With the encouragement and support of Bishop David, we are invited to join together with CAFOD this Lent to reach out to our sisters and brothers around the world who need our help now more than ever.

Through our prayer, fasting and alms-giving we can transform the lives of people like Abdella who lives in an extremely remote, hot and mountainous part of Ethiopia.

It takes him ten hours a day to collect water for his family. Our work through CAFOD reaches vulnerable communities around the easily give worldlike Abdella's with water and other life-changing support.

Please donate using the Fast Day envelopes

or online at www.cafod.org.uk oby texting LENT to 70460 to donate £10.*

Let us remember in prayer this week

The Church. The lonely & frightened. The faithful departed - those who mourn. The sick and their carers. Health care workers. Victims of coronavirus. World leaders to unite to find a covid solution.

The poorer countries where disease and risk is heightened by food and medicine shortages. Migrants.

Victims of oppression and racial hatred. In gratitude to God for his gifts, his mercy and unconditional love.

For our country - that the special measures now being taken will rapidly combat the spread of the virus.

The good news on the vaccines - giving thanks for the progress.

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 www.northamptondiocese.org/live.

From a Lenten Letter of Pope Francis

In these times of trouble, when everything seems fragile and uncertain, it may appear challenging to speak of hope. Yet Lent is precisely the season of hope, when we turn back to God who patiently continues to care for his creation which we have often mistreated.Saint Paul urges us to place our hope in reconciliation:

"Be reconciled to God".

By receiving forgiveness in the sacrament that lies at the heart of our process of conversion, we in turn can spread forgiveness to others. Having received forgiveness ourselves, we can offer it through our willingness to enter into attentive dialogue with others and to give comfort to those experiencing sorrow and pain.God's forgiveness, offered also through our words and actions, enables us to experience an Easter of fraternity.

'May God's love be poured out upon us like the morning dew.

May the healing balm of the Father's mercy wash away our iniquity, cleanse us from our sins and put a new song of joy and new life into our hearts.

Duston Churches Together - Food Bank Open Saturday 10am - 12noon URC Church

Great news for those in need. Thanks to volunteers from our local Churches, the Food Bank is re-opening at the United Reformed Church (URC) in the village.

To donate food - tinned meat, fish and vegetables would be much appreciated - please take it to the URC Church on Saturday mornings between 10am and 12 noon. Strict Covid safety measures apply.

Our own Church response in donating food has been exceptional thanks. So please do what you can again.

Prayer is the light of the soul (St John Chrysostom)

The highest good is prayer and conversation with God, because it means that we are

in God's company and in union with him. When light enters our bodily eyes our eyesight is sharpened; when a soul is intent on God, God's inextinguishable light shines into it and makes it bright and clear.

I am talking, of course, of prayer that comes from the heart and not from routine: not the prayer that is assigned to particular days or particular moments in time, but the prayer that happens continuously by day and by night.

Pandemic Prayer of Pope Francis - Help us, Mother of Divine Love,

to conform ourselves to the Father's will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

A Daily Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you came among us Through Mary's 'yes' to God Help me this day To say 'yes' to the Father's call to me, so that in my words and actions, in times of work and leisure, you can be present

in me through the power of the Eucharist to heal, to comfort and to sustain.

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.