JUNE IS THE MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART.
Pentecost with Eighth and Ninth Week of Ordinary Time.
Double Edition.
Dear parishioners,
PENTECOST 2023
As we come to the end of Eastertide, since Ascension Day the church looks forward in prayer to God’s blessing on the Church. Traditionally, on Ascension Day, the Paschal Candle which symbolises the Risen Christ, is extinguished after the proclamation of the gospel to show that Christ has gone to Heaven. But we know that he has not left us to fend for ourselves. Like the disciples in the upper room, through faith in the Resurrection, we turn to God in prayer. We believe our Lord has risen from the dead and remains with us in the Sacraments and through the Sacrifice of the Mass. The Lord’s sacrifice on the Cross and the outpouring of his most Precious Blood is the source of all sacramental grace given to us today. Whenever we attend mass, we are present at that same Sacrifice of Christ, for Christ promised to be with us until the end of time.
God also blessed his Church with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which we celebrate this Sunday. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son and is sent into our hearts so that we might receive new life as children of God. We know the Holy Spirit through his actions in the Word and when the Spirit acts in the Church. The Holy Spirit is symbolised in many ways, including through the water of Baptism, the anointing with oil, the imposition of hands and the symbols of fire and the dove. In particular, we can see the work of the Holy Spirit through the life and words of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was filled with the Holy Spirit when she conceived the Word of God and who is the mother of the Church.
In his time among us, Our Lord revealed the Spirit in his teaching, his healing and in breathing the Spirit upon his disciples after the Resurrection. At Pentecost, the mission of Our Lord and of the Holy Spirit became the mission of the Church which is sent to proclaim and spread the mystery of God, the Most Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit builds, animates and sanctifies the Church. The Spirit of Love also restores the faithful to their baptismal purity through the forgiveness of sins received after confession in the Sacrament of Penance. Every time we go to confession, we receive the forgiving and healing love of the Holy Spirit who also consoles us in times of loss and gives us strength and courage to go forth with Christ into a hostile world. If we live in the Spirit through our prayer, penance and good works, we will receive the seven gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. We will then bear the twelve fruits of the Spirit in our lives : charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity.
Like the disciples, with Our Lady, prayed after the Ascension, let us too ask the Holy Spirit to bless our parish and our families who are making their pilgrimage to Walsingham this half term in honour of her, who was filled with the Holy Spirit and reveals to us the gifts and fruits of the Spirit in her life. Let us say with the Saints, ‘ We have seen the true light, we have received the heavenly spirit, we have found the true faith: we adore the indivisible Trinity, who has saved us’ ( from the Byzantine Vespers of Pentecost).
(see the Catechism of the Catholic Church on ‘The Holy Spirit’)
God bless, Fr Jonathon
UPCOMING EVENTS
FOR THE JUNE DIARY:
1. Solemnity of Corpus Christi. There will be a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the church grounds following 11 o’clock mass on Sunday 11th June concluding with Benediction.
2. Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Mass at 10.00 a.m. on Friday 16th June and Parish Devotions to the Sacred Heart with Sung Litany, Act of Consecration and Benediction on Sunday 18th June at 4.00 p.m.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES in October.
Please contact the parish office if you are interested in joining us.
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB
The next lunch will be on Thursday 1st June at 12.30 p.m.
PARISH NOTICES
PARISH YOUTH NOTICES
DEATHS
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR PENTECOST & THE EIGHTH & NINTH WEEKS OF ORDINARY TIME
JUNE PRAYER
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