Month: February 2014

Cafod’s Dig Deep Lent Appeal

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsbdTwAW4WU&w=640&h=360]

He was born in the middle of a brutal civil war and as a baby, his mother fed him rice pap to keep him alive. Even in peace time he is facing hunger and hardship on a daily basis.

His family cannot afford to send him to school with his younger brother and sister, and so Mohammed must work in the fields, growing food to eat and sell. Yet he still doesn’t know if they will eat tomorrow.

Mohammed and his family face many challenges. The family often go hungry. They are at the mercy of an unpredictable climate. Things are particularly bad during the hungry season – between the planting and harvesting of crops.

But Mohammed never gives up hope that one day he will be able to go back to school.

CAFOD is working on innovative projects to reclaim fertile land. With your support, these projects can help families like Mohammed’s improve the amount of food that they grow. The little extra they sell, they are able to save the money and put it towards helping Mohammed fulfil his dream of finishing school.

During Lent, as we think about the ways in which we can change our own lives, we can also make an amazing difference to the world’s poorest people.

Dig deep this Lent. Donate now and change the lives of children like Mohammed >>

 Save lives this Lent

£20 can buy a wheelbarrow for a farmer to transport food from their land to home

£50 can provide tools for 10 farmers to clear their land

£76 can pay for a trainer to teach a farmer how to cultivate swampland

£160 can pay a mother-child health worker’s salary for one month

The Word This Week

“You have learnt how it was said to your ancestors; but I say this to you.”

Sermon on the Mount by Carl Bloch


Back in the 60s some groups “adopted” Jesus Christ as an icon of rebellion, overturning authority and tearing up the rule book – possibly because of the frequent confrontations between Our Lord and the Pharisees. Today’s Gospel, however, shows us Jesus not as rule-breaker, but as rule-fulfiller, bringing an even greater depth to the rule that had guided the people of Israel for centuries. Jesus does not throw out the rulebook – or as the first reading says, He does not command us to be godless! He challenges us in this Gospel to see how far our keeping God’s Law will go: will it just be about the letter of the Law (“I have never killed anyone”), or will it look deeper (“Have I ever been angry? Have I been violent in my thoughts?”). The challenge of the Kingdom of Heaven is to keep the commandments first and foremost from within, so that our outward behaviour conforms to the requirements of God’s Law.

Today’s Scipture: (Psalter: Week 2)

Sirach 15: 15 – 20.

Response: Psalm 118
They are happy whose life is blameless,
who follow God’s law!
They are happy those who do his will,
seeking him with all their hearts.

You have laid down your precepts
to be obeyed with care.
May my footsteps be firm
to obey your statutes.

Bless your servant and I shall live
and obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may consider
the wonders of your law.

Teach me the demands of your statutes
and I will keep them to the end.
Train me to observe your law,
to keep it with my heart.

Sung Antiphon: (They are happy who follow God’s law.)

1 Corinthians 2: 6 – 10

Acclamation for the Gospel:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:
You have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Matthew 5: 17 – 37
Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord, bless your servants.

Please take some time to view Today’s Readings on Catholic Online.

A Message From Pope Francis on World Day of the Sick

February 11th, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, is also the Day of Prayer for the Sick. At St Helen’s we will mark it with Mass with the Sacrament of the sick at 2 pm, in the Hall: All who are sick and housebound are invited: Help is available for those who have no transport: Please contact Louisa on 02920 883462. All Parishioners are also invited, and help with transport, welcome, refreshments, and simple friendship would be most gratefully received.

Pope-Francis-in-Popemobile_medium-2Pope Francis in 2014 is commending the 22nd World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary, so that she will help sick people to live their own suffering in communion with Jesus Christ.

The theme for this world day is Faith and charity: ” We too must give our lives for the brethren” and in his message to mark this occasion, the Holy Father turns his attention especially to the sick and all those who provide them with care and treatment. The Pope begins his five point message by saying “the Church sees in you, dear sick people, the special presence of the suffering Christ and he goes on to say that God gives us the courage to face each adversity with him and united to Him”.

Why not read Pope Francis’ Message () for the World Day of the Sick?

The Word This Week

While the world may seem to be very indifferent to Christianity most of the time, it can be very critical of Christians who do not seem to be following the most basic tenet of their faith – to be a people of “good deeds”, as Jesus teaches in today’s portion of the Sermon on the Mount. While we may sometimes feel indignant about the world’s criticism of our faults, we have to remember that we are in a vital relationship with “the world” – we are to be its light. This means that we should welcome the world’s gaze and scrutiny of our actions and beliefs and we should, in a sense, be accountable to the world for the way we live. We should never be salt that loses its taste. This openness to the gaze of all is not for our own glory, however: it is so that others may find what we have found – their way to the Father.

Today’s Scripture (Psalter: Week 1)
Isaiah 58: 7 – 10
Response: Psalm 111.
The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright
he is generous, merciful and just.
The good man takes pity and lends,
he conducts his affairs with honour.

The just man will never waver;
he will be remembered for ever.
He has no fear of evil news;
with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;
open-handed he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm for ever.
His head will be raised in glory.
(Sung Antiphon: The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.)

1 Corinthians 2: 1 – 5
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!

Matthew 5: 13 – 16
Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord, answer when we cry

Find Today’s Readings on Catholic Online.

The Word This Week

While the world may seem to be very indifferent to Christianity most of the time, it can be very critical of Christians who do not seem to be following the most basic tenet of their faith – to be a people of “good deeds”, as Jesus teaches in today’s portion of the Sermon on the Mount. While we may sometimes feel indignant about the world’s criticism of our faults, we have to remember that we are in a vital relationship with “the world” – we are to be its light. This means that we should welcome the world’s gaze and scrutiny of our actions and beliefs and we should, in a sense, be accountable to the world for the way we live. We should never be salt that loses its taste. This openness to the gaze of all is not for our own glory, however: it is so that others may find what we have found – their way to the Father.

Today’s Scripture (Psalter: Week 1)
Isaiah 58: 7 – 10
Response: Psalm 111.
The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright
he is generous, merciful and just.
The good man takes pity and lends,
he conducts his affairs with honour.

The just man will never waver;
he will be remembered for ever.
He has no fear of evil news;
with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;
open-handed he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm for ever.
His head will be raised in glory.
(Sung Antiphon: The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.)
1 Corinthians 2: 1 – 5
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!
Matthew 5: 13 – 16
Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord, answer when we cry

The Word This Week

The Presentation of Our Lord: In accordance with Jewish law, Jesus is Presented in the temple 40 days after his birth, and two doves are sacrificed: Simeon recognises Him as the fulfilment of the promises, and the Light of the World. So Christ, the light of the nations, brings God’s light into the world darkened by sin. And we are to bring this light into our world, since we share in Christ’s mission and life. He accomplished this for us through his death by which he took away the power of evil: He became one of us through the incarnation, and because he has himself been through temptation, he is able to help others who are tempted.

Today’s Scripture  (Psalter: Week 4)

Malachi 3: 1 – 4

Response: Psalm 23
O gates, lift up your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!

Who is the king of glory?
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant,
the Lord, the valiant in war.

O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!

Who is he, the king of glory?
He, the Lord of armies,
he is the king of glory.

(Sung Antiphon: Who is the king of glory? It is the Lord.)

Hebrews 2: 14 – 18

Acclamation for the Gospel:

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
The light to enlighten the Gentiles
And give glory to Israel, your people. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Luke 2: 22 – 40

Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord , let your light shine.