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Ss Alban and Stephen
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News Bulletin from the Parish of Ss Alban & Stephen
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Notices for publication
If
you wish to have something put
into the newsletter, then let us have your notices
as
soon as you possibly can, and please no later than by midday
on Wednesday at the latest. Click here to send by e-mail |
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Pentecost Sunday
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Saturday (Vigil)
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5.00 (*)
6.00 |
Cliff Tear RIP
Abelardo & Susan Megias 30th Wedding Anniversary
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Sunday
9.00 (*)
9.30
11.30
7.00 pm |
People of the Parish
Francesco Padormo RIP
Epifanio Funes Anniv.
Michelle Roberts RIP
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Notes *, 5pm Vigil Mass on Saturday is at
Maryland Convent and 9am Mass on Sunday is at Marshalswick Mass Centre
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Mon 12 May
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Feria |
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Tue 13 May
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Feria
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Weds 14
May
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St Matthias,
Apostle
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Thurs 15
May
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Feriar
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| Fri 16 May
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Feria
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| Sat 17 May
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Feria
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| Sun 18 May
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Trinity Sunday
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Ss Alban and Stephen
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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
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This Sunday
First Reading (Acts
2: 1-11). Luke describes the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles,
and the effect it had on them.
Second Reading (1 Cor 12: 3-7. 12-13). The Holy
Spirit gives different gifts to different people, for the good of the Church,
the Body of Christ.
Gospel (Jn 20: 19-23).
The risen Jesus gives
the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples and inaugurates the mission
of the Church.
Weekdays
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Mon:
Tues:
Wed:
Thurs:
Fri:
Sat:
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Jm 1: 1-11; Mk 8: 11-13
Jm 1: 12-18; Mk 8: 14-21
Acts 1: 15-17. 20-26; Jn 15: 9-17
Jm 2: 1-9; Mk 8: 27-33
Jm 2: 14-24. 26; Mk 8: 34-9: 1
Jm 3: 1-10; Mk 9: 2-13
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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.
Communion Reflection
We teach by the way we live; by forgiveness and understanding offered in
times of hurt, by compassion to another in any sort of trouble, by daily
care for the child and the elderly by visiting the prisoner and the lonely,
by praying with sincerity
and by doing the best we can to live as Jesus lived.
He is the best of teachers of forgiveness,
compassion, care and prayer for all by his words, life and death.
May our teaching be from the life of Jesus
and our living reflect his teachings.
May all of us teach the word of Jesus by the
way we live.
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Pray for the repose
of the souls
of all those who have died recently, including
Bridie Pugh (Mother of Eamonn), Francis Dawson (Mother of Terry) and for those whose
anniversaries occur at this time including Epifanio Funes & Mary Blythman
Please pray for all
who are ill, including Betty Seaby, Jean Cleevly, Mary Smith, Joanna
Dege & Janet Graham and for
those who love and care for them.
Welcome We
welcome into the Christian community Alexie Davies, Sophie Matuszczyk, Sofia Anderson, Benjamin
Hallam & Isabelle Caldwell
who were baptised last Sunday. We also offer our congratulations
to their parents
Sacrament of Matrimony Celebration
Our congratulations
to the following couples from our Parish who took part in a Mass of thanksgiving
for the sacrament of Matrimony, celebrated by Cardinal Murphy O’Connor, at
Westminster Cathedral on Saturday, 10th May.
Best wishes to (with their anniversary
year in brackets): Mike & Gill Walsh (25); Ashley & Cristina
Blake (40); Bert & Esther Buckingham (50); Steve &
Dionne Ryder (10); Patricia & Michael Jones (10); Pepe
& Annette Carrasco (30); Bernadette & James Ladley (50);
Mary & Alan James (10); Patricia & John Manners
(40); Cathy & Richard West (40); Ian & Priscilla Lindsell
(10) & Kevin & Sue Doran (25).
New Parishioners 
You're very welcome to the
Parish of Ss Alban and Stephen. Please pick up a Parish
Directory and
a Census
card at the back of Church or any
of the Mass Centres.
Summer Chaplains at the Abbey Father Charles would like to hear from any lay ministers
who would like to be day chaplains at the Abbey on the following Fridays:
9th May, 30th May, 20th June, 25th July, 15th August and 19th September.
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Last week’s offertory
amounted to £1,984. Many thanks for your generosity.
Parish Accounts Details
of the Parish Income and Expenditure for the year ended 31st December 2007
can be found on the blue sheets from the back of the Church and from the mass
centres. Please take a copy.
