Pentecost
Today we are filled with joy as the Holy Spirit comes, fulfilling Christ’s promise that after he had left the disciples, he would send them the Advocate who would teach them all things and give them the power and strength to carry on the work that Jesus Christ had done. The words of the Sequence in today’s Mass reminds us of what the Holy Spirit does in our lives—the Holy Spirit brings us graces, bestows peace on us, calms us down in the toils of this life, gives us strength when we are weary, gives us enthusiasm, guides us back when we go astray and gives us comfort, life and joy. If we reflect at the end of the day how the Holy Spirit has been active in our lives during the day, we will be amazed at how much we are dependent on the Holy Spirit to lead a good life.
Confirmation
Quite appropriately in this week of Pentecost, 30 of our young people will be receiving the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation this Friday. Bishop John Sherrington will be here for the Confirmation Mass at 7pm. This will be a great joy not only for the candidates themselves and their families but for all of us. To have more people around us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit is a great blessing. We know what difference the Holy Spirit brought to the Apostles—so it does to us through the Sacrament of Confirmation. There will be rehearsals for the Confirmation candidates on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7pm in the church. If possible, sponsors are asked to attend the Wednesday rehearsal.
No Novena this Tuesday
Because of the Confirmation rehearsal, there will be no Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help this week.
Meeting for Readers
There will be a meeting for those who read at Mass at 7.30pm on Thursday 21st June in the Church.
Meeting for Eucharistic Ministers
There will be a meeting for Eucharistic Ministers on Thursday 14th June at 7.30pm in the Church.
First Communion Programme
The third and final group of children will be receiving their First Holy Communion at the 10.30 Mass today. Next Sunday, there will be a Thanksgiving Mass for all the First Communion children at 3pm. They are invited to come in their First Communion clothes. The Mass will be followed by a party in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre, during which photos can be purchased in the Dominic Room.
TakeHomeNews
Next week’s newsletter will be covering two weeks.
New Feast Days
Tomorrow we will be celebrating the new Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. This will be celebrated each year on the Monday after Pentecost.
The other new date to be instituted this year is the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest, to be celebrated on the Thursday after Pentecost.
Holy Half Hour
As Fr Colin has to attend a meeting about Data Protection, there will be a shortened Holy Hour this Wednesday. It will conclude with Benediction at 10am.
Adoremus
The National Eucharistic Congress takes place in Liverpool between 7th and 9th December. Delegates from parishes throughout England and Wales are attending. We have 5 delegates from the Annunciation who will be going. At Masses on the Feast of Corpus Christi (2nd/3rd June) they will be commissioned. Meanwhile each parish has been encouraged to hold a lengthy period of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament to prepare for this Congress. We will be holding ours on Friday 1st June for 12 hours, 9.30am to 9.30pm. We invite you to sign up for a half hour watching slot on the sheet at the back of the church.
Baptism Preparation
The next session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised will be on Sunday 24th June at 4pm in the Dominic Room.
Come & See
Do you know of anyone who is thinking of becoming a Catholic. If so, bring them along to the Canon Smyth Parish Centre (stage area) on Wednesday 20th June at 8pm to find out about the process. The sessions will be starting in the autumn.
Joan Flaherty
Please pray for Joan Flaherty, her body will be received into Saints Sebastian & Pancras Church, Hay Lane, Kingsbury Green on Thursday 24th May at 7pm. Funeral mass on Friday 25th May at 11am, followed by burial at St Mary's Cemetery, Kensal Green. Joan is well know by the parishioners of Burnt Oak.
Let It Be
Last Monday we had an excellent evening in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre viewing an inspiring introduction to a series of videos on Our Lady, entitled ‘Let it Be’, and organised by CaFE. We have decided to present these video discussions on 5 successive Tuesdays starting on 12th June, at 7.45pm. Refreshments will be available from 7.30pm. It will follow the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help at 7pm in the Church.
WATCH THIS SPACE - J.D.S
A theatre usher was alarmed to see an elderly gentleman crawling on his hands and knees beneath a row of auditorium seats in the middle of a serious play. “What are you doing sir?” he whispered. “You’re disturbing the audience around you!” “I’ve lost my gum” answered the old man, continuing to search under the seats. “Sir”, continued the usher, “if that’s your only problem allow me to offer you another stick of gum, so that you can sit down and watch the rest of the play. A stick of gum is not worth all this commotion.” “But you don’t understand,” said the old man. My false teeth are in the gum.”