'Lockdown'

A poem by Brother Richard Hendrick, a Capuchin Franciscan

Yes there is fear.

Yes there is isolation.

Yes there is panic buying.

Yes there is sickness.

Yes there is even death.

But,

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

The sky is no longer thick with fumes

But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi

People are singing to each other

across the empty squares,

keeping their windows open

so that those who are alone

may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland

Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.

Today a young woman I know

is busy spreading fliers with her number

through the neighbourhood

So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples

are preparing to welcome

and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting

All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality

To how big we really are.

To how little control we really have.

To what really matters.

To Love.

So we pray and we remember that

Yes there is fear.

But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.

But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying.

But there does not have to be meanness.

Yes there is sickness.

But there does not have to be disease of the soul

Yes there is even death.

But there can always be a rebirth of love.

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.

Today, breathe.

Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic

The birds are singing again

The sky is clearing,

Spring is coming,

And we are always encompassed by Love.

Open the windows of your soul

And though you may not be able

to touch across the empty square,

Sing

 

 

CORONAVIRUS SUPPORT

 Being in isolation doesn't mean being alone. We can still stay connected. Learning new ways of doing so will help. How about calling a friend more often for a chat. Embrace technology like video calls. Start a hobby or finish that project. If you’d like help with shopping or collecting medication or just need a friendly chat, one of our volunteers will be happy to talk to you. Call or email:

01494 919232

hello@betterconnectedbeaconsfield.org.uk

Get help if you're staying at home due to Coronavirus

Use this online service to find volunteer groups and other services in your local area who can help you cope:

https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/community-hub/

They can help with the delivery of groceries and cooked meals, dog walking, prescription collection and social contact.

Since the Government has asked all churches to remain closed until further notice, it will no longer be possible to collect foodbank donations in the church porches.  The larger supermarkets have collecting boxes at their entrance doors - please could we encourage you to support foodbanks by adding an item of food if and when you go to shop.  Thank you for your generous support.

Most Merciful and Triune God,
We come to You in our weakness.
We come to You in our fear.
We come to You with trust.
For You alone are our hope.

We place before You the disease present in our world.
We turn to You in our time of need.

Bring wisdom to doctors.
Give understanding to scientists.
Endow caregivers with compassion and generosity.
Bring healing to those who are ill.
Protect those who are most at risk.
Give comfort to those who have lost a loved one.
Welcome those who have died into Your Eternal Home.

Stabilize our communities.
Unite us in our compassion.
Remove all fear from our hearts.
Fill us with confidence in Your care.

(mention your particular concerns and prayers now)

Amen.

As there will be no public Masses for the time being and an increasing number of people are self-isolating, there will undoubtedly be a substantial number of parishioners who will be unable to get to Church for several weeks.

To help with following the Mass, daily prayers, reading, etc. at home and also keep up with the weekly church news, free access to Magnificat online is on offer and, for those who would like the Print Editions, there is a special one-off 4-month subscription to Magnificat and/or a 3-month subscription to The Catholic Herald at substantially discounted and affordable prices to ensure that the maximum number of people can take advantage.

Please order by telephoning Margaret on 020 7448 3607 or Paul on 020 7448 3618 between 9.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

Below are special prices to help people over this difficult period and orders will need to be placed before Easter:

• Magnificat 4 months April to July (including the Holy Week special issue) for £14
• Catholic Herald 3 months (13 weeks) for £25                                                              
• Both Catholic Herald and Magnificat (as above) £36

For free access to Magnificat online, log in at www.magnificat.com/free

Although we do expect that many people will still go to Church for personal prayer, we do hope that these special concessions will help people who cannot get there, and also those who want to follow the Masses, prayers, readings, etc. feel that they can still share in the life of the Church.

All the Catholic diocesan newspapers in the UK are available online at www.CatholicPaper.co.uk

Our diocesan newspaper, The Vine, covering news from all over the Diocese of Northampton, is available by clicking on the following link:

https://www.diocese.cc/Publications/Catholic-newspapers.asp?PublicationID=8&PubDateID=1187

Use the arrow keys below the image of the newspaper to turn the pages.  You will also need to zoom in using the magnifier + key at the bottom to make the text large enough to read!  Enjoy and stay in touch!

Get a free download of the CTS leaflet What if I can’t get to Sunday Mass?

We want you to feel reassured that while Masses are suspended across the UK, you are not committing a sin because you are unable to go. CTS's leaflet What if I can’t get to Sunday Mass? deals with this common concern, so it is now available for you digitally as a PDF, so that you can download and print or save it. Please share this with others who may be concerned.

Please click on the link below to go direct to the webpage where there is more information on how to support your prayer life whilst in isolation.

https://www.ctsbooks.org/support-prayer-life-isolation

A message from CAFOD Director, Christine Allen

I’m sure that like me, you must be worried about the situation with COVID-19 at the moment. CAFOD is very much part of the Catholic family and as with any family, when one of us is unsettled or anxious it affects us all. We pray for all those affected by the virus both here in the UK and overseas, and for all the medical staff who are working so hard to keep us safe.

 

Although gathering as a church community is paused, it was good to hear that the doors of churches will remain open, to offer us a place to be still in God’s presence.

We are learning new ways to keep spiritually connected and look after ourselves and others, particularly during Lent. Here are some ideas to help to keep us together as a community even though we need to be apart:

• In a time of isolation, take some time to pause and focus on your wellbeing. We have prayers, liturgies and reflections to support you in your prayer life.
• While the kids are off school and you’re in need of some fun activities, our education resources pages are packed with great ideas.
• Join our new Facebook group so that we can gather as an online family and offer you our prayers, online talks and isolation activities in one place, please do share your own ideas too.
• We are hosting an online children's liturgy this coming Sunday, you can sign up now.
• To hear about our work, each week we will have a series of live online events you can take part in. These will include opportunities to come together for prayer and chat as well as interviews with staff.
• We are working on the different ways our parish volunteers and campaigners can still involve their communities and continue to be a powerful force for good, so please keep in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram as well.

 

Our work in some of the world’s poorest communities continues. There is great concern as this is a fast-moving situation and we are closely monitoring developments in the countries where we work around the world so that we are ready to support our local experts with whatever they need.

 

Our work with so many in need is only possible because of the generosity and love you show to those around the world. If you wish to donate to our Lent appeal and support the crucial, ongoing work of our local experts like Sister Consilia, we will ensure your gift reaches the poorest and most vulnerable at this uncertain time.

 

As I’m sure is the case for many of us, I am praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit to help steer us through these difficult times. Thank you for continuing to keep CAFOD in your prayers. Please stay safe as we continue to support one another.

 

With love and prayers,

Christine Allen

Director, CAFOD

The CAFOD education team has put together an online children’s liturgy which families can use at home during the current crisis when public Masses are suspended

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While people cannot gather together in person due to Coronavirus, they can still come together as a community through prayer.

CAFOD is inviting Catholic families to join them online for a virtual children’s liturgy at 10am GMT on Sunday March 22 (don't worry if you missed it yesterday, it's still available!).  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

In the Year of the Word, use these Gospel reflections, prayers, songs and activities to help children listen to the God who speaks.

You can find the CAFOD resources on their website here: https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Children-s-liturgy