JUNE IS THE MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART
WHITSUNDAY/ TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Dear parishioners,
PENTECOST
Pope St Leo the Great tells us that the feast of Pentecost contains great mysteries relating to the Old Testament as well as to the new, signs which clearly show that grace was predicted by the law and the law fulfilled by the grace of God and the descent of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit which connects the ages of humanity in its journey with and to God.
It was fifty days after the sacrifice of the lamb that marked the deliverance of the Hebrews from the Egyptians and the law was given on Mount Sinai; and fifty days from the raising up of Christ after his passion and immolation as the true Lamb of God and the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles and assembled believers. Pope Leo says that in this way, God gave us the church, a sign that we may easily see that the origin of the Old Testament laid the foundations of the gospel, and that the Spirit who was the author of the new covenant was the same Spirit who had established the first. The Holy Spirit connects those distant times and places. It is the same Holy Spirit who hovered over the waters of Creation, who breathed life into man, who parted the Red Sea for the people and led them to the Promised Land. It is the same Holy Spirit of God who the Prophets heard speak and filled them with fire and zeal for the Lord. Likewise, it is the same Holy Spirit who led the prophets to silence so that they might contemplate the Holy Spirit’s still small voice of calm. It is the same Holy Spirit, who filled the Blessed Virgin Mary with Grace, that truly it can be said ‘the Lord God is with you’. It is that same Spirit who descended upon the Church at Pentecost, that the Church, the Body of Christ on earth, might, like Mary our mother, also be full of grace and in continual communion with God. Through all time, through all places and to the Eternal Father in Heaven, it is the Holy Spirit who keeps us connected with one another and with God in Heaven.
We pray for the Holy Spirit to descend upon us today, to unite us as a parish and keep us connected to the church in the world both past and present as we pass on the full deposit and rich tradition of our faith to the next generation.
‘Mass of the Ages’ Part 2.
On Ascension Day, the second of three instalments of ‘Mass of the Ages’ , two years in the making, was released on YouTube. These are films, each about an hour long, which have been funded by the donations of ordinary catholics and are of a high quality. Each episode of Mass of the Ages is not released on Youtube until it has first been released at cinemas in the USA.
Part 1, which many of you have seen, answers the questions ‘Why are people drawn to the Traditional Latin Mass? Why do families travel miles and miles to get to one? Why and how does it change and enrich people’s spiritual lives? Such questions as these are answered by a variety of people who give moving testimony to the spiritual power of Catholic Tradition and episode 1 has now been watched by millions of people. Mass of the Ages ‘Discover the Traditional Latin Mass’ Episode 1 can be viewed on:
Part 2, released on Ascension Day, answers such questions as ‘If the Traditional Latin Mass is so powerful, why was it changed? Is the new mass just a modernised version of the old mass? Can we see a continuity between the two? Why do some people think the new mass is not in evolutionary line with Catholic tradition but something revolutionary (this is clearly illustrated with a diagram of a growing tree and the growth of its branches and what it looked like after 1970). Who wrote the new mass? What motivated him/ them to write it and who was it written for? What’s the connection between children’s cartoon music and a certain modern setting of the mass? Some of the answers to these questions may lead you to ask more questions. I’m happy to discuss any points with you. Mass of the Ages Episode 2 ‘A Perfect Storm’ can be viewed on
CONFIRMATION 2022 Next meeting: No meeting this Sunday. Confirmation Retreat: be at the church for 6.00 p.m. on Friday 10th June.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2022. Our children will be making their First Holy Communion at all mass on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June. Please keep pray for them as they prepare for the happy day. Practise on Thursday 16th June at 6.00 p.m. in the church.
GUIDES CAKE SALE We welcome back our Guides for another Cake Sale after both Sunday morning masses on 12th June 2022. The proceeds will be used to help raise funds for some of our Guides and Rangers go to Switzerland and also put towards the purchase any equipment needed for this and future camps. These camps help give our girls experiences that they otherwise may not have had out of Guiding.
‘Children’s Liturgy’ will be taking a break for half term.
Thanks to our UCM for organising the rota for cleaning the church and for excellent service you have given to the parish. The church is looking noticeably cleaner and fresher. I am most grateful to you.
MESSAGE FROM PACT ( catholic prisoners’ charity) We are very grateful for the support of the parish towards the work of Pact, the Catholic national prisons charity.
