STELLA MARIS - OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA Our Lady, Star of the Sea is an ancient title for the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. A statue under this title can be found in St Edward’s Church on Avenue Victoria, Scarborough. In popular piety, this title is used to emphasize Mary's role as a sign of hope and as a guiding star for Christians. Under this title, the Virgin Mary is believed to intercede as a guide and protector of those who travel or seek their livelihoods on the sea. This aspect of the Virgin has led to Our Lady, Star of the Sea, being named as patroness of the Catholic missions to seafarers, the Apostleship of the Sea, and to many coastal churches being named Stella Maris or Mary, Star of the Sea, including the church at Staithes on the North East coast.

Here in Scarborough, we were contacted recently by the nephew of York carver and sculptor, George Walker Milburn (1844-1941). Having been granted access to his uncle’s record and sketch books, which are now in private ownership, he is seeking to catalogue all his uncle’s known works. The Milburn records show that he carved a statue of a Madonna and Child in 1931. A note below a photo of the work (see left) said that the statue was for St Edward’s Church, Scarborough.

The words ‘Star of the Sea’ are a translation of the Latin title Stella Maris, and originated from St Jerome’s fifth century translation of Eusebius of Caesarea’s Onomasticon (Dictionary of Proper Names). In antiquity, Mary (Miryam מרים) in Hebrew became Maryām in Judeo-Aramaic, and Mariam (Μαριάμ) in Greek. Eusebius interpreted Maryām as Mar-yam (ים-מר), meaning "drop of the sea", from Mar (מר), a rare biblical word for ‘drop’ (in Isaiah 40:15) and yam (ים), meaning ‘sea’ or ‘lake’ or ‘seaward’.

It is widely believed that St Jerome adopted this interpretation and translated the name into Latin as stilla maris, ‘drop of the sea’, and that at some later stage a copyist transcribed this into stella maris, ‘star of the sea’. However, another opinion holds that Jerome himself interpreted the name as meaning ‘Star of the Sea’ (Stella Maris), by relating it to a Hebrew word for star, to be light or shine. Whichever the case, the name of Mary as "Star of the Sea" was ,(or') אור from the verb ,(ma'or) מאורwidespread by the early medieval period.

It is also interesting to note that studies of biblical language show the Hebrew word for water (yam ים) to have connotations of "future" or "destination" or even "future knowledge". For the ancients, terrestrial water in all its forms (seas, rivers, ground water) was seen as akin to knowledge in all its guises (culture, schools of thought, intuition), whereas rain became connected to instruction and formal teaching. That made the sky or heavens (שמים, shemayim) the storeroom of all (future) knowledge as well as the final destination of any traveller.

Early references to the title include 7th century Isidore's Etymologiae, 8th century plainsong hymn Ave Maris Stella (Hail, Star of the Sea), Paschasius Radbertus’ 9th century allegorical explanation of the name (Mary is the "Star of the Sea" to be followed on the way to Christ, "lest we capsize amid the storm-tossed waves of the sea.") In the medieval period, Stella Maris came to be used as a name of Polaris in its role as lodestar (guiding star, north star), possibly from Stobaeus’ 5th century reference to it being "always visible". It is a reliable guide of North, if you have no compass.

In the twelfth century, St Bernard of Clairvaux wrote: "If the winds of temptation arise; If you are driven upon the rocks of tribulation look to the star, call on Mary; If you are tossed upon the waves of pride, of ambition, of envy, of rivalry, look to the star, call on Mary. Should anger, or avarice, or fleshly desire violently assail the frail vessel of your soul, look at the star, call upon Mary." St Anthony of Padua also wrote of Mary as Star of the Sea.

The foundation house of the Carmelite order, Stella Maris Monastery, was established on Mount Carmel, Israel, in the early thirteenth century. The abbey was destroyed several times, but a refounded Stella Maris monastery is still considered the headquarters of the order.

Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) in his encyclical, Doctor Mellifluus, also quoted Bernard of Clairvaux in saying; “Mary ... is interpreted to mean 'Star of the Sea.' This admirably befits the Virgin Mother.. (for) as the ray does not diminish the brightness of the star, so neither did the Child born of her tarnish the beauty of Mary's virginity.”

