ST PETER’S CATHOLIC CHURCH GLOUCESTER September and October 2017 NEWSLETTER FOR FAMILIES Our thanks go to the Friends of St Peter’s who kindly sponsor the Newsletter.

Witamy MABUHAY BEM-VINDO

SWAGATAM welcome Ласкаво просимо Ihopethatyouallhadagoodrestoverthesummer.Atimetorechargethosebatteriesandgetreadyforthenewacademicyearahead.There maybelotsofanxiouschildren(aswellasparentsandgrandparents)aschildrenbeginschool,childrenchangeschoolsandyoungpeoplemaybeleavehometostartanewadventureatuniversity.Somanychanges,butallsuchanintegralpartoflife.Weareallchangingallthetime.Itishowwefaceandembracethechallengesandchangethatcanaffectus.Sointhemidstofitwhatcanwedo?Wecanbehumbleandacceptingofthechange.Wecanreflectonthepastwithnostalgia,butwecanbeproudthatwehavenurturedandcaredforthechildsopreciousinfrontofus.Yes,therewillbeatinge(oralot)ofsadness,butthereshouldalsobeexcitementforthefuture;thatourchildwillmakeadifferenceintheworld.Idon’tknowaboutyou,butformemyoverridingconcernaboutmytwochildrenaboveeverythingelse,isthattheywillhavecompassionforothers,careforeachotherandbethankfulthattheyhavesomuchwhenothershavesuchlittleandsharewhattheyhavewithothers.Itdoesn’tseemthatmuchtoask,butinourtechnologicalage,intherushingaroundwedo,IhavetoaskmyselfwhatamIreallydoingtonurturethesetraits–myreportwouldread“roomforimprovement”.That’swhatIwillstriveforthiscomingyear.

Notable Dates and Feasts in September and Ocotber 2017 (there are others and they can be found at l i turgyoff ice.org.uk) 4th September St Cuthbert 8th September Birth of Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast) 14th September The Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Feast) 15th September Our Lady of Sorrows (Memorial) 21st September St Matthew the Evangelist, Apostle (Feast) 27th September St Vincent de Paul (Memorial) 28th September St Lorenzo Ruiz (Optional, Philippines Saint) 29th September SS Micahel, Gabriel and Raohael, Archangels (Feast) 30th September St Jerome (Memorial) 2nd October The Holy Guardian Angels Memorial) 4th October St Francis of Assisi (Memorial) 7th October Our Lady of the Rosary (Memorial) 17th October St Ignatius of Antioch (Memorial) 18th October St Luke, Evangelist (Feast) 28th October Ss Simon and Jude, Apostles (Feast)

StMatthewApostle–FeastDay21stSeptemberLittleisknownaboutSt.Matthew,exceptthathewasthesonofAlpheus,andhewaslikelyborninGalilee.Heworkedasataxcollector,whichwasahatedprofessionduringthetimeofChrist.

AccordingtotheGospel,MatthewwasworkingatacollectionboothinCapernaumwhenChristcametohim

andasked,"Followme."Withthissimplecall,MatthewbecameadiscipleofChrist.FromMatthewweknowofthemanydoingsofChristandthemessageChristspreadofsalvationforallpeoplewhocometoGodthroughHim.TheGospelaccountofMatthewtellsthesamestoryasthatfoundintheotherthreeGospels,soscholarsarecertainofitsauthenticity.HisbookisthefirstofthefourGospelsintheNewTestament.ManyyearsfollowingthedeathofChrist,around41and50AD,Matthewwrotehisgospelaccount.HewrotethebookinAramaicinthehopethathisaccountwouldconvincehisfellowpeoplethatJesuswastheMessiahandthatHiskingdomhadbeenfulfilledinaspiritualway.Itwasanimportantmessageatatimewhenalmosteveryonewasexpectingthereturnofamilitantmessiahbrandishingasword.Itisthoughthedepartedforotherlandstoescapepersecutionsometimeafter42AD.AccordingtovariouslegendshefledtoParthiaandPersia,orEthiopia.NothingisrecordedofMatthew'spassing.Wedonotknowhowhedied,ifhisdeathwasnaturalorifhewasmartyred.SaintMatthewisoftendepictedwithoneofthefourlivingcreaturesofRevelation4:7,whichreads,"Thefirstlivingcreaturewaslikealion,thesecondlikeabull,thethirdlivingcreaturehadahumanface,andthefourthlivingcreaturewaslikeaflyingeagle."Matthewwasataxcollectorandisthereforethepatronsaintofbankers.TheChurchestablishedSt.Matthew'sfeastdayasSeptember21.Takenfromhttp://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=84

