Franciscan
THANK YOU to all those who generously donated presents for the
young people at Roundabout, they were much appreciated.
SCRIPTURE NOTE: The story of the Presentation of the child Jesus in
the Temple is dominated by Simeon’s welcome, ‘a light to enlighten the
gentiles and the glory of your people Israel’, and by his warning to Mary,
‘a sword will pierce your heart’. Simeon reiterates the angel’s promise
that the child would fulfil the destiny of Israel and Israel’s mission to the
nations. Much like any family life, the promised future included the
delights of the growing, developing child, and the background fear that
the great destiny of each child may include sorrow and even heartbreak. How much did Mary and Joseph know about the precious child
they were nurturing? As he grew to independence did he become more
loving and supportive? How did his contemporaries find him? Was he a
leader? Did he stand out from the pack? Each of us has a private picture
of the child, the boy, the adolescent, the young man. If he was fully
human, he had the same frustrations and worries as every child growing
in youth and through puberty. All we know for sure is that ‘the child grew
to maturity’ and that Mary ‘pondered all these things in her heart’ - with
Simeon’s welcome and warning before her mind. Imagine Jesus’ first
serious conversation as an enquiring child with Mary.
REFLECTION
Forty days have passed since we celebrated the joyful feast of the
Nativity of the Lord. Today is the blessed day when Jesus was
presented in the Temple by Mary and Joseph. Outwardly he was fulfilling
the Law, but in reality he was coming to meet his believing people.
Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Simeon and Anna came to the Temple.
Enlightened by the same Spirit, they recognised the Lord and confessed
him with exultation. So let us also, gathered together by the Holy Spirit,
proceed to the house of God to encounter Christ. There we shall find
him and recognise him in the breaking of the bread, until he comes
again, revealed in glory.
PRAYER FOR A NEW BISHOP
All knowing and ever loving God, hear our prayer and grace your Church
of Hallam with a new bishop. Draw near and send your Spirit upon those
who are given the responsibility of discerning your will, and inspire our
prayer for the one you will choose for us. We are all called to be
ministers of truth and to proclaim your word of life: give us a new bishop
to shepherd us, so that together, as your Church, we may know your
glory. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Adapted from prayer of Gregory Nazianzen, 4th Century.
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 A - PSALTER WEEK 4
PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
Mass Book pg 300. Preface pg 76.
Eucharistic Prayer III pg 28.
Sunday
2nd
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
Saturday
8th
9:00 am (John Scott)
11:00 am (People of the Parish)
No Mass
No Mass
No Mass
No Mass
No Mass
No Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
No Sacrament of Reconciliation
No Mass
Thank you for the TEA, COFFEE AND SUGAR donated recently for St.
Wilfrid’s.
PLEASE PRAY for Alan, Alexander, Alison, Fr Antony Hayne, Antonia
Martel, Benjamin Lewis, Bill Hunt, Brian Dwyer, Clive Miller, David
Skinner, David Thomas, J&E.D, Eileen Jones, Ellen Dalton, Frances
Madeley, George Windsor, Howard Duke, Ian Baxter, Irene Bell, John
Denzil Joseph, John Rowan, JTD, Karen Kilbride, KC, Leonora,
Margaret Higgins, Margaret Paget, Marion Green, Mary Hunt, Mary
Rigby, May Leonard, Nancy Lennon, Peggy Vaughan, Rachel Grace,
Roger Kemp, Fr Roy Pannell, Ruth Hill, Sheila Watson, Fr Terry Tolan,
Tony Mulchrone and Willow Grist who are sick and for all whose
anniversaries occur about this time.
Many thanks to everyone who attended the DANCE SHOW, "Stepping
Out", and made it a success. Congratulations to Anthony Womack and
Jo Moore for their choreography, to the excellent soloists and to all the
people who helped. So far we have raised £1846 in aid of the
Philippines appeal, for which there is information on a poster in the
narthex, and there is still some money to come in. This was possibly
Tony's swan-song - it was great to finish on a high note!
The ST VINCENT’S FURNITURE STORE annual review is available
free in the narthex.