WEEK COMMENCING 13 MAY 2018

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – YEAR B

DIVINE OFFICE week 3 World Communications Day

THE FEAST OF PENTECOST IS NEXT SUNDAY (WHIT SUNDAY)

MASS TIMES WEEK COMMENCING 13 MAY 2018: 7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Saturday Vigil 12 6.30pm St Edward’s

Sunday 13 9.30am

10am

11.30am

5pm

St Peter’s (Polish)

St Joseph’s

St Peter’s

St Peter’s

See printed copy for Mass Intentions

Monday 14 6.30pm St Edward’s ST MATTHIAS, APOSTLE

Tuesday 15 9.30am

6.30pm

St Joseph’s DEDICATION OF THE CATHEDRAL

St Peter’s

Wednesday 16 9.30am St Peter’s

Thursday 17 9.30am

6.30pm

St Joseph’s

St Edward’s

Friday 18 9.30am St Peter’s St John I

Saturday 19 9.30am St Peter’s Parish Centre St Dunstan

SYRO-MALABAR MASS: normally 3rd Sunday of the month at 4pm at St Edward’s Church Avenue Victoria.

MORNING PRAYER OF THE CHURCH (Divine Office) 15 minutes before morning Mass: St Peter’s – Saturdays; St Joseph’s - daily

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (Confessions):

Saturdays St Edward’s 5.45 - 6.15pm

Sundays St Joseph’s 9.15 - 9.45am

Saturdays St Peter’s 10 - 10.30am

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT:

Tuesday St Joseph’s 8.30-9.30am

Thursday St Edward’s 5.30 - 6.30pm

Saturday St Peter’s 10 - 10.30am

BOOKINGS of our Parish communal areas should be made only

through the Parish office, thus avoiding double booking and upset.

REGULAR PARISH GROUPS (more information from Parish Office)

FATIMA ROSARY St Peter’s: 9am Fridays; St Joseph’s: Thursdays after Mass

STATIONS OF THE CROSS Fridays after Mass (St Peter’s)

SACRED HEART Devotion Fridays after Mass (St Peter’s)

OUR LADY of Perpetual Help devotion 3rd Wed. monthly (St Peter’s after Mass)

MOTHERS’ PRAYERS Tuesdays 12.30pm (St Peter’s Parish Centre upper room)

DIVINE MERCY Devotion Fridays at 2.45pm (St Peter’s Church)

LEGION OF MARY Saturdays after Exposition (St Peter’s Parish Centre)

LIFE ASCENDING prayer group: 2nd Thursday monthly 10am (St Joseph’s bungalow)

EMMAUS Scripture sharing fortnightly 2pm Thursday afternoons (St Edward’s)

SVP (St Vincent De Paul Society) 7.30pm first Monday of month (St Peter’s Parish Centre)

UCM (Union of Catholic Mothers) 1.30pm (winter), 7pm (summer) third

Tuesday monthly (St Peter’s Parish Centre)

PARENTS & TODDLERS Term- time weekly Mondays 9.30am (St Joseph’s Bungalow).

CRAFT GROUPS: St Peter's 7-9pm last Tuesday of month (Parish

Centre; St Joseph's normally 2-4pm fortnightly (bungalow).

BARROWCLIFF CHURCHES TOGETHER LUNCH 12pm to 1pm

every 4th Tuesday of the month at Wreyfield Methodist Church

OUR LADY’S PRAYER GROUP 1st Thursday of the month 2pm to 4pm

(St Joseph’s Bungalow)

YOUTH CLUB Fridays, term-time weekly 6.30-8pm at St Augustine's

Schools. For children in Years 5,6,7 & 8. £1 subs. Lots of activities.

ICONOGRAPHY GROUP Thursdays, fortnightly 2-4pm, with

breaks at term ends (St Peter’s Parish Centre).

OFFERTORY COLLECTION St Edward’s 6.30pm: £196 St Joseph’s 10am: £196 St Peter’s 11.30 & 5pm: £370 Gift Aid envelopes total £446 Standing orders (weekly av.): £524 Total: £1,732

NOTICES FOR VISITORS TOILETS St Peter’s: in the Parish Centre (across the car park); St Joseph’s & St Edward’s toilets in the church building. ST PETER’S CHURCH IS OPEN at certain times during the weekdays. Call in and say a prayer. CCTV is in operation. SIGN VISITORS BOOK IN THE PORCH

MASS ATTENDANCE St Edward’s Vigil 56 St Joseph’s 10am 150 St Peter’s 11.30am 220 St Peter’s 5pm 45 total (including 70 children) 471

300 CLUB WINNERS See printed copy

MASSES RECEIVED: see printed copy

ANNIVERSARIES: see printed copy RECENTLY DEAD: See printed copy

CHEQUES for offerings, donations, Mass Intentions, or Parish events payable to St Peter’s Church please

POLISH COMMUNITY FIRST HOLY COMMUNION MASS this Sunday 13 May (Feast of Our Lady of Fatima) for the 22 children. Congratulations to all.

FUNERAL SERVICE (NOT MASS) of Marie Costigan of Lady Edith Avenue: 11am on Friday 18 May at St Peter’s Church.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL CANDIDATES (29 teenagers and 2 adults) who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Thursday evening at St Peters.

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT As we approach Pentecost (May 20th) pray the Prayer to the Holy Spirit (see right).

MAY, MONTH OF MARY Images of Our Lady, under the various titles under which she is known, on display on window ledges of St Peter’s for the month of May

NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT Join in praying the Novena for Pentecost which began Friday 11 May. Free prayer leaflets at the back of church. We invoke the Holy Spirit to come in a deeper way into our lives, homes, parish family, and town.

UCM next meeting 7.15pm on Tuesday 15 May at St Peter’s Parish Centre.

OPEN DAY at Woodlands Crematorium 10am to 4pm Wednesday 16 May. All welcome to visit and look around and ask questions. No appointment necessary

THE ROYAL WEDDING will be shown in The Parish Centre Saturday 19 May with a Party. This will be for anyone but especially for those on their own. The wedding service itself from Windsor Castle Chapel begins at 12noon.

CHURCH UNITY SERVICE FOR PENTECOST (Churches Together in Scarborough) 6.30pm on Sunday 20 May at St Mary’s Church, Castle Road. Preacher - Fr Albert. All are invited along to be together as a Christian family.

40 HOURS ADORATION across the 3 churches Saturday 2 June. The Feast of Corpus Christi is on Sunday 3 June. More details next week. Rotas to fill.

CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION Sunday 3 June. More details next week.

SUMMER FAYRE Sunday 15 July after 11.30am Mass. Raffle tickets available soon.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Postgate Rally, Sunday 1 July 3pm; Assumption Pilgrimage, Shrine of Our Lady, Mount Grace, Osmotherley, Sunday 12 August; Convent Reunion, Saturday 15 September. More info & transport details soon.

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IN SCHOOLS Bishop Drainey has written to all head-teachers encouraging all schools to introduce Eucharistic Adoration where possible. We hope to do this during the month of June.

PARENTS AND GUARDIANS In order to help us comply with Safeguarding regulations, please ALWAYS accompany your child to the toilet when in church.

DATA PROTECTION The law is changing on 25 May. New Data Protection laws will be enforced to protect personal data of living persons. This will impact upon parishes in various ways. More details to follow.

PETITIONS FOR LOURDES PILGRIMAGE Write and seal and put in the box in church (no money). Pilgrims from Scarborough will travel to Lourdes on 25 May, where your petitions will be placed at the grotto.

M.E. FILM UNREST on 8 May: Thanks go to Fr Eddie and Fr Albert and

to all the people from the Scarborough Catholic Parishes who attended and

made the evening a huge success. £770 was raised on the night for the ME

charities. Thank you to everyone

SECOND COLLECTION last weekend raised £322 for the Priests’ Training Fund. Now is a good time to hand in your collection boxes, if you have one.

WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY 2018 Pope Francis speaks of “journalists as ‘protectors of news’. Their task is not just a job: it is a mission”. He reminds us that persons are at the heart of information… that is why ensuring the accuracy of sources and protecting communication are real means of promoting goodness, generating trust, opening the way to communion and peace. Pick up the separate leaflet. We pray today for all who work in the media, broadcasters, and print journalists. There will be a SECOND COLLECTION at all Masses.

SACRAMENT OF FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PARENTS’ MEETING 7 pm this Thursday 17 May in St Peter’s Parish Centre. RETREAT DAY for children, parents & Catechists at Madonna House Thursday 24 May departing 9.15am from School and returning for 3pm. FIRST COMMUNION MASSES: Sunday 3 June at St Joseph’s 10am or Sunday 10 June at St Peter’s. 11.30am

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.

Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.

Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.

Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.

Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy.

AMEN (St Augustine of Hippo)

PARISH DINNER Celebrating 160 years of St Peter’s Church (1858-2018): at South Cliff Golf Club at 7pm on Friday 29 June (Patronal Feast Day). £15 per person (subsidised by the parish) for a 3 course dinner. All invited from our churches of St Peter’s, St Joseph’s and St Edward’s, and also St George’s. Add your name to the list at if you wish to attend. Menu choice available in the coming weeks.

AMPLEFORTH SUMMERTIME at Ampleforth Abbey for 10-15 year olds: Tuesday 24 to Friday 27 July. Sports, Talks, Prayer, Walks, and a trip to Flamingoland. Application forms are available at Youth Club or St Augustine’s School from Paul or Katherine Griffin, and also from Maryann Dorgan at school. Would anyone be able to make a DONATION TO SUBSIDISE our young people. Some of our families are struggling to pay for their children to go. Speak to Fr Gubbins.

PARISH TALKS FOR THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST Led by Fr Albert 10am Wednesdays after 9.30am Mass in St Peter’s Parish Centre: 16 May: The Mass. Eucharistic Prayers; 23 May: The Eucharist & the Saints; 30 May: Exposition and Adoration: Respect and behaviour in front of the Eucharist.

