Lenten Reflection
Stephen Nessman • February 27, 2023
Returning to the Source – A Lenten Reflection on Cistercian Spirituality - An Aid to Spiritual Renewal
Sunday 5th March, 2-5pm
The Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Gorseinon
As an aid to parish and personal growth Fr John Patrick invites you to a half day period of recollection and prayer on the spirituality of our Cistercian brothers and sisters. We are truly blessed having both the male and female branches of the Order of Strict Obedience within our diocese. Often overlooked and on the periphery of our diocesan field of vision it their prayer and radical witness to the gospel can offer us an simple and noble approach to deepening God’s love for us within and among us.
You might find it helpful to purchase either in paperback or Kindle Carl McColman’s work Befriending Silence and Philip Freeman’s book The Rule of St Benedict.
May the Lord continue to bless you with Lenten fruit.
Diocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy: Church of the Sacred Heart, Morriston (25 years of the Sunday of Divine Mercy 2000 -2025). A warm welcome awaits you for the Celebration of the Jubilee Holy Year 2025 for the Sunday of Divine Mercy and Canonisation of Blessed Carlo. We will be blessed with the visit of two of the Sisters of St Faustina from her convent in Kracow Poland. 1.30 pm Parish Centre: Blessing of Images of Divine Mercy; Confessions and Adoration begin. 1.30 pm weekly Latin Mass in Church 2.45 pm Procession of Blessed Sacrament to the Jubilee Church -Shrine of Divine Mercy. 3 pm Hour of Mercy led by the Sisters from Poland (Confessions continue) 4 pm Benediction 4.15 Holy Mass 5.15 pm Veneration of the 1st Class Relics of St Carlo and St Faustina Book stall with relic Rosaries, Images and books also cards of St Carlo Acutis. Other Sunday Masses as normal 9.30am, 11am, 8pm
Palm Sunday - is 13th April 25 . Mass at Blessed Sacrament will commence in the parish hall and process to the church through the far doors and up the slope. Those parishioners with mobility issues are advised to wait in the church.
The Clydach Players are performing the Passion of Christ at St Illtyd’s Swansea SA1 8HS - Sunday 13th April . For those who haven’t not seen this performance we recommend you make every effort to attend this very moving experience during lent. Other local performances St Benedict’s Clydach, SA6 5NS - Monday 14th April All performances at 7.30pm.
Holy week will soon be upon us. The following are the dates and times of services during Holy Week: Sunday 13th April : Passion (Palm) Sunday, 10.30am; Exposition with Penitential Service, 5.00pm – 6.00pm Monday 14th April : Stations of the Cross, 7.00pm Tuesday 15th April : Chrism Mass at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 11.30am Wednesday 16th April : There will be no mass at St. bride’s due to the Chrism Mass in the Cathedral. Thursday 17th April : Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7.00pm with watching until 9.00pm and Night Prayer at 8.45pm Friday 18th April : Stations of the Cross, 2.15pm; Passion of the Lord 3.00pm Saturday 19th April : Blessing of Easter Breakfast Baskets - 10.00am; The Easter Vigil, 7.30pm Sunday 20th April: Resurrection of the Lord,8.30am at St. Bride’s Church and 10.30am in Blessed Sacrament Church.
The Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia safeguarding team is working with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to deliver free ‘live’ on line training sessions via TEAMS. 2.Digital Resilience – Wednesday 11th June 6-8pm 3.Understanding Harmful Sexual Behaviour – Wednesday 24th September 6-8pm 4.Child sexual exploitation awareness – Wednesday 12th November 6-8pm To book your place please contact safeguarding@rcadc.org – stating which date and your name Further information on each session is available in the porch.
Our Lady’s Lamp - Intentions week commencing 13th April 2025 Blessed Sacrament No intention St Bride’s Maura Sterling RIP (NL) If you wish Our Lady’s Lamp to be lit for a loved one or an intention, please let us know. A donation of £5 is suggested and the candle will be lit all week in the church
The Chrism Mass for Cardiff-Menevia will be held in St Joseph’s cathedral on Tuesday 15th April at 11.30am. If you would like to sing in the choir for that Mass there are rehearsals at the cathedral on Wednesday 19th and 26th March and Thursday 10th April all starting at 6pm and ending at 7.30. Any queries text or WhatsApp Jennifer Burridge 07947 074872
The important vote for all MPs on the assisted suicide legislation, known as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, is likely to take place on 25th April. The charity Right to Life UK has a simple online mechanism to allow people to contact their Member of Parliament and it only takes a few moments to submit a message to ask an MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law. It can be accessed here: https://righttolife.org.uk/asvote . Also, postcards from Right to Life are available in the porch to send to your MP on this subject. A range of further resources on opposing assisted suicide is available here: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/ opposing-assisted-suicide/