A Back to school prayer Dear Lord, As I go to school again, please be with me through each day. Keep me safe and help me be kind and caring to all I meet. In my mistakes help me to learn from them. May my teachers be kind and understand I am only young and trying to do my best. Bless my friends and keep them safe, especially those who need my prayers. May I always be a light in any darkness. Amen

Activity Spend some time with your child/ren and make your own prayer for the school year ahead. Focus on their strengths and what they find challenging. Use the web address for an example or do your own search. There are lots to be found. http://www.everydaytruth.net/2013/08/15/a-back-to-school-prayer/

Praying over your school aged children

As you pack your child’s lunch – PRAY

Pray your child hungers for God’s word daily. Matthew 5:6 As your child climbs into the car or you walk –PRAY

Ask God to keep your child’s feet on the path of righteousness always. Proverbs 8: 20 As the day goes on and you wonder how your child is doing – PRAY

Ask your heavenly Father to protect your child Psalm 91:14 As you look over the work your child brings home – PRAY

Pray that your child’s mind grows in the knowledge of the Lord 1 Peter 1:3 As you empty the school bag and find scraps of paper, bits of crumbs, and pieces of broken pencils – PRAY

Pray that God will take any broken pieces from the day and bring healing and wholeness. Psalm 147.3

Useful Websites http://www.catholicinspired.comhttp://www.catholicicing.comhttp://www.catholic.orghttp://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-kids.htmwww.catholicgrandparentsassociation.orgwww.catholicfamily.org.uk

Is your child Grateful? During the holidays it occurred to me that were my children grateful. I was feeling a bit dismayed that when having been swimming with them they protested when I needed to go to the shop on the way home to get some food, (so that I could feed the family) save me having to out again later. I was shall we say a little put out. So I did an exercise with them over lunch (so they would not wander) to ask them what they were thankful for. Okay, they didn’t necessarily come out with some things I would have liked, but on the whole they did not bad with little prompting to come up with 25 things. A lot were material, but there were some things about creation and also about people. So maybe in our moments of frustration and despair, deep within our children lies some hope. Although I believe I am grateful for all I have, maybe I need to demonstrate this more clearly to my children so they grow up being thankful and not just expecting.

A child’s Prayer Thank You God, for all that grows.

Thank You for the sky’s rainbows.

Thank You for the stars that shine.

Thank You for these friends of mine.

Thank You for the moon and sun,

Thank you God for all You’ve done

Prayer for child’s first day at school Lord, Bless my little one who is about to start school, they look so small and it seems like only yesterday they were cradled in my arms. May their days be blessed with friends and people who care. May their teachers impart their knowledge and remember they are leant by me and are precious in your eyes, unique in every way. May they grow in knowledge as well as understanding of the world around them. May they be peacemakers and hunger for justice. Lord, please be with them in the moments that they need me and I cannot be there. Amen

September Devotions The month of September is dedicated to the seven sorrows of Mary 1 The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35) 2 The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15) 3 Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke

2:41-50) 4 Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke

23:27-31; John 19:17) 5 Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30) 6 The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross

(Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)

7 The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)

Song choice Hail Mary Rosary Song Hail Mary Gentle woman Perfect Love – Darlene Zschech Magnificat – David Haas (all on Youtube)

