible Sunday, at the beginning of our second week of Advent Preparation and Prayer. On this Bible Sunday, we come together to listen to the proclamation among us of God's Holy Word in the Bible, so that we may allow His Word to be made Flesh in our lives. - [Second Sunday of Advent - Year A - Bible Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/12/07/second-sunday-of-advent-year-a-bible-sunday/) - That the Church may always root its life and decisions in the disturbing and life-giving Word of God, and proclaim with integrity and joy the Gospel of Jesus, that the world may believe IN CHRIST - [FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/30/first-sunday-of-advent-year-a/) - Advent is a time of New Beginning for God's People: may the whole Church answer God's call to renewal and reform in this Joyful Season of Repentance, continue to reveal the merciful face of God and prepare the world for the Lord’s Coming - [FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT - with Blessing of Advent Wreath](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/30/first-sunday-of-advent-with-blessing-of-advent-wreath/) - PRIEST: My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, We have come to the Holy and Joyful Season of Advent, these four weeks of preparation ... learning to watch with faith for the Coming of the Lord in Glory ... learning to welcome with love our brother Jesus who has already come ... learning to - [FEAST OF CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/23/feast-of-christ-king-of-the-universe-2/) - We pray for the Church throughout the world ... for our unity in love and faithfulness to the Gospel, for our dedication to the Mission of growing the Kingdom upon the Earth, and for our prophets crying out for world-wide solidarity in building Justice in the name of Christ - [FEAST OF CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/23/feast-of-christ-king-of-the-universe/) - PRIEST: As this Year of Prayer draws to a close and we prepare to launch the Year of Communion, we celebrate Jesus Christ, King of all Creation. We celebrate the One who came with a dream for the world, for the Universe - a dream of creation alive with divine love, drawn together in - [33rd SUNDAY YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/16/33rd-sunday-year-c-2/) - That the Church will read the ‘signs of the times’, shine with Healing Light upon a broken world, and offer that world the truth that sets free and the Gospel of love that challenges and heals [READER] - [33rd SUNDAY YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/16/33rd-sunday-year-c/) - RICHARD: Although the Advent season has not begun yet, there is a strong Advent feel about our Mass today - gazing into the future and yearning for a different world! In a moment of history when there is so much conflict and turmoil, so much destruction of our planet, we listen to dramatic words - [REMEMBRANCE SUDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/09/remembrance-suday/) - That the Universal Church may witness to a higher loyalty than any nationalism, building unity and reconciliation among all the peoples of the Earth as the world continues to be be torn and wounded by war and conflict - [REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 32nd Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/09/remembrance-sunday-32nd-year-c/) - PRIEST: We gather on this day of Remembrance, while there continues to be terror attacks and war rages in many regions of the world. Jesus reminds us today that our God is ‘God of the Living, not the dead’ - that God wants to give life and not take life! We bring to - [ALL SOULS' DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/02/all-souls-day-3/) - PRIEST: Let us pray with faith in the Resurrection, with thankfulness for friends and family who have gone before us, and with hope of that great day when we shall all be united in the eternal love of our God READER: For those of our families, parish community and friends who have died - [ALL SAINTS' DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/02/all-saints-day-3/) - On this Feast of Holiness, may all God's People respond to the Second Vatican Council’s ‘Universal Call to Holiness’, seek the face of God, love with the heart of God, touch the world with the compassionate mercy of God, and challenge the world with the justice of God - [31st SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/02/31st-sunday-of-the-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: With echoes of the Holy Year of Mercy three years ago, we today celebrate God’s great yearning for us, His compassion and acceptance of us - His passionate desire that we should allow him to love us and so to change us ... to restore us to our truest selves. We hear - [ALL SOULS' DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/02/all-souls-day-2/) - PRIEST: We gather to proclaim our faith in the Resurrection, which alone gives meaning to today’s Celebration: for we come to be with the ‘Living who have Died’. Our love for those who have ‘gone before us marked with the sign of faith’, is matched by our trust in mercy so freely given - [ALL SAINTS DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/02/all-saints-day-2/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today the Feast of Holiness - our call and our destiny to be a people of the Spirit, a people of holiness. All the Saints, those known and those unknown, those raised to the Altars of the Church, and those whom we have known in our lives and our - [31st SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/02/31st-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - That Christians everywhere will offer to all the peoples the invitation of Jesus to find salvation, forgiveness and peace by welcoming His love into their hearts and making a place in their lives for mercy and justice - [ALL SOULS' DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/11/02/all-souls-day/) - PRIEST: Let us pray with faith in the Resurrection, with thankfulness for friends and family who have gone before us, and with hope of that great day when we shall all be united in the eternal love of our God READER: For those of our families, parish community and friends who have died - [30th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/10/26/30th-sunday-of-the-year-c-2/) - That the Church will throw wide open the gates of God’s Mercy for all peoples, and serve reconciliation and peace in a our conflict ridden world [READER] - [30th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/10/26/30th-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - PRIEST: The familiar story in today's Gospel - the Pharisee and the sinner - reveals God's way of looking at the sinful one and the religious person. Not at all what we might expect! Jesus’ words challenge every form of religious pride, as well as our hardness of heart. God urges us today, in this - [29th SUNDAY YEAR C - WORLD MISSION SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/10/19/29th-sunday-year-c-world-mission-sunday/) - That the People of God everywhere will be steadfast in prayer and Mission, holding up the weary arms of believers until Justice is truly done for the oppressed and vulnerable of the world [READER] LORD WE ASK... [Response] Teach us to pray, teach us to serve For all - [29th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C - WORLD MISSION SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/10/19/29th-sunday-of-the-year-c-world-mission-sunday/) - PRIEST: Today we celebrate World Mission Sunday - the global mission of the Church to ‘renew the face of the earth’ in the power of the Spirit poured into our heart through baptism and confirmation. Jesus teaches us in the Word of God for today that persevering prayer is the well-spring of the energy for - [28th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/10/12/28th-sunday-of-the-year-c-2/) - That God’s People in every land and culture will be faithful to the call of Christ to be a healing community that welcomes the broken and the excluded, revealing the merciful face of the Father; that the Church will truly listen to the Word God is speaking through St John Henry Newman, canonised today [READER] - [27th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/10/12/27th-sunday-of-the-year-c-2/) - The Apostles asked the Lord, ‘Increase our faith’ ... we pray for Pope Francis and the new Cardinals he has appointed from the peripheries of our world, pastors from places of poverty and powerlessness; may they serve to deepen faith among all the People of God, renewing and reforming the Church as a humble servant - [28th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/10/12/28th-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - PRIEST: Jesus touches with His love the outcasts of His day ... the ten lepers. Only one returned to give thanks:, and he was not even a member of the People of God! We are provoked to ask a number of questions: who do I make into an outcast, putting them beyond my love? - [27th Sunday of the Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/10/12/27th-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - PRIEST: Today, God's Word speaks to us about stirring up the faith that the Spirit gives us, so that we may offer more dedicated service to the Kingdom of God. Pope Francis has called us to be a more humble Church. Today the Gospel reminds us that we are but humble servants of God’s Kingdom, - [26th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/09/15/26th-sunday-of-the-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: Our world is divided between rich and poor, have's and have-not's, the Dives' and Lazarus's of today ... and the gap is getting wider by the month! But Jesus has a different vision of the world - where the poor are the important ones, and the rich beg from them. He called this - [25th SUNDAY YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/09/15/25th-sunday-year-c/) - PRIEST: The Word of God for us today challenges us about who it is we really serve! Where are our priorities - the ambition for money, easy life-style, and power? Or the building of a world shared equally by all? Greed is not the preserve of the rich... we can all allow greed for - [26th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/09/15/26th-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - ‘As a man dedicated to God, you must aim to be saintly and religious’ ... for Pope Francis as he leads the Church to renewal and humility - that together we might offer the world a more effective witness of authentic holiness, of ‘faith and love, patience and gentleness’ - [25th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/09/15/25th-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - That Christians everywhere will witness to Jesus the Truth and Justice of God by the highest standards of honesty and integrity in the world business, finance and politics [Reader] - [TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/09/15/twenty-fourth-sunday-year-c-2/) - PRIEST On this Home Mission Sunday we have the joy of celebrating the forgiving heart of God. The great parable of the Prodigal Son is given only in Luke’s Gospel – the Evangelist of Mercy. But this parable carries insight into the very heart of God, a heart constantly open to forgive us - [TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/09/15/twenty-fourth-sunday-year-c/) - ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’ – may the Church always ‘fling wide open the gates of God’s Mercy’ and be a sign of God’s prodigious forgiveness in our broken world - may many who have experienced the Church’s rejection come home and find themselves again [Reader] - [Feast of St Nicholas of Tolentino](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/09/08/feast-of-st-nicholas-of-tolentino/) - For 171 years, the Eucharist has been the centre of our parish’s life, community and mission: may this celebration of the Breaking of the Bread heal our brokeness, deepen our love for Christ Jesus, bind us together in life-giving community and empower our mission to be Good News to the Poor LORD HEAL OUR WORLD... - [St Nicholas Blessing of Bread and Consecrating Icon](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/09/08/st-nicholas-blessing-of-bread-and-consecrating-icon/) - BLESSING OF ST NICHOLAS BREAD READER: As a child, St Nicholas went to the homes of the poor with his parents to bring food, clothes and comfort; as an Augustinian novice he gave the Priory’s food away to the poor and converted his brothers to generosity; as a priest he organised the distribution of food - [23rd Sunday of the Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/09/08/23rd-sunday-of-the-year-c-2/) - For Christians everywhere, that all might hear the call to deeper discipleship, model their lives upon the life and love of Jesus Christ, and choose each day to shoulder with Christ the Cross of humanity’s suffering and walk His Way of Love [READER] LORD WE PRAY... [Response] - [23rd Sunday of the Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/09/08/23rd-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - PRIEST: Today Jesus challenges us as to the nature and demands of being His disciples: whether we prize our relationship with the Lord before all else? Whether we are willing to persevere in the task of loving by shouldering with Him the Cross of humanity’s suffering? The second reading today asks us whether we - [22nd SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/08/31/22nd-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - That the Church will heed Pope Francis and walk a humble path of holiness and service in our contemporary world, making a home for the broken, dispossessed, excluded and victimised of the world and so bring the Light and Justice of the Gospel to our people - [22nd Sunday of the Year](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/08/31/22nd-sunday-of-the-year/) - PRIEST: We celebrate together the great feast of the Kingdom: the Eucharist to which Jesus has invited us. He has also invited each other person here, without exception. Whether we are rich or poor, whether accomplished or apparently without many skills, we have all been invited with equal love by Jesus. Have we opened our - [21st Sunday Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/08/25/21st-sunday-year-c-2/) - That the People of God will walk with Christ through the ‘Narrow Door’ of God’s radical and universal love and so guide the Nations along the Way that leads to Life and Freedom: [READER] - [21st Sunday Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/08/25/21st-sunday-year-c/) - PRIEST: Jesus challenges any temptation to complacency: we do not have an automatic ticket into the Kingdom. Everyday, we need to say 'YES' again to entering by the narrow gate of Christ's radical love. That we come often to Mass, that we pray frequently, that we keep the Catholic rules - none of these - [20th Sunday of the Year - C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/08/17/20th-sunday-of-the-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: As we gather today around the Table of the Eucharist and the Table of the Word, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses on every side, encouraging us to continue the sometimes hard journey of the disciple and the prophet - a journey that leads us to the fire of conflict in - [20th Sunday of the Year - C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/08/17/20th-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - Jesus says, ‘I have come to bring fire to the earth’ … may the Church be on fire with the Holy Spirit, proclaiming Good News to the Poor and with the courage of the prophets challenging our world with the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Justice, Love and Peace. - [19th Sunday Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/08/09/19th-sunday-year-c-2/) - Like Abraham of old, our Father in Faith, may the Church never fear to listen to the voice of God and venture in new ways to proclaim both confidently and humbly the Promise of God to the men and women of the world of today - [19th Sunday Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/08/09/19th-sunday-year-c/) - PRIEST: Today we celebrate our faith in Christ Jesus: we look to Abraham as our Father in Faith who risked all to journey an unknown path to an unknown land; and we watch for Jesus to come in the unexpected moments, the dark hours of lonely night; and in the most unlikely events and people. - [18th SUNDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/08/03/18th-sunday/) - That the Church will resist the temptation to the vanity of power, but seek rather to journey alongside the broken and powerless in imitation of Jesus: we pray for Pope Francis as he challenges the Church to walk humbly as a servant ‘Church of the poor, a Church for the poor’ [READER] - [18th Sunday of the Year](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/08/03/18th-sunday-of-the-year/) - PRIEST: In a world of plenty, millions starve! In a society where the employed are overworked, millions are unemployed and millions more exploited and enslaved. Today, Jesus challenges this crazy world where the rich get richer and the poor are further dispossessed. Jesus makes us ask 'What is real happiness, what makes for true - [17th Sunday Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/07/27/17th-sunday-year-c-2/) - ‘Lord, teach us to pray ...’ - that the People of God will grow in prayer and openness to God, and find in deep prayer the inspiration for Mission, Mercy and Evangelisation - [17th Sunday Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/07/27/17th-sunday-year-c/) - PRIEST: Today Jesus challenges us to pray...to pray with perseverance, to pray with faith, and to pray for the coming of the Kingdom. We are challenged to believe in a God always waiting to be merciful. We are challenged to so live our baptism that we die in Christ and come alive to a new - [16th SUNDAY YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/07/21/16th-sunday-year-c-2/) - ‘Abraham ran to meet them and bowed to the ground’ ... may our Church become a place of welcome for all peoples, reverencing all cultures, struggling against all racism and gender discrimination, while ever opening wide the Gates of God’s mercy to all who seek - [16th Sunday Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/07/21/16th-sunday-year-c/) - PRIEST: This morning you are all very welcome - let us welcome one another, as we recognise Jesus' welcome to us. We are going to hear how the People of God welcomed their God: Abraham and Sarah discovering God in the strange visitors to their tent; Martha and Mary welcoming Jesus to their Bethany home. - [FIFTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/23/fifteenth-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - That the Church will always be the Samaritan who pours the wine of healing hope into the world’s wounds of poverty, violence and division ... that Christians everywhere will reach out to the broken and wounded in their midst and on their streets - [Fourteenth Sunday of the Year](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/23/fourteenth-sunday-of-the-year/) - ‘The harvest is rich, but the labourers few’ says Jesus ... we pray that the Church will encourage all members of the People of God to hear God’s call, discover their mission, develop their gifts and play their role in proclaiming the Gospel to all the nations - [Feast of Ss Peter and Paul](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/23/feast-of-ss-peter-and-paul-2/) - Peter is the Universal Pastor: we pray for Pope Francis that listening with a compassionate love to all Christians in our search to live the Gospel in the modern world, he will succeed in bringing renewal and reform to God’s Church - we pray especially that his Encyclical Letter on the Environment will call forth - [Feast of Corpus Christi](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/23/feast-of-corpus-christi-2/) - Jesus is Bread of Life ... that the People of the Eucharist may give life and love to the world, becoming God's broken bread for a New World [READER] LORD, GIVE US THAT BREAD... - [Feast of Ss Peter and Paul](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/23/feast-of-ss-peter-and-paul/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today the two great founding Apostles, Peter and Paul. In celebrating them we celebrate also who we are as Church, for they more than any others have shaped for all time the Body of Christ. In Peter we have the uniting Shepherd who knows his own weakness only too - [FIFTEENTH SUBDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/23/fifteenth-subday-of-the-year-c/) - PRIEST: 'Who is our neighbour?' Jesus is asked in today's Gospel. ‘Wrong question!’ is Jesus reply. You are to be the neighbour, he says, to everyone, and especially the most wounded. A very timely parable given the closing of borders to Refugee brothers sisters around the world, as we see a despised foreigner being the - [FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/22/fourteenth-sunday-of-the-year-c/) - PRIEST: Today, God's word challenges us to take up our mission: Jesus calls us and sends us just as he did the Seventy Two so long ago. We are all called to labour in His harvest of salvation. And there is an urgency in His words, asking of us a single-minded determination to offer - [FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/22/feast-of-corpus-christi/) - PRIEST: Today we lift our voices in thanksgiving and praise for the 'inestimable gift' of the Eucharist; we lift our eyes to gaze upon the awesome presence of our Lord and Saviour in the poverty of bread and wine; we lift up our hearts to embrace the love whereby God touches the depths of our - [Statement of Belief from LGBT Mass](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/17/statement-of-belief-from-lgbt-mass/) - A Statement of Belief Side A We believe in God, Who is Love, creating all things in an explosion of love and affirming that everything and everyone created is very good. We believe that God has created each one of us without exception in the Divine image and likeness. Side B Therefore, we commit ourselves - [ACT OF DEDICATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT (Pentecost)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/16/act-of-dedication-to-the-holy-spirit-pentecost/) - Priest Do you believe in the Creator Spirit given by the Father? PEOPLE We believe that God breathed the Spirit over the chaos at the dawning of creation; that the Spirit hovered - [FEAST OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINITY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/16/feast-of-the-holy-undivided-trinity/) - God is perfect Relationship - Love that creates, that both gives and receives, that shares and binds in perfect harmony .... may the Church everywhere give witness to this creative love and unity, that all people might know their true identity and destiny. - [FEAST OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINTY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/16/feast-of-the-holy-undivided-trinty/) - PRIEST: Having for months celebrated the great actions of God in Christ that bring us salvation and life, today we celebrate the being of God: not what God does, but Who God is! Today is a day for gazing with wonder, a day to contemplate the mystery of God Who is Love - always Love, - [Vigil Mass  of  Pentecost 2019](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/09/vigil-mass-of-pentecost-2019/) - Send forth Your Spirit, O Lord ... Renew the face of the earth ... Burn Your love into our waiting hearts! SONG TO INVOKE THE SPIRIT No 458 PENITENTIAL RITE Genesis 11: 1-9 Diverse Languages ruin the building of the Tower of Babel: so division hinders the building of the Kingdom. The Pentecost event is the healing of - [FEAST OF PENTECOST](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/09/feast-of-pentecost-2/) - The Spirit clothes the Church with Divine Love ... we pray that the Church, led by Pope Francis, Bishop Declan and the College of Bishops, may unite all peoples, races, classes and cultures in one great human family, building a universal civilisation of love - we ask that all hearts of stone expressing discrimination of - [FEAST OF PENTECOST](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/09/feast-of-pentecost/) - PRIEST: Fifty days ago we celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection - now we celebrate the Power of Resurrection set free to transform the world! Today is not only the birthday of the Church in a