Today's Gospel
is from our Lord's Farewell discourses to his apostles, actually delivered at the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday night, but very appropriate as we shall this week, on Thursday, be celebrating the Ascension of Christ into heaven. The central message 'Remain in my love', and 'This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you,' re-iterates the meaning of the foot washing that Jesus performed at the beginning of the Last Supper. Also re-iterated is the message of last Sunday's Gospel about Jesus as the True Vine: ''I commissioned you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last.' Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost by the risen and ascended Lord. It will indeed be possible for the followers of Jesus to bear fruit.
Fr Rajiv’s homily will be updated on
Keeping safe in Church during the Pandemic
We are most grateful to our volunteer stewards, without whose ministry we would not be allowed to open the church for Mass each day. It is they who provide for our safety in gathering for worship, by ensuring the regulations for social distancing and sanitising are kept. It is therefore essential that we follow their directions: giving our details when we arrive, sanitising our hands, ensuring that we (apart from children) wear a mask covering our nose and mouth, sit in the seat where we are asked to sit, follow the directions given for going up to the altar for Holy Communion so that we keep two metres apart, returning to our place via the side aisles. When we leave church, those on the left hand side leave via the side aisle and side porch, those on the right hand side leave via the side aisle and main porch, using the sanitiser in the porch and then going straight home without gathering together outside the church. After Mass the stewards spend further time sanitising or washing the seating areas that have been used, and other areas of frequent touch. The church doors are never entirely closed when the church is open, to ensure the church is well ventilated for our safety. It is therefore important to wrap up well against the cold when you come to church. If you feel in any way unwell, or are vulnerable health wise, you must not attend church. Do remember that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is lifted during this time of the pandemic.
If you wish to help with stewarding, please contact the parish office. Thank you.
Times of Mass and Devotions
for the week beginning Sunday 9th May 21
(Made possible due to the generosity of our volunteer stewards, who will ensure safe social distancing is maintained and that the hygienic cleaning of the seating etc takes place.)
Saturday 8th May 9.00 am Mass (church opens at 8.45am)
Easter feria 6.00 pm Mass (church opens 5.45 pm)
followed by Confessions
Sunday 9th May 8.30 am Mass (church opens 8.15 am)
6th Sunday of Easter 10.00 am Mass (church opens 9.45 am)
11.30 am Mass (church opens 11.15 am)
followed by Confessions
Monday 10th May 6.00 pm Mass (church opens 11.45 am)
Easter feria
Tuesday 11th May 6.00 pm Mass (church opens at 5.45pm)
Easter feria followed by Rosary
Wednesday 12th May 9.00 am Mass (church opens at 8.45am)
Easter feria
Thursday 13th May 9.00 am Mass (church opens at 8.45am)
Ascension of the Lord followed by Rosary
6.00 pm Mass (church opens at 5.45pm)
Friday 14th May 9.00 am Mass (church opens at 8.45am)
St Matthias, Apostle followed by Rosary
Saturday 15th May 2.00 pm Requiem Mass for Marie Duffy
Saturday 15th May 6.00 pm Mass (church opens 5.45 pm)
Easter feria followed by Confessions and Rosary
Sunday 16th May 8.30 am Mass (church opens 8.15 am)
7th Sunday of Easter 10.00 am Mass (church opens 9.45 am)
11.30 am Mass (church opens 11.15 am)
followed by Confessions and Rosary
An hour of Prayer, Friday 14th May, 7:45-9pm:
It’s been a long time, why don’t you come and pray? The Pulse Retreat team is offering a short teaching and prayer time for all interested. Fr Matt Blake, Carmelite, will help us (re)discover the power of prayer. You will also be able to learn more about the Pulse family retreats and its spirit.
A Memorial Requiem Mass will be offered for Marie Duffy, RIP, who died last weekend, here in Holy Trinity on Saturday 15th May at 2.00 pm.
