Catholic Church launches online spiritual resource for those affected by economic hardship

A spiritual internet resource has been launched to support people in England and Wales who are living with uncertainty and hardship.

The tailor-made portal offers visitors an mp3 meditation for download, a space for reflection, stories from people who have previously lived through difficult times, 'tips on how to get through' and a place to share burdens and offer thanks. An important part of the resource is the area devoted to prayer; this features an 'Uncertainty Prayer', a 'Prayer For Families', a 'Prayer To Our Guardian Angel' and encourages people to seek the intercession (help) of the patron saint of financial matters - St Matthew. The Apostle is the patron saint of accountants, bankers, bookkeepers, customs officers, financial officers, guards, money managers, Salerno, Italy, security forces, security guards, stock brokers and tax collectors. Whilst we all need money to live, we read in the Gospels that on meeting Jesus he abandoned a life unhealthily focussed on finance to pursue the lasting treasure found in the message and person of Christ.

Mgr Andrew Faley, Assistant General Secretary to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales said: "We wanted to put together a resource that would offer support, consolation and practical help to people in need at this time". A links page directs visitors to a number of Catholic organisations who are able offer practical help to those experiencing difficulty.

The resource is the work of the Catholic Enquiry Office which is run by the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE).

A member of the online creative team said: "If anyone is suffering at the moment for financial or other reasons, please do visit this new resource. One of the principal messages that we hope to share through this new online initiative is that there is always hope, however bleak your personal circumstances might currently be and that Jesus and His Church care deeply about you and your concerns."

The site can be found at www.life4seekers.co.uk/uncertainty

The Pope on YouTube

Over the years popes have communicated with their people by letters and envoys, public speeches, foreign travels, radio, television and recently the Vatican website. Today a further step was taken, as the Vatican launched its own channel on the video websiteYouTube. Here videos of papal appearances, audiences and speeches will be posted so that people around the world can directly hear the Pope speak.

Mgr Claudio Maria Celli, who heads the Vatican's social communications office, said the pope explicitly approved of the online channel. He said he was
"a man of dialogue" who wanted to engage with people wherever they were.
Mgr Celli said the Vatican was launching the channel in part to have some
control over the pontiff's image, which he said was already being used on sites,
some respectful of the papacy and some not.

The Vatican plans to update the site http://uk.youtube.com/vatican daily,
with its messages available in Italian, German, English and Spanish.

Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

The Evangelist Mark gives a rapid, almost hurried, sketch of the beginning of Christ’s preaching and the call of the first disciples, and in doing so uses a minimum of words. However, the words of Jesus are profound and help reveal his divine identity. He declares “the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel.” The time referred to here is God’s time, the moment of his good pleasure. The long centuries of waiting and hoping on the part of his people Israel was now at an end. The period of preparation and promise so eloquently spoken of by Moses, the prophets had now run its course. With the presence of Jesus Christ, Almighty God is intervening once more in history, only now in final and determined fashion. The apostle Paul would remark to the Galatians that “when the fullness of time had come, God sent his only Son, born of a woman.” There is both urgency and challenge in Christ’s preaching which demand a response. Two thousand years later we too find ourselves put on the spot by the proclamation of the Son of God
Did Mark intend the call and response of Peter, Andrew, James and John, to be an example of the impact that Jesus had on those who heard him speak? The gospels show how the apostles had to grow and mature in faith over the three years of Christ’s public ministry. That faith was sorely tried during the days of his passion and death, but would reach maturity through the experience of his resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. But on that first day beside the Sea of Galilee they clearly had enough faith to turn aside from their daily pursuits and throw in their lot with the One who spoke so forcefully and convincingly. They were destined to be fishermen of quite another kind. The generosity of their response has enabled the story of Jesus to reach us down to our day.
In his opening proclamation Christ called for repentance, a change of heart, if his gospel of good news was to have its impact. A new way of thinking and hearing was required to become part of this time of God’s grace and goodness, freely accessible to all who would take up the challenge. The story of Jonah, the reluctant prophet, powerfully reminds us of God’s loving concern for all peoples. What he asks of us is our cooperation, our willingness to walk in his ways, not paths of our own choosing. Christ continues to speak to us through his Church. Like those first apostles, let us be generous in our response and we too will become bearers of the good news.

