The Presbytery, Water Street, Port Talbot, SA12 6LE, Wales
Tel. 01639 882846
Diocese of Menevia
Parish Priest: Canon J Cefai, MA, PhD

18th Sunday of the Year

Reverence in Church

Whenever family pressures allow, we should try to arrive at church in sufficient time to prepare our hearts and minds for Mass. We bring to the Lord our hopes and joys, our fears and failures, our anxieties and our grief. We know that we shall receive healing and strength to take up our cross in the coming week. The first thing we do is to dip our right fingers into the holy water and make the sign of the Cross. At the same time we say “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.” Then we genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament. In this country it is still customary to genuflect when we enter and before we leave the church. Unless prevented by age or infirmity, the right knee should touch the ground next to the left foot, while remaining upright. Sadly, this is often reduced to a quick bob in the general direction of the altar. We treasure the moments before the Mass; they are meant to be our personal and intimate moments with the Lord. Moments of Silence. Preparing and waiting to join in the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries. It is difficult to treasure these moments when others disturb our silence with unnecessary talk and noise. Let us prepare with faith and care.

Commencing 24 July 2010

Saturday: 6.00pm
Sunday: 8.45am (Cwmavon); 10.00am, 6.30pm
Monday: 10.00am
Tuesday: 10.00am
Wednesday: 10.00am
Thursday: 10.00am
Friday: 10.00am

Commencing 31 July 2010

Saturday: 6.00pm
Sunday: 8.45am (Cwmavon); 10.00am, 6.30pm

Confessions: Saturday at 11.30am, 5.30pm

Day for Life - 25 July 2010:
Day for Life 2010 aims to present the Church's teaching on death; it will highlight the importance of the sacrament of the sick, of praying for the dead and of accompanying the dying person as they journey towards God. It will also point towards the consoling presence and support of the community of faith and all of who "have gone before us marked with the sign of faith". There will be a second collection in our parish and in all parishes throughout England and Wales to support Day for Life. Proceeds of the collection will go to The Anscombe Bioethics Centre (formerly the Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics) and other life-related activities supported by the Church.

Second collection
today at all Masses to support Day for Life. Thank you.

Please remember in your prayers
the sick and housebound of the parish; the benefactors of our parish; the faithful departed: Michael McAndrew; Jean Coyle; Gertrude Mary Ryan; Christopher Twomey; May & Ernie Cook. Masses will be said as soon as it is convenient.

Talk
on John Henry Cardinal Newman by Fr Eric Wastell at St Therese School Hall on Wednesday, 28th July at 7.00pm. All welcome.

The Cambrian Consort of Viols
at St Therese Church on Friday 30th July at 7.00pm. Admission by programme, £5. See poster in the porch.

Celebrating the Centennial Birth Anniversary of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
on Thursday, 26th August in St David’s Priory, Swansea with Holy Mass at 7.00pm. Bishop Tom Burns will be the Main Celebrant.