Today's Bible Readings
The First reading on Sundays in the Easter season is from the Acts of the Apostles. Today the apostles and elders in Jerusalem send an apostolic letter to the church in Antioch to make it clear that Gentile converts to Christ do not also have to follow the prescriptions of the Jewish Law. They speak with authority: 'It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves....'
Second reading. We continue with the climax of the book of the Apocalypse, with John's vision of the holy city of the heavenly Jerusalem which shines with the radiant glory of God and of the Lamb. Each of the twelve foundation stones of the city walls is marked with the name of one of the Apostles.
In the Gospel, Jesus leaves a parting gift of peace before his Ascension into heaven and promises that the Father will then send the Holy Spirit who will remind the Apostles of all that Jesus has said to them.
Fr Rajiv’s homily will be updated on https://castingfire.wordpress.com
Welcome back to Archbishop Nathaniel (Nizar) Semaan, now Archbishop of a Diocese in Iraq, who is staying with us in the parish during his visit to the UK. He will celebrate the 10.00 am Mass today, and also speak at the 11.30 am Mass. Up until 2019, he was Syriac Chaplain in the UK, in residence here, and a very good friend to our parish.
The Funeral Mass of Father Tony Brunning will be here in Holy Trinity on Monday at 12.15 pm. The main celebrant will be Bishop Paul McAleenan, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, and priests of the diocese will be concelebrating, with Fr Anthony Pellegrini giving the homily. Holy Trinity Parishioners are warmly welcome. All are invited after the Mass to a reception in the Parish Centre. Fr Tony resided in our parish 2014-20 at St Joseph's House next door, and assisted us in priestly ministry for several years.
The Ascension of Our Lord is celebrated on Thursday 26th May and is a Holyday of Obligation. Mass is at 9.00 am, and Solemn Mass at 6.00 pm. The Mass of the Vigil on Wednesday 25th May at 6.00 pm also fulfils the obligation. Our primary schools of St Mary's and Larmenier Sacred Heart will also be celebrating Mass.
The EASTER GARDEN is in place in the Lady Chapel all through the Easter season until Ascension Day. Come and show your children and help them understand the wonderful story of Our Lord’s resurrection.
Return of the Sunday Obligation
Looking forward to the forthcoming feast of Pentecost, (5th June,) we now invite all Catholics who have not yet done so to return to attending Mass in person....
As the Church needs the witness of the presence of each person, so too each believer needs to journey in faith and worship with their fellow disciples. Nourished by our encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus, fed with His Word and His Body and Blood in Holy Communion, and supported by the presence of each other, we receive strength week by week, to serve the Lord and glorify Him with our lives....
It has always been the understanding of the Church that when the freedom of any Catholic to attend Mass in person is impeded for a serious reason, because of situations such as ill health, care for the sick or legitimate fear, this is not a breach of the Sunday Obligation.
Times of Mass and Devotions for the Week beginning Sunday 22nd May
Saturday 9.30 am Mass
6.00 pm Mass of Sunday
followed by Confessions
Sunday 22nd May 8.30 am Mass
(6th Sunday of Easter) 10.00 am Family Mass
11.30 am Solemn Mass
followed by Confessions
6.30 pm Mass
Monday 12.15pm Funeral Mass of Fr Tony Brunning RIP
6.00pm Mass
followed by Adoration and Benediction until 7pm
Tuesday 6.00 pm Mass
followed by Rosary
Wednesday 6.00 pm Mass of the Ascension Vigil
Thursday 9.00 am Mass
(Ascension of the Lord) followed by Rosary
6.00pm Solemn Mass
Friday 9.00 am Mass
(St Augustine of Canterbury) followed by Divine Mercy Prayers
Saturday 9.30 am Mass
6.00 pm Mass of Sunday
followed by Confessions
Sunday 29th May 8.30 am Mass
(7th Sunday of Easter) 10.00 am Family Mass
11.30 am Solemn Mass
followed by Confessions
6.30 pm Mass
We are still in Mary's Month of May:
• We are invited to use the Rosary as a way of praying in union with Mary by meditating on the joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. We can pray the Rosary together in church, after Mass on Tuesday evening and Thursday morning, or individually, wherever we are.
• We are invited to bring offerings of flowers to church for our Lady's shrine in our church during May.
• We are invited to unite ourselves spiritually to the pilgrimage of the Society of Our Lady of Lourdes (27th May-3rd June,) in which Fr Richard and a few parishioners are taking part, by handing in to the parish office by Wednesday prayer petitions to be offered in the grotto, especially for the sick, and by making a donation towards a large parish candle to burn there for Holy Trinity Brook Green.
We have started the devotion of the First Five Saturdays of the month to Our Lady as requested by Our Lady of Fatima. It will take place in our church each month, and began last Saturday. The next occasion will be 4th June at 2.00 pm. Five mysteries of the rosary will be recited, and there will be a meditation of fifteen minutes on a mystery of the rosary. Holy Communion should also be received that day, and you should go to confession, or during the week before or after. The promises attached to this devotion are salvation of our own soul and of sinners, and peace in the world.
Preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism
If you have a child for Baptism under 5 years old please email us for an application form. You will be contacted once the form has been received. A copy of one of the Catholic parents’ baptism certificate will be required. Baptisms can only take place on Saturdays at 11am.
First Communion
First Holy Communion will be celebrated NEXT SUNDAY 29th May at 10am Mass, on Sunday 5th June at 10am Mass and on Sunday 12th June at 10am and 11.30am Mass. Please pray for the children and their families, the catechists and all who helped them prepare for this great Sacrament.
What is God saying to Brook Green at this time?
We’ve been through a pandemic which has changed our way of living, working, interacting globally: is there something we can uniquely contribute as Christians, that makes our world better, advances God’s kingdom? We, as a parish, in Brook Green, London, in the 2022? The answer is yes! God is always inviting us, but it is not always easy to listen. This Tuesday, 24th May, we have an opportunity to come together to watch and discuss just such a conversation between Bishop Robert Barron and two prominent Church leaders – Nicky Gumbel from Holy Trinity Brompton and Fr James Mallon from Canada. This is the kind of synodality Pope Francis has been inviting us into – to listen together what the Spirit is saying to us. It promises to be an exciting evening! Come! We gather at Tuesday, 24th May, 7.45 for an 8.00 pm start. We’ll wind up by 9:30 pm.
Holy Trinity Cine Club:
for children in Year 7 to Year 10 (approx 11-14 years old). Quality ‘surprise’ movie followed by discussion and pizza. All are welcome, suggested donation of £5 towards running costs. Contact cineclubbg@gmail.com.
Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen
The Parish Office will be closed on the two Bank Holidays, Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd 4th June.
A Special Prayer for the Queen will be said at all Masses of Sunday 5th June, Pentecost.
It will also be included in next week's newsletter so you can use it each day of the Jubilee weekend at home.
There will be no Parish Newsletter on Sunday 5th June, so please ensure all information for that week reaches the Parish Office by Thursday this week, ready for the 29th May newsletter.
Registrations for PULSE Family retreat weekend 10th-12th June are open:
Friday 10th 6:30pm until Sunday 12th June 4pm @ SPEC Centre, Pinner HA5 3EP
Organised for families by families. Times of teaching and personal prayer for parents with Fr Matt Blake, Carmelite, to help (re)discover the power of prayer. Children 0-12 y.o. participate in a school of prayer tailored to their age run by volunteers.
If you would like to register or just know a little bit more, please visit our website:
https://www.pulse-retreats.com/catholic-family-retreat-june-2022
Summer Youth Camps
There are two summer youth camps coming up: Chemin-Neuf, a Catholic lay community with a long tradition of Summer Festivals and camps for young people will be hosting their third summer camp in England for 14-18 year olds, between 1st and 6th August 22 at Storrington Priory, West Sussex. See: www.chemin-neuf.org.uk
Contact Br Paul Renaud on 07510 560 581 or 1418.uk@gmail.com
The YOUTH 2000 Summer Festival will happen at Ampleforth Abbey, North Yorkshire, over the Bank Holiday weekend Fri 26th August - Monday 29th August. Fr Rajiv will be taking a group from the parish. Open to two age groups -14-17yrs old and 18-35yrs. Promises to be an exciting weekend! Contact if interested. See: www.youth2000.org for more info.
HOLY TRINITY HAS GONE DIGITAL
You will find our new CONTACTLESS GIVING device in the church
porch and you can now use your contactless debit/credit card
to make a donation.
Simply choose the amount you wish to donate and
hold your card onto the reader.
You can now donate from home by using the button below.
Thank you to all who have been able to continue giving in these difficult times.
If you wish to make a one-off donation, or continue giving, please use the red DONATE button above which will allow you to easily use your credit or debit card.
Alternatively, you may make any offering via bank transfer to:
HSBC
Acc Name: Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee, Brook Green Holy Trinity
Acc no: 01308173
Sort Code: 40-05-20
Thank you for remembering that without your donations the parish cannot run. A lot of expenses remain whilst our income has been drastically reduced. We are very grateful for your continued support.
Christian Marriage: a journey of healing
On Friday 29th September the Church celebrated the Great Feast of the Three Archangels: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Can you identify them in the picture above?
Michael carries a sword in his hand to defend your marriage from the Devil who accuses us when we sin, lies to us about what makes us happy, and puts in our minds doubts about the love of God.
Gabriel carries a pregnant womb, the visible sign that every Word of God carries new life and can become flesh in your marriage, because ‘nothing is impossible to God’.
The third angel, in the middle, is Raphael, meaning ‘God’s healing’. This Angel carries the hand of a young man - called Tobias - and is walking with him towards the marriage with Sarah. Raphael is the Guardian Angel of Tobias and Sarah,and of EVERY married couple.
For marriage enquiries please contact the parish priest:
Planning to get married?
Marriage Preparation Course
Our course is open to all couples intending to marry in a Catholic Church, regardless of which parish you live in. If you are interested in attending a course in the future please email us: brookgreen@rcdow.org.uk
There is currently no date set for a marriage course.
