FOURTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE
SUNDAY: PARISH MASS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD at 10.00am (streamed)
Mass with our LBGTQ+ friends and families at 3.00pm (streamed)
MONDAY: No Liturgy
TUESDAY: Feast of St George, Martyr, Patron of England (died 303)
Adoration at 6.00pm Mass at 6.30pm
WEDNESDAY: Feast of St Mark the Evangelist
Adoration at 6.00pm Mass at 6.30pm
THURSDAY: Adoration at 11.30am Service of Word and Communion at 12.00 noon
FRIDAY: Adoration at 8.30am Mass at 9.00am
SATURDAY: Adoration at 11.30am Mass at 12.00 noon
(in Assisi Centre because of Ethiopian Orthodox Eucharist in church)
Sacrament of Reconciliation: after Mass and 4.00-4.30pm
TODAY: [1] On this Fourth Sunday of Easter we celebrate Jesus the Good Shepherd who lays down His life to give us ‘Life in its Fulness’. He knows us through and through, calls us by name to come and follow Him wherever He may lead us. He feeds us, keeps us united and opens us to those ‘other sheep not of this flock’ whom He gathers into our community. And He sends us in the power of His love to be His shepherds gathering all nations into the One Flock of humanity.
[2] Day of Prayer for Vocations We pray for a deepened sense of vocation in each of our lives and in our parish community. Each of us has a unique vocation from God; each of us is called to proclaim the Good News and serve the Kingdom of Justice, Love and Peace; each of us is called to care for our environment and seek to heal the abuse of our good Earth so that future generations will be able to thrive on this planet. Vocations to marriage, to ordained ministries and to the religious life are all necessary to the mission of God’s Church. Is God calling members of our community to the Permanent Diaconate in support of the growth of lay ministry and leadership in the parish, as we move to a Lay-led parish served by a non-resident priest. Pray also for new expressions of ordained ministry!
[2] Mass with the LBGTQ+ community and friends at 3.00pm. All are very welcome.
NEXT SUNDAY: [1] On the Fifth Sunday of Easter we celebrate Jesus the Vine in Whom we are the branches. This great parable speaks of our deep oneness in Christ as members of the Church. The Church is to be bear fruit in plenty by living together with lives intertwined with Jesus. We are called to remain always in Christ, nurturing each other in faith and love, so that we can together bear the fruit of God’s transforming love to the people of our world today – fruit of peace and healing, fruit of justice and equality, fruit of care and love.
[2] There will be a Retiring Collection for the Clergy Training Fund, supporting the training of our seminarians preparing for Ordination as Priests, for our students preparing to be ordained Deacon, and for in-service training of all our priests and deacons.
[3] Senior Citizens Mass at 3.00pm with Refreshments afterwards in the Hall. We are intending to transport our housebound into the Mass but need volunteers with cars to help (contact Margaret Ulloa 07533880523) and with refreshments (contact Patience Bird 07411406411). All are welcome to share this Mass, and especially all senior citizens.
DIOCESAN PRAYER The Diocese prays today for those who serve the Ministry of our Bishop at Bishop’s House, St Ambrose in Leigh Woods; for the central administration of the Diocese at Alexander House and the many ministries and missions they support to enable us in the parishes and schools to offer Good News to our society.
PRAY FOR THIS WEEK’S PARISH MINISTRY OR MISSION We pray today for the Ministry of our Children’s Liturgy of the Word Leaders, who Sunday by Sunday seek to explore the Gospel in a way appropriate for our children 4-8 years old. With the guidance of Mary Hopper, our CLOW leaders work in pairs on a 4/5 week rota. This Ministry is a very important foundation for later catechesis (First Eucharist, Reconciliation etc), as well as building up community among our children – the ‘little church’.If you would like to work this way with our children, please contact Mary – more volunteers are needed.