Westminster Cathedral
Appeal Three million pounds is needed to carry
out urgent repairs to the structure of the Cathedral. Cardinal Cormac
has written to all parishes asking for those who can afford to help
to make a donation to this appeal. Please take a leaflet from the back
of the Church for details on how to contribute or log on to www.westminstercathedral.org.uk
Nicholas Breakspear School Is looking for
enthusiastic, confident people to join its experienced team of invigilators.
Training and support will be provided to ensure that the exams run smoothly
and that legal requirements are met. The 4 key exam periods are November,
January, March and June/July. For details contact the exams assistant Louise
Thomas on 860079 ext 329 or e-mail
thomas@nicholasbreakspear.herts.sch.uk All employees are CRB checked.
Caretaker required at St John Fisher School Trustworthy
and reliable person needed. The person appointed will be responsible for
the security and safety of the site, taking responsibility for keyholding
and lettings, together with general maintenance, poterage and cleaning and
care of the premises.
Visits to the school to discuss the post would be warmly welcomed. The
post is subject to enhanced CRB clearance and health checks. Please contact
headteacher Charles McNerney on 861077. Closing date for applications is
Friday 2nd May.
St Columba’s College Key Stage 2 Form Tutor required for September. Applications
are welcome from both newly qualified and experienced teachers and responsibility
for the co-ordination and leadership of a subject may be an opportunity.
Please call 862616 or e-mail:
headofprep@st-columbas.herts.sch.uk for details. Deadline for applications
is Monday, 12th May. Interviews are expected to take place on 15th May.
Fishers Friend The Summer edition of Fishers Friend – the St
John Fisher School magazine – is now available. It is packed with interesting
articles, competitions, offers, dates for your diary and useful information
and is only £1.50 per copy.
All profits will go directly to the school community. Look out for copies
at the back of the Church or contact Tina Foley on 769256 to order your
copy.
The Wednesday Word Parents
of primary school age children are invited to take a copy of this publication
which you can share during family time. The Wednesday Word is available this
weekend from the back of the Church and from our mass centres and will help
you and your children prepare for the Gospel next Sunday when we celebrate
the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Regular editions of this publication
will be available on a weekly basis and we hope will provide you with plenty
of ideas and inspiration for prayer and discussion at home.
St Columba’s College The
College is offering a number of substantial bursaries, up to the value of
the full fee, to Catholic boys who will enter Prep 1 (age 7+) or Form 1 (age
11+) in September 2008. Qualifying candidates must meet the college’s standard
entrance requirements. Information can be obtained by writing to Brother
Raymond, St Columba’s College, King Harry Lane, St Albans, AL3 4AW or at
www.stcolumbascollege.org.
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The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Bill (HFE)
The government is introducing the
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (2007) which proposes to
endorse the creation of human-animal embryos in the laboratory; to
widen the scope for experiments on human embryos and to permit under
licence the creation of human embryos for other purposes without due
regard for the welfare and status of such embryos. The Society for
the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has organised a petition against
the proposed bill. It is available for you to sign in the Church porch. Click here for more on the HFE bill .
Host Families (French) Host families needed
to take French schoolchildren (ages 10 –11 years) as paying guests from
a Catholic school in Fontainebleu. Visit is from June 25th – July 1st. If
interested please contact Kathleen on 833417.
Host Family (German) German student (early twenties) studying English and Maths,
is looking for accommodation over the Summer to improve his English. Willing
to pay a host family. For details call Bob or Cath White on 01582 620154.
Would You Like to be an Altar Server? Please come
along to a training session in the Church on Wednesday, 21st May at 4pm.
Lost Property Please check the lost property box under the
newspaper table in the porch for any items which you think you may have
left behind in Church
The Wednesday Word Parents of primary school age
children are invited to take a copy of this publication which you can share
during family time. The Wednesday Word is available from the back of the
Church and from our mass centres and will help you and your children prepare
for the following Sunday’s Gospel. We hope this publication will provide
you with plenty of ideas and inspiration for prayer and discussion at home.
New Beacon Yes, it’s time
to think about the next issue of the Parish magazine! The editorial team
is very busy putting together the June issue, so please let us have your
stories, poems, gossip, and any other snippets you may have, by 1st June
at the latest. Have you read a good book lately or seen a film which has
inspired you? We would welcome book or film reviews (or London show reviews)
along with any articles which you feel would be of interest to other parishioners.
We would also welcome your letters. Please send them to the presbytery marked
‘New Beacon’.
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