Cardinal Vincent Nichols responds to Third Reading of Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

On Friday 20th June, Cardinal Vincent Nichols issued the following response after the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons by just 23 votes:

‘The vote in the House of Commons in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is a watershed moment in the history of our country. It fundamentally changes society’s long held values and relationships on matters of life and death.

‘The task is now clear: every effort must be made to limit the damage that will be done by this decision. This duty lies both on the House of Lords and on His Majesty’s Government. The list of challenges is long. It has been well rehearsed in recent weeks by responsible bodies and distinguished individuals, including the Public Commission on Palliative and End-of-Life Care whose recommendations have yet to be discussed. The appeal to personal autonomy, so much at the centre of the Parliamentary debate, cuts both ways: the provision of a choice to die cannot exclude the provision of properly resourced care for those who choose to live until a natural death.

‘As Catholics we will continue to play our part in the building of the common good. The decision of Parliament does not change our firm belief in the sanctity of life, never simply a burden, but always a gift of God, given and received. Our duties are clear: to live by the teaching given to us by God; generously to accompany with care and compassion those facing disability, isolation and suffering; to continue to put forward, with respect and clarity, the objective norms that inform our firm beliefs on how to live, and to die, well.’

Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
President.   Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.

CATHOLIC  CERTIFICATE  IN  STUDIES.  An on-line course.  Full details here: CATHOLIC CERTIFICATE IN STUDIES

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION.

Confession times:  Saturdays at 5.30 p.m. at Woodbridge and - on request - after weekday Masses.

The annual Missionary Appeal will be made by Father Patrice Anyanwu, C.S.Sp., on behalf of the Spiritans Order at Masses on Saturday 12th (6.00 p.m.) and Sunday 13th July (09.00 and 11.00 a.m.).  We welcome him to the parish and thank him for celebrating our parish Masses this weekend.

STELLA  MARIS.  Mandatory second collections will be taken on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July to support the work of STELLA  MARIS  (formerly the Apostleship of the Sea).

OUR LADY'S ROSARY is prayed in Saint Clare's Church, Framlingham, every Thursday at 12.00 p.m.  writes Wendy Hardinge.

RELICS  ON  TOUR.  The Knights of Saint Columba write, 

We have arranged a tour of the U.K. for a shrine containing some important relics in order to add a focus for our own activities by allowing the Catholic population the opportunity to make pilgrimage.  These relics - of Saint Columba, Saint Margaret, and Saint Andrew - will visit Ipswich for one day only, arriving at Saint Mary's , Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, on Wednesday 30th July at around Midday. The shrine will be the focus of a devotional Rosary at 3.00 p.m. and will remain on view at Saint Mary's for pilgrims to visit until a Mass of Thanksgiving at 7.00 p.m.  A collection will be taken after the Mass to help support the K.S.C. National Charity - the Alma Mater Fund - and Mary's Meals.  The following day the shrine will be available to view during and after the daily Mass at 9.15 a.m. before being taken to the next stop on the journey, to Our Lady of Light and Saint Osyth’s Church at Clacton.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Holy Day of Obligation.  Friday, 15th August.   Holy Day Masses will be celebrated at Woodbridge at 09.30 a.m. and at Framlingham at 12.00 p.m.