Lent and Eastertide 2010

The Time of Lent and Easter is a time when the Church ‘God’s People’ remembers Jesus Christ’s Suffering, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and Gift of the Holy Spirit. By remembering with special ceremonies at this time of year, Catholic Christians seek to make present and real today God’s love and concern for all people shown in Jesus.

In Lent, a traditional period of 40 days preparation for Easter, we seek to ‘re-focus’ on what is really important in life. This is sometimes through ‘giving up something’ or ‘doing something extra’ so as to help us see more clearly, and to celebrate the gifts we have and also to enter more fully into the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter.

In Holy Week we celebrate what is known as the ‘Easter Triduum’ - three very special ceremonies which really form one great act of worship. The first of these is Holy Thursday Evening ‘The Mass of the Lord’s Supper’ in which we remember Jesus’ Last Supper, when he gave the gift of himself in the Eucharist, Holy Communion, in which God’s People receive Jesus’ life, and share in the Blessings of that life, death and resurrection. Then on ‘Good Friday’ we remember Jesus’ Death on the Cross, and finally at the ‘Easter Vigil’ late on Holy Saturday Evening we remember Jesus’ Resurrection.

Towards the end of Eastertide, we remember Jesus’ Ascension, and then on the last Sunday of Eastertide, Pentecost or ‘Whit’ Sunday we celebrate the Gift of the Holy Spirit, the life of Jesus made part of his people. This calls to mind for Christians that all we have ‘remembered’ at Eastertide is part of us, and that in our lives we can make God’s Way present, real and alive today. As we remember, and take part in, all that Jesus did, we are encouraged to make real those values today.

In addition to our Regular Services, these are the special Services planned for Lent and Eastertide:

Ash Wednesday 17th February 2010
Masses, with the Blessing and distribution of Ashes, will be at the following Times in our Churches:
St. Saviour’s: 9.15am & 7.30pm
St. Mary’s: 9.00am & 7.30pm
Our Lady’s: 12.noon & 7.30pm

Monday 22nd February 2010
Ordination of Monsignor Mark Davies as Coadjutor Bishop of Shrewsbury at St Anthony’s, Wythenshawe - this item is for your prayer as tickets to representatives have already been issued

Monday 22nd February 2010
Churches Together Lent Study starts at Trinity Methodist at 10.00am for six weeks

Friday 5th March 2010
Women’s World Day of Prayer, 10.30am at the Salvation Army and 7.30pm at Our Lady’s

Tuesday 9th March 2010
CAFOD ‘Stations of the Cross’ 7.30pm at St Saviour’s

Thursday 18th March 2010
Penance Service with Confessions for Older Children and Young People, 6.00pm at St Saviour’s

Friday 19th March 2010
Reflection with the ‘Pilgrim Troupe’ 7.00pm at St Saviour’s

Sunday 21st March 2010
Day of Recollection with Mass at 10.00am and the ‘Way of the Cross’ in the afternoon at the Friary at Pantasaph (Times and date to be confirmed)

Tuesday 23rd March 2010
Penance Service at 7.30pm in St. Saviour’s Church with the opportunity for individual celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)

Wednesday 24th March 2010
Mass at 7.30pm at St Mary of the Angels to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero

Passion (Palm) Sunday: 28th March 2010
Masses with Blessing of Palm Branches at the usual Sunday Mass Times across our Four Parishes

Monday 29th March 2010
Penance Service at 7.30pm in Our Lady’s Church with the opportunity for individual celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)

Wednesday 31st March 2010
Diocese of Shrewsbury Chrism Mass, 7.00pm at The Sacred Heart Church in Moreton. Please contact the LPA Office if anyone from our local Parishes would like to attend

Holy Thursday: 1st April 2010
The Mass of the Lord's Supper will take place at the following times in our Churches:
St. Saviour’s: 7.30pm with Watching at the Altar of Repose until 11.30pm
St. Mary’s: 7.30pm with Watching at the Altar of Repose until 10.00pm
Our Lady’s: 7.30pm with Watching at the Altar of Repose until 12.midnight

Good Friday: 2nd April 2010
Services will take place at the following times in our Churches:
St. Saviour’s: Children’s ‘Stations of the Cross’ at 10.00am, Solemn Liturgy of the Passion at 3.00pm, Stations of the Cross at 7.00pm
St. Mary’s: Solemn Liturgy of the Passion at 3.00pm
Our Lady’s: Solemn Liturgy of the Passion at 3.00pm, Stations of the Cross at 7.00pm

Also on Good Friday the Ellesmere Port Churches Together Walk of Witness takes place, starting with a Service at 10.00am Trinity Methodist Church, Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port

Holy Saturday: 3rd April 2010
The Easter Vigil Mass will take place at the following times in our Churches:
St. Saviour’s: 8.00pm
St. Mary’s: 9.00pm
Our Lady’s: 8.30pm

Easter Sunday: 4th April 2010
Easter Day Masses will take place at the following times in our Churches:
St. Saviour’s: 10.00am
St. Mary’s: 9.30am
Our Lady’s: 11.00am
St. Bernard’s: 9.00am

Also on Easter Sunday Morning the Ellesmere Port Churches Together Sunrise Service takes place, at 7.30am in front of Trinity Methodist Church, Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port

Feast of the Ascension of the Lord Sunday 16th May 2010
Masses at the usual Sunday Mass Times across our Four Parishes

Pentecost Sunday 23rd May 2010
Masses at the usual Sunday Mass Times across our Four Parishes
After Pentecost Eastertide finishes, but then the following special days occur:

Feast of the Body & Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi): Sunday, 6th June 2010
Masses at the usual Sunday Mass Times across our Four Parishes

Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul: Tuesday 29th June 2010
Mass will take place at the following times in our Churches:
St. Saviour’s: 7.30pm
St. Mary’s: To be notified
Our Lady’s: 7.30pm (Vigil Monday 28th) 12.noon on the day

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
Sunday, 15th August 2010
Masses at the usual Sunday Mass Times across our Four Parishes

Feast of All Saints: Sunday 31st October 2010
Masses at the usual Sunday Mass Times across our Four Parishes

Commemoration of the Faithful Departed: Tuesday 2nd November 2010
Whilst not a 'Holyday of Obligation' this is a Day when many like to come to Church to remember Family and Friends who have died. Times of Masses will be notified closer the time