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FR TOM WRITES
It is in our nature to want to “do”. We have a good natural desire to want things to be better, and to have a positive impact on the world in which we live. However, Christ’s encounter with Martha and Mary in the Gospel this Sunday invites us to question how we live. Christ does not tell Martha, who has worked hard to prepare his visit, that she is wrong to do this work, but he does point her towards the simplicity of Mary’s welcome. We, like Martha, are anxious and troubled by so many things, but only one is necessary; to have a relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord, and allow him to day-by-day transform our lives into images of love.

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FR TOM WRITES
This Sunday’s Gospel of the Good Samaritan should always pose a serious question to our own attitudes and behaviours in front of those we see suffering around us. The call to serve the poor and the sick is one that has been taken up by a number of significant saints, such as St Vincent de Paul, St Mother Teresa and  St Francis of Assisi who stated, "When one serves the poor, he serves Christ Himself." Many times we do not know how to become saints or think it is something very complicated. This week let us return to simplicity and can begin by asking the God to enlighten our eyes, that we may see Christ in those around us.  

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FR DAVID WRITES
After Lent, Eastertime, and many feasts, we now return to the season of ordinary time which will take us through the summer. Despite its name, there is nothing merely ‘ordinary’ about this time. In fact, the name itself comes from the ordinal numbers by which the Sundays are counted. Green vestments are used because the colour represents growth and maturity, which can happen in the heart just as it occurs in the growth of the natural world. Let us embrace this time of growth in our friendship with God and the many opportunities it represents. The Gospels and readings at Mass will be our guide! May God bless us all in the coming week.

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FR DAVID WRITES
Today is the solemnity of the apostles Peter and Paul, the patrons of the City and the Church of Rome. Today we give thanks for their life and witness. We also give thanks for the election of the new Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV, the successor of Peter. Congratulations to Sheila Clerkin and Daniel Clancy who were married here on Saturday afternoon. Have a great day today and a blessed week.

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FR DAVID WRITES
Today is the solemnity of Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of Christ) when we celebrate and give thanks for the gift of the Risen Christ who is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist is the dynamic presence of the Risen One among us, his gift as our way to the Cross and our salvation. Friday is the solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart, a beautiful day which celebrates the love of Christ for us in his broken heart. Our special Mass here will be at 6.30pm, followed by the barbecue. Please join us this week in our Eucharistic Congress as a way to celebrate and to receive the manifold graces of the Holy Year.  

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FR TOM WRITES
This Father’s Day we give thanks to God for the gift of our fathers; both those living, as well those who have gone before us. In their love, sacrifice, and guidance we catch a glimpse of our Heavenly Father who always guides and protects us. As we honour fathers today, let us also pray for them; that they may be strengthened in their vocation, blessed with wisdom, and surrounded by love. Happy Father’s Day!

HOLY YEAR SUMMER EVENTS
Here in the parish, we will celebrate the Holy Year this summer with some days of prayer, adoration and pilgrimage.  

This will begin on Saturday 21st June with a Summer Concert in church at 7pm with Nigel Bromiley and the Friern Ensemble. The programme includes the Quintet in C by Schubert and Boccherini’s Quintet in E Major, followed by a glass of fizz in the hall. The concert is free to attend but we will take a collection at the end for charity. Please sign the list in the church porch if you would like to attend. It promises to be a very lovely evening—please do join us if you can!

We will have our three-day Eucharistic Congress from 25th-27th June. This will culminate on Friday 27th June, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart, when the Jubilee for School Children will be celebrated at the 10am Mass. Then, there will be a special Mass in the evening for the parish at 6.30pm, which will be followed by a barbecue in the grounds of the parish centre. All welcome!

Fr Tom will also be leading a walking pilgrimage along the Westminster Way, on Saturday 5th July. We will leave the parish at 9.30am. Please sign up on the form in the porch.

We look forward to these days so that we can celebrate the Holy Year together. Please take a flyer this weekend with all the important dates and times. 

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FR DAVID WRITES
Today is Pentecost Sunday, when we celebrate both the coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. and the birth of the Church in the world of time and history. We celebrate the Catholic faith which comes to us, through the apostles, from Christ. The Holy Spirit is our Helper and promised Advocate who guides the family of God in all truth and love. Have a wonderful Pentecost Sunday to you all!

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FR TOM WRITES
On Friday evening our parish was filled with joy as we celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation. Surrounded by family, friends, catechists and parishioners, the first half of this years candidates received the fullness of the Holy Spirit through the anointing of chrism and the laying on of hands. With this sacrament the Church confirms these young people as followers of Jesus Christ, and gives them the gifts to make his love known in the world.

We also rejoice as we prepare for the installation of Bishop John as the Archbishop of Liverpool, this coming Tuesday. I am fortunate enough to be able to travel up for the installation, and (opportunity permitting) I will pass all your best wishes and thanks on to him.

ASCENSION THURSDAY
Thursday is a holy day of obligation and there will be Masses at 8am, 10am & 7pm.

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FR DAVID WRITES
On Thursday we attended the Farewell Mass for Bishop Sherrington. We send him off now to Liverpool with love, prayers and gratitude for his 14 years of ministry among us, and wish him well in his new diocese as he becomes archbishop. This coming Friday we have our first cohort of Confirmations. Please pray for those who will be confirmed, and for their families. The next group will be confirmed on Friday 6th June. As the Bishop has left for Liverpool, the confirmations will be celebrated by me. Have a great week and may God’s blessing be with us all.

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POPE LEO XIV
Please pray for Robert Francis Prevost who was elected Pope on Thursday evening. He has taken the name Leo the Fourteenth. Cardinal Prevost was born in Chicago in 1955. Before his election, he was an Augustinian Friar. He had previously worked as the Prior General of the Augustinian Order, as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, and as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops in Rome. He holds a doctorate in Canon Law. He now brings his many pastoral and administrative skills to the mission of the Successor of Peter. The Mass for the beginning of the Pontificate will be held in St Peter’s Square on Sunday 18 May at 10 am BST.  Let us keep him in our prayers!

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FR DAVID WRITES
Many congratulations and best wishes to the children who made their First Holy Communion here yesterday. It was a beautiful day and we send our thanks to the catechists and musicians who helped with the celebrations. Please continue to pray for our children and their families. Have a wonderful Sunday today. God bless you.