Welcome to the Catholic Church of St. Patrick's in Duston

Welcome to our website. We hope you will use it to keep up with Parish news, upcoming events and service times and as a general source of information about our parish community.

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B - 24th January 2021

Sat 23

6.00pm

Vigil Mass - 3rd Sunday - The Word of God

Sun 24

9.30am

Mass - 3rd Sunday - The Word of God

Tue 26

9.30am

Mass

Fri 29

9.30am

Mass

Sat 30

6.00pm

Vigil Mass - 4th Sunday - Racial Justice

Sun 31

9.30am

Mass - 4th Sunday - Racial Justice

Confessions after the mass on Fridays and Saturdays

Face coverings or masks must be worn in church at Mass

Readings 24 January 2021 - The Sunday of the Word of God

Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 24(25): 4-9; 1 Cor 7: 29-31; Mark 1: 14-20

Like Jonah, Christ was sent to preach repentance. He calls us to change our ways.

Not to become engrossed in the world, but to believe the Good News and live for the Kingdom of God.

In the short book of Jonah, God sent a great fish to force Jonah back to the mission God had given him, to warn Nineveh that it was to be destroyed. But, after the fish had spewed Jonah back on to dry land, Jonah was still angry that God relented. He had run away to avoid drawing God's mercy on the hated city, believing only Jews were worthy of God's mercy.

After praying for pardon, the Psalm meditates on God's goodness towards the just.

Responding to questions from the Corinthians about married life, Paul gives detailed advice - but against the background of expecting Jesus to return in glory virtually any minute. There may also have been a famine when he was writing. They should not be alarmed by any current world crisis, even if normal activities are interrupted for a time. But one day the world will end. What will matter then is their faithfulness to the Lord, whatever their social circumstances.

Last week we heard from the Gospel of John about Jesus calling the first disciples. Our year B readings from

the Gospel of Mark now resume until Lent, then continuing after TrinitySunday. Mark describes Jesus beginning his ministry by first proclaiming the Good News, and then also calling the first disciples.

PSALM RESPONSE - LORD, MAKE ME KNOW YOUR WAYS.

Spiritual Holy Communion - Oh Jesus, my God, I love you, but unfortunately, I cannot receive you in Holy Communion at this time.

Come, nevertheless, and visit me with your grace.

Come spiritually into my heart. Purify it. Sanctify it. Render it like your own most Sacred Heart. Amen.

Daily Mass on line www.northamptondiocese.org/live

The Sunday of the Word of God - to be held on the 3rd Sunday each year.

Instituted by Pope Francis, today is a reminder of the importance and value of Sacred Scripture for the Christian life, as well as the relationship between the Word of God and the scared liturgy.

It is not an annual event but rather a year long event to help us grow and develop a closer relationship with Sacred Scripture and with the Risen Lord, less our hearts remain cold and our eyes shut, inflicted as we are by so many forms of blindness.

"God's word, listened to and celebrated, above all in the Eucharist, nourishes and inwardly strengthens Christians, enabling them to offer an authentic witness to the Gospel in daily life."

To keep up your weekly offerings or to make donations

Direct to the Parish - By Standing Order/Direct Debit/ One-Off Donation - ask your bank to pay to

Account Name: RCDN St Patrick Duston Branch Sort Code: 60-06-11 A/c No 59820640.

Let Fr Benny know if as a tax payer you want us to reclaim tax paid on your offering (no extra cost to you).

We will send you a Gift Aid Declaration form to complete and return to the church.

Or use 'Giving Tuesday' to call the Diocesan Finance Office 01604 712065, (10:00am - 4:00pm)

Have your debit/credit card ready to make a payment - specify the offering is for St Patrick's Duston.

If the line is busy leave only your telephone number and your name - you will be called back.

We know at present many families are struggling financially so please just do what you can.

Next Monday - On 25th January 2021 from 7.15pm to 9pm - To register go to: http://tiny.cc/dstccr

An online reflection on Pope Francis' call to serve the poor as a fruit of life in the Holy Spirit.

An inspiring evening of praise and worship. Input by Bishop David Oakley and discussion.

Year of St Joseph - Declared by Pope Francis - Bishop David has asked that we this prayer during the year.

Hail Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.To you God entrusted his only Son;

In you Mary placed her trust; with Christ you became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father. Guide us in in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.

Please Pray during the Week for

The Church. The lonely & frightened. The faithful departed - those who mourn. The sick (Pauline Goodly) -and their carers. Victims of coronavirus. World leaders to unite to find a covid solution. The poorer countries where disease and risk are heightened by food and medicine shortages. Victims of oppression and racial hatred.

In gratitude to God for his gifts, his mercy and unconditional love.

the successful role out of the vaccine programme - and in thanks to god.

Racial Justice Sunday 31 January 2021

Pope Francis said Martin Luther King Jr's dream "of harmony and equality for all people" is relevant today and it is imperative to see people "in the truth of our shared dignity as children of Almighty God."

Quoting "Fratelli tutti," the Pope said that "each one of us is called to be an artisan of peace by uniting and not dividing, by extinguishing hatred and not holding on to it, by opening paths of dialogue."

I am praying destructive. I urge everyone to promote a culture of encounter and of care to construct the common good.

God and prophet Jonah

God had to convert the disobedient and fleeing prophet Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach repentance there to save the city. Some times our prejudice, preconception and prejudgment can blind us to the working of Divine grace both in us and in others. We need to teach us and train our mind to promptly respond to God's inspirations. The simple understanding that it is God who is at work and not me, would help us to offer our life to God. That will make collaboration with God easy and enjoyable. We should be able to work with God like little children working with their loving parents.

Prayer for relief of the Coronavirus Pandemic

Hear us, O God, our Saviour, and by the prayers of glorious Mary, Mother of God, of St Parick, St Francis,

and of all the saints, deliver your people from the present affliction, and in your bounty let them feel certain of your mercy. Lord, mercifully heed our supplications, and heal our infirmities of body and soul;

so that knowing your forgiveness we may ever rejoice in your blessing. Amen.

Pope Francis: The greatest joy for every believer is to respond to God's call

Pope Francis said last Sunday that great joy is found when one offers his life in service to God's call. "There are different ways of carrying out the plan that God has for each of us, which is always a plan of love. ? And the greatest joy for every believer is to respond to this call, to offer all of himself at the service of God and his brothers and sisters," Pope Francis said.

The Pope said that each time that God calls someone it is "an initiative of His love." "God calls to life, He calls to faith, and He calls to a particular state in life."

"God's first call is to life, through which He makes us persons; it is an individual call because God does not make things in sets. Then God calls us to faith and to become part of His family as children of God. Lastly, God calls us to a particular state in life: to give of ourselves on the path of marriage, or that of the priesthood or the consecrated life. God's call is love, we must try to find the love behind every call - and respond to it with love."