Woodhall Spa Parish
Welcome to Woodhall Spa Parish
Our Lady and St Peter Woodhall Spa
click on the picture above to see inside and here to see the garden
Church Open for Sunday 10am Mass only - please book to attend
Serving Woodhall Spa, Horncastle, Coningsby and Metheringham
Parish Priest Fr John O'Donnell
Our Lady and St Peter
15 Cromwell Avenue, Woodhall Spa, LN10 6TH
Tel 01526 352245
e-mail catholic.church.woodhallspa@gmail.com
The Catholic Church in England and Wales
Daily Readings - read the entire New Testament over a 2 year period
(reading plan courtesy of Gideon International)
St Mary's Church of England Church, Horncastle
click on the picture of the church to see inside
This church is closed until further notice.
'For the duration of this emergency the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is removed - see catechism of the Catholic Church 2181 – this pandemic is the "serious reason" why this obligation does not apply at this time.'
Catholic Conference of Bishops of England & Wales.
Liturgies Live Streamed from the private chapel at Bishop’s House, on the Bishop’s YouTube account.
Previous liturgies available to view
Please click on the picture link below to access the account
Mass Sunday at 10 am, for mid-week Mass times check Sunday Mass stream
For todays Mass Readings and for the Readings for the Week
click on the date link below
Live and recorded liturgies of Pope Francis with English commentary
Please click on the picture link below
Live and recorded Masses at St Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham
Please click on the picture link below
Monday – Friday 1 pm Mass
Saturday 10 am Mass
Sunday 10 am Mass
ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION PRAYER
Offered as an example of a suitable prayer for use by home viewers wishing to participate in a Live Streaming of the Mass
After the celebrant has received Holy Communion himself, the celebrant reads aloud the Act of Spiritual Communion, and invites the home viewers to say the words of the prayer with him.
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen
Novena on the Care of Creation
The 'God Who Speaks' team offers this Novena of readings and prayers as tangible action to respond to the urgent climate change issues we all face.
please click on the picture link
Pope Francis May 2021
The world of finance
The true economy, the one that creates work, is in crisis. How many people are now unemployed! — But the financial markets have never been as inflated as they are now.
How far away is the world of high finance from the lives of ordinary people!
If finance is unregulated, it becomes pure speculation driven by various monetary policies.
This situation is unsustainable. And it is dangerous.
So that the poor do not suffer painful consequences from this system, financial speculation must be carefully regulated.
Speculation. I want to underline that term.
May finance be a form of service, and an instrument to serve the people, and to care for our common home!
We still have time to begin a process of global change to practice a different kind of economy, one that is more just, more inclusive and sustainable —and leaves no one behind.
We can do this! And let us pray that those in charge of finance will work with governments to regulate financial markets and protect citizens from its dangers.
World Communications Day 16.05.2021
The theme for the 2021 World Day of Social Communications, chosen by Pope Francis, echoes the words of the Apostle Philip, recognising that authentic communication leads to “encountering people as and where they are”.
New Lectionary for England and Wales
Pope Francis Fratelli Tutti
The new Encyclical Fratelli Tutti on fraternity and social friendship. The signs of the times clearly show that human fraternity and care of creation form the sole way towards integral development and peace, already indicated by the Popes Saints John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II. May Saint Francis accompany the Church’s path of fraternity, among believers of every religion, and among all peoples.
Statement from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales about receiving the Coronavirus Covid-19 Vaccines - 03.12.2020
At present, debate concerns the use of the vaccines developed by Pfizer & BioNTech, Moderna, and Astra Zeneca. Some have questioned the use of the Astra Zeneca vaccine since it has been developed from cell-lines originating from the cells of an aborted foetus in 1983.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical Academy of Life have expressed the view that one may in good conscience and for a grave reason receive a vaccine sourced in this way, provided that there is a sufficient moral distance between the present administration of the vaccine and the original wrongful action.
In the COVID-19 pandemic, we judge that this grave reason exists and that one does not sin by receiving the vaccine.