October Devotions The month of October is devoted to the Holy Rosary. Pope Benedict XVI in an address at the Basilica of St. Mary Major where he prayed the rosary with the faithful said: Today, together we confirm that the Holy Rosary is not a pious practice banished to the past, like prayers of other times thought of with nostalgia. Instead, the Rosary is experiencing a new Springtime. Without a doubt, this is one of the most eloquent signs of love that the young generation nourish for Jesus and his Mother, Mary. In the current world, so dispersive, this prayer helps to put Christ at the centre, as the Virgin did, who meditated within all that was said about her Son, and also what he did and said. When reciting the Rosary, the important and meaningful moments of salvation history are relived. The various steps of Christ's mission are traced. With Mary the heart is oriented toward the mystery of Jesus. Christ is put at the centre of our life, of our time, of our city, through the contemplation and meditation of his holy mysteries of joy, light, sorrow and glory. May Mary help us to welcome within ourselves the grace emanating from these mysteries, so that through us we can "water" society, beginning with our daily relationships, and purifying them from so many negative forces, thus opening them to the newness of God. The Rosary, when it is prayed in an authentic way, not mechanical and superficial but profoundly, it brings, in fact, peace and reconciliation. It contains within itself the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the centre of each "Hail Mary". May we as parents and grandparents spend time this October praying the rosary with our children, if only a decade every day. The repository at the back of church have rosaries available to purchase. Help with the prayers of the rosary can be found online and you can get guidance there too and also apps to guide you.

TheRosaryistheprayerthattouchestheheartoftheMotherofGod.SaintPiusX

Baby Loss Service Monday 2nd October at 7pm at

St Peter’s Church. A simple service for those who have lost a baby

through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal loss.

This may be recently or many years ago.

Family and friends who wish to remember a lost

baby are also most welcome. If you are not able to come along to the service, please find a prayer and some songs that may help comfort you opposite – you are not alone.

If you have any suggestions what to include in the newsletter or would like to write something to be considered please let Fr Liam know. Thank you, Lucy

Miscarriage and baby loss Iconsideredwhethertosharethis,asnotonlyisitverypersonalitseemstobesomethingnobodytalksabout.Miscarriageandbabylossissomethingthatmanyofuswillhaveexperiencedeitherfirsthandorknowofsomeonewhohas.IcanonlyspeakofmyownpersonalexperienceandthethreeearlymiscarriagesthatIendured.Timehashealedtherawpain,butIstillremembernearly6yearsaftermylastonetheenormouspain,angerandfrustrationIfelt.Iwouldnevergettoholdmybabies,allthe,whatifs?Ididn’tevenknowifIhadboysorgirls.IfeltsoaloneandallIsawwasbabiesandpregnantwomenandithurt.WhatIdoknowisthatIwasangrywithGod,butIwasalsoconsoledbymyfaith.IfoundwritingapoemtoeachbabyhelpedandIalsohave3glassheartshanginginourhomesotheyareneverforgotten,andeachChristmasIhaveadecorationforeachonthetree.Ithelpstoremember.

A Prayer for the Dark Times

When our child’s absence is all we feel, God be near us. When our bodies ache to hold our child, God be near us. When the world goes on as if nothing’s happened, God be near us. When our lives are dark, desolate and cold, Hold us Lord. When we long to be dead to stop the pain, Hold us Lord. When we scream our “whys?” at you, Hold us Lord. Jesus, you cried at the death of your friend, You share in our sorrow. Jesus, you shouted from the Cross, “Why have you forsaken me?” You share in our fear. Jesus, in death’s agony and the tomb’s emptiness, You share in our loneliness. You who feel our despair and depression, give us faith. You who understand the times we want to hide, give us hope. Songs for loss Just let me cry – Hilary Weeks Hug him once for me – Erica McClure Borrowed Angels – Kristin Chenoweth I will carry you – Selah Precious Child – Karen Taylor Good

Feast of The Holy Guardian Angels October 2nd Perhaps no aspect of Catholic piety is as comforting to parents as the belief that an angel protects their little ones from dangers real and imagined. Yet guardian angels are not only for children. Their role is to represent individuals before God, to watch over them always, to aid their prayer, and to present their souls to God at death. The concept of an angel assigned to guide and nurture each human being is a development of Catholic doctrine and piety based on Scripture but not directly drawn from it. Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:10 best support the belief: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” Devotion to the angels began to develop with the birth of the monastic tradition. Saint Benedict gave it impetus and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the great 12th-century reformer, was such an eloquent spokesman for the guardian angels that angelic devotion assumed its current form in his day. A feast in honor of the guardian angels was first observed in the 16th century. In 1615, Pope Paul V added it to the Roman calendar. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/feasaint-of-the-guardian-angels/