Parish Safeguarding Officer: Mrs Therese Passenger 079441 59039 St. Mary’s Primary School: Acting Head teacher Mrs. Hannah Corcoran 01267 234297

St. John Lloyd’s Secondary School Llanelli: Head Teacher Mr Ashley Howells 01554 772589 Registered Charity No: 234168

S T . M A R Y ’ S M E S S E N G E R 2 2 N D S U N D A Y I N O R D I N A R Y T I M E 2 9 T H A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

29th August 2021

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday Readings: Cycle B; Psalter: Wk. 1

St. Mary’s Messenger

St Mary’s Catholic Church, Union St., Carmarthen, SA31 3DE Tel: 01267 237205

Email: smrccarms@gmail.com www.stmaryschurchcarmarthen.org

Parish Priest: Fr. Phillip Harries

Fr. Phillip writes……..

At last, it appears that I have mastered the necessary skills to get the livestream working as it should, please forgive the recent interruptions, and let us pray it continues to work ….. . It allows our community at Mass to include those who are not able to attend physically in the Church due to their health situations or an inability to travel, it is good that we can come to-gether as a people of faith to pray for one another, and the needs of others, especially those most in need.

Our prayers make a difference, they really matter. I would like to thank you for the prayers that you have offered for me as I settle into this kind and welcoming community. It is really a joy to be here, and thank you also for the prayers that you have offered for my parents, especially my Father who has been discharged from hospital, and is awaiting the start of his radiother-apy. Please forgive the interruption to the usual Mass schedule as I make time to do my best to be of help at home with jobs around the house, shopping and medical appointments.

I am gradually starting to find my way around the house, and even unpacking a few things …… but it has been an eventful week with plumbing difficulties, the telephone playing up and trying to work out the computer system while Oona is away on a well deserved holiday …. Sorry in advance for any bloopers in the newsletter!

It has been a joy to celebrate the Sacraments in this community of Faith, and beginning the week with the Sacrament of Bap-tism was a great introduction to celebrating the Sacrament of Confession and my first call out to the Hospital.

I am always willing to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) at your convenience, and with the beautiful weather, the lovingly tended grounds of the Church are a perfect venue. May we continue to pray for each other, and especially those in most need, as we joyful keep the faith. May God bless us all with a good week!

Last Weeks’ Collections Main Offertory: £TBA Maintenance Fund: £TBA

If you would like to make your offertory donation on line by BACS please contact the office for our bank details. Alternatively, there is a Standing Order form on our website if you wish to set up a regular payment to us. THANK YOU

PLEASE OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES WHEN VISITING THE CHURCH: The Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales have asked to continue with our regulations

until further notice.

While Sunday Obligation is suspended, please consider coming to a weekday or Saturday Mass in order that numbers remain manageable, particularly now the numbers attending are rising.

Please arrive in plenty of time to take your seat, remembering that this takes longer than normal at the

moment. The Church is opened half an hour before Mass Please maintain social distancing inside the church at all times. Please wear a face covering, except on medical grounds. Follow the signs in the church directing you to available pews. Sanitise hands on entry and departure from church. Sign in using the form in the porch—this is for test and trace purposes.

Times and Intentions of Holy Mass for the Coming week Saturday 28 th August

Vigil of the

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

5:30pm Veronica Bevan Jones (Nee Dark) RIP (Mary Dark)

Sunday 29th August

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

11:00am Pro Populo (For the People)

Monday 30th August

BANK HOLIDAY

11:00am No intention requested

Tuesday 31 th August

NO MASS

Wednesday 1st September

NO MASS

Thursday 2nd September

11:00am Veronica Bevan Jones (Nee Dark) RIP (Mary Dark)

Friday 3rd September

St Gregory the Great

6:30pm Rory Lynch Birthday & Family (Fr Phillip)

Saturday 4th September

Our Lady

11:00am

5:30pm

Fr Martin Donnelly Ordination Anniversary (Fr P)

No intention requested

Sunday 5thSeptember

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

10:30am Pro Populo

Please take this Newsletter home with you after Mass

Make time during the business of the week to sit and read the word of God.

Meditate on the words of Sacred Scrip-ture, and reflect on them prayerfully.

Let us pray for each other,

For an end to the pandemic throughout the world.

For peace, and safety of all people and for all who are unwell.

May God grant us grace to joyfully keep the Faith, and build His kingdom of love, through our words and actions—Amen.

“A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.” - Pope Francis

If you would like Holy Mass to be offered: Please use the Mass intention request envelopes that are available in the back porch. Holy Mass may be offered for a particular intention, or for a person living or deceased (please state if the person has died). You will notice that all Sunday Masses are offered ProPopulo, that is for the people of the parish. As your Parish Priest, my first obligation is to pray for you, and to offer Mass for you each week, and this should be done on a day when most people are able to attend. Please use these envelopes and use one for each request (One Mass per envelope) …. Your priest is easily confused! If the Mass can not be celebrated on the requested date, every effort will be made to celebrate it as close to that date Thank you for your consideration.

PRAYER FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS

God our Father, we pray for those who are suffering, for those who are grieving, for those who are anxious, and for those who are working tirelessly to care for the sick. God our Father, your Son Jesus Christ came into our world to heal us of all division and bring us life in abun-dance. By the power of your Spirit help us strive to-gether as one family of many nations to help those in greatest need during this crisis. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Risen Lord, Amen

Intentions of theHoly Father for the Month of August

That we will all make courageous choices for a simple and sustainable lifestyle, rejoicing in our young people who are resolutely committed to this.

