TAKEHOMENEWS SUNDAY 11 MAY 2025

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C

Imitating Our Good Shepherd 

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we celebrate Jesus as the Shepherd foretold by the prophets, the one who gives his life for his sheep. (Jeremiah 3:15; 23:4; Ezekiel 34:7-16). We are invited to reflect on whether we are truly the sheep of Christ’s flock by listening and following him, especially in difficult moments. (John 10:27-30). 

Having laid down his life for us, Jesus calls us his flock to continue his mission: to gather rather than scatter, to seek the lost, and heal the    wounded.  

On this Sunday, the Church also prays for vocations to the ordained priesthood, through which God continues to send shepherds after his own heart (Jeremiah 3:15). May those called to the ordained priesthood find the courage to respond generously. 

To imitate Christ the Good Shepherd, all baptised Christians are called to love and serve God and their neighbours beyond convenience. But it is by prayers and attentiveness to the Holy Spirit that we can learn to imitate the Good Shepherd’s sacrificial love. 

As we follow Christ, through our sacrificial love, the second reading from Revelation 7:9,14-17 reminds us of the promised consolation, when Christ, our Shepherd, will lead us to springs of living water and wipe away every tear. 

Jesus, our Good Shepherd, help us strive daily to become your faithful followers.  Amen 

Happy Good Shepherd Sunday!    Fr. Chinedu 

RECENTLY DECEASED

SEAN (Seano) O’SULLIVAN, His funeral mass will be on Thursday 15 May 11.30am.  May his soul and the souls of all the departed rest in peace

BAPTISM PREPARATION

There will be a preparation session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised Sunday  1ST June at 4pm in the church.

PRIEST TRAINING FUND

This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday and our second collection will        support the Priest Training Fund. This fund pays for the priestly formation of men for the Catholic priesthood. There are currently 50 men studying at Allen Hall seminary, 13 of whom are from our own Diocese. 2 of these are deacons for Westminster. We also have 2 seminarians at the Royal English College in Valladolid. Last year 3 deacons who studied at Allen Hall were ordained priests. The fund also supports the ongoing enrichment and formation of our ordained priests. Your gift ensures we can provide training for these men responding to Christ’s call to dedicate their lives to serve God’s people. Please be as generous as you can. Please also pray for vocations and for all our priests. If you do not have a donation envelope, plenty are still available at the back of the church. You can make your donation online please visit www.rcdow.org.uk/donations. Thank you for your generosity.

A MOMENT OF UNITY AND PRATYER FOR PEACE

Date: Tuesday 20th May 2025 | Time: 12.00 (noon) Location: Temple Church, Temple, London EC4Y 7BB

There will also be a livestream broadcast with the Co-Cathedral  of the Most Holy name in Jerusalem. All are welcome to attend, please register at www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/temple25.

NEW OFFERTORY ENVELOPES

New Offertory envelopes are still available for collection from the  Presbytery and from Tuesday 13 May  please pick up the boxes from the office.

Parish Gift Aid Form/Standing Order Forms are available  from the back of the church.

OFFICE MANAGER POSITION AT HE ANNUNCIATION INFANT SCHOOL

From 1st September 2025.  Please visit our website  for more information https://www.theannunciationschools.co.uk/vacancies/

MISSIO RED BOX  2024  THANK YOU

In 2024 our parish raised  £742.54 through the Red Boxes and donations for Missio and Mill Hill Missionaries.  Thank you!  Our missionary community here at the Annunciation is part of a worldwide network of people supporting missionaries overseas through prayer and financial assistance.  Your support of Missionary Priests, like Fr Glenn MHM working with a rural community in Tompong, Cambodia, enables people to come together to celebrate the Eucharist and to work together to improve the lives of the whole community.  Visit missio.org.uk to find out more.

Please return your red boxes for counting before Tuesday 20th May.

WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL INTERFAITH

On Wednesday May 21st the Westminster Cathedral Interfaith Group will continue their programme of visits. We shall meet at 11 a.m. at the Al-Khoei foundation, Chevening Rd, London NW6 6TN which is near Brondesbury Park station. After visiting the beautiful mosque there will be refreshments and a dialogue about the climate crisis.  Please let John Woodhouse know woodhousesopten@btinternet.com  If you would like to come. 

FOODBANK FOT HE COMMUNITY

Non – perishable food is required for the foodbank, please leave your donations in one of the marked boxes in the church porch.  No soup- Thank you.