Saint Charles Swinton
Parish Newsletter
24 January 2016
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Page 129 in Mass Book.
Ecumenism in Latvia.
(the material for Christian Unity services
around the world was prepared by
Christians in Latvia this year and this is
part of the introduction to it)
“Living ecumenism”:
these words describe the ecumenical
situation in Latvia today. Christians from
different traditions are increasingly
meeting each other for common prayer and
common witness in a growing number of
places and occasions. Part of this dynamic
comes from the fact that the three
largest confessions are approximately
equal in size, while the smaller churches
are very active. Latvia is a kind of
watershed between the Catholic,
Protestant and Orthodox traditions.
Lived Ecumenism
Although churches in Latvia have not
come together in a national council of
churches, ecumenical life goes on bearing
good fruit. Cooperation among Christians in
Latvia is vital today if the Christian
message is to reach contemporary postmodern society in all its diversity and
abundance of opinions.
It is a regular practice in Latvia that
bishops from the Catholic, Orthodox,
Lutheran and Baptist churches address a
common message to society on issues of
ethics, the protection of life, or social
justice. The leaders of the different
churches join together during the
celebration of the most important
remembrance days and holidays for
Latvians.
Relationships between bishops and clergy
of Latvian Christian Churches go beyond
ecumenical services: they are rooted in
genuine friendship. This challenges the
dividing walls built in earlier centuries, and
allows each to recognize in the other a
fellow minister of the Gospel. Catholic,
Lutheran and Baptist bishops meet
regularly. They pray, praise God together
in a fraternal atmosphere, and discuss
issues relevant to Latvia.
There are also many examples of
ecumenical cooperation among communities
and at parish level.
continued over….
The Coming
Week…….
Sunday
24 January
Third Sunday in
Ordinary Time
Mass 6.00pm (Saturday)
8.45am. 11.00am
Retiring collection today for the
Annual White Flower Appeal to
support the work of the Society for
the Protection of Unborn Children.
The focus this year is on the
protection of vulnerable people in
the context of the proposed Assisted
Suicide Bill.
6.30pm Swinton and Pendlebury
Churches Together hold our annual
Unity Service at Saint Anne’s Clifton
to conclude the Octave of Prayer for
Christian Unity. 6.30pm
Today we bid farewell to Gavin
who has been with us for four
weekends on his January parish
pastoral placement. We wish him
well as he continues his formation in
Oscott College and look forward to
his ordination to diaconate this
coming summer. It has been good
to have him around and I thank him
particularly for his great work with
the young people of Saint Ambrose
and Saint Charles schools.
Monday
25 January
The Conversion of St. Paul
8.30am Mass.
Tuesday
26 January
St. Timothy and St. Titus
disciples and companions of St Paul, they
were entrusted with the care of the
Christian communities of Ephesus and
Crete respectively. In the New Testament
are preserved Paul’s letters of pastoral
advice to them.
8.30am Mass.
Wednesday
27 January
9.00am(“ish”!) Mass in School,
Year 4. All welcome
Thursday
28 January
St Thomas Aquinas,
Priest & Doctor born in Aquino, Italy,
around 1225. He entered the Dominican
Order and studied under St. Albert the
Great in Cologne. He was an outstanding
writer and teacher of philosophy; he died
aged forty-nine, in 1274.
8.30am Mass.
Friday
29 January
8.30am Mass
Saturday
30 January
9.00am Mass in Cemetery.
12noon Sacrament of
Reconciliation.
Sunday
31 January
Fourth Sunday in
Ordinary Time
Mass 6.00pm (Saturday)
8.45am. 11.00am
This is our annual “Caritas Sunday”
and there will be a letter from the
bishop highlighting the particular
challenge of welcoming refugees.
There will be a retiring colletion for
this particular work. Please note also
the conference on this issue
advertised overleaf.
*********************************
Further ahead
Saturday
6 February
A Concert of Organ Music
at the Church of the Holy Rood.
From 12Noon – 1.00pm
Admission by Ticket only
see poster in porch for more details.
Friday
26 February
Emma Rushmore and Friends – a
concert in aid of HCPT to enable
their work of taking children with
needs to Lourdes. Those of you who
were at last year’s know what an
incredible talent we witnessed from
the musicians of the Royal Northern
College of Music
Media is also very important for
evangelization in Latvia. An ecumenical
team produces Christian programs that are
regularly broadcast by the Latvian State
Radio and which promote unity and
fellowship amongst Latvian Christians. In
addition there is an evangelical radio
station, “Latvian Christian Radio”, with
many programs of ecumenical relevance.
Challenges to the Ecumenical
Movement
There are stable bases for developing
ecumenism in Latvia because none of the
churches is dominant and there are many
ecumenical activities. At the same time it
has to be admitted that such activities are
developed by the relatively small group of
people who are very open to ecumenical
relations while many Christians remain
either indifferent or even antagonistic.
Another challenge is the lack of official
theological dialogue commissions between
the churches in Latvia. Ecumenical
development relies largely on personal
relationships and fellowship that ensure a
successful realization of ecumenical
events. In many cases, one of the churches
takes the initiative but the responsibility
for it is not quite shared by the churches.
The task for the churches is to find a way
to ensure an equal sharing of responsibility
for ecumenical initiatives.
Finally, a very important challenge to
the growth in communion is the political
situation, which weakens the bonds of
fellowship with those who belong to the
Latvian Orthodox Church (Moscow
Patriarchate). Thus in the future, the
Latvian churches will be seeking new
possibilities in deepening the ecumenical
relationships.
