Category Archives: Weekly newsletter

PENTECOST SUNDAY

Pentecost (from the Greek: “fiftieth day”),  like Easter, was originally a Jewish agricultural feast, Shevuot or the ‘Feast of Weeks’ (Tob 2:1) which occurs 50 days after Passover and commemorated the giving of the Law on Sinai.

We speak of Pentecost as the ‘birthday of the Church’ because the Church was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-41)  (CCL 1076).   Now, with the presence of the gift of the Spirit, Christ lives and acts in and with and through his Church, through the sacraments and through you and me.  Hence for us, as for Luke, Pentecost means the start of a mission to the entire world – a mission in which all of us have an important role.   Just as by the power and activity of the Holy Spirit, Mary carried and gave birth to Christ, and the Apostles and early disciples brought Christ into their world, so, by the same Holy Spirit, we have been anointed to bring Jesus into our homes, our work places and to all whom we encounter.

Fr Philip Sainter

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THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

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SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Today, the last Sunday before the Ascension of Our Lord, the lectionary prompts us to consider the way in which Jesus continues to be present in the community of believers. The Gospel (John 14:23-29) tells us that Jesus and his Father long to abide with us, to come to us and to make their home in us. They do this by means of the Word:  Jesus says: ‘If any one loves me he will keep my word and my Father will love him and we shall come to him and make our home in him’.  So, if we really do love and revere Jesus, then we will ponder his word day and night, as did the Psalmist who wrote, ‘On my bed I remember you; on you I muse through the night …’(Ps 62) and then our triune God will dwell in us and we in God.

And there is more!  For those who welcome his word and keep his word, Jesus promises the gift of peace … a peace the world cannot give!  So, when surrounded by trouble, stressful situations and sadness, but also in the good moments in life, let us pray, because prayer – and praying the scriptures in particular – leads to peace. (See Hymn number 972 v.2 in Laudate)

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We begin our May Devotions by reminding you that each Tuesday there is Rosary in church from 6.45– 7.15pm and that on Saturday 7^th May at 11.00am there will be a Mothers Mass preceded by a Procession of Our Lady’s statue at 10.45am.  All mothers of all ages are welcome.

                                                                                            Fr Philip Sainter

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FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

In this diocese, the 5^th Sunday of Easter has been designated “Safeguarding Sunday”.   Today, we have been asked to promote the ministry of safeguarding, and to highlight our commitment to ensuring that all parish communities are safe places for the vulnerable.

Today we also respond to our parish commitment to “outreach”, as we heed and respond to Pope Francis’ humanitarian initiative for the people of Ukraine, in the form of a special collection to be taken in all Catholic churches in Europe on  Sunday 24th April 2016 – an initiative which has received Bishop Patrick’s endorsement.

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GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

“In our relationship with the Lord we are called to listen to him in the same way that he listens to us, to know him as he knows us.  In today’s gospel reading Jesus states, ‘the sheep that belong to me listen to my voice’.  Earlier in that same chapter he had said, ‘I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me’.  It is only by listening to the Lord, as he listens to us, that we will come to know him, as he knows us.  Listening to the Lord, in that deep sense, is an important aspect of what it means to be his follower.  Prayerfully listening to the Lord is part of what we are called to do as his disciples”.  (Martin Hogan, ‘Reflections on the fourth Sunday of Easter’)

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In response to the Church’s call that we should pray for vocations to the Religious Life and Priesthood, let us ask the Lord to speak to us about what we individually and collectively should be doing to foster such vocations.

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