Message from Fr Paul (25.4.10)

Last week the Bishops of England and Wales published a statement on the recent events surrounding abuse in the Church. They asked us to dedicate the Fridays of May to “reparation and atonement.”

The Catechism speaks of reparation when it says “Every offence against justice and truth entails the duty of reparation, even if its author has been forgiven. When it is impossible publicly to make reparation for a wrong it must be done secretly.”

I would like adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to take place during the Fridays of May in St. Peter’s. I have a left a sheet at the back for people to volunteer for 30 minute slots during adoration and there need to be two people per slot.

The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the main Altar from 9.00am until 5.00pm on each Friday, except during Mass. Please make this an opportunity for prayer, especially to pray for victims of abuse.

It would be marvellous if people from all our local communities could take part in this.

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Prayer for healing, forgiveness and renewed dedication for the four Fridays of May

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have asked Catholics to make the four Fridays in May 2010 special days of prayer for those who have suffered abuse, for those who have mishandled these matters, and for those who committed abuse.

"Now, we believe, is a time for deep prayer of reparation and atonement. We invite Catholics in England and Wales to make the four Fridays in May 2010 special days of prayer. Even when we are lost for words, we can place ourselves in silent prayer. We invite Catholics on these days to come before the Blessed Sacrament in our parishes to pray to God for healing, forgiveness and a renewed dedication. We pray for all who have suffered abuse; for those who mishandled these matters and added to the suffering of those affected. From this prayer we do not exclude those who have committed these sins of abuse. They have a journey of repentance and atonement to make."

The following websites offer a variety of resources for individual and communal prayer for the four Fridays of May:

• The Bishops' Conference Liturgy Office offers material for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
   
• Wellsprings has produced both ideas for personal prayer and material for communal prayer for the four Fridays, including short Gospel reflections, and Reponses and Litanies.
   
• The diocese of Arundel & Brighton has prepared material for individual reflection which could also be used in the parish. This material could be used as the basis of a Liturgy of the Word. 
   
• The US Bishops’ Conference has produced a Rosary Guide for Healing and Protection (pdf)