Newsletter- 7th Week of Eastertide
Dear Parishioners
On the 7th Sunday in Easter, we keep World Communication Day, the day on which we hold in pray the work of those engaged in communications, and in particular, the Communication Directorate of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference for England and Wales. This Sunday there will be a second collection at all our weekend Masses for this crucial work. Please do if you have time visit the Bishops’ Conference website: https://www.cbcew.org.uk Here you will find the latest news, features, events, podcasts and much more happening within the Church. The theme for this year’s World Communication Day centres around the need to communicate responsibly and to help foster a culture of hope and peace. Pope Leo XIV has picked up where his predecessor Pope Francis left off encouraging us all to speak positively about the need to build bridges with our words and through our actions.
As the Easter season comes to an end, our readings remind us of the joy and hope that come from the love that the Father has lavished on the world. In the First Reading we witness the suffering and death of Stephen, the first Christian Martyr. As Stephen offers up his spirit, echoing Jesus’s own words, he pleads for forgiveness for his persecutors. The Responsorial Psalm proclaims the Lord as king, worshipped by all of creation. God is the source of justice and righteousness. John’s vision from the end of the Book of Revelation (Second Reading) reminds us of the invitation that Jesus gives to us all – and the promise of salvation when he comes again. In the Gospel we hear Jesus’s own prayer to his heavenly Father. It is offered both for the disciples who are with him at the Last Supper, and for all people like us, who have heard and believe his message of love, mercy and compassion.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, we pray for all those who struggle to forgive others. We ask Jesus to enter their hearts, bringing his mercy and compassion and the healing balm of his forgiveness.
For your Prayers: Please remember in your prayers all who are currently exploring the possibility of entering into Full Communion with the Catholic Church. We have several people within our parish who are currently at different stages of their discernment journey’s. We pray especially at this time for Laura Tester who after a period of catechesis and discernment will God willing be received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church during the Sunday morning Mass at 9.30 am on Sunday 15th June. Please also keep in your prayers our First Holy Communion candidates who in just a few weeks’ time will receive Holy Communion for the first at a special Mass celebrated in the parish on Saturday 21st June at 11 am.
With prayers and best wishes for you and for your families during the week ahead,
Your parish priest and friend,
Fr Jonathan
2025 1st June – Newsletter – Download