Llandudno -
Our Lady Star of
the Sea
Parish Priest: Fr Antony Jones STL - Telephone: 01492 860546 [Email]
Sunday, February 25th, 2007 - Lent 1 (C)
Parish Priest: Fr Antony Jones STL - Telephone: 01492 860546 [Email]
Sunday, February 25th, 2007 - Lent 1 (C)
Dear
Parishioner,
Sunday afternoon a fleet of cars will be leaving Llandudno bound for Wrexham. The seven persons preparing to be received into the Church on Holy Saturday night, together with their sponsors, will be making their way to the Cathedral where the Bishop will conduct the Rite of Election.
This service, which originates back in the early Church, is a welcoming service. The bishop welcomes these new converts in preparation for their full reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
We have had this year a very happy Catechumenate, as we always have. Every Tuesday since last May we have gathered at 730pm and spent an hour and a half together delving into the wonderful mystery of the Catholic Church, in a very laid back and light-hearted way, with a break half way through for tea and cake.
Several parishioners, even a couple from the neighbouring parish, have joined the group just to learn more about the Faith that they have loved and practised all their life long. They too, as well as the sponsors, have found it a rewarding and enlightening experience.
As I have said to you many times before, there is absolutely nothing greater you could do for anyone than to introduce him to the Catholic Church. And, as I have also said many times before, there are a whole host of people out there who are searching for it, but who need “a little help from their friends”.
Instead of giving up sugar in your tea for Lent, it would be truly worthwhile if you were to sit down and think who, among your friends, could possibly be one of those “searchers”. God works through us. He “needs” you to bring people to Him. The next Catechumenate will begin on Tuesday, 29 May.
I was very encouraged on Thursday evening. We had our Meeting with the Poles in Stella Maris. I apologise to those parishioners who turned up thinking with was meant to be a social get-to-know-you occasion. Its purpose was to try to work out what we can do as a parish for the hundreds of Poles who now live in Llandudno. I expected two or three, but got nearly thirty. And a very fruitful meeting it was.
They decided, first of all, that they would appreciate a Mass in their native Polish. There is a priest I know from my time in Pwllheli who is chaplain to a huge Polish Nursing home there, at Penrhos. I asked him would he be willing to come here on a monthly basis to serve the Polish Community in this way, and he was more than happy to oblige. So we decided at the meeting that there will be a Polish Mass here on the third Sunday of every month. As the Poles, like the rest of us, work awkward hours, they decided that the Mass time should alternate between 3pm and 7pm. The first Polish Mass will be on 18 March at 7:00pm. Refreshments will be served at Stella Maris immediately afterwards, an opportunity for the Polish Community to come together socially.
Please try to get this information over to every Polish person whom you come across between now and then, and indeed thereafter. It will take a while before this information percolates throughout the entire Polish Community here in Llandudno.
And finally, Confirmation this year will be on 3 July at 7:30pm. All children in Year 8, who have been baptised, are eligible and welcome. This is a very important Sacrament and the young people need all the encouragement and help they can get. Parents, please help them to find a suitable sponsor, one who takes his/her faith seriously and practises it. There will be, as usual, four sessions leading up to the Sacrament, Thursdays 7, 14, 21 and 28 June at 7:30pm at Stella Maris.
God bless you,
Fr Anthony Jones
Sunday afternoon a fleet of cars will be leaving Llandudno bound for Wrexham. The seven persons preparing to be received into the Church on Holy Saturday night, together with their sponsors, will be making their way to the Cathedral where the Bishop will conduct the Rite of Election.
This service, which originates back in the early Church, is a welcoming service. The bishop welcomes these new converts in preparation for their full reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
We have had this year a very happy Catechumenate, as we always have. Every Tuesday since last May we have gathered at 730pm and spent an hour and a half together delving into the wonderful mystery of the Catholic Church, in a very laid back and light-hearted way, with a break half way through for tea and cake.
Several parishioners, even a couple from the neighbouring parish, have joined the group just to learn more about the Faith that they have loved and practised all their life long. They too, as well as the sponsors, have found it a rewarding and enlightening experience.
As I have said to you many times before, there is absolutely nothing greater you could do for anyone than to introduce him to the Catholic Church. And, as I have also said many times before, there are a whole host of people out there who are searching for it, but who need “a little help from their friends”.
Instead of giving up sugar in your tea for Lent, it would be truly worthwhile if you were to sit down and think who, among your friends, could possibly be one of those “searchers”. God works through us. He “needs” you to bring people to Him. The next Catechumenate will begin on Tuesday, 29 May.
I was very encouraged on Thursday evening. We had our Meeting with the Poles in Stella Maris. I apologise to those parishioners who turned up thinking with was meant to be a social get-to-know-you occasion. Its purpose was to try to work out what we can do as a parish for the hundreds of Poles who now live in Llandudno. I expected two or three, but got nearly thirty. And a very fruitful meeting it was.
They decided, first of all, that they would appreciate a Mass in their native Polish. There is a priest I know from my time in Pwllheli who is chaplain to a huge Polish Nursing home there, at Penrhos. I asked him would he be willing to come here on a monthly basis to serve the Polish Community in this way, and he was more than happy to oblige. So we decided at the meeting that there will be a Polish Mass here on the third Sunday of every month. As the Poles, like the rest of us, work awkward hours, they decided that the Mass time should alternate between 3pm and 7pm. The first Polish Mass will be on 18 March at 7:00pm. Refreshments will be served at Stella Maris immediately afterwards, an opportunity for the Polish Community to come together socially.
Please try to get this information over to every Polish person whom you come across between now and then, and indeed thereafter. It will take a while before this information percolates throughout the entire Polish Community here in Llandudno.
And finally, Confirmation this year will be on 3 July at 7:30pm. All children in Year 8, who have been baptised, are eligible and welcome. This is a very important Sacrament and the young people need all the encouragement and help they can get. Parents, please help them to find a suitable sponsor, one who takes his/her faith seriously and practises it. There will be, as usual, four sessions leading up to the Sacrament, Thursdays 7, 14, 21 and 28 June at 7:30pm at Stella Maris.
God bless you,
Fr Anthony Jones