ferment of Praise and Mission, it is also the beginnings of a New World, a New Creation, for through the Church and - [7th Sunday of Easter](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/01/7th-sunday-of-easter/) - PRIEST: Today we gather with Mary and those first disciples, some 120 in number, as they prayed and waited in the Upper Room of their fears soon to be turned to hopes. We also like them have heard Jesus entrust his mission to us; we like them know our own weakness and anxiety; we like - [7th Sunday of Easter - World Communication Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/06/01/7th-sunday-of-easter-world-communication-sunday/) - God speaks His Word to all the world and calls us to Unity: that the Church will use all modern means of Mass Communication and social media to grow in deeper unity and love, in order to speak the Gospel, the Good News to all our world - [SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/05/26/sixth-sunday-of-easter/) - PRIEST Jesus had to go, had to leave us: for out of his agony and his Resurrection flowed streams of living water - the life-giving Spirit that would guide the Church to new adventures, a new and radical openness to new peoples. The many gates, always open in the walls of the New Jerusalem is - [Feast of the Ascension](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/05/30/feast-of-the-ascension/) - PRIEST: Today we celebrate our Mission as a Church - for Jesus sends us out to the whole world to be his witnesses. Today we celebrate Jesus enthroned as our King, as he goes up to his throne with shouts of Joy and in the Cloud of divine Presence. Today we celebrate the immensity - [Feast of the Ascension of the Lord](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/05/30/feast-of-the-ascension-of-the-lord/) - Jesus is ascended into glory: that the Church will be faithful to Christ's commission to be a community in mission, witnessing to the world by the power of our love - we pray that the Spirit will guide us to use wisely and well the New technologies and social media to communicate the Gospel - [Sixth Sunday of Easter](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/05/26/sixth-sunday-of-easter-2/) - ‘We will make our home in you ...’ says Jesus - may the People of the Resurrection so love the Risen Lord that we will experience him alive within us, and reaching out into the world through our communities - [Fifth Sunday of Easter Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/05/19/fifth-sunday-of-easter-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: We are called to be witnesses of the Resurrection - the love we bear one another will be the greatest witness. This is the love that will create a new heaven and a new earth, this is the love that will put fresh heart into despairing people. In the end nothing else matters, - [Fifth Sunday of Easter Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/05/19/fifth-sunday-of-easter-year-c/) - Jesus says, ‘Now the Son of Man is glorified’ ... may the Church in every land and of every tradition glorify Jesus by the love we bear for one another and the unity we seek [Reader] LORD WE PRAY... [Response] Send us in Your Love... ‘I saw a - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/05/12/fourth-sunday-of-easter-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: Jesus our shepherd calls each of us by name, to follow Him, and to discover with him our own particular vocation. He knows us - loves us. And He calls every single one of us to share His Life with the our world. We all share the vocation to live for others, to be - [THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/05/12/third-sunday-of-easter-year-c-2/) - PRIEST: There are many ways of meeting the Risen Christ: one of the most life-giving encounters is to touch the world in mission. Today, we hear how Jesus re-affirms the apostles in their mission, after their experience of failure around the Calvary event. Strengthened and healed, we then hear how they find new courage in - [FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/05/12/fourth-sunday-of-easter-year-c/) - The Church's deepest call is to love without limit: we pray for the renewal of the Church and an end to the scourge of clericalism ... we pray especially for our Chief Shepherd, Pope Francis, our own Bishop Declan and the whole College of Bishops: with humility and love may they guide us wisely, compassionately - [THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/05/12/third-sunday-of-easter-year-c/) - ‘Simon Peter, do you love me?’ ... Jesus forgives and heals the failures of Peter and the first Apostles: may Pope Francis be strengthened to lead the Church as a community of forgiveness and mercy, of humility, honesty and renewal … that through our failures we may grow to love the Lord with such intensity - [Second Sunday of Easter](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/28/second-sunday-of-easter/) - PRIEST: In today's Gospel we hear a story of doubt that becomes magnificent faith; a story of wounds that breath peace and healing; a story of frightened empty men who become courageous in the Holy Spirit; a story of a community witnessing the Risen Christ. It is the story not only of the apostles, but - [SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER - BIDDING PRAYERS](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/28/second-sunday-of-easter-bidding-prayers/) - Thomas remained in doubt until he returned to the community of faith: for the unity of all God's Church, that together we will offer to an unbelieving world a convincing sign of faith, proclaiming the Risen Lord of the Church - [Easter Sunday Bidding Prayers](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/28/easter-sunday-bidding-prayers/) - Jesus is Risen! May all God's People shout to the world from the housetops that He is alive among us ... may Pope Francis and Bishop Declan give powerful witness to the Resurrection and may our transformed lives speak louder than our words [reader] LORD JESUS... - [The Biblical Stations of the Cross](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/14/the-biblical-stations-of-the-cross/) - FIRST HYMN: My Song is love unknown No 750 (Laudate) INTRODUCTION: Leader: In the name of the Father, + the Son and the Holy Spirit May the love of the Father who gives His only Son, the grace of the Crucified One and the Spirit that flows from the pierced heart of - [Palm/Passion Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/14/palm-passion-sunday/) - May the Church share the humility of our Servant-King, who comes to His world not with the force of power but with the power of love, and so serve the world in its struggles with a humble compassion: we pray both wisdom and courage for Pope Francis and all our bishops - [5th Sunday Lent Year C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/07/5th-sunday-lent-year-c/) - That with the leadership of Pope Francis, the Church will always seek to fling wide open the Gates of God’s Mercy for the world, proclaiming the Gospel of Forgiveness and compassion by actions as well as words [READER] LORD WE - [4th SUNDAY LENT YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/07/4th-sunday-lent-year-c/) - ‘The Father ran to the boy and kissed him’ ... may the Church continue to throw open the doors of God’s mercy and forgiveness and draw all people to experience God’s unconditional love for them; may Pope Francis be blessed with energy and courage as he lead us to a more humble and open, transparent - [5th SUNDAY LENT YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/07/5th-sunday-lent-year-a/) - For our Universal Pastor, Pope Francis, that God will gift him with strength, wisdom and courage as he serves to unbind the Church from all dysfunction and disunity, lead us along the paths of reform and renewal and inspire us for mission, that we might proclaim Life to a world seeking to discover how to - [4th SUNDAY YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/07/4th-sunday-year-a/) - That God’s People will reject every darkness and choose the Light of Christ, and free our world of injustice and poverty so that all can live together in joy, freedom and equality SHINE ON US, LORD... - [5th SUNDAY YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/07/5th-sunday-year-c/) - PRIEST: As we draw nearer to Holy Week, the conflict looms larger: the conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities of his time; the conflict between life and death, light and darkness, condemnation and forgiveness. We hear in today's Gospel how Jesus heals and forgives the women taken in adultery, brings her - [5th SUNDAY YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/07/5th-sunday-year-a/) - PRIEST: In just two weeks time we shall celebrate the incomparable joy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus foreshadows his own resurrection by bringing his friend Lazarus from the tomb into life. He reveals to all that he is victorious over death itself. But the greatest victory Jesus wins is over the death - [4TH SUNDAY YEAR C](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/07/4th-sunday-year-c/) - PRIEST: Today a touch of joy lightens the austerity of our Lenten journey: for we fast and repent only to create more space for Christ's joy. And what is our joy? On this 'Mothering Sunday' we recognise that our deepest joy is to give life to others by our love and our - [4th Sunday Lent YA](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/04/06/4th-sunday-lent-ya/) - PRIEST: Today we rejoice: it is 'Laetare Sunday' - a day to celebrate that the call to Lenten conversion is a call to a deeper joy. We hear the Gospel of the healing of the blind man at the pool of Siloam. Our deepest joy is to grow into Christ; to reflect his light onto - [THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT - YEAR A](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/03/23/third-sunday-of-lent-year-a/) - Jesus says, 'If you only knew what God is offering...': that the People of God will always offer our world the living water of the Holy Spirit to heal the brokenness of war, melt the hardness of violence, cleanse the sinfulness of oppression and bring humanity to a new birth - [THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT - YEAR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/03/23/third-sunday-of-lent-year/) - PRIEST: Jesus comes among us, to offer the Water of New Life to all the peoples of the world. He calls us to drink deeply of His Spirit and come to a new beginning. It is fitting that today we welcome especially our elected Catechumens to receive the gift of Faith expressed in handing - [Bidding Prayers - Feast of Christ the Universal King](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/11/25/bidding-prayers-feast-of-christ-the-universal-king/) - We pray for the Church throughout the world ... for our unity in love and faithfulness to the Gospel, for our dedication to the Mission of the Kingdom in the world, and for our prophets creating world-wide solidarity in building Justice in the name of Christ (reader) JESUS, WE ASK YOU... (response) - [Fourth Sunday of Advent YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/23/fourth-sunday-of-advent-yc-2/) - God and humanity meet in the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth: may the Church of Christ with profound faith offer the space for God and humanity always to meet, that God’s saving love and mercy might spring up from the earth [READER:] HEAR US WE PRAY... [response] WE COME TO DO - [SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/03/16/second-sunday-of-lent-yc-2/) - The Transfigured Christ reveals to the company of the disciples the Glory of God within each of us: may the Church reveal to a world, shadowed by war, terror and injustice, the glory of God's love by our courage to love and care without limit... [reader] LORD WE PRAY... [response] - [Second Sunday of Lent YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/03/16/second-sunday-of-lent-yc/) - PRIEST: We have hardly begun our Lenten journey, yet we are given a glimpse of the glory to come: the glory Abraham beheld at the moment of covenant; Jesus clothed in the glory of God on the mountain of the Transfiguration. That vision will give him the courage to embrace the Cross that he sees - [First Sunday of Lent](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/03/09/first-sunday-of-lent-2/) - Jesus is tempted to turn stone into bread: that God's People, resisting our cravings for destructive things, will always hunger for the Bread of God's Word, use only the power that comes from the Gospel and deepen our openness to God and the Good News [Reader] LORD WE PRAY... [response] STRENGTHEN - [ASH WEDNESDAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/03/09/ash-wednesday/) - ‘Proclaim a Fast’ - may God’s people journey the path of repentance these 40 days of Lent and so make room in our hearts for God’s love, for God’s challenging Word, for God’s Renewing Spirit and discover the true happiness of God-centred lives - may our world fast from the injustice and violence that leads - [First Sunday of Lent](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/03/09/first-sunday-of-lent/) - PRIEST: We have begun our journey of these 40 days of Lent - like Jesus we enter into the desert to face the demons of our own hearts - demons of selfishness and of comfort, demons of greed and exploitation. Whatever our demons are, Lent is a time to confront and defeat them - [Mass of Thanksgiving for 170 Years of Mission at St Nicks](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/03/02/mass-of-thanksgiving-for-170-years-of-mission-at-st-nicks/) - Mass for of Thanksgiving for 170 years of the Mission and Presence of St Nicholas of Tolentino Parish ENTRANCE LITURGY PROCESSIONAL SONG African ENTRANCE HYMN No 458 WORDS OF WELCOME by co-chairs of the Parish Pastoral Council AT THE BAPTISMAL FONT - Penitential Rite RICHARD: 170 years ago, in 1848, six people were baptised in this parish - [8th Sunday YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/03/02/8th-sunday-yc/) - ‘The fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher’ - for Pope Francis and the whole College of Bishops as they lead and guide God’s People to deeper fidelity to Christ, empowering us a missionary disciples and bearers of God love and mercy to our world [READER] LORD, WE PRAY… [response] - [8th Sunday of the Year YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/03/02/8th-sunday-of-the-year-yc/) - PRIEST: Jesus sees with a clear eye to the core of every human person; he speaks a life-giving word from a pure heart of love; his life bears God's fruitfulness from the tree of the Cross. Today His Word really challenges each of us who are His disciples: as we near Lent and the - [7th Sunday YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/02/24/7th-sunday-yc/) - Jesus says, ‘Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you’ ... That the People of God will be a faithful witness of the Wisdom of God which is foolishness to the world, yet the key to its future [READER] LORD WE PRAY.. [Response] Teach us - [7th Sunday of the Year YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/02/24/7th-sunday-of-the-year-yc/) - PRIEST: Today we hear how David refuses to give way to vengeance on King Saul; St Paul tells us to become more and more like Jesus, the heavenly man; and Jesus himself confronts us with the foolishness of God! He challenges us to love our enemies, to return blessing for a curse. He urges us - [SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - PENITENTIAL RITE - YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/02/17/sixth-sunday-of-the-year-penitential-rite-yc/) - PRIEST: Jesus is the Prophet of the Poor - the Voice of the Voiceless. We hear this morning Luke’s version of the Beatitudes - the Blessings of the Kingdom. But if the Poor are blessed, if the world is to change to raise up the poor, then the world of the rich must radically change! - [6th SUNDAY YC - BIDDINGS PRAYERS](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/02/17/6th-sunday-yc-biddings-prayers/) - The crowds came to hear the word and to be healed: we pray that everywhere the Church will be a healing community of Word and Welcome, and with courage be Prophets of God’s New World of the Beatitudes [reader] LORD WE PRAY... - [Prayers for Feast of St Josephine Bakhita, Patron of Trafficked and Enslaved