Click on the links above for more information on The Resettlement Scheme, Fr Michael's paintings and to find out what is going on in the parish

Fr Tim

Madeleine McCann: Today is the eighth anniversary of Madeleine’s disappearance and her family will be with us for the 10.00am Mass, which will be for their intentions. Perseverance was one of the virtues St Alphonsus, our founder, instilled in his sons and daughters, and we assure the family that we will continue to support them with our love and our prayers.

General Election: All I can say is ‘pray’!

Vocations Sunday. Today is the Day of Prayer for vocations to the clergy and religious Life. There is an afternoon of prayer at the Carmel and Mother Mary has extended an open invitation. I hope many will take the opportunity to spend some time in prayer with the sisters. Please see the poster in the porch

The National Vocations Office have produced a series of videos on consecrated life. One of them feature Br James of SFX who you may also know from the 6pm Music group.

Deacons. Still on the subject of vocations, may I urge that a special intention in our two parishes is that some more men will be moved to consider the permanent diaconate. Fr Chris Fallon has informed me that the closing date for anyone wishing to begin training this autumn is the end of May. I or John Keeley will be happy to discuss the subject with anyone who is interested.

By way of a short preamble I want to renew my thanks to everyone in both parishes for the wonderful liturgical experiences during Holy Week and Easter. They perfectly illustrated the value of people coming together and sharing their gifts. And what could be more rewarding than doing so to celebrate the greatest gift we all have: Jesus as our Lord and Saviour? Therefore, with renewed enthusiasm, I am looking forward to being able to continue to serve you as your parish priest as we begin another four-year cycle of Redemptorist appointments. However, as you know, Fr Richard Reid is leaving at the end of the month to take the reins at Clapham. We would like to wish him well and assure him of our prayers, so he will celebrate the noon Mass next Saturday at Bishop Eton and there will be a reception for him with a drink and light refreshments in the Fisher-More Hall afterwards. All are welcome and there will be no noon Mass at St Mary’s that day.

THANK YOU ALSO for your prayers for Frs Jim Corrigan and Barrie O’Toole, who have both been in hospital during Holy Week. Fr Barrie continues to make good progress. Fr Jim (who is now cared for at Christopher Grange) has made a remarkable recovery after being taken dangerously ill on Monday

THANKS are very much in order to all of you who work so hard throughout the year, but especially around this time, to keep everything running smoothly in the church: sacristans, servers, readers, ministers, catechists, musicians, flower arrangers and church cleaners. Thanks also to all those of you who work to ensure the efficient administration of our parishes, who sit on the various committees and support the organisations, which keep our sense of mission alive. Please be assured that all of this is never taken for granted.

WITH FR RICHARD AND ALL THE REDEMPTORIST COMMUNITY, I WISH YOU ALL THE JOY AND PEACE OF EASTER

It has been a privilege for us to celebrate the great mystery of our redemption again with you this year. The message is forever new and life-giving. I hope that the sense of joy and expectation which the Easter season brings will permeate into your homes and enliven our parish and school communities. Once again we have around 130 children entering the last phase of their preparation for the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion. They and their families need our support and prayers, just as we need their love and commitment to enliven our parishes with the joy and energy which are the special gifts of the young. Pope Francis, on the Feast of the Annunciation, invited the whole Church to embark on a special time of prayer for families as we prepare for the Synod in October and I will return to this invitation in the coming weeks as well as looking with you for practical ways in which we might be more effective in supporting one another as the family of the Church. But for now let’s just relax and enjoy Easter Week!

We come once more to the most important week in the Church’s calendar and again I can only encourage you all to make it special for you and your families. The key events come during THE TRIDUUM, beginning with

THE MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER on Thursday evening at 8.00pm. This is followed by a time of quiet prayer before the Altar of Repose, recalling Jesus’ time in the Garden of Gethsemane. Please note:We invite all our Ministers of Communion to renew their commitment at this Mass. On Good Friday we have

THE LITURGY OF THE PASSION at 3.00pm and on Holy Saturday we celebrate

THE EASTER VIGIL at 8.30pm. This is the celebration which gives meaning to all our celebrations throughout the year. I never tire of reminding you and myself that without the Resurrection, nothing makes sense.

As final opportunities to prepare well for the Triduum, we offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation after all the Masses on the first three days of the week, and on Tuesday evening we have our Reconciliation Serviceat 7.30pm. For those who wish to make a personal confession, there will be as many priests as we can muster after the Service. (NB: St Mary’s Reconciliation Service is on Monday at 7.30pm.)

The Chrism Mass (at which all the oils for the sacraments in the coming year will be blessed by Archbishop Malcolm) is in the Cathedral on Wednesday at 7.30pm. (NB: We will offer the Novena Prayers at the Noon Mass that day.) Finally, please note that the Children’s Way of the Cross will be on Good Friday morning at 11.00am. (led by our Confirmation and First Communion class).

Fr Barrie has had his operation and he is in wonderful form, delighted that it is all over. We continue to pray that he will now make a complete and speedy recovery.