As Latvia is rich in Christian traditions,
this influences family life. There are
many inter-church couples that have to
face in daily life all the questions related
to the remaining divisions among Christian
churches, such as wedding ceremonies,
catechesis of children, attendance of
Sunday services, and, most importantly for
practising Christians, Holy Communion.
Welcoming Communities Churches responding to
refugees and asylum
seekers conference
Wednesday 10th February
10am – 4pm @ Cathedral Centre, 3
Ford Street, Salford M3 6DP
Churches and Christian
communities; individuals, parish
groups, voluntary organisations,
local authority workers and anyone
concerned about refugees and
asylum seekers are invited.
The programme includes
Refugees’ experiences,
understanding the Asylum Seekers
system and Workshops
Being a welcoming church/parish.
Refugee status – the journey to
sanctuary.
Hosting asylum seekers.
Understanding Muslims.
Helping people with their asylum
case.
Asylum seekers women/mental
health.
The current situation nationally
and locally will be discussed and
there will be first hand experiences
with asylum seekers personal
stories.
This is a joint BOAZ, Revive and
Caritas Diocese of Salford
conference.
Cost: £10 booking fee covers the
costs of the conference and a buffet
lunch.
Tickets available from
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/welc
oming-communities-responding-torefugees-and-asylum-seekerstraining-conference-tickets5358820376
or contact Katy Flowers, Cathedral
Centre, 3 Ford Street Salford M3
6DP T: 0161 817 2267 E:
k.flowers@caritassalford.org.uk W:
www.caritassalford.org.uk
**********************************
Further Ahead cont….
Saturday 27 February.
Day for readers, musicians,
singers, focusing on Holy Week with
reflections and prayers (inc. Stations
of Cross and workshop led by
CAFOD. Organised by the Society of
Saint Gregory.
10.00am-4.00pm in Cathedral
Centre. Keynote talk by Bishop
John. £10.00 inc.lunch.
************************
Mercy Bus
Volunteers
This Lent the Salford Diocese have
organised for a Mercy Bus with
priests on board to reach out to
people during the Year of Mercy.
Beginning in February, the
specially designed double-decker
"Mercy Bus" will tour different parts
of the Diocese, stopping in City and
Town centres for the day. There will
be a group of priests on board
available for confession, or a
blessing, or to simply have a chat
with.
We need young adult volunteers
(18-35yrs) who are willing to be
"missionary disciples," by
approaching people as they pass the
Bus offering them a free gift blessed
by Pope Francis (a miraculous medal)
and if they accept it, engaging them
in a conversation about what is
available on the Bus for them.
The dates the Mercy Bus will be
touring the Diocese are Saturday
6th (Salford), 13th (Bolton), 20th
(Burnley), 27th (Blackburn) February,
and Saturday 5th (Rochdale), 12th
(Ashton) 19th (North Manchester)
and Tuesday 22nd (South
Manchester) March 2016.
If you are able to volunteer we just ask
that you attend our training day on
Sunday 31st January 2016, 3-5pm at
Salford Cathedral, 3 Ford Street,
Salford M3 6D
A member of Churches Together in Swinton and Pendlebury
Parish Priest: Rev Mgr Paul F Smith STL   0161 794 1089   paulsmith@saintcharles.freeserve.co.uk website: www.stcharlesswinton.co.uk
MASS TIMES
Saturday: 6.00 pm (First Mass of Sunday)
Sunday
 8.45 am (Church Parade every second
Sunday of the month)
 11.00 am (with children's Liturgy of the
Word)
Registered Charity No. 250037
SACRAMENT OF
RECONCILIATION
Saturdays: 11.30 am to 12.00 noon
and after evening Mass
BAPTISMS
By appointment. Parents are expected to
attend a course of preparation.
Monday to Friday: usually 8.30 am
Holy Days
7.30 pm (eve), 8.30 am
WEDDINGS
Six months notice is normally required.
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Monthly as announced
Union of Catholic Mothers
First and third Tuesdays at 7.15pm
Beaver Scouts
Mondays in school at 6.00pm
Cub Scouts
Tuesdays in school at 6.00 pm
Brownies
Wednesdays in school at 6.00 pm
Rainbows
Thursdays in school at 6.00 pm
If you would like to receive this weekly newsletter by e-mail please give me your e-mail address.
************************************
A member of Churches Together in Swinton and Pendlebury
Parish Priest: Rev Mgr Paul F Smith STL   0161 794 1089   paulsmith@saintcharles.freeserve.co.uk website: www.stcharlesswinton.co.uk
MASS TIMES
Saturday: 6.00 pm (First Mass of Sunday)
Sunday
 8.45 am (Church Parade every second
Sunday of the month)
 11.00 am (with children's Liturgy of the
Word)
Registered Charity No. 250037
SACRAMENT OF
RECONCILIATION
Saturdays: 11.30 am to 12.00 noon
and after evening Mass
BAPTISMS
By appointment. Parents are expected to
attend a course of preparation.
Monday to Friday: usually 8.30 am
Holy Days
7.30 pm (eve), 8.30 am
WEDDINGS
Six months notice is normally required.
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Monthly as announced
Union of Catholic Mothers
First and third Tuesdays at 7.15pm
Beaver Scouts
Mondays in school at 6.00pm
Cub Scouts
Tuesdays in school at 6.00 pm
Brownies
Wednesdays in school at 6.00 pm
Rainbows
Thursdays in school at 6.00 pm
If you would like to receive this weekly newsletter by e-mail please give me your e-mail address.