SCRIPTURE NOTE: We always think of this Bread of Life discourse as
centred on the Eucharist, but the first part of it is centred on the bread of
life as the revelation of God. In a similar way, the Liturgy of the Word
which proclaims the revelation of God through Scripture is the first part
of the Mass. As we said last week, in this discourse Jesus is following
the pattern of Jewish sermons with a detailed commentary upon the text
from Exodus: ‘Bread from heaven he gave them to eat’. Then half-way
through the sermon comes a quotation from the prophets, a sort of halftime booster quote. This quotation from Isaiah appears in today’s gospel
reading: ‘They will all be taught by God’. In context this quote occurs in a
passage exploring the personal relationship of each believer to the Lord.
The Lord will sow in our hearts individually the knowledge of himself, so
that each of us has a personal bond with God which is cultivated by
prayer. If we listen to the Father and learn from him, we come to Jesus,
who has seen the Father. So in this reading the emphasis is on listening,
seeing, believing the revelation of the Father. Faith is no abstract set of
truths but a personal knowing, just as we know those we love on earth.
Only at the end of today’s reading do we move on to the topic of eating
the Bread of Life.
How and where do you listen to what God has to say to you?
PRAYER/REFLECTION: Trust in God
Lord, I’ve no idea where I’m going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I
cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself.
And the fact that I think I’m doing your will, doesn’t mean that I’m
actually doing it. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact
please you, and I hope that I have this desire. Though I may seem to be
lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are with me, and
you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Thomas Merton
PARISH PRAYER
Heavenly Father, pour down on our Church your Holy Spirit, the fire of
your love. Give us the courage, the wisdom and the faith to be salt for
the earth and light for the world.
Franciscan
Church of St. Francis of Assisi
277 Sandygate Road, Sheffield S10 5SD
Telephone 0114 263 0383
Email: stfrancis@frkevin.f9.co.uk
parishcounci26@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.stfrancisrc-sheffield.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 512021
Parish Priest: Fr Kevin Thornton
Parish Deacon: Stephen Parker
YEAR B - PSALTER WEEK 3
19th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Mass book pg 117. Preface VI pg 55.
Eucharistic Prayer III pg 27.
Sunday
9th
9:00 am (People of the Parish)
11:00 am (St Francis Dead List)
Monday
10th
10:00 am St Laurence (Jane [Jinny] Page)
Tuesday
11th
7:30 pm St Clare (St Francis Dead List)
10:00 am St Jane Frances de Chantal (Peggy
Higginbottom)
10:00 am (Thanksgiving for Prayers)
Wednesday 12th
Thursday
13th
Friday
14th
Saturday
15th
10:00 am St Maximillian Kolbe (St Francis Dead
List)
11.15-11.45 Sacrament of Reconciliation
12:00 noon (St Francis Dead List)
The Feast of the ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY is transferred to
Sunday 16th August.
Thank you for last week's OFFERTORY COLLECTION.
Help us to build warm and welcoming communities of faith in our
families, our neighbourhoods, our Parish. May we carry the Good News
by word and action into all our environments, especially those which are
hostile and hurting.
The Justice and Peace Group raised £120.22 at the recent CAKE SALE
to raise funds for the St Wilfrid's Residential Centre. Many thanks to all
those who made and bought cakes.
Together with Mary, the first evangeliser we entrust all our efforts into
the care of the Divine Spirit, who fills and renews the face of the earth.
Please donate more TEA, COFFEE and SUGAR for St. Wilfrid’s. Thank
you.
Amen.
PLEASE PRAY for Alan, Alexander, Alison, AM, Fr Antony Hayne,
Benjamin Lewis, Brian Dwyer, David Skinner, Eileen Jones, Ellen
Dalton, Ian Baxter, Jim Foley, John Denzil Joseph, John Rowan, Sr Julia
Duignan, J&E.D, JTD, Karen Kilbride, KC, Leonora, Margaret Paget,
Mary Hunt, Mary Rigby, Maura Kay, May Leonard, Michael Hulley, ,
Nancy Lennon, Rachel Grace, Roger Kemp, Fr Roy Pannell, Ruth Hill,
Teresa Kenyon, Tony Mulchrone, Willow Grist and Yvonne Reaney, who
are sick, and for all whose anniversaries occur about this time.