If there are sufficient numbers of confirmation age (Y8 or above) wanting
to be confirmed, we will ask Bishop John to visit the parish towards the
end of the year for the SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION. Please
contact Father Kevin by email this week, giving your name, age and
school if you wish to be confirmed in 2014.
The next meeting of HALLAM ASCENT will be at 2pm on Wednesday
5th February in the Assisi Hall. Kevin Bradley, the director of St. Wilfrid's
Centre will give a presentation for subsequent fund raising.
A series of half-days on different forms of SPIRITUALITY will be held in
2014 at Blessed Trinity Church Hall, Wickersley, Rotherham:
 22nd February - Salesian;
 12th July - Benedictine
 31st May - Carmelite;
Please see the POSTERS ON THE NOTICE BOARD, which include:
 Awareness Day on Supporting People in Later Years. Saturday 22nd
February, 9:30am to 3:430pm at St. Columba's Church on
Manchester Road.
 Bereavement Support at St. Marie’s Cathedral.
MEN'S MAGNIFICENT MEALS, a six week cookery course for men who
don't know how to cook starts on Friday 28th February at St Columba's
Church. Participants cook and eat lunch together, led by a qualified
tutor. For more information contact Kate on 2670006.
"PRAYING TWICE - SACRED SINGING FOR EVERYONE". Catholic
Peoples Weeks run holidays with a bit of learning thrown in. They are
running an adult weekend on music and the liturgy at Hyning Monastery,
near Carnforth from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd March. The key speakers
will be Greg Ryan and Helen Lyon, a music teacher who helps people
sing. No musical talent required, just an enjoyment of religious music.
Further details from Mike Campbell at mikejcampbell50@yahoo.co.uk
and bookings to Alan Wenham alanwenham@hotmail.com.
There will be a conference on 'POVERTY ON OUR DOORSTEP' at the
Hallam Pastoral Centre, Attercliffe on Saturday, March 1st, from 9:30am
to 1pm. Speakers include Paul Blomfield MP, Cllr Mazher Iqbal and Dr
Simon Duffy (Director of the Centre for Welfare Reform). To book, ring
2343580 or email sacredheart479@btinternet.com. More details on the
notice board.
"FORMATION OF MUSICIANS" - music for the revised translation two
years on, how are we doing? These workshops are open to all who sing
and support the music at Mass (that’s most of us!). The dates for
Sheffield North Deanery are Wednesday 12th March and Wednesday
26th March from 7.30pm to 9pm at St. Vincent’s Church. If you cannot
make these sessions, see the list in the narthex for alternative sessions.
Please see the poster on the notice board for details of SPIRITUAL
EVENTS IN 2014 in St Francis Parish.
 Margaret Silf will lead a day on prayer on Saturday 15th March (10am
to 4pm) in the Assisi Hall. She is a well known writer and spiritual
guide who bases her ideas on those of Ignatian Spirituality. Please
contact Stephen Spooner sfspooner@hotmail.com to book a place.
 The Road to Salvation in images by Lavinia Jones. A talk exploring
the depictions of the way of the Cross and the Resurrection in art and
how these might be an aid to contemplation. Tuesday 8th April at
8pm.
 Beginners’ Iconography Retreat at Hyning Monastery led by Sr. Mary
Stella. Monday 28th April to Friday 2nd May. Details from Jacinta
Campbell.
 Parish Retreat led by Fr. Kieran Monaghan OSB a monk from
Ampleforth Abbey. 4th – 5th July (Friday evening until Saturday
afternoon). Details from Stephen Spooner.
 Inspir Team to return in October 2014 for one to one guided retreat.
The HALLAM DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES will be from
Sunday 29th June to Friday 4th July (by air) and from Saturday 28th June
to Saturday 6th July (by coach). The cost is £675 by air or £500 by
coach. Booking forms are available in the sacristy or from Father Kevin.
The ST WILFRID’S CENTRE newsletter is available free in the narthex.
The HALLAM NEWS for February is available in the narthex free of
charge.
The APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYER LEAFLETS for February are on the
trolley with the hymn and Mass books.