OUR LADY & ST EDWARD'S
4 Marlborough Drive, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9UE
27 SUNDAY A 5 OCTOBER 2008
MY FRIEND HAD A VINEYARD ON A FERTILE HILLSIDE.
HE DUG THE SOIL, CLEARED IT OF STONES AND PLANTED CHOICE VINES IN IT.
HE EXPECTED IT TO YIELD GRAPES BUT SOUR GRAPES WERE ALL THAT IT GAVE.
My Dear Parishioners,
For the third consecutive Sunday, Our Lord's parable takes us outdoors into the vineyard. -
1 The labourers in the vineyard; some came at the eleventh hour.
2 The son who changed his mind and went to work in the vineyard;
3 The landowner who leased his vineyard
The vineyard was often a symbol of the Kingdom of God -
planting, pruning, feeding, working, fruiting.
Today, we are reminded that God's ambitious plans for his vineyard
are not always fulfilled.
Reflection by Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB
Our Lord's understanding of the sovereignty of God brought violent opposition from some of the Jewish leaders. Were they corrupt, or just closed to any new way of thinking? Were they so closed that they could not see that Jesus was the promised Messiah? Anyway, Jesus used this story about the tenants of a vineyard to show that they were not leading the people as they should. Everyone would immediately understand the image of the vineyard. The prophet Isaiah - and many others after him - had used this image in a well-known poem eight centuries earlier to show that the vineyard of Israel refused to yield a good harvest to God, despite the care God had lavished on it. God expected fairness of judgment from the people and all he found was a shriek of agony. What does this mean for us? - that we must be open to the idea that we may be wrong, that our service of the Lord may be faulty, that people we find tiresome or unacceptable may have more good in them than we credit. God's ways are not our ways. Life may not be mapped out how we think, so we need to watch out for the bend in the road.
THANK YOU to 503 (166.154,183) who celebrated Mass on Sunday and gave offerings £950; for Catholic Trust Offerings £174 (31 Aug) towards assessment £883.
CAFOD
Cafod envelopes may be handed in at any time;
if you pay Income Tax and wish Cafod to reclaim tax on your offerings,
please complete the attached slips on the envelopes;
please make cheques payable to OLSE if you wish these to go towards parish effort.
PARISH FEASTDAY CELEBRATIONS
We are spreading our celebrations over seven days 7 - 13 October with special celebrations at all Masses on Sat/Sun 11/12 Oct - the Sunday between the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Tuesday 7 October and the Feast of St Edward Monday 13 October.
Parade 10.30am Mass Sunday 12 October
Readers Members of the Troops will be reading at 10.30am Mass.
If other children would like to read at 6.00pm or 8.30am Masses, please let me know at school, church, by phone or email
BAPTISM S
We welcome Scarlett Meg Willans & Jasmine Mai Sandwell who will be baptised at 10.30am Mass Sunday 5 October.
AT DAY'S END
Is anyone happier because you passed this way?
Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
The day is almost over, and its toiling time is through,
Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?
Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast,
that you helped a single brother of the man that you passed?
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said?
Does the man whose hopes are fading, now with courage look ahead?
Did you use the day, or lose it? Was it well or sorely spent?
0Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber, do you think that God will say,
'You have earned one more tomorrow, by the work you did today'?
Fill your minds with everything that is true,
everything that is noble, everything that is good,
so that the God of peace will be with you.' (2 Reading) Patrick McMahon
THE LANDOWNER SENT HIS SON; 'THEY WILL RESPECT MY SON.'
Sat 6.00pm Frank Walmsley Sun 8.30am Cyril Johnson 10.30am Parishioners Mon - Sat: 9.00am Rosary 8.45am weekdays during October - month of Rosary. Feasts Tues (Bruno) Tues (Our Lady of the Rosary) Thurs (Denis) Fri (Paulinus of York)
THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
was held at 11.40am - 12.25pm Sun 28 Sept; 30 present (20 in 2007; 16 in 2006) Councillers: Robert Bamber (new), Janet Bracewell, Sean Bradley, Michael Eastham, Kevin Gilchrist, Emma McGrath, Patrick McMahon, Kathryn O'Flaherty, Tony Rowlands, Dominic Swarbrick, Anne Wearden & Peter Williams. We thank retiring councillor Bill Noblet who served 25 years. Copies of the Parish Financial Summary are in the porch. Kevin Gilchrist, Chairman, listed all who were involved in parish activities thanked them for their generous support. PARISH CENTRE AGM 7.30pm Tues 14 Oct. Anyone interested in the future of the Centre is urged to attend; new committees members needed; free drinks for all at the meeting.
FATHER LAWRENCE KERNAN Please remember Fr Lawrence Kernan who died on Thursday 25 September after a short illness. Lawrence was born on 15 May 1930, Lancaster. He went to The Cathedral Primary School, Lancaster and Preston Catholic College. He trained for the Priesthood at Upholland and Ushaw and was ordained on 22 July 1956 in Lancaster. He served as Assistant Priest at - St. John Vianney's, Blackpool (1956-1964), Sacred Heart, Barrow (1964-1971), St. Mary's, Egremont (1971-1974), Priest-in-Charge at Mater Amabalis, Ambleside (1974), Parish Priest at Our Lady of the Rosary, Dalton (1974-2004) where he will be especially remembered with fondness by all for his loving, gentle and pastoral care. Since his retirement in 2004, Fr Lawrence has resided at Boarbank Hall where he was cared for with great dedication and devotion – greatly appreciated by the Diocese. Requiem Mass was in Dalton on Thursday 2 October.
Parish Holidays: We wish a happy holiday to 46 parishioners in Weymouth this week Menorca Mon 4/11 May 2009; 36 places booked;
2 twins available until 15 Oct; full details in porch.
Ladies Group: 8.00pm Thurs 9 Oct 'The wind in your sails' by Rev Nigel Lemon; £1.50; visitors welcome.
Parish Walks: Sundays 19 Oct Kendal - Scout Scar; 16 Nov Pendle: Barrowford. 28 Dec Grassington Skipton; 15 Feb Rivington Gardens; 22 Mar East Lancs (Bill & Mike)' 19 Apr 'Winders Way' (Peter & Maureen); 17 May 'Sunshine Walk' (Ray & Deirdre); 28 June Kirby Lonsdale; 5 July Social Evening, Parish Centre. Dates for 2009 are not confirmed and may change; new walkers always welcome; further details from Bernard Walmsley 863493 & Tony Drainey 864342.
Gaelic Football Final; Many remarked on my 'report' on the All-Ireland Final. The Irish often mix religious similes and metaphors in reporting sport. Here is an example from a football commentator. 'Mickey Harte, manager of the victorious Tyrone team seemed very relaxed during the exciting second half; he looked as calm as a man waiting in the front bench to go to Confession! Now, I am not saying that Mickey Harte needs to go to Confession ................'
Website www.pat.fulwoodpreston.org
Email pat@fulwoodpreston.org
Parish Priest Patrick McMahon 01772 862437
Deacon Peter Williams 01772 863444
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees - Charity Number: 234331