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St Bernadette’s Church120 Bowerham Road, Lancaster, LA1 4HT

www.st-bernadettes.org.uk /Church www.lancasterdiocese.org.uk www.thurnhamchurch.net st.bernadettes@talktalk.net

Parish Priest: Revd Father Peter Sayer Deacon: Revd Paul Wawszczyk Tel: 01524 63000 ******************************************************************************************

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 17 June 2018*****************************************************************************************

Order of Mass of the day: p 95 (Blue Parish Mass Book Year B – Volume 2)

Psalm Response: It is good to give you thanks, O Lord. Gospel Acclamation : Alleluia, alleluia!

I call you friends, says the Lord,Because I have made known to youEverything I have learnt from my Father.Alleluia!

*****************************************************************************************Please remember in your prayers: All who are sick, at home, in hospital and in nursing homes, especially; Erin Buyers, Ann Patrickson, Rita Gelderd, Doreen Heywood, Tina Hilton, Kay Mushahwar, Steven Hardman, Rita Mexia, Laura Gisbourne, Joan Godfree , Anne Knowles, Ian Dodd and Christopher Browne.Kathleen Brown, Nyeli Cookson and Steve Woolf and all who have died recently All whose anniversaries occur about this time, Yvonne Rabbett, Mary Wearden, Patricia Hrachowina, David Wilson Senior and Philomena Houghton.******************************************************************************************The Sunday Gospel. Seeds of Faith.Seeds are amazing! We plant them, provide the right environment and then wait. Miraculously, the seeds flower into an array of fabulous plants. We can help the plants to grow, but we cannot make them grow, this power is out of our hands. Ultimately we cannot predict the harvest. The seeds of faith work in the same way. We can teach someone else about God but ultimately that is all we can do. People react to God’s word in countless ways, ways we cannot predict. Jesus’s first disciples were to take comfort in the knowledge that although they were entrusted to plant the seeds of faith, they were not responsible for the harvest…….God would take care of that.The task of planting the seeds of faith in the twenty first century can seem as daunting as it must have seemed to those early disciples. Can we really make a difference to a world that still allows war, cruelty and poverty? Today’s Gospel offers yet more consolation. Jesus speaks of the tiny mustard seed. Despite its insignificant appearance it grows into an impressive shrub substantial enough to provide shade. It’s thought provoking that such a humble seed should provide so impressive a result. Jesus teaches us that we must not be overwhelmed when faced with a seemingly overwhelming task. We must all simply implement Jesus’s teaching with whatever humble means we have, and leave God to do the rest.******************************************************************************************Continuing the Journey with Pope Francis. Jesus has fully triumphed over evil once and for all, but it is up to us, to the people of every epoch, to welcome this victory into our life and into the actual situations of history and society.Reflection. In our trials, sufferings, and disappointments, remember Jesus’s victory. Invite the reality of Jesus’s triumph into our lives.The Wisdom of Pope Francis. There is so much indifference in the face of suffering. May we all overcome indifference with concrete acts of charity.******************************************************************************************Special Intention of Pope Francis for June 2018Lord God, During this month of June, we ask that social networks may not be used to exclude others, but rather be used to work towards inclusiveness and to respect the differences of others.*****************************************************************************************God Pointers from the Rev. John Ryeland:The peace Jesus came to bring is about healing – for minds and bodies, as well as relationships with God and others.2) In situations where you know your faith is lacking repeat: ‘ I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.*****************************************************************************************Joyfully Sharing the Gospel:The primary reason for evangelising is the love of Jesus that we have received. What kind of love would not feel the need to speak of the beloved? (The Joy of the Gospel, paragraph 264)******************************************************************************************

Bitesize. I know there is a proverb which says ‘To err is human,’ but a human error is nothing to what a computer can do if it tries. (Agatha Christie)Masses and Services for Week Beginning Sunday 17 June 2018

Saturday 6.30 pm Fr. Hugh Hyland Vigil Matthew 5:33-37Sunday 11.00 am Teresa Platt Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary TimeMonday 9.15 am Patrick Ryan Matthew 5:38-42Tuesday 9.15 am No Service Matthew 5:43-48Wednesday 10.00 am Denise Kitchen Matthew 6:1-6,16-18Thursday 9.15 am Dec’d Bilsborough & FieldingFamily St Aloysius Gonzaga Matthew 6:7-15Friday 9.15 am Holy Souls Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Matthew 6:19-23Saturday 6.30 pm George Wane Vigil Matthew 6:24-34Sunday 11.00 am People of the Parish Nativity of St John the Baptist

