FR DAVID WRITES
As the academic year draws to a close, we find ourselves in the season of graduations, ordinations and farewells!  Well done to those who have done exams or are preparing to move on in education. On Thursday, Mr Meehan and I attended the 'Celebration of Service Mass' at Westminster Cathedral as we said thank you to Bishop Wilson for his work in the Education Service.  He is becoming the new Archbishop of Southwark. Last week, I celebrated Mass at the cathedral for all the diocesan teachers who have completed the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies.  Speaking of the diocese, please also keep in your prayers Alex Balzanella who is ordained deacon today in Rome, and Ben Woodley and Julian Davies who will be ordained priests soon.

WELCOME
Welcome (back) to Monsignor Tom Egan and Fr Mark Walker who are helping Fr David this weekend. We also welcome Deacon David Knight and Deacon Ian Coleman.

FR DAVID WRITES
We are in a season of great feasts. Today is the feast of Corpus Christi, and Friday is the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Please keep the priests of the diocese in your prayers that day as they will gather for a special celebration for diocesan priests at Westminster Cathedral. Unfortunately I will not be able to join them as I am involved in the annual retreat for the Education Service staff.  There was a wonderful celebration for school children from all over the diocese last Tuesday at the cathedral as we celebrated our ‘Eucharistic Journey’—a fitting theme for Corpus Christi. Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School were represented, as were many of our local Catholic primary and secondary schools.

FR DAVID WRITES
Today is the feast of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, patron saints of the city and church of Rome.  Known as the 'columns of the Church', they have been venerated since the earliest times as the greatest of the Lord's apostles.  An apostle is someone who is sent out.  Both these individuals, Simon and Saul, overcame their own pasts and experienced the grace of conversion in their lives - symbolised by their new names - and allowed themselves to be sent by the Holy Spirit to announce the Gospel to the  ends of the earth.  Today we wear red vestments as a reminder that they stained the ground of Rome with the witness of their own blood.  Peter died by crucifixion and Paul was beheaded.

FR DAVID WRITES:
At the Saturday Vigil Mass we will celebrate the Going Forth Mass for our teenagers who were recently confirmed. Thank you to everyone who joined in the wonderful celebration for the First Holy Communion Going Forth Mass last weekend. We would also like to thank our wonderful team of catechists for helping to prepare the young people and the great celebrations. May God bless you all.

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