4th Sunday of Lent
Parish Priest: Fr. David Palmer: Tel: 01673 842323 E:mail: holyroodchurchmr@outlook.com
Welcome to our website. Here are the Mass times for this week:
Confessions are available after Mass or during exposition Thursday 10:30am or on request
Coffee and tea etc. in the schoolroom after Sunday 11.30 Sunday Mass.
March 100 Club Winners: 1st: 40 Helen T, 2nd 95 Ken B, 3rd 87 Lesley D. This is the last draw of the current round. Renewing your numbers or entering for the first time began on Sunday 15th Feb. Initially Keith will collect for Rasen and Ann for Caistor. We should appreciate it if you could renew your numbers by 22nd March to help us organise for April’s draw. Thanks.
Lenten sacrament of Confession: The Church very much encourages us to go to confession during Lent in preparation for Easter. To make this easier Fr David will be available on Sat 21st March at Holy Rood from 12-1pm (longer if needed) for any who wish to avail themselves of the sacrament.
Exploring Catholicism Course: Thursday at 7pm in the Old School (hall). This week we will be exploring Marriage and Holy Orders. Anyone is welcome to attend. Refreshments are available from 6:30pm, the session will be completed by 8:15pm.
Parish Lunch next Tuesday 17th March: Our next Parish Lunch will be next Tuesday, 17th March at the Golf Club, Legsby Rd, Market Rasen, LN8 3DZ, 12.30 for 1p.m. Anyone is welcome to join us for a casual, friendly lunch- especially non-Catholic family and friends and anyone new to the Parish or living alone. If you need a lift or can offer it, please meet in Holy Rood car park at 12.30p.m. and we can arrange transport. Please let Mary Howes know if you intend to come (ASAP) so we can inform the Golf Club of numbers. Tel 01673 849554, or email mary-howes1@hotmail.co.uk. If we need to prebook our meals we can arrange that later. The menu is on their website, www.marketrasengolfclub.co.uk. And yes, it is Lent, but it is also St Patrick’s day!! Anyway, menu choice is up to you so you don’t need to eat a lot if you don’t want to!
Churches Festival Volunteers meeting to be held in schoolroom after 11.30 Mass on Sunday 12th April.
Easter Raffle. Tickets now on sale at the back of the church. Easter egg donations will be gratefully accepted.
First Aid kits: Two new First Aid kits and Accident Report books are available. One kit and book is in the Narthex; the other kit and book are in the schoolroom. Bottled water is also in the Narthex.
Schoolroom Hire: The amended Booking Forms and Amended T&Cs are now available. A copy of the T&Cs is on the schoolroom noticeboard. Please see Mary Q or Keith for more information.
Parish E-Mailing List: We have set up a new parish E-mail list which allows those who join to be kept up-to date with information in the parish via E-mail. It is a versatile tool and will allow (in time) various groups within the parish to have their own sections. If you would like to join, please just send an E-mail with “Parish List” in the subject line to holyroodchurchmr@outlook.com (You can leave at any time).
Rosary: The Rosary is said before the 10am Mass at Holy Rood on Tuesdays, all are welcome to join in.
Exposition and Adoration (Confessions available) Thursdays 10:30am Holy Rood (after Mass)
Mass Intentions: If you want to have a Mass offered for a particular intention, we have “Mass intention Envelopes” at the back of each Church. The Diocese recommends a donation of £10 for a Mass intention.
Food Bank: Tinned & dried goods are always needed to help those families who are struggling at this time of year. If you would like any further information please have a chat with Pauline.
What‘s happening out and about?
A Dominican Young Adults Study Day focusing on the Sacrament of Confession is being held on Saturday 14th March, between 10.00am and 4.30pm, at Holy Cross, Leicester. Why do we need to go to confession? Can I not say sorry to God on my own and trust in his mercy? During the day we will begin by looking at sin and human flourishing, before unpacking the sacrament of confession itself: what is it? How does it work? And why do we need it? The Day will finish with some more practical considerations around making a good confession, and will include Mass, talks, prayer, fellowship, and discussion, as well as the opportunity to go to confession. Lunch will be provided. To register email dya@english.op.org
The Abortion Recovery Care and Helpline (ARCH) is starting a Post Abortion Women’s Support Group from April in central Nottingham, for women affected by abortion. Run by a qualified therapist, the group offers a safe space to meet with other women in a supportive and helpful way, with confidentiality, no judgement, and free of charge. If it has been at least six months since your experience and you would like more information email clare@archtrust.org.uk including a mobile number (ARCH and abortion will not be mentioned in any texts).