The MINUTES OF THE LAST PARISH COUNCIL MEETING are pinned
to the noticeboard in the narthex. They are also available on the parish
website at www.stfrancisrc-sheffield.org.uk/parish-council/minutes.
HALLAM ASCENT would like to thank all those who braved the
roadworks and diversions to attend their charity cream tea held on
Wednesday. We raised £282 for the Apostleship of the Sea at
Immingham Docks.
CHURCH CLEANING. We need more volunteers to help keep the
church clean. It only takes about half an hour every 6 to 7 weeks. If you
can give your time, please send your name, contact number and e-mail
to Sue Shirt on domshirt@me.com.
On Friday 11th September, the House of Commons will debate and vote
on a Bill to legalise ASSISTED SUICIDE. This will put the most
vulnerable people in our society at risk. Please contact your MP, urging
them to attend the debate and vote against the Bill. You can send an email to your MP via the Catholic Bishops’ Conference website
(www.catholicnews.org.uk/assisted-suicide) or send a letter by post, a
draft of which can be found in the narthex.
Bishop John Rawsthorne, Emeritus Bishop of Hallam, is returning on
Friday 11th September to lead the 17th ANNUAL WALK in aid of St
Wilfrid’s. Bishop Ralph Heskett and his dog Molly are in training and are
also planning to take part in some of the walk. The proceeds from
sponsorship will be going directly to the residential project. The target is
£2million and they have currently raised £1.7million. Sponsor forms are
on the notice board for signing. If you pay tax, you can 'Gift Aid' your
donation and increase its value. Please fill in the relevant sections which
are required when making claims for Gift Aid.
The BOOK SALE continues after Mass today. It will raise money for the
St. Wilfrid's Centre. If you have any unwanted books, CDs or DVDs,
please leave them in the narthex.
S2 FOOD BANK IS GOING TO THE SEASIDE! Sheffield taxi drivers
are kindly taking families free of charge to Cleethorpes for the day on
16th August with free fish and chips for all. But for a successful day,
specific donations plus loan of car seats and money for treats are
needed. See notice on food bank collection box for full details.
HOMELESS AND ROOTLESS AT CHRISTMAS (HARC) are holding a
charity concert on Saturday 5th September at the Sheffield Anglican
Cathedral. Nancy Kerr (winner of BBC2 Folk Singer of the Year 2015)
and James Fagan are performing with support from Jon Boden
(Bellowhead), Fay Hield, Neil McSweeney and the Bamford Village
Singers. Tickets are £12 and can be purchased from wegottickets.com.
All proceeds go to HARC.
The Parish INSPIR PRAYER GROUP is having a summer break and will
meet again on Monday 14th September from 10am until 12 noon. New
members most welcome. Please contact Jacinta Campbell on
jfcampbell51@yahoo.co.uk for more information and location details.
The CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC GROUP will take a short break over
the summer. The next meeting will be on Monday 14th September from
7.30pm to 9pm in the parish rooms at St Marie’s Cathedral.
WORLD YOUTH DAY from 22nd July to 1st August 2016. Join Pope
Francis and millions of young people in Krakow with Bishop Ralph and
Hallam Youth. Open to ages 18 to 30 (at time of travel). See poster in
narthex for more information.
Hallam Diocesan PILGRIMAGE TO ROME in the Holy Year of Mercy
will run from Thursday 29th September to 6th October 2016. It will be led
by Rt. Rev. Ralph Heskett CSSR, Bishop of Hallam. Accommodation is
half board in a 4* hotel in Rome’s historic centre. Return flights and
excursions are included. Cost £1145 single; £1095 twin; £995 triple (per
person). Further details from ssjosephandtheresa@gmail.com.
The National Safeguarding Commission launched its E-LEARNING
PROGRAMME on 30th July. If you have a role working with children,
young people or adults who may be vulnerable, or if you are a parent
who wants to understand on-line safety, please have a look at the elearning brochure. This explains what programmes are available and
how to access any programmes that interest you. To register your
interest, please contact Jo Pearson at safeguardingadmin@hallamdiocese.com, giving your name, email address, name of your
parish/order/congregation, and your role. Jo will be able to register you
ready to start from 1st September 2015.