The God who Speaks
The Year of the Word focuses on celebrating, living and sharing God’s Word throughout the Catholic Church in England and Wales during 2020.
This year sees the tenth anniversary of Verbum Domini, a letter from Pope Benedict XVI on the Word of God.
The year 2020 is also the 1600th anniversary of the death of St Jerome, the translator and scholar of the Bible.
The parish vision for this Year of the Word
The Bible is the foundation of the life and mission of the Church. This year long initiative is a great opportunity for all of us to:
… pray – the Bible. The Bible is a prayer book and a great source for our personal prayer, reflections and devotions. The Bible can help to nourish the committed and routine time of prayer we have each day.
… study – the Bible. The Sacred Scriptures help to be both students of Jesus and the Church. Just reading the Bible for a short period of time each day can enthuse and invigorate our personal discipleship.
… generosity – is overflowing in the Bible! The inspired authors encourage us to bring God’s love to the world.
… share – the good example of the holy men and women of the Bible; they enthuse us to share with others the relationship that we have with God
Imagine if each parishioner could spend 10 minutes in prayer every day; read the Bible for five minutes each day; share with someone; and, did one thing to encourage others to know a little more about our Catholic faith – the results we would see in our homes and in our parish together with the blessings they would bring would be truly life changing.
Celebrating the Year of the Word in church
Mass and Services of the Word and Holy Communion
At every Mass and Service of the Word, the Word of God is proclaimed from the Bible. At Sunday Mass, the Bible readings assigned for each day are available on the parish newsletter.
Stained glass in our beautiful church
We are blessed to have a beautiful church decorated with stained glass windows. Some of the windows depict scenes from the Bible and help us to appreciate the events which they tell. The Bible inspired windows are: above the altar: the Annunciation of the Lord (Luke 1:26-38); the Visitation (Luke 1:39-56); the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-20).
The Annunciation 
Visitation 
Birth of Jesus
In other places in the church there are the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-23) and the Agony in the Garden (Luke 22:39-46).
The Last Supper 
The Agony in the Garden
Bible Book Club
It is hoped that in the new year we can start a Bible Book Club. The Bible Society has produced a number of resources can be of use for us in groups or for individuals.
Celebrating the Year of the Word at home
A bible diary
It is useful to keep a Bible Diary. Make a note of the day and the passage from the Bible which really helps you to be a good Catholic.
Read the Mass readings
The parish newsletter gives the Bible references for the daily Mass readings proclaimed each day. When reading the Mass readings, it is good to keep these thoughts in mind:
What is it that grabs my attention in this passage? What do I learn about God? About Jesus? About the Holy Spirit? What does Jesus do? Does it encourage me? Does it challenge me? Why?
Lectio Divina
This ancient prayer is once again becoming popular. This spiritual exercise uses the Sunday Gospel reading to nourish our personal prayer. Each week a Lectio Divina prayer sheet is made available at the back of church.
Word on Fire
Bishop Robert Barron, the auxiliary bishop in Los Angeles, send a daily email with a reflection on the Mass readings for the day. Go to https://dailycatholicgospel.com/sign-up-daily-gospel
eScrivaLite
Is a free app. This app makes the daily Mass Bible readings straightforward, easy and attractive. The app uses the writings and reflections of St Josemaria to help the reader to reflect on the Bible readings
Some Bible recommendations
The Catholic Truth Society New Catholic Bible – Paperback (Jerusalem Bible) £14.95
The Bible Society Catholic Bible (NRSV) £10.99
The Youcat Bible – for young people, abridged £17.95
The Catholic Youth Bible (NRSV) £16.95
For more information
godwhospeaks.uk
biblesociety.org.uk
2020 – Rededicating England as the Dowry of Mary
During 2020, England will be rededicated as the Dowry of Mary. During the reign of St Edward the Confessor a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth was built. In 1381, King Richard II, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, dedicated England to Mary as her dowry. He went on pilgrimage to Walsingham two years later and ever since it has been a place of prayer and pilgrimage. On Sunday 29 March, England will be rededicated as the Dowry of Mary. This will take place in Walsingham, every church, and in every home across the country. As part of our spiritual preparation for this event all Catholics in England have been asked to pray the Angelus every day especially at 12noon and 6pm.
The Angelus
The angel of the Lord declared unto to Mary, and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Word was made flesh, And dwelt among us.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by his passion and cross, be brought to the glory of his resurrection. Through Christ our Lord.