The Catholic Union wants to make the Weekly Briefing available to every Catholic in England, Scotland and Wales. Sign up for free at: https://catholicunion.org.uk/weekly-briefings/?mc_cid=f1b1eb6fd3&mc_eid=735bea09a7
In June 2025 MPs voted for an extreme amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, which would allow women to abort an unborn baby for any reason (including gender), up to birth. If passed this amendment will remove all legal protection for babies. This policy was not in any manifesto and was passed with less than two hours’ debate. As Catholics, we must oppose this horrendous assault on vulnerable unborn life. The bill is due to be debated in the House of Lords on Wednesday 18th March. As a matter of urgency, please write to members of the Lords, asking them to reject this barbaric proposal. If you aren’t sure what to say or whom to write to visit www.spuc.org.uk/abortion-decriminalisation or contact pro-life@dioceseofnottingham.uk
Forming Catholic Student Leaders Two summer courses exploring faith, ethics and leadership for sixth form students, offered by the Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst. Join us for 6 days in the beautiful Ribble Valley to explore themes linked to The Common Good (Year 12, 10-15 August) and to The Human Ecology (Year 13, 5-10 July). Meet new friends, discuss and share with peers, tutors and academics, learn new skills, develop your relationship with Christ, build your character. www.christianleadershipformation.com
Called to Love, 2 – 3 May 2026: A retreat for singles, dating and engaged young adults who want to think more deeply about relationships and the call to marriage. A relaxed weekend with input, prayer, discussion and social, as well as the opportunity to meet like-minded others! This year’s retreat will have as its theme masculinity and femininity. Runs from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd May, with the option of staying Friday night. https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/called-to-love/
Men’s Retreat: The Diocese is delighted once again to invite you to a Men’s Retreat on Saturday 28th March between 9.45am and 3.45pm, at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey, Coalville. Canon Chris Thomas (Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales for 10 years) will lead the Day, entitled “Limitless: In the Lenten Gospel readings the Limitless power of God is revealed. In Christ we too can be limitless”. The Retreat costs £15 per person; please bring your own packed lunch. https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=K0aLivJiz0GWFBy9r3UQDuiJPmfhpEBEo-L5QsatoShUOTNOSThPTzdYV1FXWlNEQ0UwT0I2VzM4SC4u&route=shorturl
The Diocesan Education Service is hosting a Day looking at Gender and Faith: Accompanying Young People Well on Thursday 23rd April at the Diocesan Centre, Mackworth DE22 4BD. Dr Julia Sadusky will lead the Day, between 11.30am and 2.00pm, which is open to all, especially those accompanying young people at the intersection of questions of embodiment and spirituality. The cost of the Day is £25, and bookings can be made by contacting gill.burns@nottingham-des.org.uk
All are welcome to join Father Jonathan Cotton in a reflection through slides, music, and prayers of The Seven Last Words of Jesus on Tuesday 24th March in Saint Wilfrid’s Church, Coalville LE67 3JB, and on Thursday 26th March in Sacred Heart Church, Loughborough LE11 2HE. Both evenings begin at 7.00pm, and conclude at 8.30pm with refreshments.
For your information or assistance…
We have two email addresses that perform different roles. Just to clear any confusion here is a reminder.
holyroodchurchmr@outlook.com is the one to use to communicate with Fr. David directly re spiritual, personal, or ongoing matters.
holyroodmr@gmail.com was set up in 2020 to deal with general enquiries, communication generated via the website, and third parties such as West Lindsey churches festival. These emails are initially looked at by the bulletin team and passed to Fr. David if appropriate.
God bless you all,
Fr. David
