Catholic Church of the Holy Angels in Exile
PARISH PRIEST: Fr John M.B. Smethurst, MA (Oxon)
Telephone 01803 402357 or 07757 937646
During this strange time of near isolation, I will celebrate Mass daily at 1000. Where there are intentions booked I will detail as below:-
SUNDAY: FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT. Mass for all Parishioners
MONDAY: Lenten Feria. Mass for all afflicted by Corona Virus
TUESDAY: Lenten Feria. Mass for May Smethurst RIP (Mother’s Anniversary)
WEDNESDAY: Lenten Feria. (Intention available)
THURSDAY: Lenten Feria. Mass for Richard Duffield RIP
FRIDAY: Lenten Feria. (Intention available)
SATURDAY: Lenten Feria. Mass for a Private Intention
SUNDAY: PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD.
Please telephone if you want Mass said for a particular Intention – reserve the donation until, please God, normal service is resumed.
Mass from Plymouth Cathedral is on the internet daily at 11a.m.and there is also an afternoon service at 4.30pm. You can find this and Masses from other churches via our Facebook Page (links in the comments section of this post or through our website https://www.holy-angels.co.uk/live-stream-mass
THOUGHT FOR TODAY. We are somewhat overburdened by daily bad news. But there are many examples of good news too. One is the concern that most us are sharing for one another. The wonderful and devoted work of health workers and all others assisting at hospitals, nursing homes etc is a matter of great thanks. Thursday’s 8 o’clock ‘national clap’ was uplifting and so well deserved. I hope that, like me, you are all keeping them in daily prayer. I remind you too that each day I take you all to the altar in my heart. I long for the time when we will all again be together in our lovely church.
In today’s Gospel we hear about the raising of Lazarus. Jesus meets Martha, deeply mourning the death of her brother. In response to Jesus’s asking if she believes what He says about the resurrection. Her reply, which must be ours in this time of emergency, “Yes Lord – I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world”. Just before raising Lazarus, Jesus says “Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer. I know indeed that you always hear me”. Let that be our prayer too: the realisation that, even in the darkest moments, peace and hope remain. God bless you all and keep you safe and in assurance of His love.
DEDICATION OF ENGLAND AS THE DOWRY OF MARY
This is to take place today, I expect it will be done in a more solemn manner when the situation permits. Please join me in praying the Angelus at midday and the following prayer:
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down upon England, your Dowry and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in you. By you it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given you to us that we might hope still more...Please for us, your children, whom you did receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother. Intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the chief Shepherd, the Vicar of your Son. Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with you in our heavenly home. Amen.
England has been known as the ‘Dowry of Mary’ for up to 1,000 years, going back to the time of St Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), in whose reign the replica of the Holy House of Nazareth was built. On the Feast of Corpus Christi, 1381, King Richard II dedicated England to Mary as ‘her dowry’. He went on pilgrimage in Walsingham two years later. So, for 1,000 years, Walsingham has been the great shrine of prayer and pilgrimage for the people of this country in honour of Our Lady. On 29 March 2020, England will be rededicated as the ‘Dowry of Mary.’ Bishop Mark will be celebrating Mass in the Cathedral that day and making the rededication at the end of Mass. The following link gives more details of how to participate in the rededication at home: https://www.behold2020.com/take-part.
