Canon Michael received a surprise visit from the Mayor of Merton, Sally Kenny, this week as she visited Saint Teresa's parish to present a certificate in recognition of Service to the community throughout Covid-19. Canon Michael wishes to thank the parish Re-opening Team and Catechists for the dedication and efforts they went to in order for funerals to take place, the church to be open for Masses, and the Sacraments to be received during the past year.
Pope Francis has invited Catholics and Marian Shrines around the world to dedicate the month of May to a marathon of prayer for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative involves 30 Marian Shrines around the world.
It takes place under the theme "The whole Church was fervently praying to God," which recalls a verse in the Book of Acts of the Apostles (12:5). "The initiative will involve all the Shrines of the world in a special way, so that they might encourage the faithful, families, and communities to recite the Rosary to pray for an end to the pandemic," read a statement released by the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. Pope Francis will open the Marian month of prayer on 1 May with a Rosary broadcast across Vatican Media's platforms. Each day will see Vatican News broadcast the recitation of the Rosary at 6 PM Rome time (5 PM UK time) the various Shines taking part in the initiative. The Pope will also close the initiative on 31 May with another specially-broadcast Rosary. In March 2020 Pope Francis led the world in prayer during that difficult time, celebrating a live-streamed, daily Mass on Casa Santa Marta. After more than a year, and with the world still in the grips of the pandemic, the Pope and the Church around the world are once again leading the way in imploring God for an end to the suffering which so many people are forced to bear. Thank you for praying the Rosary at home, at work, and at Saint Teresa's. Please note that The Holy Rosary is prayed before Mass on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is prayed on Wednesdays. Sweet Mary, Mother of Our Parish, My Holy Queen, please bless this month of May, for I offer myself entirely to you. As an expression of my love for your Immaculate Heart and of my devotion to you I seek once again to renew my own personal Consecration to that Precious Heart that beats with Love for me day and night. Please bless me and keep me safe from harm and from the clutches of the evil one. Amen. A word of thanks to all who supported Joseph’s fundraising efforts. His chosen charity was Rays of Sunshine. With your wonderful support many thousands have been raised. If you wish to give a little, it’s not too late! https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/forever19 Joseph’s Requiem Mass is still available via our Parish website should you wish to see it – so far 2,300 have done so. https://www.youtube.com/c/StteresaChurchmorden Let us pray for those who risk their lives while fighting for fundamental rights under dictatorships, authoritarian regimes and even in democracies in crisis, that they may see their sacrifice and their work bear abundant fruit. Defending fundamental human rights demands courage and determination. I’m referring to actively combatting poverty, inequality, the lack of work, land and housing, and the denial of social and labour rights. Often, in practice, fundamental human rights are not equal for all. There are first-, second-, and third-class people, and those who are disposable. No. They must be equal for all. In some places, defending people’s dignity can mean going to prison, even without a trial. Or it might mean slander. Every human being has the right to develop fully, and this fundamental right cannot be denied by any country. Let us pray for those who risk their lives while fighting for fundamental rights under dictatorships, authoritarian regimes and even in democracies in crisis, that they may see their sacrifice and their work bear abundant fruit. Pope Francis – April 2021 |
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