Easter 2013

This is the day – Easter Day!

Christ is risen!

Hallelujah!

Make this day, Lord, a step closer to heaven.

This day, Lord, may I know myself loved and valued.

This day, Lord, may I notice the beauty around me, in things great and small.

This day, Lord, may I not miss the messages of joy, of peace, of hope that you send me.

This day, Lord, this day make the day of my resurrection.

Easter Blessings to all our parishioners and visitors,

Fr.Adam, Fr.Christopher

The Holy Week

We commemorate all these events not merely that we might remember them, but by being present to the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection. He indeed will be at the Festival What about you?

+Thomas McMahon

Bishop of Brentwood

5th Sunday of Lent

Early in the morning he came again to the temple; all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst  they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?"  This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.  And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."  And once more he bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.  But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.  Jesus looked up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"  She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again."

John 8:2-11

youth + stations of the cross

STATIONS OF THE CROSS  led by Confirmandi. 

Pastoral letter

PASTORAL LETTER

(To be read at all Masses on the 5^th Sunday of Lent, 16^th/17^th March)

CELEBRATI0N HOLY WEEK

My Dear People,

The first Gospel for the season of Lent opens with these words: “Filled with the Holy Spirit Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for forty days”. These words are a powerful reminder that Lent is a journey in which the Spirit guides us and we are asked to be open to the promptings of the Spirit. The purpose of this Lenten journey is to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the life-giving events of Holy Week.

The last Gospel for the season of Lent ends with these words: “The Jewish Passover drew near, and many of the people who had gone up to Jerusalem to purify themselves looked out for Jesus, saying to one another as they stood about in the Temple, ‘What do you think? Will he come to the festival or not?” One thing will be certain – Jesus will be there. What about you?

Holy Week isn’t like an anniversary or re-enactment. In the liturgy the once and for all Saving events of our redemption and especially the death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated and in the power of the Spirit are made present in every time and place. But, we ourselves have to be open to this.

The ‘Great Week’ begins with PALM SUNDAY. Jesus comes in humility, on a donkey – and so the procession with palms followed by the reading of the Passion.

On Wednesday evening we have the MASS OF CHRISM in the Cathedral. The presence of Jesus is now highlighted under the form of Oil to be blessed and used for the sacraments in the coming year. On this day the Lord ordained His first priests and so, at this service, all the clergy renew their commitment. It is a most moving ceremony and I warmly invite you to join us.

HOLY THURSDAY begins the three days when Jesus journeys through suffering and death into the life of the Resurrection. We recall the institution and real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist as we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. It is also an evening of prayer when we spend time in the presence of the Lord so that we may accompany him in his journey.

On GOOD FRIDAY Jesus appears as the ‘suffering servant’ portrayed by Isaiah.

This liturgy is also a reminder that the Cross, although apparently an image of defeat, is actually a sign of victory – God’s selfless love triumphs over human sin and selfishness.

The EASTER VIGIL is the high point and the very heart of our celebration. We celebrate Jesus risen and glorious. The liturgy begins with a festival centred around light, word, water and culminates in the celebration of the Eucharist. We renew our baptismal promises whereby we commit ourselves to ‘pass over’ from sin to a new life in Christ. The joy of Easter night has been heightened by the fact that over 300 people around the diocese will be baptised or received into full Communion. The joy of this most holy night flows into Easter Sunday – known as the ‘Great Day’ or the ‘Great Easter’.

We commemorate all these events not merely that we might remember them, but by being present to the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection. He indeed will be at the Festival What about you?

+Thomas McMahon

Bishop of Brentwood

Habemus Papam

Our New Pope Francis and his first words: 

Brothers and sisters good evening. 

You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother Cardinals have gone almost to the ends of the earth to get him… but here we are. I thank you for the welcome that has come from the diocesan community of Rome.



First of all I would like to say a prayer pray for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI. Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord will bless him and that our Lady will protect him.

Our Father…

Hail Mary…

Glory to the Father…

And now let us begin this journey, the Bishop and the people, this journey of the Church of Rome which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world that there might be a great sense of brotherhood. My hope is that this journey of the Church that we begin today, together with the help of my Cardinal Vicar, may be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city.

And now I would like to give the blessing. But first I want to ask you a favour. Before the Bishop blesses the people I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me – the prayer of the people for their Bishop. Let us say this prayer – your prayer for me – in silence. 

I will now give my blessing to you and to the whole world, to all men and women of good will.

Brothers and sisters, I am leaving you. Thank you for your welcome. Pray for me and I will be with you again soon... We will see one another soon. 

Tomorrow I want to go to pray to the Madonna, that she may protect Rome.

Good night and sleep well!

source:  www.radiovaticana.va

4th Sunday of Lent

for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.'

 Luke 15:22

together

Stations of the cross together with St. Paul's Parish last Friday

use your mobile :-)

send text message 

CEDD13£ ( after '£' without space you put how much you donate: 1, 3, 5 or 10 or....) 

to  700 70

3rd Sunday of Lent

My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues my feet from the snare.

Ps 24: 15-16

project Lourdes 2013

A group of young people from Our Parish going to Lourdes this summer is rising money for they trip.

we had Christmas cards, bag packing, coffee morning and now we want invite you to use your mobile....

very simple, easy and fast....

send text message 

CEDD13£ ( after '£' without space you put how much you donate: 1, 3, 5 or 10 or....) 

to  700 70

(it is done with agreement of Brentwood Diocese

so do not be surprised when you receive thanks
from them but everything goes to our group) 

Thank You and God bless. :-)

and some pictures from our recent activity :-) 

stations of the cross led by families

2nd Sunday of Lent

 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.  And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white.  And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Eli'jah,  who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.  Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.  And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one  for Moses and one for Eli'jah" -- not knowing what he said.  As he said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son [my Chosen]; listen to him!"  And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

  Luke 9:28-36

we pray for the Pope

Pope Benedict XVI 

announces his resignation at end of month

Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.
Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer. 
From the Vatican, 10 February 2013 

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

source: www.en.radiovaticana.va

5th Sunday

While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennes'aret.  And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.  Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."  And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets."  And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking,  they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."  For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken;  and so also were James and John, sons of Zeb'edee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men."  And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:1-11

4th Sunday

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13: 1

3rd Sunday

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the Sabbath day. And he stood up to read;  and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written,  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,  to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."  And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.  Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."  All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?"

Luke 1: 14-22

2nd Sunday

 His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you.

John 2: 5

Baptism of the Lord

. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

Luke 3: 22

We may never be martyrs but we can die to self, to sin, to the world, to our plans and ambitions. That is the significance of baptism; we died with Christ and rose to new life.

Vance Havner

Ephiphany

The journey itself is wonderful. 

For during the journey of our lives 

we continually come upon new experiences of God.