Second Sunday of Easter
Today’s Gospel is about the doubting Thomas. On Easter night Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them and gave them the power to forgive and retain sins. He did not believe that Jesus was still alive unless he saw for himself. So it was that Jesus made a special appearance to Thomas the following week. Thomas response ‘My Lord and my God’ are words that we can whisper to ourselves whenever Jesus intercedes in our lives, particularly when he appears in our midst at the altar during the Consecration of the Mass.
Feast of the Annunciation
Tomorrow, Monday, we celebrate our Parish Feast, the Annunciation. We recall how the Archangel Gabriel came to Mary to bring the news that she was to give birth to the Saviour of the World. This announcement was to have an effect on the whole world. Our Parish dedication relates to an event earlier than any other and the first mystery of the Rosary. Masses will be at 9am and 7.30pm. The evening Mass will be an International Mass. Some of the hymns and prayers will be sung in different languages. Children will join the opening procession, carrying their national flag. After Mass, there will be a get-together in the Parish Centre to which we invite you to bring along an international dish. We will provide the drink.
We encourage you to bring along somebody to this Mass, perhaps one who is not accustomed to coming to the Church. We hope that many will join us for this occasion, the first of our initiatives in the Diocesan Proclaim project.
Columban Mission Appeal
Today we welcome Fr Conal O’Connell, a Columban missionary priest, who will make an appeal at all Masses. Fr Conal has now semi-retired in Ireland but spent most of his time on mission in the Philippines. He was involved in student Catholic Action in Manila in the seventies, both with High School and College students.
The primary aim of the Columbans is enculturation of the Gospel in Cross Cultural environments. They engage in Reconciliation, Dialogue and building relationships between peoples of different faiths, cultures and ideologies. In addition to the Columban Fathers, there are Columban Sisters and Columban Lay Missionaries who work together with the Columban aims.
The Columbans produce a pictorial family magazine called the Far East, which includes articles and features from the missionaries working at home and abroad.
Permanent Deacon
Permanent Deacon Come and See. Men wanting to know more about the permanent diaconate are invited to come to a two hour meeting from 10am to 12 at Ealing Abbey on Saturday 16th April, or St Augustines, Hoddesdon 21st May from 10am to 12. No booking needed. Wives welcome. Contact details Deacon Adrian Cullen 07961 594725 or Deacon Anthony Clark 07545 373548.
Proclaim
In response to Pope Francis encyclical ‘The Joy of the Gospel’, Westminster Diocese has encouraged each parish to plan three projects to help the spread of the Good News. We have formed an Evangelisation Team who have decided on the following initiatives.
1. An International Mass. This will be on our Parish Feast Day of the Annunciation at 7.30pm.
2. Signposting. A) We plan to put a signpost on the grass bank facing Gervase Road, making more people aware of our location.
B) On Polling Days to have the church central doors wide open, encouraging people to come in and see ‘The Hidden Gem of Burnt Oak.’
C) Encouraging parishioners to be human signposts, pointing people towards our church.
3. Street Groups. This would involve getting people in different corners of the parish together, possibly for House Masses and re-introducing the SVP to visit the needy.
The Evangelisation Teams meet again on Thursday 28th April at 7.30pm in the Dominic Room.
Forthcoming Mercy Masses
The monthly Mercy Masses have been arranged on Fridays at 7.30pm as follows:
April 22nd Corporal Works of Mercy.
May 27th Spiritual Works of Mercy.
June 24th Sacrament of the Sick.
Parish Council
The Parish Council meets on Thursday at 7.45pm in the presbytery.
Baptism Preparation
The next session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised will be on Sunday 8th May at 4pm in the Dominic Room in the Parish Centre. Application forms can be collected from the sacristy.
Congratulations
We congratulate:
OLIVIA MAJUMDAR,
IREMIDE & TEMI IFE-ALABI
& KENNETH ACHEAMPONG
who were baptised and
MIRANDA IGHOFESE
who was received into the Catholic Church and who with
BARRY STUDD,
KIRSTY SHERRARD &
YVONNE UDENWA
were confirmed at the Easter Vigil.
They are part of the RCIA group which meets on Tuesday evenings for an hour. We encourage you to point anyone interested in the Catholic faith to our sessions which start for the new intake in September.
Easter Garden and Path of Mercy & Hope
The Dominican Sisters at St Rose’s, 160 Anson Road, welcome everyone to come and pray in the Easter Garden and walk the Path of Mercy and Hope. The garden is open from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm. There will be Adoration with prayer and reflection every Thursday from 7.00pm to 8pm in St. Rose’s Chapel.
No 7.30am Mass
There will be no early Mass at 7.30am on Mondays 4th or 11th April. We resume on 18th April.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD
God our Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit
Draw from the disciples in this Diocese,
The men you wish to be with Christ to serve your Church as priests,
To proclaim the Gospel, to teach the Faith, to celebrate the Sacraments
And minister to your people with mercy.
We make this pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Blessed Lady Immaculate, Patroness of our Diocese, pray for us.
St John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us.
St Thomas of Canterbury, Patron Saint of English Clergy, pray for us.
St John Southworth, Martyr of our Diocese, pray for us.