FR DAVID WRITES
Happy Easter! Today, on Easter Sunday, we celebrate God’s triumph over sin and death in the glorious resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Today it is our joy and privilege to greet you all and send you many prayers, blessings and sentiments full of Christian faith and hope. We hope you are able to celebrate Easter in your homes and families. Thank you for your generosity throughout Lent and for all that you bring to the life of the parish. May God bless you all. Alleluia!
EASTER OCTAVE
This week is the Easter Octave. Please note there is no abstinence on the Friday is the Easter Octave. Next Sunday is itself the Octave Day of Easter, the eighth day when we, like the disciples, meet the Risen One in the Upper Room of faith.
BISHOP SHERRINGTON
It was lovely to welcome Bishop Sherrington to lead our prayer on Good Friday afternoon as we celebrated this Triduum in our centenary year.
THANK YOU FOR THE EASTER LITURGIES
Thank you to everyone who has helped to prepare or celebrate the Easter liturgies in any way. Although we are in the midst of renovation chaos, a great effort helped to ensure our liturgies were celebrated prayerfully and joyfully. God bless you all.
WORKS IN THE CHURCH
Please be careful this weekend in the church as we are still in the midst of our redecoration works. Next week, the Masses from Tuesday-Friday will be in the hall.
MASS TIMES
Please note there will be one Mass only during this week at 10am each day.
PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES
Envelopes for 2023/24 are now available at the back of the church. They are in numerical order and your number will be the same as last year. Please take yours as soon as you can. If you can’t find your box, please email the Parish Office.
CONTACTLESS CARD READER
We now have a contactless card machine, which takes cards and smart phones, and you can add Gift Aid if you follow the instructions on the reader. Once you have used a card with Gift Aid, it recognizes it for any subsequent donation.
FOOD BANK
Thank you for your ongoing support. We are seeing a significant increase in the number of people accessing the foodbank. These items are really popular: toilet rolls, soap, detergent, basmati rice, spaghetti, lentils, noodles, couscous, oil, sugar, green tea, coffee, tinned tomatoes, tinned fish and tinned fruit.
VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD
On Wednesday 17 May, there will be an open evening at St James’s, Spanish Place, for any men interested in learning about or discerning a vocation to priesthood. The regular evening Mass will be at 6pm, followed by a gathering downstairs in the Social Centre for a short presentation, informal conversations and refreshments. The nearest tube stations are Bond Street and Baker Street.
VOLUNTEER CATECHISTS
If you would like to volunteer for next year’s Confirmation programme please see Teresa or ask the office for further details.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2023
Parents are reminded of their meeting on Tuesday 18th April at 8pm. The children’s session is on Saturday 22nd April, 10am—12.30pm for First Reconciliation, followed by Mass for the whole family on Sunday at 11.15 am.
CONFIRMATION 2023
Candidates are reminded of their Retreat Day on Saturday 22nd April from 10.45am— 4.30pm.
THANK YOU FROM CAFOD
CAFOD send their thanks to everyone who participated in the recent Lent Family Fast Day and were able to give generously to the second collection.