+Michael Campbell OSA

Coadjutor Bishop of Lancaster

Bishop Hugh Lindsay RIP

Today the news was announced that Bishop Hugh Lindsay had died suddenly on the 19th January in his home at Boarbank Hall, Cumbria. He had lived at Boarbank since his retirement in 1992 and worked there as chaplain to the community of Augustinian sisters. Some of you might remember him from the Ordination of Deacon Paul Conneeley. Bishop Lindsay came to ordain Paul to the Diaconate back in September. Bishop Lindsay was Emeritus Bishop of Hexham & Newcastle, and has been living in the Diocese of Lancaster since 1992.Bishop Lindsay was a well-known figure around our own Diocese after his retirement, sometimes covering for our own bishops during times of illness or Holidays.

Bishop O'Donaghue upon hearing this news said:
" We offer all our prayers and sympathy to the Bishop’s remaining family, the Sisters at Boarbank, the priests and people of the Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle and indeed to all Bishop Lindsay’s many friends.”

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor tribute to Bishop Hugh Lindsay:
The sudden death of Bishop Hugh Lindsay is a great sadness for all those who knew him. Above all, however, we are comforted by his own deep faith in the love and mercy of God and his fidelity to Jesus the Good Shepherd. Particularly in retirement Bishop Hugh assumed the mantle of the memory of the Bishops of England and Wales, referring us to the lessons of the past with great pastoral sensitivity and intellectual clarity. We will miss the words and presence of this dedicated pastor and with confidence we commend his soul to the loving mercy of the Lord. May he rest in peace.

Bishop Lindsay's body will be received into St Mary's Cathedral (Hexham & Newcastle)on Sunday 1st February 2009 at 6.30 pm and Mass will be celebrated.
There will be a vigil of private prayer which will end with Compline at 8.30 pm.
Bishop Lindsay's Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 12 noon on Monday 2nd February 2009 at the Cathedral, followed by burial in the Cathedral Crypt.

* Please note these Masses are not at St Peters Cathedral (Lancaster) These Masses are at St Marys Cathedral (Newcastle)

Parish Forum

As you may know our Parish has its own forum so parishioners can discuss things online. The forum is managed by Tomas Walsh & Angela Cole who will soon be adding more up-to-date content so that the online forum will be used for all types of activity's & discussions. The website Guestbook is now located in the forum & you can also post items for the weekly bulletin & the Parish magazine. If you would like to help with the running of the forum please contact Tomas at tomas.walsh@btconnect.com or by phone on 01253 824766. The Parish forum can be accsessed by the website www.stedmundsparish.uk.tp*

*Please note that under 13's must have the COPPA registration form completed by a parent or guardian before they are able to use the Parish forum (These forms can be downloaded from the forum when trying to register)

Ordinary Time

Today we return to what is known as 'ordinary time', which will continue until Lent begins on 25th February. Green vestments are worn during this season. Perhaps this colour, so often seen in the plant life of God's creation, reminds us that every day of the year - not just the great seasons and feasts - is an opportunity to grow in faithfulness to the Lord.

Bishop Michael Campbell - Vespers DVD

Would you like a copy of the first Vespers & Benediction DVD that our coadjutor bishop ever presided at? If you would please contact Tomas at stedmundsparish@googlemail.com or by phone on 01253 824766. The DVD is priced at £10 . There is only a limited amount of copies available. Please be quick as the order needs to be sent into the Cathedral.

Happy New Year

St Edmund's Parish Pastoral Council would like to wish you all a Joyfull and peacefilled New Year.

May we all have another Peacefull Year in the Parish Community of St Edmund of Canterbury

A Christmas Message to Children From Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor

In his last Christmas as Archbishop of Westminster, the Cardinal has written to children with a special Christmas message. This is what he writes:

‘My dear children,
You are very precious to Jesus and he loves you very much, and so does his Church.

Christmas is a time when we draw close to Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem and celebrate his birth. During the school holidays, spend some time with him, talk with him, share your joys and the things that worry you. He will be so happy to see you and to listen. Don't be afraid, and in the silence, listen to what he is saying to you.

But remember, don't keep the wonderful gift of knowing him to yourself! Be courageous, through your kind words and actions, and in telling your friends of his presence in your life. On the Yfaith website (www.yfaith.co.uk) you'll be able to find ideas about how to do this.

Saint Paul wrote in a letter to the Philippians (2: 15), "shine like stars in the universe". This Christmas, be a shining star, just like the one that led the kings to the stable all those years ago. Let the light of Jesus shine through you. It's not hard. Just say “yes” as Mary did, and Jesus will do the rest.

In a special way children, you will be in my thoughts and prayers as I celebrate Mass this Christmas. Let's pray for one another. Do remember me in prayers when you go to Mass in your own parish.

God bless you and thank you for all that you are.’

Father Cormac
His Eminence, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster