| Letter from Fr Mark McManus (10th April - Good Friday) |
| Dear Parishioners of St Joseph's & St Charles, |
| In Matthew's Gospel (26:18) we read, 'My time is near. It is at your house I am keeping Passover with my disciples.' How true this is for today! I have attached some words for you to ponder should you wish and I will hold you in my heart and prayer at 6.00pm when I celebrate this evening's Mass.
I remind you that you can watch tonight's Mass from a variety of places on the TV (EWTN) or internet and that that Pope Francis will be celebrating the Mass of The Lord's Supper from St Peter's at 5.00pm (UK time), Cardinal Nichols at 5.30pm at Westminster Cathedral and our own bishop at 6.00pm at the cathedral. As I mentioned in a previous letter there will be a national focus for Watching at the Altar of Repose from St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham. We Catholics normally fast for an hour before receiving Holy Communion but, for now, the fast is from the Holy Eucharist. Undertaken as it is to save lives I am certain that the Lord will bless you in this painful sacrifice. With my prayers, Fr Mark McManus |