NEW!! From Our Lady & St Neot Liskeard

“Heavenly Father, we know that you long to nourish and strengthen us as we come before you in prayer. Grant us the grace to persevere in our prayer and spend time with you, so that we may grow in love for you and communicate that love to those around us. Only prolonged contact with God can transform each of us inwardly into a disciple of his. It is through prayer, meditation and silent listening to God that we are enabled to speak to other people.”
 MATTHEW: 26:40 – So you had not the strength to keep awake with me one hour?

Sunday Mass at 11:00 and Holy Hour on a Thursday at 18:00 - Exposition and Divine Mercy Litany, followed by a time of silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament - will both be live streamed every week via YouTube. The link to watch the live streaming is on our Parish website. Where we now have a new “Donate Here” button. Donations for the Parish can now be made via our website. Please do look if you are able to.

Our Warm Space this year, where all are welcome to come along, has taken a different direction this year. While walking around the streets of Liskeard, inviting anyone to come along and join us for a 2 course Hot Meal, we have been joined by teenagers between 16 – 18 years, who have come back with us and interacted with us. One young girl saying that this was the first time she had ever stepped inside a church. Liskeard like many places in Cornwall do not seem to cater for this age group, which is very sad.

Friday February 16th and throughout Lent saw the start of our Mass and Lenten Lunches starting at 12 noon. Like Warm Space all donations will be split between two local charities – Liskeard Foodbank and St Petroc’s. As Saltash will also be doing Mass and Lenten Lunches, Liskeard and Saltash will alternate each week with either Mass or Stations of the Cross. Saltash donations will go towards Saltash Church Roof Fund.
 
Just before Christmas we reopened St Neots Repository and have had lots of positive comments about the wonderful selection of cards and Catholic gifts on sale. We are intending to get the Repository set up on our website – where you will be able to view and purchase items.

We also have a Monthly Meat/Vegetable Hamper Raffle. The first draw took place on Saturday 2nd February during open church which is on the first Saturday of every month and a lucky parishioner won a nice pork, fruit and vegetable hamper.

Also, a new Fund Booster is being set up on the 1st March based on the National Lottery bonus ball with a draw taking place on the first Wednesday and first Saturday of each month. 50% of the prize money will be shared between the two draws – so two chances to win each month. The other 50% of the money will be donated to the Parish funds. You reserve a number between 1-59, on a first come, first serve basis, at a cost of £5:00 a month per number and payment can be made by various methods. Please contact the Parish Secretary to reserve a number or ask any questions.

Our Bethany Group meeting was held on Wednesday 21st February in the St Neot’s room of Liskeard Church. We explored St Valentine plus great love stories of the Old Testament as part of God’s unfolding plan. Some of the love stories we discussed: Genesis 16: Abram and Sarai {later called Abraham and Sarah} – first recorded surrogacy; Genesis 24: Isaac and Rebecca - Love at first sight; Genesis 29 – Jacob, Leah and Rachel – The things we do for love; Judges 16 v 4-22 Samson and Delilah – Love, pillow talk and betrayal; 2 Samuel Ch 11 – desires and sin; Ruth 1-4 Ruth and Boaz – Love at first sight. This led to a very lively discussion and put into perspective God’s unfolding plan for his children.

Lent is a journey towards the joy of Easter Sunday but also a bold affirmation of our baptismal promises, for through baptism we are born again and enter the kingdom of God, becoming a new creation. ‘New life in this kingdom is about joy, righteousness, peace and bearing witness to the fruits that the Holy Spirit gives especially – love and patience’ {Galatians 5:22}.