Day of Prayer for Survivors of Abuse 2020

The Bishops have chosen the Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent as the Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse, which is marked this year on Friday 3rd April 2020. The liturgical resources and prayers on the Bishops’ Conference site may be used on the day itself or on the surrounding days. Resources may also be used at other times of the year. Indeed, the Service and the Mass, if offered across the deaneries of a diocese, would be celebrated throughout the year. It is important for the local Church to acknowledge and respond in prayer when it is able, rather than restrict its activities to just one day of the year. Much of the material has been written by and with survivors.

Stations of the Cross with Fr Denis McBride – FREE resource

To help support you during this time, Redemptorist Publications are delighted to share the DVD version of one of their best-selling books; Stations of the Cross – Then and Now by Fr Denis McBride C.Ss.R. In this one hour video the voice and visuals open up new ways of thinking about Jesus’ journey and demonstrate how the passion story, in all its savagery, continues in our own time. The Gospel best comes alive when the story of Jesus resonates deeply within our heart and our personal experience. Let The Stations of the Cross – Then and Now shine new light on your own journey this Lent.
Available to view online from 1 – 13 April.

FREE resource – NIV Bible app, read by David Suchet

At this time of global darkness and despair, hope is still to be found in the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. In response to the current situation, Hodder Faith are making the NIV Audio Bible app (for iPhone, iPad and Android) available FREE for 7 days (until Monday 6th April). The complete Bible is read by David Suchet and is normally £20. May God’s words bring you peace.
https://tinyurl.com/sff2eqq

Urbi et Orbi Blessing – Friday 27th March, 5.00pm

Pope Francis invites all Christians to participate in a special time of prayer led by him at St Peter’s Square at 5.00pm on Friday 27th March 2020.
The ceremony will include readings from the Scriptures and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It will conclude with the Pope imparting the Urbi et Orbi blessing – which is usually held only twice per year, at Christmas and Easter – from the balcony over the entrance of St Peter’s Basilica.  The prayer and blessing will be live-streamed on the Vatican News website at 5.00 pm.

Lent Scripture Resources

‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts from the Bishops’ Conference for the Lenten season, offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
On the Redemptorist Publications blog, renowned priest, lecturer and author Fr Denis McBride C.Ss.R. guides us through three of the Lenten narratives from St John’s Gospel (Introduction, the Woman of Samaria at the Well, the Man Born Blind, and the Raising of Lazarus). These special videos were produced in association with the Diocese of Clifton to equip and encourage those in their diocese during this holy period of prayer and devotion. Follow Fr Denis each Wednesday as he guides us through the uniqueness of John’s Gospel in his own personal chapel.

Join the Pope in praying the Our Father on Wednesday 25th March

At this time of uncertainty and anxiety, with our churches closed for public worship, Pope Francis has called on the world’s Christians and people of goodwill to join together to pray the Lord’s Prayer on Wednesday 25th March at 11am UK time (midday in Rome).

This will be streamed live on the Vatican’s YouTube channel.
Read more on the Bishops’ Conference website.
Pope Francis’ invitation to prayer for the world.

Full Closure of Catholic Churches during the Coronavirus pandemic

Following the Prime Minister’s historic announcement on 23rd March, strengthening restrictions in an attempt to combat the spread of COVID-19, Catholic Churches are closed to the public at this time.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols stresses that we must all play our part to safeguard the NHS and to save ‘precious lives’.
“We’re going to play our full part in it. That was the call of St. Paul that we ought to be good citizens and today we ought to be good citizens playing our part in the protection of the vulnerable, in our support for the NHS and in the preserving of human life, which is so precious to God in the face of this virus.”
Watch Cardinal Vincent’s video statement.
For more information, see the Bishops’ Conference Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.

Children’s Liturgy Online

As we are no longer able to attend Sunday Masses due to COVID-19, Colour and Shape Children’s Liturgy Online has been created as one way to help families gather in prayer each week to share God’s Word together, and to stay a little connected during this time of isolation from our parish communities.
A video of a Children’s Liturgy will be posted every Saturday evening, for families to use at home with young children at any time they like – maybe at the same time as their usual Mass to help to keep Sunday holy.

Resources for prayer and reflection while public worship is suspended

Following the letter from the Bishops’ Conference announcing the suspension of pubic worship, the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton’s e-bulletin contains information and some suggested resources to help people reflect and pray during this challenging period when we are not physically able to gather with our parish communities, including churches where Masses will be streamed online.

Suspension of Public Worship during the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have announced that public worship will be suspended from the evening of Friday 20th March:
“In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, so many aspects of our lives must change. This includes the ways in which we publicly express our faith. It is very clear that, following official advice and in order to keep each other safe, save lives and support the NHS, at this time we must not gather for public acts of worship in our churches.
For more information, see their Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.