Traditionally the month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. To honour this the 12:10pm Mass at St. Mary’s today was a Votive Mass in honour of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The picture above shows the prayers for the Votive Mass in the Roman Missal.

May the Precious Blood of Jesus sustain us as we journey to our true home, with Mary and the angels as our companions on the way.

There is a Holy Hour every Sunday at St. Mary’s starting at 2:30pm with the intention of praying for an increase in Priestly Vocations in our Diocese of Lancaster. The prayer for Vocations which the Lancaster Diocesan Vocations team have issued is below:

Lord God, provider of all our needs, we, your faithful people of the Diocese of Lancaster, ask you to send labourers into your harvest, to give us holy and zealous priests after your own heart. Grant courage to those you are calling to the priesthood to respond to your call, and continue to guide those who are discerning their vocation.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Oh Lord send us Priests.
Oh Lord send us Holy Priests.
Oh Lord send us many Holy Priests and Religious Vocations.

On Tuesday at St. Patrick’s there was a ‘Whole Parish’ Mass with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. It is a very special time in the life of the Parish where those who are sick or suffering can recieve the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick during Holy Mass.

This Mass was organised by the SVP (Saint Vincent de Paul Society) amongst the many tasks the SVP did running up to the day and on the day it’s self for example preparing and serving lunch after Mass they also provided lifts to those who find it difficult to get out of the house.

Canon Cooper was assisted in administering the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick by Canon Smith who also concelebrated at Mass.

Normally the Priest would lay his hands on the head of the sick person but because of the good attendance at Mass, both Priests extended their hands over the entire congregation. This was followed by a prayer of thanksgiving over the already blessed oil.

The actual anointing of the sick person is done on the forehead, with the prayer “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit”, and on the hands, with the prayer “May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up”. To each prayer the sick person, if able, responds: “Amen.”

Canon Smith can be seen saying a part of the Eucharistic Prayer which is given to Priests who are concelebrating at Holy Mass.

Lunch was provided by the SVP after Mass which included some award winning cakes which can be seen below!

A very big thank to the SVP for organising this special event in the life of the Parish. Thank you also to the volunteers at St. Patrick’s for moving the chairs around before and after Mass!

This morning St. Mary’s Primary School joined parishioners for Mass at St. Mary’s.

The school attended Mass this morning because Year 6 are leaving and moving on to high school. Another reason is that the primary school always begin the school year with Mass and end the year with Mass.

We wish the primary school children a well earned break over the summer!

Canon Cooper spoke to the children about the power of prayer and encouraged year 6 to ask God to help them as they prepare to move to high school in September.

Year 6 took an active part in the Mass by reading during the Liturgy of the Word and then later on in the Mass reading the bidding prayers and others took part in the Offertory procession.

The elevation of the chalice during Holy Mass.

The school children were in excellent voice raising their prayers in song to God.

Finally after a light refreshment in the hall there was an opportunity for a group photo.

This morning children from Year 6 at St. Patrick’s Primary School joined the parishioners for Mass at St. Patrick’s Church.

Canon Cooper spoke to the children during his Homily, he encouraged the children to pray the Our Father every day and also to ask God to help them as they prepare to move to High School in September.

Some children were reading bidding prayers which they had prepared in school.

The greatest prayer that can be offered to God of course is the Mass. It was wonderful to see children taking an active part by reading, sharing memories with the parishioners and singing in excellent voice!

Please pray for the children in Year 6 as they prepare to move to High School in September.