June 2013 - St Helen's Roman Catholic Church, Caerphilly

The Word This Week

Peter and Paul are the two great heroes of the Apostolic Age – Peter for leading the first Christian communities and binding them in unity, a role that springs from his profession of faith in Caesarea Philippi, and Paul for travelling throughout the Roman Empire as the Apostle to the Gentiles, ensuring that the Gospel could be heard by all. They both ended up in Rome, the heart of the Empire, where they crowned their lives of witness by shedding their blood for Christ. In celebrating the death of these apostles and martyrs, we celebrate the triumph of life and death offered fully to God.

Today’s Scripture

Mass of the Vigil

Acts 14: 21 – 27.

Response: Psalm 18

The heavens proclaim the glory of God
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
and night unto night makes known the message.
No speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the earth,
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.
(Sung Antiphon: Their word goes forth
through all the earth.)

Galatians 1: 11 – 20.
Acclamation for the Gospel:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Lord, you know everything;
You know I love you.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

John 21: 15 – 19

Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord, raise us up Continue reading “The Word This Week”

The Word This Week

Out of a seemingly innocent question comes the dark shadow of the cross: Jesus must teach his disciples that to be the “Anointed One”, “the Christ”, means to follow the path of sacrifice to the very end. He is not a King who comes with armies, but a King who comes with truth and humility, prepared to die for that truth about God’s Kingdom. But the mourning is always to be seen in the light of Easter – “being raised on the third day”, when “a fountain will be opened”, the fountain of Baptism and eternal life in the death and resurrection of the Lord.

Today’s Scripture

Zechariah 12: 10-11; 13: 1

Response: Psalm 62
O God you are my God for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like dry, weary land without water

So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory
For you love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.

So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.

For you have been my help,
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.
(Sung Antiphon: For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.)

Galatians 3: 26 – 29

Acclamation for the Gospel:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
I am the light of the world, says the Lord,
anyone who follows me
will have the light of life.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Luke 9: 18 – 24

Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord, be our help.

The Word This Week

The “theme” of the First Reading, Psalm and Gospel today is “forgiveness of sins”. We hear the touching Gospel story, of the “woman with a bad name in the town” coming to anoint Jesus’ feet. Living inspired by the love of Jesus is the key to our discipleship – his crucifixion is the sign of his love, which is in itself the forgiveness of sins.

Today’s Scripture

2 Samuel 12: 7 – 10, 13.

Response: Psalm 31.
Happy the man whose offence is forgiven,
whose sin is remitted.
O happy the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,
in whose spirit is no guile.
But now I have acknowledged my sins;
my guilt I did not hide.
I said ‘I will confess my offence to the Lord.’
and you, Lord, have forgiven the guilt of my sin.
You are my hiding place, O Lord, you save me from distress.
You surround me with cries of deliverance.
Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord, exult, you just!
O come, ring out your joy, all you upright of heart.
(Sung Antiphon: Forgive, Lord, the guilt of my sin)
Galatians 2: 16, 19 – 21.
Acclamation for the Gospel:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord;
No one can come to the Father except through me.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Luke 7: 36 – 8: 3.

Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord, save us from distress

Parish Family Groups

The Year of Faith calls us to action in our lives and in our parishes, The beginning of an exciting new time for Catholics: “Parish Family Groups” are one way we can do something.

So far, we have a list of over seventy names on our Parish Family Groups register, and recently we placed families/people into three ‘groups’. There are places left in the groups, if you’d like to join. We’d like to thank you for taking the time at Mass to listen to the experiences of Parish Family Groups and reading the information and flyers posted
around the Parish, to help you to understand the great joys of belonging to them.

Those placed in groups will be contacted, and there will be more information regarding the next step shortly. Meanwhile please feel free to contact Steve and Tracey (traceyhoy@hotmail.co.uk) or Father John with any questions or queries you may have. We hope you will really enjoy your experiences in your Parish Family Group.

God wants us to make a difference in our communities.
First, we must make a difference in our church,
then…together we can make miracles.

The Word This Week

The Eucharist is not an invention of the Church: it is a part of God’s plan of salvation from the very beginning: it is prefigured in the Old Testament, seen today in the food offerings of Melchizedek, priest king of Jerusalem associated with Abraham, choose bread and wine as the offerings. It is also revealed by the prophetic action of Jesus, in feeding the multitude, before he feeds the Church with the gift that is transmitted through the centuries. The Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, is our communication with the Father, in the Spirit: it is the real presence in the Church’s here and now of the eternal God; it is Covenant, Memorial and Promise, Meal and Sacrifice, the heartbeat of the Family of Believers.

Today’s Scripture

Genesis 14: 18 – 20.

Response: Psalm 109

The Lord’s revelation to my Master;
“Sit on my right:
I will put your foes beneath your feet.”

The Lord will send from Zion
your sceptre of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.

A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the daybreak I begot you.

The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
“You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedek of old.”

(Sung Antiphon: You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedek of old.)

1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 26.

Acclamation for the Gospel:

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

I am the living bread which has come down from heaven,
says the Lord.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Luke 9: 11 – 17.