Newsletter- 7th Week of Eastertide
Dear Parishioners
On the 7th Sunday in Easter, we keep World Communication Day, a day on which we pray at all our Sunday Masses for 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 Masses for this crucial work. Please do if you have time visit the Bishops’ Conference website: https://www.cbcew.org.ukHere you will find the latest news, features, events, podcasts and much more happening within the Church. You can also sign up to receive the communications team’s weekly newsletter.
In his message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo XIV highlights the importance of ensuring that technological innovation, particularly artificial intelligence, serves the human person rather than replacing or diminishing human dignity.
‘I am coming to you’ This last Sunday of Easter offers us a prayerful pause between the great feasts of Ascension and Pentecost. There is a spirit of anticipation and encouragement throughout the liturgy. In the Gospel, we hear part of Jesus’s prayer for his beloved disciples, both then and now. The teaching of Jesus, his words, his actions, his very presence, all give his disciples a part in his glory. After Jesus ascends to his Father in heaven, the disciples return to the upper room in Jerusalem and devote themselves to prayer (First Reading). In the Second Reading, Peter gives encouragement to the early Church, counselling them to rejoice when they face persecution or suffering. By their sufferings, they share in Christ’s glory; the glory about which Jesus teaches in today’s Gospel. We can imagine both those gathered in the upper room after the ascension of Jesus, and the early Christian community to whom Peter was writing, joyfully praying lines from today’s Psalm: The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall, I fear?
Fr Jonathan Retreat: This coming week from Sunday afternoon 17th May until Friday 22nd May I shall be away in Northamptonshire on retreat with Bishop Patrick and some of my brother Priests from this Diocese. We will be joining a group of Bishops and Priests from around the country at a Healing the Whole Person – Priests Retreat. I will be keeping the parish daily in my private prayers. Please keep me in your own during my time away.
Changes to the Mass schedule for the coming week:
Tuesday 19th – No Liturgies – church closed all day
Wednesday 20th – Mass at 9.30 am – church closed after Mass
Thursday 21st – No Liturgies – church closed
Friday 22nd – Mass 9.30am – church closed after Mass
With every blessing for you and for your families during the coming week,
Your friend and parish priest,
Father Jonathan
2026 17th May – Newsletter – Download