Pact provides a considerable number of valuable strands of work in the Archdiocese to support prisoners and their families. We are going to talk about our work and share the voices of people who can be on the margins at a fantastic diocesan Roadshow in Amigo Hall on Saturday 11th June, to be opened by Archbishop Wilson.
At the event, bringing together parishioners, prison chaplains, Pact staff, and ecumenical partners , we will bring to life the information you may read in our Fresh Start magazine. Pact services staff will talk about how they reach prisoners and their families in the diocese. We will hear from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system. We will reflect on Catholic Social Teaching and Jesus' challenge to us, 'I was in prison and you visited me'. We will share simple practical ideas for ways parishes, groups and individuals can help.
It would be lovely to meet you and/or some of your parishioners there. Note that we are providing a simple lunch!
You can find more information and registration here:
Unfortunately I am unable to attend due to the Confirmation Retreat, but otherwise I would have gone. If any of you are interested it would be good if our parish could be represented. Please follow the link above. Fr J.
Congratulations to Fr John O’ Donoghue, former parish priest of St Thomas More on his sixty years as a priest. We give thanks to God for his service and pray he is blessed with many more years of happy retirement.
Deaths
For all our brothers and sisters who ate the Body of Christ, the bread of Life, that they may be raised up on the Last Day. (Drawn from the intercession of the Funeral Mass)
Please pray for the soul of:
Christopher Brook who died on Saturday 7th May, aged 45.
Alice Carrasco who died on Sunday 22nd May 2022 aged 85.Her Funeral Requiem is on Tuesday 7th June at 11.30 a.m. with the committal at Hillview Cemetery.
Norah Brady who died on Monday 30th May 2022. Funeral details are awaited.
May the divine assistance remain with them always, and may their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
PRAY FOR THE CONVERSION OF RUSSIA!
PRAY FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD!
&
MAKE REPARATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
with
FIRST SATURDAY FATIMA DEVOTIONS
Saturday 4th June
9.00 a.m. confessions
9.30 a.m. Rosary
10.00 a.m. Holy Mass
10.30 a.m. meditation
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE
Saturday 4th June Vigil of Pentecost (TC)
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Michael Akhidenor R.I.P. with silent meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary until 11.00 a.m.
+ 12.00 noon. Diamond Jubilee mass of Fr. John O’Donoghue, former parish priest of St. Thomas More followed by reception in the Church Hall.
[NO SATURDAY EVENING MASS TODAY]
Sunday 5th June PENTECOST
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG. No children’s liturgy today. Natasha Pereira T.G. ( on her birthday)
+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS (with English Readings/ missa de angelis) Loretta Fernando R.I.P. ( on the anniversary of her death)
7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in the Hall. All welcome.
Monday 6th June Mary, Mother of the Church, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Muriel D’Souza W.B.
Tuesday 7th June feria.
10.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+11.30 a.m. Funeral Requiem for Alice Carrasco followed by committal at Hillview.
Wednesday 8th June feria
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Thursday 9th June Our Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, feast.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. The people of the parish.
1.00 p.m. Thursday Lunch Club.
Friday 10th June feast.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Oscar Braganza R.I.P.
Saturday 11th June Whit Saturday. (TC)
9.30 a.m. Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Vincenzo Brogna R.I.P.
[+ 6.30 p.m. THE MOST HOLY TRINITY Holy Souls.]
PLATINUM JUBILEE PRAYER FOR HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
V. O Lord, save Elizabeth, our Queen. R. And hear us on the day we call upon you.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come before you.
V. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit.
R. And with your spirit.
Almighty God, we pray, that your servant Elizabeth, our Queen, who, by your providence has received the governance of this realm, may continue to grow in every virtue, that, imbued with your heavenly grace, she may be preserved from all that is harmful and evil and, being blessed with your favour may, with the royal family, come at last into your presence, through Christ who is the way, the truth and the life and who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The ’Domine, Salvum fac Reginam nostrum Elisabeth’ will be sung after Holy Communinon at the 11 o’clock mass. Traditionally this was often sung after High Mass. We give thanks to God for the reign of Queen Elizabeth and ask God to continually bless her. Indeed, we thank God for her.
With my Blessings,
Fr Jonathon