PENTECOST SUNDAY
Today is the Feast of Pentecost and the final day of the Easter season. In fact, Pentecost or Whit Sunday is also a great feast in its own right. Today we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit into the life of the Church and how that power enables us to preach the Gospel everywhere. Today is sometimes known as the ‘birthday of the Church’ because it marks the transition from the time of Jesus’s earthly mission to the age of the Church and the presence of Christ throughout time and history. The Holy Spirit brings everything that the Church needs, and we can all share in the gifts that the Spirit bestows by our participation in the life of the Church. To each of us, the Spirit brings gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. As we celebrate this great feast of the Church’s life, let us also remember in prayer all our young parishioners who were preparing to celebrate their Confirmation this May. We look forward to seeing them again soon and celebrating their Confirmation at a rearranged time.
SATURDAY EVENING PRAYER
The Cardinal has asked everyone to spend a short time in prayer in anticipation of Pentecost Sunday. We will lead a short time of prayer online immediately after the Saturday Vigil Mass of Pentecost. Please join us if you can.
ORDINARY TIME
This week we return to the season ‘of the year’ – sometimes known as ‘ordinary time’. Monday is the Feast of Our Lady Mother of the Church, and next Sunday is the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinity Sunday).
Q&A
As I mentioned on Wednesday, we understand that many of you may have questions about what is happening and how the life of the parish might begin to be unlocked. Some of these questions we can address, some we may not have the answers to yet. However, I would like there to be an opportunity when we can explain where we are in the process. If you would like to email questions for us, please write to me (Fr David) on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or post them, and we will attempt to answer your questions and give other up-to-date information. I will answer them live online, on the church live-feed, on Wednesday morning (3rd June) straight after 10am Mass. A few practical points: please try to keep your questions about the current situation - there will be time in due course to consider wider topics and ideas within the appropriate groups. Please also sign the emails but we won’t mention your names online. If some the questions are similar we will try to combine the answers where possible. For those who can’t watch on Wednesday, we will produce a written form of the information to post on the website. Thank you.
THOMAS SUTTON RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Thomas Sutton who died unexpectedly, and for his daughters Tracy and Melanie and the whole family at this time.
CARDINAL’S MESSAGE FOR PENTECOST
If you haven’t already seen it, you can watch Cardinal Nichols’ message for Pentecost here:
https://vimeo.com/421046273
PRAY THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES ONLINE
Here is a prayer resource you might like to use to pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary:
https://youtu.be/EGsMsioY5o0
PRAY THE ROSARY WITH THE POPE
Pope Francis will lead the Rosary from the Vatican Gardens at 6.30pm on Saturday evening (30th May). For information about how to join him, see this link:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-05/pope-francis-rosary-shrines-saturday.html
REFLECTION FOR PENTECOST
Canon Pat Browne presents a reflection for Pentecost using Christian art and music. You can watch the reflection here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca6ccFiiIc8