DAY PILGRIMAGE to Our

Lady's Shrine Walsingham

Tuesday 3 July. We will join up with the UCM National pilgrimage that day. Departs 5.30am, back 11pm-ish. Cost £20pp (subsidised by the parish). Add your name to the list. Journey approx 4 hrs 30 mins.

SUNDAY SMILE: I asked my daughter if she’d seen my newspaper. She told me that newspapers are old school. She said that people use tablets nowadays and handed me her iPad. That fly didn’t stand a chance.

PRAYER INTENTIONS OF POPE FRANCIS FOR MAY Evangelization: The Mission of the Laity: That the lay faithful may fulfil their specific mission, by responding with creativity to the challenges that face the world today.

RAISE FREE DONATIONS FOR OUR PARISHES

when you shop online via www.thegivingmachine.co.uk

7 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR PENTECOST As we wait for the Feasts of Christmas and Easter we undergo a special period or journey of spiritual preparation (Advent and Lent, respectively). The joyous time of Eastertide should also be a time of preparation as we joyfully await the Feast of the day our Church began its mission: Pentecost. Here are some suggestions for spiritual renewal of our commitment, as we prepare for this wonderful Feast Day.

1. Find out your Baptism & Confirmation date: Pope Francis encourages us to discover our Baptism date and celebrate this moment in time when we became part of Christ’s church and were freed from original sin. In the same way, we should celebrate the day we chose to embrace our faith of our own free will, and to be commissioned and sent out to tell everyone the Good News. The Sacrament of Confirmation is a one-time event, with lifetime effects. Read up on the Saint you chose as your patron. Reach out and pray with your Confirmation sponsor, or for them. Give thanks to the Holy Spirit for coming to you as Gift and Advocate.

2. Re-familiarize yourself with the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, piety (reverence), knowledge, counsel (right judgment), fortitude (courage), and fear of the Lord (wonder and awe). Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern your own charisms and gifts, and for guidance on what God’s will is for you in building up the body of Christ.

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through an examination of conscience and prepare yourself to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance/Confession). The further we are from sin, the closer we are to each person of the Trinity.

4. Participate in the Church’s oldest Novena, the Novena to the Holy Spirit. To promote and encourage devotion to the third person of the Trinity, the Church offers indulgences connected with this devotion.

5. Help renew the face of the earth: We are the body of Christ, and each of us is a vessel of the Holy Spirit. When the Apostles received the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost, they went out and spoke about their faith, about the man they loved and knew to be the Christ. They no longer feared proclaiming their beliefs. They shared what they had, what they knew, with everyone they encountered. Go out and share your faith with someone. Invite someone back. Be not afraid to speak.

6. Gladden the Holy Spirit: Spend some time serving God by serving others. Perform either corporal or spiritual works of mercy in your home and/or community. Pray a prayer to the Holy Spirit.

7. Spend some time thanking the Trinity: One of the easiest ways to do this is by taking up your Rosary and simply saying, “Thank you, God the Father”, “Thank you, Jesus Christ, the Son” and “Thank you, Holy Spirit” alternately through all of the beads of the Rosary. Do this as part of Adoration if possible. It is hard not to feel overwhelmed with gratitude by the time you finish the exercise.

Have a great Feast of Pentecost!

EXAM PRAYER

Pass on this prayer to family members taking exams. Best wishes to all students.

Lord, as I sit my exams help me to remain calm and at peace, so that I may be able to make the best use of my talents. Help me to study well and achieve the results I deserve. I thank you for all who support and encourage me through their love and prayers. Amen

Full sized posters on church notice boards

John 17:17

St George’s Day, celebrated or maybe not celebrated recently, is a public holiday in the Vatican and the feast of the saint Jorge Bergoglio was named after (Pope Francis). It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the holiday-shy Pope did not take the day off, and instead got on with his council of cardinals meetings. But he did try to ensure the less fortunate enjoyed their day in Rome’s spring sunshine. He ordered that 3,000 ice creams be handed out by charity workers in Rome to the homeless and needy who use the shelters, soup kitchens, health facilities and baths in the Eternal City.

I woke up early one morning, And rushed right into the day, I had so much to accomplish, That I didn’t have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me, And heavier came each task, "Why doesn’t God help? "I wondered, He answered, "You didn’t ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty, But the day toiled on, grey and bleak, I wondered why God didn’t show me, He said, "you didn’t seek."

I tried to come into God’s presence, I used all my keys at the lock, God gently and lovingly chided, "My child you didn’t knock."

I woke up early his morning, And paused before entering the day, I had so much to accomplish, That I had to take time to pray.