Novena (Nine Days' Prayer) for the coming of the Holy Spirit
at Pentecost begins on Friday
In church the Rosary will be said every day of the Novena, on weekdays after Mass,
and on Sunday after the 11.30 am Mass in imitation of the Apostles as they met in
the Upper Room:
'All these joined in continuous prayer with …Mary, the mother of Jesus...' (Acts 1:14)
Here are ways of participating in the Novena at home:
Pentecost Novena: A beautiful way to prepare ourselves for the joy of Pentecost, This resource is available as a download, booklet, or podcast: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/thy-kingdom-come/pentecost-novena/
Journey with Mary: This special playlist has been created for us to journey with Mary from the Ascension to Pentecost. What would we say, or share with Mary?
Sacraments
Please pray for our Confirmation candidates. We look forward to meeting their parents 7.00pm on May 10th. The Rehearsal for parents, candidates & those sponsors who are available is 7.00pm on 17th May. Bishop Michael Campbell OSA will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation at 7.30 pm on Friday 21st. May.
First Holy Communion. Please pray for the children and their parents, preparing for First Holy Communion.
The registration process for the next group will begin in September.
Interested in the Catholic Faith? This is a good time to meet Sr. Jenefer and hear more details. Email: . New enquirers are always welcome.
Thank you to Vittoria & the Children’s Liturgy Team for providing the online Liturgy each week. It can be viewed by clicking on the icon on the parish Facebook page.
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 with special Covid safety measures in place. Baptisms can resume after 17th May. The next baptism course is on Tuesday 1th May at 7.30pm.
Annual Mass of Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony,
via live-stream from Westminster Cathedral, on Saturday 15th May 2021 at 3.00pm
The Cardinal will be celebrating a live-streamed Mass for all couples in the Diocese who are celebrating their 5th, 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th (and every year over 60) wedding anniversary of Catholic marriage in 2021. If you are celebrating an anniversary, please give your parish clergy/parish office the following details by Monday 10th May: husband and wife’s names, wedding date, full postal address and email (or telephone number if no email), and these details will be sent to those organizing this celebration. An Order of Service can be downloaded from the Cathedral website before the event – www.westminstercathedral.org.uk.
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.
The new sets of Planned Giving Envelopes
for the year ahead are now ready, and can be collected when you come to Sunday Mass or from the parish office. (We are not allowed to leave them at the back of church for you to take, first, because of coronavirus sanitising concerns, and also because of data protection, as the box has your name and address clearly displayed on it!) Please let the parish office know of any changes in your details or circumstances and also if you would prefer to set up a standing order instead.
Reading Group:
Thank you to all who have shown an interest. We will have our first meeting in the parish centre on Tuesday 18th May at 8.30pm. Please buy the book: ‘Asking the Fathers’ by Aelred Squire, a modern spiritual classic. You can get it from Amazon -
Please read the first chapter in preparation for our discussion. We look forward to seeing you, everyone is welcome.
Appeal from CAFOD for India
As coronavirus brings devastation across India, CAFOD is working with experienced local Church agency, Caritas India, to provide vital support to poor and marginalised communities. Donations to CAFOD’s Coronavirus Appeal will help Caritas India distribute PPE kits to front line health workers, promote COVID & vaccine awareness campaigns, and set up safely run isolation & quarantine centres. You can donate online here: cafod.org.uk/give. Please keep praying for the people of India and all those affected by the pandemic.
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.
You can also still use the Virgin Money Giving button:
2021 – The Year of St Joseph
marking the 150th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church.
On 10th December 1898 Cardinal Vaughan added St Joseph as a Patron of our Diocese, noting “the Church itself is an expansion of the Holy Family”.
A Prayer to St Joseph
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.
Prayer to St Joseph during the Pandemic
To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also. Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities. O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christo most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness. As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.
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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.
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:
Due to lockdown there is currently no date set for a marriage course.
