Dear Parishioners and all those who logged into our Parish,

may the joy and peace of the Risen Christ be in you and upon you.

This celebration of Mass took place at 7pm on Tuesday 12th May – Parishioners and others joined via the webcam and radios at home.

 

First reading: from the Acts of the Apostles 3:1-10.

In the name of Jesus, walk! Miracles do happen.

Responsorial Psalm 22.

And I will trust in you alone. Sung/Stuart Townend, YouTube

Gospel: according to John 14:27-31.

Peace I give you, do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

 

My few words:

At the beginning of Mass:

We gather again – at a distance – to celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Welcome to all who join us via radio or webcam.

This evening we gather for Mass for the Sick: please have a small teaspoon of olive oil available at home to bless those who are sick or preparing for/recovering from operations or receiving treatment at this time or are aged or anyone who is living with addiction or mental health or emotional health or spiritual health issues. We will do that later in the Mass.

If you have a relative or friend who cannot be present, I hope you have a photo of them placed on a table. And light a candle.

All of us are in need of God’s healing that comes with God’s mercy and forgiveness. We acknowledge our sinfulness, our selfishness…

 

After the Gospel:

Jesus says: Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

This is the kind of reassurance we need when we are unwell, out of sorts, in pain, anxious about a test result or facing a long night or even a new day.

A parent’s hug, a loved one’s hand to hold, someone just being there in quiet solidarity. That is how we as family and friends put these words into action.

Alongside that there are the medical professionals giving us advice, medicine, treatment. They journey with us with compassion and in putting our lives in their hands we trust them.

And of course, we turn to God every day in prayer, or maybe anger or frustration. But this evening let us come in prayer. Maybe like the man in the first reading we are begging for help. Or we want to trust in God who is my shepherd who anoints my head with oil who is always with me even in the valley of darkness.

Today is also International Nurses Day and the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes would have been coming home today – that is why when the idea of having a Mass for the Sick was proposed I thought it should overlap the Lourdes Diocesan Pilgrimage. It is, as you know, a great shrine for the sick – adults, teenagers, children, babies – in beds or stretchers or wheelchairs or prams or buggies, and many others called walking sick, people who have no visible or outward sign of sickness or illness. All coming for a cure – what most receive is peace. Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.

Through Peter a miracle happened in Jerusalem. Why not here too, to you. May God continue to surprise us into praise and astonishment.

Ritual for those at home

Have the teaspoon of olive oil ready.

The Lord Jesus, who went about doing good works and healing sickness and infirmity of every kind, commanded his disciples to care for the sick, to pray for them, and to lay hands on them. In this ritual we shall entrust our sick sisters and brothers to the care of the Lord, asking that he will enable them to bear their pain and suffering in the knowledge that, if they accept their share in the pain of his own Passion, they will also share in its power to give comfort and strength.

Response: Lord, give those who are sick the comfort of your presence.

1. Lord Jesus, you came as healer of body and of mind and of spirit, in order to cure all our ills. Response.

2. You were a man of suffering, but it was our infirmities that you bore, our sufferings that you endured. Response.

3. You chose to be like us in all things, in order to assure us of your compassion. Response.

4. You experienced the weakness of the flesh in order to deliver us from evil. Response.

5. Lord Jesus, you called the little children to come to you and said that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these; listen to our prayers for these children and babies. Response.

6. For those bound by the chains of addiction or substance abuse or mental health or emotional health or spiritual health issues; that we encourage and assist them in their struggle. Response.

7. At the foot of the Cross your Mother stood as companion in your sufferings, and in your tender care you gave her to us as our Mother. Response.

Prayer of praise for the oil.

Praise to you, almighty God and Father. You sent your Son to live among us and bring us salvation.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, the Father’s only Son. You humbled yourself to share in our humanity, and you desired to cure all our illnesses.

Praise to you God the Holy Spirit, the Consoler. You heal our sickness with your mighty power

Lord God, with faith in you our beloved – or if you are alone, yourself – will be blessed with this oil. Ease their/my sufferings and strengthen their/me in their/my weakness.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Now I invite you to bless on the forehead whoever is in need of blessing and we will listen to the hymn – Lay your hands gently upon us – James Kilbane.

We continue with the Prayer of the Faithful

Priest: Let us pray to God for the graces we need at this time.

1. In this time of the coronavirus pandemic we pray that God’s mercy may bring healing and reconciliation to all humankind. …pause… Lord, hear us.

2. That all who suffer in mind or body may find in Mary, the Mother of God, who stood at the foot of the cross, the strength to endure and accept. …pause… Lord, hear us.

3. That the sick may receive healing. That those addicted may have courage and strength. That those who carry the stress of mind, emotional or spiritual crosses may see a way through life. …pause… Lord, hear us.

4. May medical teams at hospital, medical centres, in the community be blessed and guided in their work of healing and support. …pause…Lord, hear us.

5. May family and friends who care and worry and serve the sick be given patience and understanding. …pause… Lord, hear us.

6. We pray for peace in our families and in our country. That healing and reconciliation may be experienced by those who seek it. …pause… Lord, hear us.

Priest: We commend us all to the care of Our Lady of Lourdes…Hail Mary, … Our Lady of Lourdes… St Bernadette… St Patrick…

O God, listen to our prayers and grant them through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn post Communion: One pair of hands, Elvis Presley

At the end of Mass:

I wish you all health and happiness and the continued peace and joy of Easter

Continue to do what we are doing for the good of us all – stay at home!

Keep safe and well and keep your distance!

Lord, our God, who watch over us with unfailing care, keep us in the safe embrace of your love. With your strong right hand raise us up and give us he strength of your own power. Minister to us and heal us so that we may have from you the help we long for.

Blessing

Closing hymn: Healing time on earth, John Denver

Followed by James Kilbane cd

Before Mass James Kilbane cd