3rd Week of Eastertide
Dear Parishioners
As we continue to mourn the loss of Pope Francis, we give thanks to God for the gift of his life and ministry, and for the countless ways he has inspired us to deepen our faith and live out our call to love and serve one another. This Sunday – 4th May – marks the end of the nine days of official mourning for our late Holy Father. On Wednesday 7th May the Conclave begins. Please pray each day this coming week for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as the Cardinals gathered in Rome seek a worthy successor to Pope Francis.
Changes to the Liturgies for this coming week:
Tuesday 6th May – No Liturgies today – Church closed all day – Fr Jonathan is away
Wednesday 7th May – Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit (Conclave) – 9.30 am
Friday 9th May – Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit (Conclave) – 9.30 am
This weekend at Mass as we celebrate the 3rd Sunday of Easter we continue to hear joy-filled readings of the Resurrection that speak to each of us of the meaning of discipleship, both in our personal relationship with Jesus and in our relationships with other people. The Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit (First Reading), continue to proclaim the teachings of Jesus. When confronted by the religious leaders, they insist on obeying God rather than any human authority. The joy of the Apostles is based on their faith that God will change our ‘mourning into dancing’, as the Responsorial Psalm of praise and thanksgiving proclaims. Our merciful God will lift us from our troubles.The Second Reading presents a vision of heavenly worship, with every creature in the universe praising Jesus as the risen Lamb that was slain: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!’ St John recounts Jesus’s third post-Resurrection meeting with the disciples, who have returned to their old ways of fishing (Gospel). Jesus calls to them at dawn, guiding them to a miraculous catch, followed by a shared breakfast. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him, instructing him to care for his followers.
As we ponder these texts as Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee year, let us pray for a spirit of justice and generosity in all situations of conflict, injustice and poverty in our world.
Last week my word of thanks to all who helped during Holy Week and Easter got a little lost in the sad news of the death of Pope Francis. I include again this week my thanks to each of you who helped in so many ways to make our Holy Week and Easter celebrations run so smoothly. It was very heartening to see an increase in numbers at all the Liturgies and Masses celebrated within our parish over this period.
A note of thanks: I would like this weekend to thank each of you for your generosity to me in the Easter Offering and to acknowledge my sincere thanks to all who worked so hard to prepare the Liturgies and the church for our Holy Week and Easter celebrations. I would like to thank on your behalf our dedicated group of musicians and singers, our flower arrangers and our young and committed band of altar servers. Our Readers and all our volunteers who helped to welcome people at the door. Those too who helped to clean the church and polish all the silver and brass, tidy the church gardens and all who help me in the Parish Office, to all who have helped in so many different and varied ways to animate the liturgies and to ensure that our church was made ready for Holy Week and Easter, the list could go on and on! Thank you! Your kindness and generosity was greatly appreciated by me personally and by all who visited St. Mary’s during this period.
With prayer and best wishes, for you and your families,
Your parish priest and friend,
Father Jonathan
2025 4th May – Newsletter – Download