9 7 , A s h b y R o a d , L o u g h b o r o u g h , L e i c e s t e r s h i r e , L E 1 1 3 A B

THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY: August 16th, 2009

WELCOME: We welcome newcomers to our worshipping Community. Please take and keep a copy of our handbook and complete one of the “New Parishioner” forms. Both can be found at the back of church to the right of the main door as you go out. Thank you and Welcome

THE ASSUMPTION: The Church teaches that ‘at the end of her earthly life, the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken, body and soul, into the glory of heaven.’ This grace of glory was the culmination of her unique and astonishing role in God’s plan of salvation. She was the one chosen to be the Woman whose Child would crush the head of the serpent (Satan). At the end of her earthly life, that unique vocation was crowned by the instant glorification of Mary’s body and soul. Taken into the eternal presence of her Son who is her God, Mary was given the place second only to Him and above all the Angels and Saints. The Second Vatican Council, when considering the essential nature of the Church, summed up the Church’s mission by citing that of Mary as ”the sign of sure hope”. What Jesus has accomplished in His Mother He desires to accomplish in His Body which is the Church. We, like Mary, are called to glory, body and soul, in the eternal Presence of our Risen Lord.

On most Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm the Prayer Group meets in the Day Chapel. The present format is very simply and consists of short periods of stillness and silence but most of the time is given to reading and then sharing insights into the Gospel (usually that of the following Sunday). We invite other Parishioners to come and join us, just to see what it’s like!!

Though FATHER CHARLES will be away at a Conference on the actual date of his 80th birthday (September 5th) we shall mark this occasion with a little celebration in the Hall after the evening Mass on Saturday, August 29th. Please note the date and time

Please pray for…The Sick: Lily Rigley, Lily Bowler, Kathleen Leahy, Ian North, Theresa Denton, Graham Johnston, Roy, Anne Daly, Pat Donnelly, Audrey Wilbram, Geoff Field, Edward, Ronnie Margarico, George Scrivens, Prema Gunewardena, Christine Hooper, Paul Murphy, Bill Lockyer, Colm Fox, Anne Dyson, Barbara Morrison, Anna Kalawsky, Thomas Murphy, Peggy Hicks, Vera Hurry, Lilian Egan, Mary Hudson

Anniversaries: Thabani Ncube, Franciszek Malik, Christopher Turner, Paulino Divina Gracia, Edmond Mortell, Angela Billson

THE ROOF WORK: Now that the full impact of this project is clearer, following the erection of scaffolding and the plastic sheets in the church, we ask all Parishioners to show patience and understanding in the limitations which this is going to impose in some ways until the work is completed early in December. Of special importance is the care we all need to take in and around the areas of work, to avoid all danger and to observe all health and safety measures. Now that we are more aware of the extent of these works, it will be even more necessary to help in the vital matter of fundraising. A small group of four have been asked to co-ordinate fundraising events so we ask that all such idea and suggestions be sent to the group via the Presbytery.

SWINE FLU: PLEASE NOTE that, until further notice, the Sacred Host will ONLY be given ON THE HAND and not on the tongue. This is to avoid saliva contact. Also, the Sign of Peace will in future be only a VERBAL greeting, thus eliminating hand contact and the embarrassment of having to refuse a handshake when offered. Parishioners are, and always have been, free to abstain from receiving the Precious Blood from the Chalice.

Parish Notices: Divine Office: Psalter Week 4Sunday: Rev. 11.19,12.1-6,10; Ps.44; 1Cor.15.20-26; Lk.1.39-56Mon: Judges.2.11-19; Ps.105; Mt.19.16-22Tues: Judges.6.11-24; Ps.84; Mt.19.23-30Wed: Judges.9.6-15; Ps.20; Mt.20.1-16Thurs: Judges.11.29-39; Ps.39; Mt.22.1-14 (St. Bernard)Fri: Ruth.1.1,3-6,14-16,22; Ps.145; Mt.22.34-40 (Pope St. Pius X)Sat: Ruth 2.1-3,8-11,4.13-17; Ps. 127; Mt. 23.1-12 (Queenship of Mary)This weekend we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady. All prayers and readings will be of the Assumption.

