THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
(YEAR C)
WEEK: JUNE 22ND - 28TH 2025
“This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
YOUR CHARITABLE PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK: John Green, Joan Killeen, Christine Clarke, Tony Kenny, Luke Burke, Dominic Boardman, Connie Marrone, Alexander Loughlin, Surya Duval, Margaret Lawless, Peter Barlow, Jean Barlow, Nynna Carpio, Terry Cummins, Elizabeth Flanagan, Margaret Emsis, Francis Doyle, Linda Solan, Fred Kibblewhite, Daniel Keane, Ethel Keenihan, Peter Bradbury, LATELY DEAD: Breeda Bradley, Michael Martindale, Sheila Woods (Fr. Phil’s Aunt; she was 101years old), Avelina Calilung Mercado, and the victims of the air disaster in India. ANNIVERSARIES, John Cartmell, Josephine Reeks, Des Tickle, Terry Mills Sr., Terry Mills Jr, Michael McGladdery, Raymond Wood, John O’Brien, Reynaldo Dante Eustaquio
LAST WEEK'S COLLECTION: £1,154.67
Standing Order: £572.00 a month
CHURCH BOXES / DONATIONS
Caritas (Homeless) £20.00; Flowers £45.00
Many thanks for your kind generosity.
If anyone needs the Bank account details to set up Direct Debit payments, please contact Father Phil.
THIS SUNDAY'S MISSALETTE
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NOTICES:
All Masses will continue to be live streamed. A link is provided on the Parish website: www.smwsp.org.uk or via the Twitter App (@PhilipSumner13).
Fr. Dermot Heakin formally of this parish and of Corpus Christi, Hollinwood, celebrated fifty years of priesthood last Friday (20th June) in his current parish of St. Osmund’s, Breightmet (Bolton). Congratulations to him!
BISHOP HUDSON SAYS PEACEBUILDING IS A VITAL ASPECT OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
In response to the government’s recently announced Strategic Defence Review, Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Chair of the International Affairs Department at CBCEW, expressed the strong hope that the government will not neglect international peacebuilding efforts. Bishop Hudson said: “I understand that the government has a very difficult decision to make given the current fiscal position and international environment.” “However, if defence spending is to increase, it should not be at the expense of other ways of promoting peace and justice. Peacebuilding is a vital aspect of international security that must not be sacrificed to an increased emphasis on defence.”
QUARANT'ORE - 40 HOURS WITH THE LORD |
SYNODAL PROCESS AND THE SALFORD DIOCESE
There are six subgroups that have been formed to take forward the synodal process in this diocese. I have been asked to chair the sub-group for “Community and Outreach” and another of the priests of this deanery, Canon Michael Job, has been asked to chair the one on “Inclusion and welcome”. I have the first of the meetings on Community and Outreach this Tuesday in Wardley Hall.
HOPE FOR OUR COMMON HOME PILGRIMAGE |
MADONNA DEL ROSARIO PROCESSION
The annual Madonna Del Rosario procession, organised by the Manchester Italian Association, will take place on Sunday 6 July. The procession will begin at 1.15pm from The Halle St Michael’s, George Leigh Street, in Ancoats. It will continue through Manchester City Centre to St Peter’s Square, where Mgr Anthony Kay will lead a short service. All are welcome to join this celebration.
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LADYEWELL |
SPECIAL DAYS THIS WEEK
Tuesday 24th June – Nativity of John the Baptist
Friday 27th June - Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Saturday 28th June – Immaculate Heart of Mary
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
St Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, gives us the earliest known written account of the Eucharist; his letters were written before the Gospels. In his account, it is noticeable that after taking the bread Jesus invites his disciples to “Do this in remembrance of me.” He then does the same after taking the wine. Now, in our celebration of the Mass, we make this invitation only once, after taking the chalice. The word ‘remembrance’ is perhaps not a good translation of the Greek word ‘anamnesis’. That translation suggests something like what people might do to celebrate VE or VJ day. There we simply remember a past event. But an ‘anamnesis’ is where we re-live the event and become present in the event itself. It’s important to remember that the first eucharist (the Last Supper) took place in the context of the Passover, which was itself a ‘memorial’ (the Hebrew word is ‘Zicharon’). The Book of Exodus requires the Jewish people to celebrate the Passover every year as a ‘memorial’ (Exodus 12:14) when they would gather as families in the same way that the Hebrews did in Egypt prior to their liberation. There, they would tell the story of that liberation and consume a lamb, bitter herbs, unleavened bread and wine. It’s in the listening to the story and re-living it that they are affected. It’s the same with the Eucharist. The principal dynamics of the Eucharist are listening to the story, placing ourselves around the table with Jesus and the disciples, and placing ourselves at the foot of the cross. There we partake of the story and partake of communion so that we become one with him as we are made whole so as to form the Body of Christ together. The Gospel takes us to the miracle of Jesus feeding the multitude with five loaves and two fish. It’s a miracle that is recounted by all the evangelists. Of course, there are Eucharistic elements to this story too. Once more, we are pointed back to the Old Testament and to God feeding the multitude in the desert with manna. On both occasions, the physical hunger of those involved is satisfied but Jesus points to a different type of hunger that we all have but often fail to recognise. St. Augustine, in his book, ‘Confessions’, wrote: "You have made us for yourself O Lord & our heart is restless until it rests in you." There is a spiritual hunger in each of us that yearns to be satisfied. To be moved by the ‘memorial’, that is the Eucharist, begins to feed that spiritual hunger. This requires us not simply to focus on the miracle on the altar but also, perhaps even more, on the miracle involving us and transforming us into the Body of Christ.
DIOCESAN JOB VACANCY: Cathedral Site Officer |