There is also Mass at 9.30 am in Nazareth House and in St Peter’s, Cathedral at 12.15 pm Monday – SaturdaySacrament of Reconciliation: Saturday 5.45 – 6.15 pm

Morning Prayer of the Church: 8.55am (Wednesday 9.40am) in the Chapel Gospel Readings for the Week: These are available in the grid at the top of the page

Word of God: The Wednesday Word is available this weekend - connecting home, school and parish

Offertory Collection £397.25 Attendance 38+155=193 Various £30.00

Father’s Day. Father’s Day is a day set apart to celebrate fatherhood, recognise the influence of fathers in our homes and society, and foster paternal bonds . ‘Happy Father’s Day’ to dads everywhere.Today is also Day for Life and Special Collection. The theme this year is ‘Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery.’Jesus tells us, “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) But many people do not have life to the full. They have fallen victim to the scourge of human trafficking and modern slavery which are an assault on a person’s innate human dignity. This is a problem that impacts our immigrant communities and our own citizens alike. For more information and signs to look out for visit www.stopthetraffik.org Ten Reasons Why We Need Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother.Reason 7 Mary is my spiritual Mother.Mary was given a new job description at the Cross – to be the mother of all disciples! Jesus knew that we all need a spiritual mother and as he tenderly handed Mary over to the Apostle John he was giving her to each one of us too. John lovingly took Mary into his home and his heart. May we all welcome Mary into our own heart as our caring spiritual mother and if we do the benefits are out of this world!World Refugee Week. 18th-24th June This year is the 20th anniversary of ‘World Refugee Week.’ This year’s theme is ‘Twenty Simple Acts.’ The challenge is to find 20 different ways of helping refugees. This might be anything from learning a few words in another language to supporting a resettlement programme.Feast of Saints Thomas More and John Fisher. Friday next 22nd June. St Thomas More. Beheaded on Tower Hill, London, July 6th 1535, he steadfastly refused to approve Henry VIII’s divorce and remarriage and the establishment of the Church of England.St John Fisher. In 1521 he was asked to study the question of Henry VIII’s marriage. He incurred Henry’s anger by defending the validity of the king’s marriage with Catherine of Aragon and later by rejecting Henry’s claim to be the supreme head of the Church of England. He was condemned and executed, his body left to lie all day on the scaffold and his head hung on London Bridge.Two saints who teach us all to stand up courageously for what is fair and just. Traditionally on this day, the Church asks us to pray for those who suffer persecution, oppression, and denial of human rights. To do:- Support a charity such as ‘Aid for the Church in Need’ that champions the needs of the persecuted. Regular newsletters and updates are available at the back of Church. Please support this charity.This week in the Parish:

Sunday – Jacob’s Join Celebration for the First Communion Children after 11 am Mass in the Upper Hall. Monday – Scripture Sharing from 7 – 8 pm in the Social Area. Thursday - Hosting a Refugee Family from 7 – 9 in the Social Area. Sean Ryan of Caritas will speak in more detail about this. All

welcome. Sean will speak about his own experience and similar work in 17 dioceses in this country that are hosting refugees. Saturday – School Summer Fair 11 – 2 pm .

Sudden Loss Café: Wednesday 13 June from 7 – 8 pm at The Cornerstone Café, Sulyard Street, Lancaster. They aid to provide a safe, confidential environment in which bereaved people can share their experiences and feelings, so giving and gaining support from each other. You won’t have to talk if you don’t want to and you don’t have to come again or even stay for the whole session if you decide it’s not for you. Just come along enjoy the coffee and cake and take from it what you can. See poster in porch.Date for your Diary:

South Lancaster Churches Together Prayer Walk - Thursday 5 July 7 - 9pm starting at URC and taking in St Bernadette's, St Paul's and Lancaster Methodists. It will be praying for all the churches, shops and schools etc. of this area. See Poster.

Deanery items: Deanery Lecture Series: The Book of Revelation. Canon Luiz will be providing a series of talks on this final book of the Bible 7-

8pm in the Education Centre. Continuing 19 June and 3 and 10 July. See Poster for more details. Deanery Cycle Trip, an event for keen cyclists on Saturday 23 June, 55 miles taking in all the churches of the Deanery, with a stop-

off at Wallings Ice Cream Parlour. Update: This is now being joined by Bishop Paul. The departure point is St Joseph’s Skerton at 9 am. Further details from Andrew Dennison at bjhn144@hotmail.com

Please find other information on the notice boards in the Church Porch. If you have any items for the weekly Bulletin please email: st.bernadettes@talktalk.net