PRAYER FOR PRIESTSFather, you have appointed your Son Jesus Christ eternal High Priest.Guide those He has chosen to be Ministers of word and sacrament and help them to be faithful in fulfilling the Ministry they have received.We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.Priests to pray for this week: Fathers Terence Fellows, Stephen Foster,Anthony Franey, Michael Gallagher, Michael Gilligan.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY: In spite of shortage of numbers, the Children’s Liturgy has been provided at most 6.30pm and 9.00am Masses during term-time, but when we restart in September we shall need more leaders to maintain this very important aspect of our Parish worship. If anyone is interested, see one of the Priests before September. Even allowing for the holiday period, we have been noticeably short of Altar Servers recently and in September we shall be launching an invitation to our young people to consider taking up this privilege to serve at the Altar. Please consider this in advance.

Also in September we shall be starting a new RCIA Course (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) on Monday, September 21st at 7.30pm. Please invite anyone you know who might be interested. This is not only for those considering becoming a Catholic but also for Catholics who want to up-date their knowledge of the Faith. Attending this first meeting does NOT imply any commitment. If you want to go further than RCIA to deepen your awareness of the Faith and its real meanings for life, why not try the courses available at the Maryvale Institute at Birmingham whjch offers distance learning courses in catholic studies at various levels, even to degree level. One of our Parishioners is at present studying one of these courses, so why not you? For more information please phone the Parish Office.

SENIOR CITIZENS will meet next on Wednesday, August 12th. New members are always welcome. Please remember that this Sunday, the annual Rosary Rally will take place at Grace Dieu Manor School beginning at 3.00pm and on Saturday, August 29th, the Pilgrimage in honour of Blessed Cyprian Tansi will take place at Mount St. Bernard’s Monastery, beginning at 11.00am. Details of both events are on the notice board.

PARISH MAGAZINE: Please keep sending in articles, items of interest or suggestions for publication in the next edition of the Parish Magazine.

PARISH DIARY DATESSunday, August 16th Rosary Rally at Grace DieuSaturday, August 29th Blessed Cyprian Tansi Pilgrimage at theMonastery @ 11.00amMonday, September 14th Deanery Day follow-up Meeting at 7.30pmSaturday, October 3rd Disabilities Group 30th Anniversary Mass at3.00pmSunday, October 4th Parish A.G.M. at 3.00pmOctober, 10th/11th Welcoming WeekendSunday, Nov. 1st “Songs of Praise”Sunday, Nov. 22nd Bishop Malcolm’s Official Parish Visitation

Over the summer months, a small group has been meeting to examine ways in which we can make available more widely the riches of the Catholic life and teaching. This will hopefully involve a series of talks/discussion groups as well as using the Magazine and other publications to get the message to people who don’t come to Mass but who would benefit from receiving this material. Watch this space.

Sat 15th 6.30pm Annie & Albert BowlerSun 16th 9.00am Jan Marshal RIP

11.00am Jack Burton RIP12.45pm Polish Mass6.30pm Adoration

Mon 17th 9.15am Fr. Raymund Bunting ICTues 18th 9.15am Marcelina & Paulino Divina Gracia RIPWed 19th 9.15am Angela Billson RIP

6.30pm Keith Newton RIP7.30pm Prayer Group

Thurs 20th 9.15am Beniamino Coviello RIPFri 21st 9.15am Ned Edmond Mortell RIP

7.00pm Kath Hartland RIPSat 22nd 9.15am James Meehan RIP

6.30pm Keith Newton RIPSun 23rd 9.00am All Parishioners

11.00am Angela Billson RIP

A FILIPINO MASS will be celebrated at the Mother of God Parish, New Parks, Leicester, next Saturday, August 22nd at 5.00pm.