Grapevine Newsletter 11.05.21
“Ecological Conversion” theme at National Justice & Peace Conference
‘2021: Moment of Truth’ is the theme of the 2021 annual conference of the National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales (NJPN). The 43rd NJPN conference will take place 23-25 July in Derbyshire. Bookings are now open for an in-person gathering and all are welcome.
NJPN says: “Six years on from Laudato Si’ we are learning that the “ecological conversion” called for in Laudato Si’ is a matter of life and death. Decisions at United Nations summits in 2021 on both biodiversity and the climate crisis will be critical for salvaging a viable future. This is also the year when the Vatican Dicastery of Human Development is inviting us to embark on a journey through the ‘Laudato Si’ Action Platform’, to be launched on 24 May 2021. Bishop John Arnold of Salford, the lead bishop on the environment for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, will be the conference Mass celebrant.
Booking
Booking Form: NJPN Conference 2021
Return your form by 21 May 2021 to the NJPN Administrator, 39 Eccleston Square, London SWIV 1BX. If you have not had confirmation of your booking by 15 June, contact NJPN 07365 838535
Administrator, Geoff Thompson: admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk
More details can be found: justice-and-peace.org.uk/conference/
Nottingham Diocesan Internet Café
Nottingham Diocesan Internet Café is a one-stop shop for you and your parish during the Covid-19 pandemic. Help your parish to thrive, and your own discipleship to flourish, during lockdown and beyond.
Become a Laudato Si' animator!
In-depth online training to inspire your parish to care for creation
Starts on 14 April
Laudato Si’ Animators are local leaders who strive to care for the Earth in their own lives while inspiring and motivating others in their communities to do so too.
We need each other in this journey for a better future. The Global Catholic Climate Movement are building a mass scale movement to address the ecological crisis and climate emergency.
Find out more about the training here
The training comes at an opportune time for us in Nottingham Diocese, as we develop an environmental strategy for becoming a 'zero-carbon diocese' and safeguarding our common home. By joining this course you could make a valuable contribution here at home.
Linking you up across Nottingham Diocese
As well as booking with the organisers, please let us know here at Grapevine if you are interested in training. We'll put you in touch with fellow trainees across Nottingham Diocese, and you can help to build a pioneering team for our environmental effort - for instance:
visiting nearby parishes to assess their applications for CAFOD's Livesimply Award
raising awareness of COP26, the crucial climate summit in Glasgow this November
joining parishioners here from poorer countries in speaking about the impacts of climate change on their families
helping each other run workshops in parishes around the diocese.
Revolution of Tenderness: As we emerge from lockdown into the 'new normal', God is calling each of us afresh. The diocese is offering a series of initiatives and events inspired by Pope Francis called Revolution of Tenderness, to help us answer that call. The invitation comes from Caritas, the new diocesan network supporting social action, and includes:
Prepare the Future: Practical workshops on 21 April and 2 June and regularly thereafter, to help parish activities and outreach start up again
Kindle the Fire: Online prayer for the eve of Pentecost to mark the launch of Caritas
Lend an Ear: A diocesan listening campaign to rebuild social friendship and understanding after the pandemic
The Word and the Common Good: Workshops on Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching on Monday evenings in June and July
Everyone is welcome - visit dioceseofnottingham.uk/revolution-of-tenderness for ways to join in.
The Word and the Common Good: You are invited to join Catholics from around the Diocese of Nottingham for an interactive online course over six Monday evenings in June and July. As life starts afresh after lockdown, it's a rare opportunity to sow seeds of the Gospel.
Discover how Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching can help us seize this moment and build a society that reflects God's Kingdom
Build bridges following a year of social distancing and foster a new 'culture of encounter'
Form new friendships, renew old ones, and help to build our parish communities for mission.
The sessions begin on Monday 7 June at 7.00 p.m. for six weeks. To find out more:
Join an Open Evening on Monday 17 May
A Father's Heart - A Podcast for Catholic Dads
This new podcast series from the Diocese of Nottingham for the Year of St Joseph will explore what does it mean to be a Catholic Dad , taking St Joseph as our model. Each month a section of the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde will be explored through conservation with two dads from the Diocese of Nottingham sharing their thoughts and experiences.
St Joseph Novena
On the 8th December 2020, Pope Francis announced that there would be a Year of St Joseph from 8th December 2020 to 8th December 2021. This was to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St Joseph being declared the Patron of the Universal Church.
To join in these celebrations the Diocese has produced a Novena to St Joseph leading to his feast day 19th March. The Novena takes as its focus the different groups or causes that claim St Joseph as their Patron Saint, as well as the themes of Pope Francis’ letter launching the year.
The Novena can be downloaded as a whole booklet here or by clicking on the image you can email: adult.formation@dioceseofnottingham.uk with ‘St Joseph Novena’ in the subject line to receive daily emails with the prayers for that day between 10th - 18th March.
'Being a Disciple'
The 'Being a Disciple' series was run in conjunction between the Diocese of Nottingham and Catholic Voices over four evenings on Zoom in January 2021.
Brenden Thompson, CEO of Catholic Voices presented in each session a fundamental principle of being a Catholic disciple. Session 1 explores the Word of God and how as disciples we are called to internalise it that means to live it, to share it and to seek to know it better.
This course was aimed at both those who would like to grow in their personal discipleship and those who want to help others grow.
The recordings are presented here for you to access and use this course to help you grow as a disciple or to help others in your community.
youth2000uk Youth 2000 seeks to draw young people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, lived at the heart of the Catholic church. www.youth2000.org
Let us pray for peace, and let us bring it about, starting in our own homes!
May we help people to discover the joy of the Christian message: a message of love and mercy. Pope Francis
Pope Francis: our path is to take care of others
Pope Francis 03.02.15 - Daily contemplation of the Gospel
Daily contemplation of the Gospel helps us to have true hope. The Pope again urged people to take 10 minutes out of their day to pick up the Gospel and talk to the Lord, rather than waste it on TV soap operas or listening to other peoples’ gossip.
Take up the Gospel, read and imagine the scene, imagine what happens and talk to Jesus, from the heart. And with this we allow hope to grow, because we have our gaze fixed, we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
We should all carry out this contemplative prayer. 'But I have so much to do!'. At home, 15 minutes, pick up the Gospel, a small passage, imagine what happened and talk with Jesus about it. So your gaze will be fixed on Jesus and not so much on a TV soap opera, for example. Your ears will be focused on the words of Jesus and not so much on your neighbourhood gossip ... ".
Hope comes from this prayer, he said, adding "our Christian life unfolds in that context, between memory and hope": "Memory of our past journey, memory of so many graces received from the Lord. And hope, looking at the Lord, who is the only one who can give me hope. And in order to gaze at the Lord, to know the Lord, we pick up the Gospel and carry out this contemplative prayer.
Today, for example, try for 10 minutes - 15, no more – to read the Gospel, picture it and say something to Jesus. And nothing more. And so your knowledge of Jesus will be bigger and your hope will grow.
Bishop Patrick recommends the new Pocket Gospels
Pope Francis has said "Everyone should carry a small Bible or a pocket edition of the Gospels and should find at least a few minutes every day to Read the Word of God"
Priced £4.99 from the Bible Society
Daily Readings - read the entire New Testament over a 2 year period
(reading plan courtesy of Gideon International)
Sunday & daily Mass live streamed at
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Thoughts from Elston Hermitage on Angels
Of all things visible and invisible angels then are part of that invisible side of God's creation and so worthily deserve our attention.
Angels are God's messengers not only for great occasions but we can be assured they are constantly looking after us too as promised by the Psalmist 'The Lord will command his Angels to guard you in all your ways, they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone' (Ps. 91 11-12). Angels then are body and soul guards, and each of us has a guardian angel to watch over us.
Pope Francis: Guardian angels our companions on life’s journey
Pope Francis at Mass at Casa Santa Marta. "Guardian angels exist, they are not the fruit of imaginative doctrine, but companions that God has placed beside us on our life’s journey."
Travelling away or going on holiday?
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