Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Loughborough

25th Sunday in Ordinary time.

Gospel Reading for this Sunday:– Matthew 20: 1 – 16

The winegrower in today’s parable would seem to be heading for Receivership. An employer who pays his workers the same amount for one hour as he pays others for twelve hours is not likely to stay in business for long!

Of course, Jesus is not offering business advice in telling this parable. Like all the parables of Jesus, he is telling this story about the labourers in the vineyard to reveal something about the Kingdom of God. The point is that God’s way of doing things is very different from our way.

God seems to take a delight in turning human priorities on their head – the first will be last and the last first. In the parables, Jesus is challenging his hearers to think and behave less like human beings and more like God.

All good stories can be understood on different levels and the parables are examples of this. When Jesus’ own community first heard the story about the labourers in the vineyard they might well have interpreted it as meaning that God’s Kingdom is open, not only to his chosen people, the children of Israel, but to “Johnny come Lately” Gentiles as well.

If we think, as Christians, about how the parable might apply to us then perhaps it’s a reminder that those who come into a close loving relationship with Christ late in their lives are valued as much by God as those of us who have been faithful members of his Church since infancy.

Perhaps Jesus is also nudging us, in this parable, to rethink our ideas about time itself. The labourers were indignant that the landowner didn’t pay more to those who had spent more time working for him but this may be suggesting to us that (as some Mediaeval thinkers taught) that God exists in the perpetual present – that all time is the same to Him.

As always with the parables of Jesus, there is much to think about, we never exhaust all their meaning however much we think about them.

God bless

Fr Paul

Prayer intentions for this week are as follows

Dates of Services	Prayer Intentions
Sunday 20th September 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time	People of the Parish
Wednesday 23rd September	Barry Griffiths R.I.P
Saturday 26th September	People of the Parish
Sunday 27th September 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time	All who are working to find a cure for COVID

Public Mass within the Parish and COVID

Due to the latest Government update with COVID, please follow the information shared on these webpages and ensure you well before attending Mass.

A Reminder to all please

Since we have been able to attend weekly Mass, we know that a few changes have occurred to ensure our safety is paramount. This includes wearing a face covering (mouth and noise) and how we receive the Eucharist during these strange times.

Please it is essential that face coverings are worn before you arrive through the main door, and they are not to be removed until the end when you leave the parish building. The only exception is when you slightly remove your face covering, AFTER you have receive the Host from Fr Paul as you leave.

Also above the Holy Water font by the main doors into the church, you will find hand sanitiser. Please use this as you enter ensuring your hands are clear of any bacteria.

Within the church there are notices we have to adhere too. Please keep to social distancing and beware of others around you, even when sitting taking part in prayer through the Mass itself.

Any further information shared via our Diocese due to the ongoing concerns with COVID, will be available on this website.

Church Times and Attendance

To prevent anyone being turned away who has not been able to receive Mass until now, it is essential they contact the Parish Office to add their name to the list.

If your name is on a list and you are not attending that Mass, it is crucial Fr Paul is contacted to cancel your name, to give the space to another parishioner who would like to attend.

NO BOOKINGS AHEAD OF THE 7 DAY S WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Masses at present are: Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Almost full each week Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Spaces are available Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Spaces are available however this can fill quickly

With numbers increasing, we can only add another Mass to the week, if we have stewards to support it. Further information will be available shortly, ONLY if the parish is in a position to support it.

^{Please Help Us With Stewardship At Our Weekly Services}

To continue with opening our church for Mass on the designated days, please if your able to give a small amount of time to welcome and support our parishioners.

If you are interested and aged from 18 – early 70″s, who are fit, healthy and active, are welcome to put their names forward. All we ask is you speak to Fr Paul who will ask you a few questions, not to catch you out, but are able to do this role without worry. Your well-being is essential to all of us.

Thank you

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Parish Weekly News

Children’s Liturgy:

Due to the present situation and bubbles are in place within schools etc, for the safety of all within our Parish, Children’s Liturgy will not take place this side of the October school half term. We will review this on a month bases following the diocese guidance.

In the mean time, we have the Parish Children’s Liturgy Page which shares the Gospel in a fun, meaningful way.

Children’s Liturgy Web Page:- https://sacredheartloughboro.org/home/childrens-liturgy/

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Please find additional notices to refer to by following the links

Nottingham Diocese Interaction News:- https://sacredheartloughboro.org/interaction-nottingham-diocese/