people](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/02/09/prayers-for-feast-of-st-josephine-bakhita-patron-of-trafficked-and-enslaved-people/) - HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND MODERN SLAVERY DAY A TIME TO PRAY AND REFLECT INTRODUCTION: St Josephine Bakhita, born in Sudan, was captured as a slave at the age of nine years and was cruelly abused. She had 144 scars of wounds on her body. She was trafficked to Egypt, sold to the Italian Consul and eventually - [Fifth Sunday of the Year YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/02/09/fifth-sunday-of-the-year-yc-2/) - Jesus calls the first apostles ... may your Church founded on these apostles always have the courage to leave behind whatever impedes the proclamation of the Gospel in our present age [reader] LORD WE PRAY... - [Fifth Sunday of the Year YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/02/09/fifth-sunday-of-the-year-yc/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today that Jesus calls and makes disciples: people who will follow him anywhere, do whatever he tells them, share the work with him. Disciples are not some elitist group in the Church - they are you and me. And when he calls, it involves leaving something behind so that we can give - [BIDDING PRAYERS - FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/02/02/bidding-prayers-fourth-sunday-of-the-year/) - BIDDING PRAYERS - FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR God said to the Prophet Jeremiah, ‘Stand up and tell them all I command you’: we pray for Pope Francis, for Bishop Declan together with the whole People of God that we will not be afraid to be His Prophets of the Gospel to the World LORD - [A Meditative Liturgy of Light for Candlemas](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/02/02/a-meditative-liturgy-of-light-for-candlemas/) - A Meditative Liturgy of Light for Candlemas and the Glory of Your People Israel READER 1 In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning. Through Him all things came into being, not one thing had its being but through Him. What - [Fourth Sunday of the Year C - Penitential Rite](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/02/02/fourth-sunday-of-the-year-c-penitential-rite/) - PRIEST: We celebrate the Prophet of a Love that knows no limits! He challenges us in today’s Gospel to love the stranger, those different from us, teaching us compassion and generosity of heart: Gospel values so necessary for our own age. Are our parishes, our homes and our communities truly places of welcome where the - [Third Sunday of the Year](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/27/third-sunday-of-the-year-2/) - PRIEST: We celebrate today the dramatic beginning of Jesus' ministry ... 'with the power of the Spirit in him' he returns to his home synagogue, to proclaim the New Age that his life and ministry, his death and resurrection bring to the world - a New Age of equality and justice, of freedom and partnership. - [Second Sunday of the Year](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/27/second-sunday-of-the-year/) - PRIEST: As we share this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and celebrate Peace Sunday, we witness Jesus’ first miracle, His first Sign of Glory - insipid water turned into rich wine! The water is transformed because in Mary’s words, the servants do what he tells them! The world can be transformed if only - [Baptism of the Lord](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/27/baptism-of-the-lord/) - PRIEST: Today the Christmas Season draws to a close as we celebrate that holy day when Jesus sanctified the waters of baptism by his own humble baptism in the Jordan River at the hands of his servant and prophet, John. Jesus committed himself to be forever the sign of the Father's Love, His Word of - [Third Sunday of the Year](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/26/third-sunday-of-the-year/) - Jesus is anointed by the Spirit to be ‘Good News to the Poor’: that all God's people might be Good News to the poor and Good News to the Earth, seeking together to heal our planet and to liberate our world from poverty and oppression, walking humbly in the Spirit of Christ in mission of - [Second Sunday of the Year - Christian Unity and Peace Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/26/second-sunday-of-the-year-christian-unity-and-peace-sunday/) - That Christians everywhere may embrace the gifts of the Spirit, heed the words of Mary, ‘Do whatever He tells us’ and with courage build unity among all disciples and so be more effectively prophets of peace, challenging all peoples to a loyalty to the whole of humanity beyond any narrow nationalism or tribalism - [Feast of the Baptism of the Lord](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/26/feast-of-the-baptism-of-the-lord/) - 'This is my Beloved Son' ... that every Christian will know their dignity, chosen to be a daughter or son of God; that the Church will show to all the world its reverence for every human person, and safeguard that divine dignity, challenging all the powers that abuse or oppress... - [Feast of the Epiphany](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/06/feast-of-the-epiphany/) - Seekers after wisdom followed the Light of the Star ... we pray that the Christian Church will always be a light of truth and mercy to guide all in today’s world who search for the wisdom to live their lives in love - [New Year's Day - Feast of Mary, Mother of God](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/06/new-years-day-feast-of-mary-mother-of-god/) - Mary is Mother of all Christians ... we pray that the year just begun will see the whole Church journey towards visible unity in faith, service and mission, and so be a more effective sign and instrument of God’s Peace and Mercy to the world - [New Year Eve Vigil Mass](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/06/new-year-eve-vigil-mass/) - That God’s People in every land and culture will be faithful to the call of our Baptism to be joyful witnesses of the Gospel of Love and Mercy and to heal the blindness of a world unable to believe; that we will be a people of peace building a New Civilisation of Love in this - [Feast of the Holy Family](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/06/feast-of-the-holy-family-2/) - Jesus in the midst of the Holy Family teaches us that the Church is called to be a family of love and faith, safeguarding life and sharing compassion ... may the Church always live the challenge of being family in Christ - [Christmas Midnight/Day](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/06/christmas-midnight-day/) - Jesus was born in the dark of the night, enlightened by the glory of the angels ... may Christians everywhere so love in the power of Jesus that they may give the light of hope and mercy to the world of today [READER:] - [LITURGY OF DEDICATION TO THE MISSION OF CHRIST THIS NEW YEAR](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/04/liturgy-of-dedication-to-the-mission-of-christ-this-new-year/) - PRIEST We stand in: a rich tradition of faith, witnessed by the martyrs and prophets; a rich tradition of hope, witnessed by courageous missionaries opening up new lands and cultures for Christ; and a rich tradition of love, witnessed by all who have sacrificed themselves for the poor, the broken and the excluded of our - [FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/04/feast-of-the-epiphany-of-the-lord/) - PRIEST: The Wisdom of God has guided each of us here today, as surely as the Magi's Star: for we too are pilgrims on a journey searching for wisdom, walking by faith and yearning in hope for the peace for our world. We gather to offer our gifts, our talents and our very selves on - [FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/04/feast-of-the-holy-family/) - PRIEST: As we draw near the end of this year we gather as a family of families ... around the simplicity and poverty, the love and the faith of the Holy Family of Bethlehem and Nazareth. Theirs was not a trouble-free family life: homeless, fleeing for their lives into exile because of the fears of - [NEW YEAR'S DAY - FEAST OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/04/new-years-day-feast-of-mary-the-mother-of-god/) - PRIEST: On this first day of the New Year, the Church celebrates Mary the Bearer of God to the world. We look to the first and greatest disciple as we are about to embark on making this year truly the Year of Our Lord 2019. We commend all that is past into the Mercy of - [NEW YEAR VIGIL](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/04/new-year-vigil/) - PRIEST: We gather the year that is past with thankfulness for the many touches of grace and goodness that have been the gifts of God; with sorrow for all that has wounded our world through sin and selfishness, war and injustice; with healing prayer for hurts we have endured or have inflicted. We seek to - [Christmas Day](https://tolentino.org.uk/2019/01/04/christmas-day/) - PRIEST: Today is a wondrous day ... a day for untold rejoicing as we gaze upon the awesome mystery of our God in vulnerable human flesh ... the All-powerful contained in the powerless frame of a tiny baby. Looking into the eyes of this child we can only treat every child with immense respect - [Assembling of the Christmas Crib](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/22/assembling-of-christmas-tree/) - [PRIEST] We come to bless our crib ... by that we mean to ask God to bless everyone who will come to pray, with wonder, awe and love, before this visual image of the poverty and simplicity of our Saviour's birth. St Francis of Assisi, who lived over 800 years ago, was the first to - [Blessing of Christmas Tree](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/22/blessing-of-christmas-tree/) - READER: The erecting and decorating of Christmas Trees originated in Germany some three hundred years ago, and came to this country during the reign of Queen Victoria. It’s meaning comes from the story of the Fall in the Garden of Eden which we find in the Book of Genesis. It was originally called the ‘Paradise - [Blessing of Advent Wreath - Fourth Sunday YC](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/22/blessing-of-advent-wreath-fourth-sunday-yc/) - PRIEST: My dear sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus, We gather today on this last Sunday of Advent Preparation to welcome in this Eucharist the Visitation of God's Love. Like Elizabeth, we carry humanity's longings within us...longings for a world of peace, equality and justice; like Mary, we carry the Christ - [Commissioning of Altar Servers](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/15/commissioning-of-altar-servers/) - Pastoral Assistant: Let those who are called for the first time to serve our parish community in the ministry of Serving at the Altar of God, please come forward ... Pastoral Assistant: After careful training and preparation these young members of our parish family are presented to you, our pastor, and to our whole community - [Penitential Rite & Blessing of Advent Wreath - Gaudete Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/15/penitential-rite-blessing-of-advent-wreath-gaudete-sunday/) - PRIEST: My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This third Sunday of Advent is a day for rejoicing...rejoicing that the coming of our Saviour is close at hand; rejoicing that we are called to work joyfully for the Great Day of the Lord, when all creation will ring with the Glory of God; - [Bidding Prayers 3rd Sunday of Advent ("Gaudete")](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/15/bidding-prayers-3rd-sunday-of-advent-gaudete/) - That all God’s People will welcome John the Baptist’s challenge to conversion to the paths of justice; that we might give the world the witness of a joy that none can take from us - the joy of revealing the merciful face of the Father and yearning for Jesus our fulfilment [READER] LORD - [Second Sunday of Advent - Bible Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/09/second-sunday-of-advent-bible-sunday-2/) - PRIEST: My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus, We gather this morning, at the beginning of our second week of Advent Preparation and Prayer. We come together to listen to God's Holy Word in the Bible, so that we may allow His Word to be made Flesh in our lives. That Word will be - [Second Sunday of Advent - Bible Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/09/second-sunday-of-advent-bible-sunday/) - That the Church may always root its life and decisions in the disturbing and life-giving Word of God, and proclaim with integrity and joy the Gospel of Jesus, that the world may believe IN CHRIST WE PRAY... [response] LORD - [Feast of the Immaculate Conception](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/09/feast-of-the-immaculate-conception-2/) - Mary gives the People of God a vision of the holiness of Christ: may we always reflect the wonder of our Redeemer to a world in need of true holiness and humanity... [reader] LORD WE PRAY... [response] - [Feast of the Immaculate Conception](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/09/feast-of-the-immaculate-conception/) - PRIEST: Today is a day of rejoicing, a day of holiness: for Mary’s conception is the earliest dawn of the Holiness of our Redeemer. Her holiness is the fruit of His Redemption, so that she should always be a mirror, reflecting the wonder of Christ to us. She summons us likewise to holiness, to mirror - [First Sunday of Advent](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/01/first-sunday-of-advent/) - Advent is a time of New Beginning for God's People: as we begin our diocesan Year of Prayer may the whole Church answer God's call to profound prayer, so that revealing the face of our Father by our love and compassion, we will prepare the world for the Final Coming of Christ - [Penitential Rite & Blessing of Advent Wreath 1st Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/01/penitential-rite-blessing-of-advent-wreath-1st-sunday/) - PRIEST: My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, We have come to the Holy and Joyful Season of Advent, these four weeks of preparation ... learning to watch with faith for the Coming of the Lord in Glory ... learning to welcome with love our brother Jesus who has already come ... learning to yearn - [Rededication to Christ the King and Service of the Kingdom](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/12/01/rededication-to-christ-the-king-and-service-of-the-kingdom/) - PRIEST: Do you believe in God, the creator of all that is, whose name is 'Abba, Father', and who has chosen you to be both beloved child of His and partner with Him in the creation of our world and its future? ALL: I DO BELIEVE IN MY FATHER WHO CALLS ME BY NAME. PRIEST: - [Penitential Rite for the Feast of the Christ the Universal King](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/11/25/penitential-rite-for-the-feast-of-the-christ-the-universal-king/) - PRIEST: As the Church’s Year draws to a close, we celebrate Jesus Christ, King of all Creation. We celebrate He who came with a dream for the world, for the Universe - a dream of creation alive with divine love, drawn together in the deepest Unity in Christ. We celebrate our Brother who suffered and - [33rd Sunday Bidding Prayers](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/11/18/33rd-sunday-bidding-prayers/) - Jesus said, ‘When you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the very gates’: for the whole Church of God, that we might together ‘see the signs of the times’, know the closeness of Jesus Christ among us and faithfully proclaim life-giving truth to our world Reader: Lord we pray… - [Penitential Rite for 33rd Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/11/18/lord-have-mercy/) - PRIEST: That Jesus will come again is certain ... when and how is unknown. As Advent draws near, the Liturgy leads us to reflect on the meaning of the vivid images in the Gospel about the Day of the Lord's Return. We are challenged to be a People of constant expectancy, always straining our eyes - [Prayers for 33rd Sunday](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/11/18/prayers-for-33rd-sunday/) - Jesus said, ‘When you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the very gates’: for the whole Church of God, that we might together ‘see the signs of the times’, know the closeness of