Suggested Guidance for Readers at Mass

Following Thursday's Readers Reflection evening a handout on suggested guidance for readers at Mass can be downloaded at the end of this post.  It includes suggested guidance on preparing to read, what to do during Mass, annotated 1st/2nd readings, and the Psalm taken from the ESV-CE translation we will begin using on the 1st of December. 

Thank you for all you do as Ministers of the Word. We are vital to the parish as we continue proclaiming the Word of God. 

Main points for reading at Mass so we are all doing the same thing:

1.  We bow to the Tabernacle as we approach the sanctuary 

2.  We DO NOT need to say “The first /second reading. The First/second reading is….”

3. We DO NOT need to read the italics theme

4.  Pause before saying "The Word of the Lord" (There is NO "THIS IS") 

5. We DO NOT need to say  “The responsorial Psalm, the response is….” We just start with the Response.

6. We DO NOT need to say “Please stand to greet the Gospel.”  The Alleluia should let them know to stand. 

7. Alleluia is usually sung if it is not the Reader says it. 

8. When we have finished reading, after the final Alleluia, we bow to the TABERNACLE. We DO NOT need to bow to the priest celebrating Mass. 

9. When reading the Bidding Prayers please count to five in your head between reading the prayer and the response. It allows people time to pray for the intention.

10. We stay at the lectern UNTIL THE END OF THE HAIL MARY.  We then bow to the TABERNACLE and return to our seats. 

    
    
    
    
    
    

Suggested guidance for readers.pdf

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Catholic Bishops of England, Wales, and Scotland unite in compassionate action to oppose Bill on assisted suicide

The Catholic Bishops of England, Wales and Scotland have issued a statement on Assisted Suicide ahead of the Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

In it, the bishops explain exactly what ‘compassion‘ means at the end of life – caring for and accompanying people, particularly during times of suffering.

The statement strongly defends the vulnerable in society who are at risk through this proposed legislation, and the bishops advocate for better funded palliative care to be consistently available to everyone in need in England, Wales, and Scotland. “People who are suffering need to know they are loved and valued. They need compassionate care, not assistance to end their lives,” say the bishops. “Palliative care, with expert pain relief, and good human, spiritual, and pastoral support, is the right and best way to care for people towards the end of life.”

They also assert that assisted suicide raises serious issues of principle that can’t be ignored:

“The time given for Parliament to consider the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which will permit assisted suicide is woefully inadequate. Although the Bill indicates safeguards will be in place, the experience of other countries where assisted suicide has been introduced shows that such promised safeguards are soon forgotten. In Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, and parts of the USA, the criteria for assisted suicide have been expanded significantly, in law or in practice, often to include people with mental illness and others who have no terminal diagnosis.”

The bishops affirm the Catholic belief in human dignity and sanctity of life, but fear that a law that allows for assisted suicide could lead some to experience ‘a duty to die’:

“Some may well feel their continued existence is a burden to others, and, implicitly or explicitly, be pressured into assisted suicide. This includes people who are elderly, infirm, and living with disabilities. The protection of such people is the foundation of civilised society. It is at the heart of good government.”

The bishops also express their concern that this Bill will fundamentally damage the relationship between medical staff and their patients. They fear it could lead to pressure on medical practitioners to recommend or facilitate such procedures:

“The impact on hospices, care homes, and those who work in social and community care cannot be underestimated. It will radically alter the ethos of trust and support which underpins our service to those in need and their families.”

Finally, two weeks ahead of the debate and vote in parliament, the bishops urge Catholics and those who share our belief in the dignity and value of every human life, to contact their local MP to make their opposition known, asking him or her to oppose or not support the Bill.

Many bishops have issued pastoral letters on assisted suicide. You can find those promulgated by the Bishops of England and Wales here: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/category/cbcew/life-issues/assisted-suicide

Full statement

Be compassionate

As Catholic Bishops in England and Wales, and in Scotland, we believe that genuine compassion is under threat because of the attempts in Parliament to legalise assisted suicide. ‘Compassion’ means to enter into and share the suffering of another person. It means never giving up on anyone or abandoning them. It means loving them to the natural end of their life, even if and when they struggle to find meaning and purpose. Compassion means accompanying people, especially during sickness, disability, and old age. This kind of genuine compassion is witnessed through the care and respect we show to people with terminal illness as they complete their journey in this life.

We appeal to those who share our Catholic belief in human dignity and sanctity of life, including fellow Christians, other religious people, and people of reason and good will, to join with us in defending the weakest and most vulnerable who are at risk through this proposed legislation.

Life is a gift to be protected, especially when threatened by sickness and death. Palliative care, with expert pain relief, and good human, spiritual, and pastoral support, is the right and best way to care for people towards the end of life. More adequate funding and resources for hospices and palliative care teams authentically serve and honour our shared human dignity. In the discussion around assisted suicide, so much is made of freedom of choice and autonomy; but autonomy is not absolute and must always be placed within the context of the common good of society as a whole. People who are suffering need to know they are loved and valued. They need compassionate care, not assistance to end their lives.

Assisted suicide raises serious issues of principle. The time given for Parliament to consider the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which will permit assisted suicide is woefully inadequate. Although the Bill indicates safeguards will be in place, the experience of other countries where assisted suicide has been introduced shows that such promised safeguards are soon forgotten. In Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, and parts of the USA, the criteria for assisted suicide have been expanded significantly, in law or in practice, often to include people with mental illness and others who have no terminal diagnosis. It is not always easy to predict the length of time a person with a terminal illness has to live, making this Bill unworkable.

We are alarmed by the impact that legalisation will have on the most vulnerable members of our society. The option to end life can quickly, and subtly, be experienced as a duty to die. Some may well feel their continued existence is a burden to others, and, implicitly or explicitly, be pressured into assisted suicide. This includes people who are elderly, infirm, and living with disabilities. The protection of such people is the foundation of civilised society. It is at the heart of good government.

We are also concerned that this Bill will fundamentally damage the relationship between medical practitioners and their patients. It will potentially lead to pressure on medical staff to recommend or facilitate such procedures. Will the right to conscientious objection for individuals and institutions be guaranteed? The impact on hospices, care homes, and those who work in social and community care cannot be underestimated. It will radically alter the ethos of trust and support which underpins our service to those in need and their families.

We urge all people of good will to oppose this legislation and, instead, to advocate for better funded palliative care which is consistently available to everyone in need in England, Wales, and Scotland. Please inform yourself and others about this issue and contact your Member of Parliament to make your opposition known, asking him or her to oppose or not support the Bill.

As Catholic Bishops, we call upon all Catholics, and invite all those who share our Christian faith, to turn in prayer to God our Father. Please pray that the dignity of human life will be protected and defended. On the cross, Christ united Himself to every form of human suffering and every person who suffers. In Him, life is changed, not ended. He shows us, in His own crucified and risen body, that love is always stronger than death.

You can also download this statement.

Community Christmas Fayre Thank yous

A huge thank you to everyone who supported our Community Christmas Fayre through donations, time and efforts. There was an amazing turn out and all our Parish groups and guest Community Stalls did a fantastic job. Thank you to everyone who played a part in making it such a fab occasion.

We welcomed the following community guest stalls:

Cheesy Waffles Project Durham Foodbank Gilesgate Wellbeing Project Laurel Avenue Community Centre RT Projects St Margaret's Centre

and we were well represented by our parish schools St Joseph's whose children provided a choir of beautiful Christmas music, St Leonard's whose students helped run a cake stall and played violin, St Godric's and St Thomas More staff and pupils who helped run children's liturgy activities and run the story corner.

You can view photos from the day below: