Newsletter- 5th Week of Eastertide
Dear Parishioners
‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’ As we continue to live through this joyful Eastertide, the readings this week show us the new Christians attempting to organise their community. After prayer and discernment, they solve the dispute between the Hebrews and the Hellenists and appoint seven leaders. (First Reading). The Psalm celebrates in song the word of the Lord, who is merciful and loves justice and righteousness. The Second Reading seeks to reassure us. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. Christ is the cornerstone of the building, and all Christians its living stones. The Gospel comes from the Last Supper discourse, where Jesus prepares his friends for his departure. Thomas and Philip find it hard to follow his words, but they will never be alone, for Jesus will be alongside them. He is the way, the truth and the life.
This week, let us pray for all who are unable to accept Jesus as the cornerstone of their life and all who may be struggling in whatever kind of way at this time. As we go about our own lives in the coming days, we might use the response to the psalm: ‘May your merciful love be upon me, as I hope in you, O Lord’.
May – The Month of Mary
May is traditionally dedicated in a special way to honouring and seeking the intercession of Mary as the Mother of God and Mother of the Church.
Mother Teresa (St. Teresa of Calcutta) was inspired by and devoted to our Lady, and she said:
“Mary, give me your heart: so beautiful, so pure so immaculate; your Heart so full of love and humility that I May be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor.”
As the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary has a unique position among the saints, indeed, among all creatures. She is exalted, yet still one of us. Mary, more than anyone, can show us Jesus, lead us to him and teach us to know and love him better, so that we too can become capable of true love and witness to that love in all the situations of our daily lives. When we think of Mary, we should think of her great humility and humanity and recognise the power of her belief and faith in God. It is in her faith that she is blessed and holy and through such faith and humility, she became the perfect instrument of God’s will and was the obedient and willing servant of God.
Rosary before the Weekday Liturgies during May
This year starting from this coming week I hope during May from Tuesday to Friday when there are no Funerals and I am not away to pray the Rosary publicly in church. If you have time why not come to join me to pray informally together in church at: 5.30 pm Tuesdays and 9am Wednesdays and Fridays and 10.30 am on a Thursday morning.
St Marys School – May Procession and Crowning of Our Lady – Thursday 7th May at 2.30 pm
Parishioners are warmly invited to join St Mary’s Primary School at 2.30 pm this coming Thursday for the Crowning of Our Lady and May Procession. If the weather is kind this will take place outside within the School grounds and if not in the School Hall.
Parish Mission Visitations: Over the course of next two years the Bishop and his Vicar Generals will be making formal Visitations to all the Parishes within the Diocese. Our Deanery is the first Deanery to welcome a Visitation. These will take place between 25th April and 21st June. These visits will take place over a weekend from Saturday through Sunday evening. Our visitation will take place here at St Mary’s over the weekend of 13th/14thJune when we will welcome Canon Edward Jarosz, V.G. He will stay with me at the Rectory and meet with me formally during the weekend and he will help to celebrate the weekend Masses and preach at all the Sunday Masses celebrated in the parish. During the weekend Canon Eddy will meet informally with several parishioners to gain a flavour of parish life and our local faith community, this will include a meeting with our new advisory mission group on the Saturday afternoon of his visit to us. Prior to the weekend I will submit a report to the Bishop on the mission and life of our parish, highlighting some of the initiatives and outreach already taking place here and some new mission initiatives which we hope to introduce over the course of the next two years.
With my prayers and best wishes for you and your families this coming week
Your parish priest and friend,
Father Jonathan
2026 3rd May – Newsletter – Download