The prayer of Spiritual Communion by St Alphonsus

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever. Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST 22ndSunday

in Ordinary time

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. C. The mystery of faith. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resur-rection you have set us free. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,` and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who tres-pass against us; and lead us not into tempta-tion, but deliver us from evil. P. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mer-cy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mer-cy on us. Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. C. Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. P. Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Please remain in your place and Holy Commun-ion will be brought to you. Please remove your face covering before receiving Holy Communion, and extend your fully open hands, so the Priest may give you Holy communion without touching your fin-gers. Thank you.

Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010,

International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

Scripture Readings are from The Roman

Missal: Lectionary © 1981 William Collins Sons and Company Limited and Cassell Limited: compilation, editorial matter computer programmes and derivative typography, format and design.

All rights reserved.

Prayer for the Sick

Heavenly Father, Look with mercy on the sick in our parish community and help them in this time of sickness. Restore them to health, we pray, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen

Please pray for those who

are unwell:

Teresa (Tess) Kerr, Tal and Cynthia Harries Christine Rees, Teresa Hay, Patricia Stradling, Peggy Davies, Baby Harper Copse, Baby Jack Bullock, Fr. Morty, Chris Burke, Christiana Crystal Flinn, Morag McIlroy, Baby Matylda, Theresa Phillips, Doreen O’Toole, Josephine Sieroslawska, Al-exander Sieroslawska, Simon Biggs, Lalaine Balitayo Brennan, Monica Oliver, David Jenkins, Shirley Price, Olive Cronin, Arianwen Ramruttun

RIP Anniversaries Harold Derbyshire Mary Ellen Boweler Kathleen Howells (Kitty) Gerald Downey John Terence Coates Catherine Anne Johansen Lilian Harries Elizabeth Estella Weyman John Tynan Bertha Maria de School-meester Mary Smith Stuart Wadsworth-Potterton Also, please pray for the re-pose of the soul of Mrs Ve-ronica David RIP, who died recently in the Philippines, and Veronica Bevan Jones RIP sister of Mary Dark, who died recently. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long. O Lord, you are good and forgiv-ing, full of mercy to all who call to you.

PENITENTIAL ACT I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, (and striking their breast, they say:) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. The Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) Invocations may follow: C. Lord, have mercy. P. Lord, have mercy. C. Christ have mercy. P. Christ have mercy. C. Lord have mercy. P. Lord have mercy.

THE GLORIA Glory to God in the high-est, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Ho-ly One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glo-ry of God the Father. Amen

who takes no interest on a loan and accepts no bribes against the innocent. Such a man will stand firm for ever.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

SECOND READING

James 1:17-18,21-22,27

It is all that is good, every-thing that is perfect, which is given us from above; it comes down from the Fa-ther of all light; with him there is no such thing as alteration, no shadow of a change. By his own choice he made us his children by the message of the truth so that we should be a sort of first-fruits of all that he had created.

Accept and submit to the word which has been plant-ed in you and can save your souls. But you must do what the word tells you, and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves.

Pure, unspoilt religion, in the eyes of God our Father is this: coming to the help of orphans and widows when they need it, and keeping oneself uncontami-nated by the world. The Word of the Lord P. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION cf.Jn6:63,68

Alleluia, alleluia! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!

GOSPEL

C. The Lord be with you. P. And with your Spirit. C. A reading from the holy Gospel according to N. C. Glory to you, O Lord.

Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus, and they no-ticed that some of his disci-

ples were eating with un-clean hands, that is, without washing them. For the Pharisees, and the Jews in general, follow the tradition of the elders and never eat without washing their arms as far as the elbow; and on returning from the market place they never eat with-out first sprinkling them-selves. There are also many other observances which have been handed down to them concerning the wash-ing of cups and pots and bronze dishes. So these Pharisees and scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disci-ples not respect the tradi-tion of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands?’ He answered, ‘It was of you hypocrites that Isaiah so rightly prophesied in this passage of scripture:

This people honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless, the doctrines they teach are only human regulations.

You put aside the com-mandment of God to cling to human traditions.’ He called the people to him again and said, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and under-stand. Nothing that goes into a man from outside can make him unclean; it is the things that come out of a man that make him un-clean. For it is from within, from men’s hearts, that evil intentions emerge: fornica-tion, theft, murder, adul-tery, avarice, malice, de-ceit, indecency, envy, slan-der, pride, folly. All these evil things come from with-in and make a man un-clean.’

C. The Gospel of the Lord. P. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. After the Gospel all sit.

THE HOMILY

FIRST READING

Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8

Moses said to the people: ‘Now, Israel, take notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today, and observe them, that you may have life and may enter and take pos-session of the land that the Lord the God of your fathers is giving you. You must add nothing to what I command you, and take nothing from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God just as I lay them down for you. Keep them, observe them, and they will demonstrate to the peo-ples your wisdom and under-standing. When they come to know of all these laws they will exclaim, “No other peo-ple is as wise and prudent as this great nation.” And in-deed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him? And what great nation is there that has laws and customs to match this whole Law that I put before you today?’ The Word of the Lord P. Thanks be to God

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 14(15):2-5 The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks without fault; he who acts with jus-tice and speaks the truth from his heart; he who does not slander with his tongue.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

He who does no wrong to his brother, who casts no slur on his neighbour, who holds the godless in disdain, but honours those who fear the Lord.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

He who keeps his pledge, come what may;