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FR DAVID WRITES
Today we find ourselves in a beautiful time of prayer to the Holy Spirit which lies between the feasts of Ascension and Pentecost. In a spiritual way, we are united with the apostles and their companions in the Upper Room of Jerusalem. They were afraid, lacking direction and motivation. But when the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost they were filled with God’s grace and power, which enabled them to go out without fear and preach the Gospel to everyone. Next Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. During this coming week, let each of us pray for the same gifts of the Holy Spirit. We too want to be ‘unlocked’. We too have much to do as we go out into the world to resume our mission to be the presence of God’s merciful love in our communities.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.

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FR DAVID WRITES
Today, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, we enter into the final phase of the Easter season. This coming Thursday is the feast of the Lord’s Ascension into heaven—the fortieth day since his resurrection at Easter. Normally a holy day of obligation, this year the obligation remains removed. However, as many people may like to come to Mass during the day, there will be two Masses here at 10am and 12pm on Ascension Thursday.

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GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY—DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, the day we pray for priests and for vocations to the priesthood, and when the annual collection for the Priest Training Fund  takes place. This fund pays for the priestly formation of men for the Catholic priesthood. There are currently 42 men studying at Allen Hall seminary, 18 of whom are for our own Diocese, and two men are studying in Rome, also for our Diocese. Last year two men who studied at Allen Hall and one who studied in Rome were ordained to the priesthood to serve as our future priests.

This fund also supports the ongoing enrichment and formation of our ordained priests. Your generous donation helps ensure we can support these men who are called to be like Christ the Good Shepherd.

Donation leaflets are available in the back of the church. Please take one home, read the information, and bring it back next weekend with your donation. Please continue to pray for vocations and for our priests. You can donate online anytime at www.rcdow.org.uk/donations

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FR DAVID WRITES
Thank you for your prayers last weekend for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Please continue to pray for these vocations. Thank you also for your generosity towards the diocesan collection for the Priests' Training Fund and the seminary. This weekend there is a statement from the Bishops' Conference available at the back of church. This message, called 'The Day of the Lord,' is a reflection by the bishops on the importance of Sunday in our post-pandemic lives. Please take a copy if you would like to, or you can read it on the diocesan website at www.rcdow.org.uk Please remember that the restrictions continue for the time being, and we do not know yet how the lifting of restrictions will work in practice for churches and other places of worship.

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FR DAVID WRITES
Having celebrated the Easter Triduum, and then the Easter octave, we continue our journey through the season of Easter. This time of Christian joy lasts for fifty days until the great feast of Pentecost. Having gone through the fast and the discipline of Lent, let us live the days of this continuing festival with gladness and joy.

PRINCE PHILIP RIP
This weekend we join with people throughout the world in praying for the repose of the soul of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as we give thanks to God for his long life of service.

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