A
message from Father Duncan on Sunday 22 March 2020
Dear
Parishioners
Today, on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, l celebrate Holy Mass privately
for the Parish. "I asked the Lord to stop the epidemic.
Lord, stop it with your hand." This is what Pope Francis responded
when asked what he prayed for four days ago, when he ventured to
Rome's Centre, making a pilgrimage on foot from Rome's Marian Basilica,
Santa Maria Maggiore, to the Church of San Marcello al Corso where
there is a miraculous cross. "This is what I prayed for. During
these difficult days, we can find small, concrete gestures expressing
closeness and concreteness towards the people closest to us. These
include, a caress for our grandparents, a kiss for our children,
for the people we love. If we live these days like this, they won't
be wasted. We must rediscover the concreteness of little things,
small gestures of attention we can offer those close to us, our
family, our friends. We must understand that in small things lies
our treasure. These gestures of tenderness, affection, compassion,
are minimal and tend to be lost in the anonymity of everyday life,
but they are nonetheless decisive, important. I ask everyone to
stay close to those who have lost loved ones, to be close to them
in every possible way. Consolation must now be everyone's commitment."
Today - Mothering Sunday - is a National Day of Prayer. We are invited
to pray the Rosary at 12 noon, asking for her intercession for our
country and our world in this time of need.
In the midst of all the uncertainty, changes and anxiety, we know
the nature of Gods fatherly heart. We know he draws ever nearer
to us in times of suffering, and we know his first impulse is to
love and to create. So, in everything, we remain grateful, optimistic
and full of hope that there are sublime blessings that will come
from this. As we navigate our new reality, I wanted to assure you
of two things - you, the Parish family of Saint Peters are
my number one priority and I will offer Holy Mass daily for your
and your families. In Church, the Parish is making available powerful
resources to help bring Catholics closer to God, pray at home and
keep the Sunday as a Holy Day. There is a special prayer leaflet
called When Mass cannot be Celebrated Publicly, a prayer card The
Act of Spiritual Communion and a pocket-sized prayer card with the
Order of Mass. The Parish bulletin is also available with the Sunday
Mass Readings and Thoughts for every Day. Please avail yourself
of these resources and remember our Church is open from 9.30am until
4.30pm every day for a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and private
prayer.
A
message from Father Duncan on Saturday 21 March 2020