CATHEDRAL NEWSLETTER 13 Nov 2016 — 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Yr C) St John’s Cathedral,

Portsmouth

IS THIS AN END OF MERCY? Before Pope Francis announced that he wished the Catholic Church to devote a year to mercy, I had only really known the word from action films where the baddie would shriek ‘there will be no mercy’ and from the Marvin Gaye song ‘Mercy, Mercy me.’ One year of participating in all manner of Masses and events to mark this extraordinary jubilee year and I can say that I think my understanding of mercy is now much improved. Is this true too for you?

Throughout this jubilee year we have welcomed to St John’s countless pilgrims from across the diocese and further afield. They have prayed at the Holy Door, gone to confession and joined us for Mass. I’m sure they have like you and me spent time here reflecting on the strapline for the year, ‘merciful like the Father.’ Often have I said we should ask ourselves: how have I received mercy from God? What does it inspire me to do and to be?

The Pope has asked that the jubilee year end this Sunday in all churches with a Holy Door except his —he will close his next Sunday. So today in Abingdon our Bishop will close the year and their Holy Door and on his behalf I will do likewise here. I’d imagined this would involve me dramatically closing the large double doors which have served as our Holy Door, but what would this suggest? It might imply that henceforth there shall be ‘no mercy’ shown anyone who comes here! What would that say about Our Father? Instead the closing of the year will consist of my offering particular prayers at the 1000 Mass while encouraging all of us to go on journeying in faith with this word. Yes, our understanding of what mercy means may now be much improved but as with most things, we would be fools if we dared say, ‘done that, what’s next?’ Mercy remains a divine gift we will often wish to receive. Let’s pray that in equal measure we will not be shy in offering it, doing so always in imitation of our heavenly Father. Canon Dominic

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY Today we unite with people across the UK and abroad in commemorating those who gave their lives in war that we might live in peace. The Two Minutes silence will occur at 11am and irrespective of what part of the 1000 Mass we have reached please pause in prayer and reflection.

TODAY & THIS WEEK

JUBILEE OF MERCY CLOSING OF HOLY DOORS: Today Canon Dominic will close our Holy Door before 1000 Mass.

FUNDRAISING FOR CHARITY: Matthew Galbraith, one of our teenage parishioners is going on a charity expedition to Botswana and Zambia in 2018. He has to raise the money to do this and so today will be hosting a cake sale and tombola after the 1000 and 1200 Masses. Please support him.

UNI OF PORTSMOUTH STUDENTS: today at 1345 for brunch in Angela’s flat. There will be an input from Fr James McAuley.

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Bishop Philip is 61 tomorrow Monday and Bishop Crispian is 80 on Thursday – we wish them both a happy birthday and re-member them in our prayers.

InSIGHT—PARISH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP: Meets every Tues 1030-1300 in the Cathedral Centre.

TOUR OF ST JOHN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL: Tue 15 Nov at 0930 and 1345 for those thinking to apply for the Reception classes to start in Sept 2017 and opportunity to raise any queries.

GUILD OF ST JOHN: meet this Wed 16 Nov at 1900 in Cathedral House.

SUNDAY CHOIR: practice in the Cathedral this Thurs from 1830-2030.

RCIA (RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS): Thurs from 1930-2100.

COLLECTIONS: Thank you for last Sunday’s offertory of £2,574.10 (37%GA). Bamenda £580.90 (26% GA).

SURVIVE-MIVA: next Sun (19 Nov) there will be an appeal for this Catholic lay association which provides funding for essential transport for health and outreach work in isolated rural areas; and for the Church’s pastoral care in places difficult to access.

NEXT WEEK & BEYOND

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2017: The first preparation session for all the registered children is next Sun (20 Nov) from 1300.

SHOEBOX APPEAL: This Advent the Shoebox Appeal will support the Society of St James (for the homeless) and the Salvation Army. Donations of hats, gloves, scarves, stationery, toiletries, small toys and sweets can be left in the 'Donation Station' in the Cathedral Hall. There will be a Parish 'Build a Box' event on Sun 20 Nov after the 1000 and 1200 Masses in the Jubilee Room. For enquiries please contact Kelly on 07568133788.

UNI OF PORTSMOUTH STUDENTS: meet on Mon 21 Nov at 1800 in the chaplaincy followed by refreshments. There will be a Faith and Life session “Pray as you can; not as you can’t” .

SUPPORT FOR THE HOMELESS: Our parish shall again respond to the needs of homeless people in the city by providing Christmas gift vouchers (not more than £5) from Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury, Argos, etc. You may enclose the vouchers in an unsealed Christmas card without address or surname. Purple Buckets will be available for this on the weekends of 26/27 November and 3/4 December.

OTHER NEWS

PRAYER REQUESTS: If you would like prayer for your own intention, for your parish, or for any need go to the home page of the diocesan website, www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/prayer where you can leave an anonymous request which will go to 40 intercessors throughout the Diocese.