Jesus Christ among us and faithfully proclaim life-giving truth to our world Reader: Lord we pray… Response: - [Remembrance Sunday Prayers](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/11/11/527/) - As we mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, we pray that the Universal Church may witness to a higher loyalty than any nationalism, building unity and reconciliation among all the peoples of the Earth as the world continues to be be torn and wounded by war and conflict - [Bidding Prayers from the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)](https://tolentino.org.uk/2018/11/01/bidding-prayers-from-the-28th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-b/) - As we celebrate the memory of Archbishop Oscar Romero, we are conscious of the many challenges which face our world, our Church, our local communities. As we recall these in prayer, let us not be overwhelmed but strengthened to act with love: [reader:] LORD WE PRAY... [response:] TEACH US DIVINE WISDOM For the ## Pages - [Welcome to St Nick's, Bristol](https://tolentino.org.uk/) - St Nick's Bristol - A vibrant and diverse Roman Catholic Church in Bristol witnessing to Christ and serving since 1848. - [Diary](https://tolentino.org.uk/foodbank-st-nicholas-bread/diary/) - DATES FOR THE DIARY 6th Aug Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord and Anniversary of the dropping of the Atom Bomb on Hiroshima 16th Aug Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady with Sacrament of Confirmation of our Catechumens 23rd Aug Journey of Faith ‘Come and ~See’ meeting after 10am Mass 30th Aug Baptismal - [Highlights of the Week](https://tolentino.org.uk/highlights-of-the-week/) - Below are a few interesting news items from this week's Bulletin. To download the full version of our latest Bulletin, please go to our Bulletin page. Thank you. THOUGHT FOR THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A - [Mass Times](https://tolentino.org.uk/mass-times/) - EIGHTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME SUNDAY: PARISH MASS at 10.00am (Live-streamed) MONDAY: No Liturgy TUESDAY: No Liturgy WEDNESDAY: No Parish Liturgy - Mass at St Monica’s Care Home at 11.00am THURSDAY: FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD - HIROSHIMA DAY - [Newsletters](https://tolentino.org.uk/newsletters/) - Latest NewsletteR Bulletin Bulletin 2:08:2026 Reports from the parish Community Elders Summary Doc - Servant Leaders Summary of responses to proposals to be presented to Bishop St Nicholas of Tolentino Synod Report_v6 Final approved text Other Items of Interest THE SYNOD FINAL DOCUMENT - OFFICIAL ENGLISH SUMMARY Bishops' Statement on Safeguarding responding to IICSA - [St Nick's live Stream to Mass](https://tolentino.org.uk/welcome-to-st-nicks/st-nicks-live-stream-to-mass/) - To view our livestream please click here (opens in a new window). We will embed this link into this page as soon as possible. Please use the options below if you wish to donate: - [Foodbank - 'St Nicholas Bread'](https://tolentino.org.uk/foodbank-st-nicholas-bread/) - URGENT NEEDS OF OUR FOODBANK - THIS IS AN UGENT APPEAL Food and Toiletries needed - It has become much more difficult to source suitable food and other items and often we have little to offer those with great need. Please bring anything you and ask your friends and neighbours to help and share with - [SAFEGUARDING - a priority mission of our parish](https://tolentino.org.uk/safeguarding-a-priority-mission-of-our-parish/) - In Clifton Diocese we are deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all those entrusted to our care, especially the most vulnerable among us. The Church’s mission is to bring the light of Christ to the world, and we must be vigilant in protecting those who are at risk of harm. The sexual - [Contact Us](https://tolentino.org.uk/contact-us/) - Parish Office: 0117 909 0419 Parish Email: bristol.stnicholasoftolentino@cliftondiocese.com Office Open: Monday-Friday 10.00am-1.00pm Parish Priest: Rev Richard McKay Address: St Nicholas of Tolentino Church, Lawford's Gate, Bristol BS5 0RE Telephone: 0117 909 8810 (Emergency use: 07779 677370) Email: richard.mckay@cliftondiocese.com Help us in our mission - [POPE FRANCIS - HIS WORDS](https://tolentino.org.uk/pope-francis-his-words/) - On 'Synodality' “Breakthrough comes about as a gift of dialogue, when people trust each other and humbly seek the good together, and are willing to learn from each another in a mutual exchange of gifts. This is an ‘overflow’ of love, breaking the banks that confined our thinking and causes to pour forth answers that - [LGBT Mass](https://tolentino.org.uk/lgbt-mass/) - LGBT+ Mass A monthly celebration of the Eucharist for LGBT+ Catholics, Families and friends. A Clifton Diocese Initiative Every Third Sunday of the Month Bishop Declan wishes to express pastoral care and concern for our Catholic LGBT+ community and so has asked St Nicholas of Tolentino Church to celebrate a series of Masses for this - [Signed Mass](https://tolentino.org.uk/signed-mass-with-the-catholic-deaf-association/) - Signed Mass with the Catholic Deaf Association Because we are not able to cwelkebrate A Signed Mass every Second Sunday of the Month at 3pm followed by refreshments, WE ARE NOW LIVE-STREAMING THE PARISH MASS WITH SIGNING FOR HEARING IMPAIRED SISTERS ANBD BROTHERS AS NOTIFIED IN THE BULLETIN. WE ARE SIGNING MASS AT 10.00AM ON SUNDAY - [MASS AND PRAYERS OF THE DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/mass-and-prayers-of-the-day/) - [MASS TEXTS AND PRAYERS OF THE DAY](https://tolentino.org.uk/mass-texts-and-prayers-of-the-day/) - [Mass texts of the Day](https://tolentino.org.uk/mass-texts-of-the-day/) - [Gallery](https://tolentino.org.uk/gallery/) - Our Vibrant, Diverse and Multicultural Parish in Pictures: Baptisms: First Eucharist: Confirmation: 170 Anniversary Doing what we know how to do best - [Mass front page](https://tolentino.org.uk/534-2/) - Sunday Mass 10am All are welcome Weekday Mass TImes - [Parish Concert - Friday 23rd November 2018](https://tolentino.org.uk/concert/) - Tickets on sale now Adult Ticket - £5 Under 12 - FREE - [Rev Richard McKay](https://tolentino.org.uk/fr-richard-mckay/) - Richard is proud of his Scottish origins, but has lived and worked all his life in England. He has been a Roman Catholic priest of Clifton Diocese for 46 years, working for 41 years in very impoverished Outer Estate and Inner City parishes. Influenced by both Charismatic Renewal and Liberation Theology he finds the reality of - [Disclaimer](https://tolentino.org.uk/disclaimer/) - St Nicholas of Tolentino RC Church makes all reasonable efforts to ensure information published on this website is accurate at the time of its inclusion; however, there may be errors, inaccuracies or omissions in respect of which we exclude all liability. Any decisions based on the information contained on this website are your sole responsibility. St Nicholas - [Our Parish Mission](https://tolentino.org.uk/our-parish-mission/) - Almost all the ministries and charisms of our patron saint are being served by St Nicks 650 years after his death. We have long given food to the poor and homeless (now mainly but not exclusively through working in partnership with the Wild Goose Café), and now increasingly provide food and sustenance for those so-called - [St Nick's seeks to be 'Good News to the Poor'](https://tolentino.org.uk/home/) - The Synod of Bishops on ‘the New Evangelisation’ a few years ago said in their closing message to the People of God: ‘If people are going to see in us the face of Jesus Christ, then they have to see a Church that is reaching out to the poor, that is caring for the sick - [Shop](https://tolentino.org.uk/shop/) - [Basket](https://tolentino.org.uk/basket/) - [woocommerce_cart] - [Checkout](https://tolentino.org.uk/checkout/) - [woocommerce_checkout] - [My account](https://tolentino.org.uk/my-account/) - [woocommerce_my_account] ## Categories - [Bidding Prayers](https://tolentino.org.uk/category/prayers/) - [Penitential Rites](https://tolentino.org.uk/category/pentiential/) - [Spiritual Reflection](https://tolentino.org.uk/category/spiritual-reflection/) - [Pope Francis' Words](https://tolentino.org.uk/category/pope-francis-words/)