Pentecost
Sunday Jesus said to
them "As the father sent me, so I'm sending you".
He breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins
you retain, they are retained."
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Ss Alban and Stephen
The Miracle
of Change
After Pentecost the apostles were changed
people. It is a mistake to think that the change came about in an instant.
It had to be a gradual thing, a process. It was a growth process, set in
motion by the action of the Holy Spirit. And growth happens gradually. Though
we are dealing with mystery, that doesn’t mean we can’t understand anything
about it. Let us look at how spring goes about its work of change and renewal.
Each year towards the middle of March you will see patches of green
appear in the fields and on the hillsides, new patches on an old garment.
Day by day the patches get bigger. A month or so later spring will have woven
a completely new garment.
Yet spring doesn’t make anything happen. It is only a facilitator. It
merely creates a climate in which things can grow. The new life comes from
within. It cannot be imposed. All these brand-new things that we see, come
from within. What spring does is provide living things with the opportunity,
gives them the impulse to realise what is already inside them in a germinal
state. Spring’s task is to awaken and call forth. This calling forth is a
gentle process. Force is out of the question. Persuasion is the only effective
weapon. For unless there is a response from within, all spring’s efforts
will be in vain.
One good thing about nature – it is incapable of deception. It does not
put on an outward show when there is nothing inside.
People too need to renew themselves. This renewal, however, cannot be
imposed. If this is attempted it will merely result in an outward show,
a dressing up. It will not enrich the person and will soon fade and eventually
wear out like a garment. People need someone to awaken them to what is inside
them, to bid them live and help them grow. But we do not easily let go of
the old garment, woven out of old attitudes, old ways and old habits.
But we have been given a wonderful Facilitator, namely, the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit awakens us to the mysterious power within us, bids us live and
helps us grow. This gives us some understanding of what happened to the apostles
at Pentecost and what can happen to us too.
The Parish
Assembly This Saturday, 10th May at All Saints Pastoral Centre
‘Let us be under no illusion that unless we
follow this spiritual path, external structures of communion will serve little
purpose. They would be mechanisms without a soul, ‘masks’ of communion rather
than its meaningful expression and growth.’ – Pope John Paul II (1999). I would like to ask each of you, yes you, to consider what
is the best way forward for our Parish and ask yourself the question: Can
I make a contribution?
So far, we've held two preparation sessions (9th April in the Parish Hall
and 27th April at Maryland). The Assembly will be held at All Saints Pastoral
Centre THIS Saturday, 10th May. On that day I would hope that we as a Parish
community will consider the needs of the Parish and nominate a Parish
Pastoral Council (PPC) for the next three years. I believe that
the future of the Parish is in the laity and priests working together and
taking responsibility. Your Parish needs YOU. Please come along
Fr. Charles
Prayer for the Parish Assembly
God of our lives, You are always calling
us to follow you into the future, inviting us to new ventures, new challenges,
new ways to care, new ways to touch the hearts of all.
When we are fearful of the unknown, give us courage. When we worry that
we are not up to the task, remind us that you would not call us if you
did not believe in us.
Renew in us our baptismal calling
to follow your Son, Jesus Christ. Make us truly a eucharistic community.
With the prayers of Alban and Stephen, our patron saints, to help us, may
we find out what you want us to do, and then have the determination to do
it. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sign Language Mass
To mark Catholic Deaf Awareness Week (May 11th –18), we hope to be able
to offer signed Mass next Sunday, 18th May at 9.30am.
Pentecost
Sunday 
‘Let us be under no illusion that unless we
follow this spiritual path, external structures of communion will serve little
purpose. They would be mechanisms without a soul, ‘masks’ of communion rather
than its meaningful expression and growth.’ – Pope John Paul II (1999).
Sign Language Mass