HOLY SOULS: it is customary this month to pray for the Holy Souls. Please list the names of your deceased loved ones in the Book of Remembrance which is kept in front of Our Lady’s Altar.

SCRIPTURE STUDY: every Tues 15, 29 Nov; 6 & 13 Dec from 1940-2100 in St Swithun’s Church Hall with Fr Marcin.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Lee Fletcher Directors will hold an ecumenical service here on Thursday 16 Nov at 1930.

NATIONAL YOUTH SUNDAY: On Sun 20 Nov there will be a Youth and Children’s Mass at the 1800 Mass followed by an evening of activities for young people aged 11—18. The guest speaker will be Chris Lubbe, former bodyguard to Nelson Mandela.

FLAME 2017: is the largest Catholic Youth event of the year taking place in Wembley Arena on 11 March. Young people of our diocese (Year 10+) will travel there to join with 8,000 other young Catholics for an epic celebration of our faith. Cost: £45 incl transport, tickets and a hoody! Contact Dom if you are interested to attend or if you want to know more. Dom DeBoo (Youth Worker) 0776 9185 603

MONTHLY NEWS FROM ST EDMUND’S CATHOLIC SECONDARY

Our School will be celebrating the Feast of our Patron, St Edmund, on 16 November in the Cathedral at 2:00 pm. Each year we look forward to this day as we prepare for our whole school Mass by rehearsing the songs, dance, bidding prayers, offertory, altar serving and readings. We always raise money for CAFOD and present a check to our CAFOD

representative. It is a time for the St Edmund’s family to come together in praise and thanksgiving for the gifts and talents and all the hard work of both staff and students. Throughout the day both staff and students have little treats and that sense of family and celebration is very apparent.

This year our theme for our prayer and reflection is ‘Caritas’, love shown through charity and service. Our whole school Christmas appeal this year is called ‘The PIP Appeal’. This term was coined by the St Vincent de Paul Group and means ‘The Play in Peace Appeal’. It follows on from the Beatitude that we have been praying with and focussing on ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.’ The appeal will be launched this Advent to encourage each Tutor Group to provide a box of toys which will be donated to the Roberts Centre. (Simon Graham—Headteacher)

CONTACT DETAILS Canon Dominic Golding VG, Cathedral Dean

Fr James McAuley, Fr John Paul Lyttle, Assistant Priests Sr Maura Chin, FMDM, Pastoral Assistant

Lily Peach, Parish Secretary Sue Smy, Safeguarding Representative

Tel: 023 92 826 170

Email enquiries: cathedral@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk www.portsmouthcatholicathedral.org.uk

CATHEDRAL MASS TIMETABLE, week beginning 13 November 2016

Sun: THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

see Parish Mass Book, p 164 1800 (Sat) Fr Marcin Drabik Int 0800 Honeymole Cyriac Int (Extra-Ordinary Form)

1000 Deceased Lorimer & Rosser Families RIP 1200 Provido Family Int 1800 People of the Parish

Mon: Feria 0730 Margaret Golding RIP 1215 Funeral Mass: Robert Francis RIP Tue: St Albert the Great, Religious, Bishop, op mem 1215 Lorna da Costa Int Wed: ST EDMUND OF ABINGDON, Bishop, solemnity 0730 Sara, Maria and Simone RIP 1215 The Kirk Family Int Thu: St Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious

1215 Mary Leithley RIP Fri: Dedication of the Basilicas of St Peter & St Paul, Rome, op mem 0730 Angelo and Jestin Int 1215 Giovanna and Elia Fenech RIP Sat: Our Lady on Saturday 1215 Canon Richard Hind RIP

CONFESSIONS: Saturdays 1100-1200 and 1700-1745 and on Sundays 30 mins before Mass when a priest is available.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: 0800-1800 Friday

ROSARY: Monday-Friday after 1215 Mass.

Other local churches Sunday Mass times

Our Lady of Lourdes, Eastney 1800 (Sat) St Swithun’s, Southsea 0830, 1015, 1800 Corpus Christi, North End:1100 St Joseph’s, Copnor 1800 (Sat), 0900 St Colman’s, Cosham 1800 (Sat), 0930 St Paul’s, Paulsgrove, 1100 QA Hospital, 1600 St Agatha’s (Ordinariate), Market Way, 1100

SAINT FOR THE WEEK: St Edmund (16 Nov) In 1222 he got the job of being treasurer to Salisbury Cathedral, then being built. He evidently did it well and in 1233 was appointed archbishop of Canterbury. He was good at this too. His scripture commentaries were widely read and he helped keep England united when the king fell out with powerful barons. He died on 16-11-1240 at Soissy, France on his way to see the pope. He is patron of our Diocese because he was born here, in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Please pray this week for: All who died in the World Wars and in the conflicts

since—to bring peace to our world. For all who are sick and housebound. The Pope’s prayer intention: That pastors of the

Church with profound love for their flock may accompany them and enliven their hope.