Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, the day we pray for priests and for vocations to the priesthood. The annual collection for the Priest Training Fund will take place after Mass This fund pays for the priestly formation of men for the Catholic priesthood. There are currently 49 men studying at Allen Hall seminary, 13 of whom are from our own Diocese. We also have one seminarian in Valladolid and one at the Beda, presently on pastoral placement in Ruislip. There are also two on a propaedeutic year at Redemptoris Mater. Last year 5 deacons were ordained priest for Westminster Diocese. The Fund also supports the ongoing formation of those already priests. Using the donation envelopes enables gift aid if you are a tax payer. Or QR code to donate online or visit www.rcdow.org.uk/donations. Please continue to pray for vocations and for our priests.
Bible Reflection
'I LAY MY LIFE DOWN OF MY OWN FREE WILL'
Do you have a vocation? Yes! Of course you do. ‘For we are his artwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works which God had prepared beforehand for us to perform’ (Eph 2:10) Our life is not just a random and meaningless series of events. Therefore each one of us must work out the mystery of God’s will for us. Mystery does not mean something we cannot understand. Mystery simply means ‘plan,’ a plan not yet revealed perhaps. Hence we have the adventurous duty to work out the plan that our good God has for us in life.
For most of us it will be to marry in the Lord and form a Christian family (1 Cor 7: 39). For some others, it would mean to 'marry' the Lord, present in his mystical body the Church by a life of celibacy. Only God’s grace can make either possible with its own gifts and responsibilities. Not only possible, but extremely beautiful and lifegiving. If Christ is risen and our true life is not only our days here on earth… wouldn’t it be much easier to offer up an earthly project and instead opt for a heavenly adventure, which could result into the salvation of many souls and perhaps also our own?
All vocations are fundamentally rooted in the universal vocation that we all have received from God: the vocation to holiness, to divine love. In which way is the Good Shepherd calling you to love? Jesus said it: 'Love one another AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.' (Jn 13: 34) The Priesthood is one pathway towards fulfilling this vocation of loving all men and women with the crucified and risen love of God whose nature is total self-giving. Be courageous! God might be calling you to become a priest! God will not cheat you and he does not necessarily choose ‘the capable,’ but rather he equips those he chooses. It is beautifully meaningful for a man to be a sign of the Fatherhood of God, and to spend one’s life giving what we have received from the hands of the ministers of the Church: Forgiveness of Sins, Words of Life, and the Sacraments.
Fr Juan
Quick Links
Times of Mass and Devotions for the week beginning Sunday 21st April 24
Saturday 9.30 am Mass
Easter feria 6.00 pm First Mass of Sunday followed by Confessions
Sunday 21st April 8.30 am Mass
4th of Easter 10.00 am Family Mass
Good Shepherd Sunday 11.30 am Solemn Mass followed by Confessions
6.30 pm Mass
Monday 6.00 pm Mass
Easter feria followed by Adoration & Benediction until 7.00pm
Tuesday
St George 6.00 pm Mass followed by Rosary
Wednesday 6.00 pm Mass
SS Erkenwald & Mellitus
Thursday 9.00 am Mass followed by Rosary
St Mark
Friday 9.00 am Mass followed by Divine Mercy Prayers
Easter feria
Saturday 9.30 am Mass
Easter feria 6.00 pm First Mass of Sunday followed by Confessions
Sunday 21st April 8.30 am Mass
5th of Easter 10.00 am Family Mass
Dedication of Church 11.30 am Solemn Mass followed by Confessions
6.30 pm Mass
Announcements This Week
The Parish Office will be closed on Friday 19th and Monday 22nd April.
Congratulations to Stacey and Jeremy who were baptised and confirmed at the Easter Vigil, and to Francesca who was confirmed! Please keep them in your prayers as full newly initiated members of the Catholic Church. Adults interested in the possibility of preparing for baptism/reception into the Catholic Church/Confirmation: please get in touch with Fr Richard, Fr Juan, or Sr Jenefer.
The Climax of this Easter Season is Pentecost Sunday, 19th May, the day of the sending of the Holy Spirit to begin the life of the Church and the preaching of the Gospel to all nations. To celebrate the international nature of the Church – and of our Parish – we are having an International Lunch at 1.00 pm in the Parish Centre, when we shall be inviting you to contribute a national dish, and if you wish to wear national dress. More details shortly, but please keep the day free! Our newly forming Justice and Peace Group will be encouraging us to donate through this occasion to Friends of the Holy Land, and thereby help relief work in Gaza.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Michael Daley, Parish Priest of Holy Cross, Parsons Green, who died on 19th March, and whose Funeral Mass is there at 12 noon on Thursday of this week.
The 9.30 am Mass on Saturday 27th April will be offered for the repose of the soul of Aridea ('Deda') Fezzi, Resident of St Joseph's House, January 2023 – March 2024, followed by refreshments there.
Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
This year we are organising a pilgrimage to walk the Portuguese Camino towards Compostela, the place that holds the relics of the Apostle Saint James.
It will be an 8 day trip (25th of August to 1st September) for the young people of the parish. There are still vacancies for young people over 15 who may want to come. Please contact Fr Juan if you are interested. We are also looking for benefactors and people who may like to contribute so that the cost of their pilgrimage can be reduced as much as possible. Please contact Fr Juan or give an envelope to one of the parish team if you would like to give a donation.
YEAR OF PRAYER AT HOLY TRINITY BROOK GREEN
SEMINARS ON THE ‘OUR FATHER'
SEMINAR 2 – Wednesday 15th of May at 6.30 pm in Church
'HALLOWED BE THY NAME’ ‘THY KINGDOM COME’
THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN’
Given by Fr Richard
SEMINAR 3 – Wednesday 5th of June at 6.30 pm in Church
'GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD’ ‘FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES,
'AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINTS US’
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION’ 'BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL'
Given by Fr Juan
Planned Giving Envelopes for the year which has just begun can be collected by those who use this method for their regular giving to the church: from the church porch at Sunday Mass, or the parish office during the week. Please double-check YOUR name and address.
If you are a UK tax payer and have not signed up to gift aid your regular offerings, please contact the parish office. If you have stopped paying tax, please also let us know. If your box is not there, and you would like one, please contact the parish office.
Holy Trinity Cine Club: for children in Year 7 to Year 9, and Year 10 to 12 on a Friday evening once a month. Quality ‘surprise’ movie followed by discussion and pizza. All are welcome, suggested donation of £5 towards running costs. Contact cineclubbg@gmail.com. See poster in the church porch.
SACRAMENTS
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. The next baptism preparation course is on Saturday 27th April at 3pm.
Please pray for our parish Confirmation group who celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at 7.30 pm on Friday 26th April. Bishop Michael Campbell OSA is officiating.
First Holy Communion will be celebrated at 10.00am Mass on Sunday 12th, 19th & 26th May.
Welcome to the new Readers at 10.00am. Mass. Teens, adults or children who would like to read at the Family Mass please see Sr. Jenefer.
Next Sunday Cake sale in aid of Children’s Liturgy. Please bring cash.
