APRIL IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST.
The Fourth Week of Easter
Dear parishioners,
THE CORONATION OF OUR KING, CHARLES III
Message from Cardinal Vincent Nichols:
The coronation of King Charles III will take place on Saturday 6th May 2023 in Westminster Abbey. This will be the first coronation for 70 years in our countries; indeed, the first since our late Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, entered the ancient church as a young woman to take on the awesome responsibilities of monarchy. In his first address to our countries after the death of the Queen, His Majesty stated, in the context of the late Queen's unwavering service, "that promise of lifelong service I renew to you all today."
We are now invited to pray, from Wednesday 3rd May until Friday 5th May, for His Majesty the King as he assumes the fullness of the high office of monarch. We can do this in our daily prayer asking Almighty God to guide the King in his appointed tasks. We can also pray for him when we gather for prayer at Mass. This triduum of prayer will culminate on Friday evening when the Bishops of England and Wales have asked each Catholic community to offer a special Mass for the King before the Coronation on Saturday. It will be the culminating moment of our three days of prayer when we ask God's continuing blessing on our new King and Queen.
The Presidents of Churches Together in England, including Cardinal Vincent, are also encouraging Christians to join in a period of prayer leading up to the Coronation, 'a moment of great importance and joy for this nation. As Presidents of CTE, we invite Christians from all traditions to join together in a period of daily prayer, for both the King and the nation.'
The Cardinal prays: "May God bless His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort, preserve them both in health of mind and body and grant them every grace and blessing now and for the years to come.
"As we look towards the Coronation Day, which will be marked with joy and celebration across our nations and the Commonwealth, let us commend King Charles and Queen Camilla to our Heavenly Father, that he may sustain them in their duties all the days of their lives’’
Mass for the King at St. Thomas More Church
In unity with the Bishops of England and Wales and Catholic parishes and communities throughout the realm, bring your families to a special Mass on Friday at 7.30 p.m. at St Thomas More, offered for our King, Charles III. Domine, salvam fac regem nostrum Carolum: et exaudi nos in die, qua invocaverimus te! (O Lord, save Charles, our King and hear us on the day we call upon you).
Don’t forget to pick up the prayer card from the Cardinal and the English Bishops to mark this happy day for our country!
Prayer for the King from the Bishops of England & Wales.
Almighty God, we pray, that your servant Charles, our King,
who, by your providence has received the governance of this realm,
may continue to grow in every virtue,
that, imbued with your heavenly grace,
he may be preserved from all that is harmful and evil and,
being blessed with your favour, may,
with his consort and the royal family,
come at last into your presence,
through Christ who is the way, the truth and the life
and who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
(Due to the Coronation, the final part of a short series of reflections on the Eucharist to mark April will conclude next week with The Eucharist and The Blessed Virgin Mary)
This coming Friday is also a First Friday:
FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTION
The devotion of the nine First Fridays began with the instructions received by St Margaret Mary Alacoque, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The devotion consists of several practices on the first Friday of nine consecutive months. On these days, we attend mass and receive Holy Communion. In order to receive Communion in a state of grace, we may also need to confess our sins and receive the sacrament of Penance. At St Thomas More, in common with many catholic communities , following holy mass, we will usually have an hour of Adoration, concluding with Benediction. However, this month, because of the special mass for the King in the evening, there will be an hour of adoration in the morning from 10 o’clock, concluding with Benediction at 11.00. Before Christ our King, we can pray for our King Charles III and for peace in our land.
God bless, Fr Jonathon.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PARISH NOTICES
PARISH YOUTH NOTICES
DEATHS
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER
APRIL PRAYER