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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.

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FR TOM WRITES
Brothers and sisters, Christ is Risen! At the heart of the Easter proclamation is our profession that death does not and will not have the final word. Christ is victorious and has passed through the cross so that we may have life eternal. How fitting it was, therefore, that Pope Francis should begin his final journey to heaven on Easter Monday morning. Our beloved late Pope spent his Papacy tirelessly preaching joy, mercy, hope and the love of God. It is right that our hearts are heavy at this time, and that we pray for the repose of his soul and the cleansing of his sins, however let us be steadfast in proclaiming that in Christ we have no fear of death.

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FR DAVID WRITES
Happy Easter to you all! Today we celebrate the victory of Christ our God over sin and death. Easter opens a new horizon for humanity and fills us with the hope of eternal life. May God bless you all in these days of joy. Alleluia!

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THIS IS HOLY WEEK
Holy Week is the pinnacle of the Church’s year, especially in terms of prayer and liturgy. It represents a journey we make with Our Lord during the last week of his earthly life. Please join us throughout the week for the main celebrations of the Easter Triduum, in particular: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday. We look forward to seeing you all during this momentous and faith-filled journey. Please also take a Holy Week poster and display it your window at home as a witness to the celebration of this sacred time. May God bless you all.

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FR DAVID WRITES
Today, the Fifth Sunday of Lent, was traditionally known as Passion Sunday as it marks the beginning of Passiontide: the inner heart of Lent that leads towards Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. Please make sure to join us in the days ahead as we celebrate the central mysteries of faith. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week itself. Next weekend, please make a special effort to be at church in good time for Mass so that you can participate in the blessing of palms. If you are beginning schools holidays, have a safe and joyful break but remember to join us at church in Holy Week. May God bless you all.

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FR TOM WRITES
Today is Laetare Sunday and the Church bids us Rejoice! It is a moment of joy in the midst of our Lenten journey. Marked by rose vestments it reminds us that Easter is near, and offers a glimpse of the joy we will proclaim with the resurrection of our Lord. Similarly, Mothering Sunday, traditionally a day to visit one’s “mother church”, has become a time to honour all mothers for the love and care they have shown us. As we celebrate, let us rejoice in God’s love and give thanks for those who nurture our faith. May this day inspire us with gratitude to continue journeying towards Easter.