7th Sunday of EASTER (A)
Last Thursday we celebrated the Ascension of the Lord. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Apostles awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit. They spent the time in prayer, accompanied by Our Lady. We should also use this week leading up to Pentecost to prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit. A prayer is printed below.
Our Gospel passage today is taken from the part of St John’s Gospel that is sometimes called ‘The Book of Glory’. It refers to the glory that Jesus is going to win for the Father through his Passion and Death and ultimately through his Resurrection. Not only does God receive the glory, but his people share in that glory. In his prayer to the Father Jesus pleads that we may share in the glory that he is about to win.
Prayer of THE HOLY SPIRIT
Holy Spirit come into our lives.
Open our ears: To hear what you are saying to us
In the things that happen to us
In the people we meet
Open our eyes: To see the needs of the people round us.
Open our hands: To do our work well, to help when help is needed.
Open our lips: To tell others the Good News of Jesus
To bring comfort, happiness and laughter to other people.
Open our minds: To discover new truth about You and the world
Open our hearts: To love you and our fellow men and women
As you have loved us in Jesus.
To you with our Father and the Son, one God, all honour and praise shall be given now and forever. Amen.
CONFIRMATIONS
Most appropriately, the confirmations in this parish will be taking place close to the Feast of Pentecost. On Thursday, Bishop John Sherrington will come to confirm 19 of our parishioners at 7pm. Then the following Thursday, 1st June, Bishop John will return to confirm the remaining 24 of our candidates. On the intermediate Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. We pray for our young parishioners who will be filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit—Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and the Fear of the Lord that they may use these gifts for the benefit of all.
There will be a rehearsal on Tuesday at 7pm in the church for those being
confirmed this Thursday. The rehearsal for those being confirmed on 1st June will be on Tuesday 30th May at 7pm.
World Communications Day
Today is World Communications Day and there will be a second collection for the Catholic Communication Network. The theme this year is ‘Speaking with the Heart’. It is the heart that spurred us to go, to see and to listen, and it is the heart that moves us towards an open and welcoming way of communicating. Pope Francis has said ‘The call to speak with the heart, radically challenges the times in which we are living, which are so inclined towards indifference and indignation, at times even on the basis of disinformation which falsifies and exploits the truth’.
First Communion Programme
The final session for First Communion candidates takes place today (Sunday) at 9.15 in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. First Communion Day is Saturday 10th June with Masses at 2pm and 3.30pm.
Recommissioning of Eucharistic Ministers
The recommissioning of Eucharistic Ministers for a further year will take place at Masses on the weekend of Corpus Christi (10th /11th June).
IRENE JUPP R.I.P.
The funeral Mass for IRENE JUPP is on Monday 22nd May at 11am, replacing the 12 Noon Mass that day. Her body will be brought to the church this evening (Sunday) at 6pm. May she rest in peace.
WESTMINSTER DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
This takes place from 21st to 28th July. Please see the Tangney Tours poster in the church for details and ask one of the priests for an application form if you are interested in going.
Foodbank for the Community
Items for the Foodbank can be left in the box in the church porch. Many thanks for your generosity.
CAFOD
Thank you to all parishioners for your generous support for CAFOD this year and for your latest donation of £869.54. Thank you so much for being there for our Global Family.
Did you know that Church teaching says that we should not only support those in poverty but also tackle the root causes of poverty? Pope Benedict XVI said that “Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace.” For decades CAFOD has spoken out against injustice. To find out more and get involved in tackling the root causes of poverty, please go to cafod.org.uk/latestcampaigns
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School - Open Evening for
Secondary Transfer - Monday 26 June 2023
Parents and girls who are interested in taking the entrance tests for St Michael's Catholic Grammar School are invited to visit the school for a guided tour on Monday 26 June between 5pm and 7pm. Headteacher talks will be held at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm in The Chapel.
We have 128 places in each year and are historically heavily oversubscribed with girls who meet the criteria of Catholic girls from a Practising Catholic family who have made their First Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. Priority for up to 32 places is given to girls who are registered as Pupil Premium with their primary school. Full details of the Admissions Policy can be found on the School's website https://www.st-michaels.barnet.sch.uk/home/admissions/.
The online application to apply to sit the entrance tests for entry in September 2024 is now available https://www.st-michaels.barnet.sch.uk/home/admissions/admissions-2024-25/. The deadline for applications to be completed and Certificate of Catholic Practice provided to the School is 4pm on Tuesday 4th July 2023.
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