WELCOME!
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The Archbishop has indicated that, sadly, both Churches have been closed until further notice (24/03/2020)
WORLD COMMUNICATIONS SUNDAY
At the time of the Ascension, our Lord sent his disciples out to communicate the gospel to the nations As a result of that commission, this Sunday, 24 May will be kept as World Communications Day. We reflect on the many means through which Catholic Faith and life are transmitted throughout the world.
VIRTUAL LOURDES PILGRIMAGE
You are invited to an online Lourdes pilgrimage; starting Sunday 24 May with Archbishop Bernard’s opening Mass at 3pm live-streamed from St Chad’s Cathedral. Find the full programme here.
THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
This is the Sunday between the Ascension and Pentecost / Whitsunday. The first reading takes us from the place of the Ascension back to an upper room, and a beautiful vignette of the earliest Christian community in prayer together with our Lady. This sharing of prayer together would be the bedrock of the earliest disciples’ life in Christ, enabling them and us as well, to be sustained even when called, as the second reading remind us, to ‘share in the sufferings of Christ...if anyone of you should suffer for being a Christian, then they are not to be ashamed of it’
The experience of being a Christian, in the world but not of the world’ is at the heart of the seventeenth chapter of St John’s Gospel. Often called the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus, it reminds us of our union with his heavenly Father, and with him in the glory of his self-offering and in the hope, given to us all, of eternal life. In this world, our union with Almighty God, and gifted in the Holy Spirit, will be the source of our witness.
I hope that you and your family will have some blessed times together in spite of all the present difficulties.
NEXT SUNDAY – SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST 2020
Our celebration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church is kept next Sunday. We are reminded that Whitsunday is often seen as the Church’s birthday and thus encourages us to rejoice in the dynamism and courage given to the earliest Christian community.
The season of Eastertide comes to its conclusion on this day.
JOANNA BAZEN RIP
Many of you will be aware that Father David’s wife, Joanna, has been bravely facing serious illness over the last few years. I am sorry to have to tell you all that Joanna died at home on Tuesday morning, 19 May, cared for by Father David and daughters, Alice and Emily. A lady of many talents and interests, Jo, together with Father David, has been at the heart of parish life for over fourteen years. She has been on parish pilgrimages with Father David and parishioners, read the scriptures to us at Mass and supported our parish autumn fairs and numerous other activities. With her background in education, she had a love of ornithology, gardening, speaking Italian, art history and appreciation, baking and preserving, alcohol making (and drinking!) and, especially, enjoying her three grandchildren, Mae, Thomas and Eve. We express our love and sympathy to Father David and all the family and Jo’s many colleagues and friends. May she rest in peace.
Service at Oakley Wood Crematorium 28 May at 4.00pm – please pray for Jo
MAY OUR LORD BLESS YOU ALL DURING THESE DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING DAYS,
FATHER KEVIN
At the time of the Ascension, our Lord sent his disciples out to communicate the gospel to the nations As a result of that commission, this Sunday, 24 May will be kept as World Communications Day. We reflect on the many means through which Catholic Faith and life are transmitted throughout the world.
VIRTUAL LOURDES PILGRIMAGE
You are invited to an online Lourdes pilgrimage; starting Sunday 24 May with Archbishop Bernard’s opening Mass at 3pm live-streamed from St Chad’s Cathedral. Find the full programme here.
THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
This is the Sunday between the Ascension and Pentecost / Whitsunday. The first reading takes us from the place of the Ascension back to an upper room, and a beautiful vignette of the earliest Christian community in prayer together with our Lady. This sharing of prayer together would be the bedrock of the earliest disciples’ life in Christ, enabling them and us as well, to be sustained even when called, as the second reading remind us, to ‘share in the sufferings of Christ...if anyone of you should suffer for being a Christian, then they are not to be ashamed of it’
The experience of being a Christian, in the world but not of the world’ is at the heart of the seventeenth chapter of St John’s Gospel. Often called the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus, it reminds us of our union with his heavenly Father, and with him in the glory of his self-offering and in the hope, given to us all, of eternal life. In this world, our union with Almighty God, and gifted in the Holy Spirit, will be the source of our witness.
I hope that you and your family will have some blessed times together in spite of all the present difficulties.
NEXT SUNDAY – SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST 2020
Our celebration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church is kept next Sunday. We are reminded that Whitsunday is often seen as the Church’s birthday and thus encourages us to rejoice in the dynamism and courage given to the earliest Christian community.
The season of Eastertide comes to its conclusion on this day.
JOANNA BAZEN RIP
Many of you will be aware that Father David’s wife, Joanna, has been bravely facing serious illness over the last few years. I am sorry to have to tell you all that Joanna died at home on Tuesday morning, 19 May, cared for by Father David and daughters, Alice and Emily. A lady of many talents and interests, Jo, together with Father David, has been at the heart of parish life for over fourteen years. She has been on parish pilgrimages with Father David and parishioners, read the scriptures to us at Mass and supported our parish autumn fairs and numerous other activities. With her background in education, she had a love of ornithology, gardening, speaking Italian, art history and appreciation, baking and preserving, alcohol making (and drinking!) and, especially, enjoying her three grandchildren, Mae, Thomas and Eve. We express our love and sympathy to Father David and all the family and Jo’s many colleagues and friends. May she rest in peace.
Service at Oakley Wood Crematorium 28 May at 4.00pm – please pray for Jo
MAY OUR LORD BLESS YOU ALL DURING THESE DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING DAYS,
FATHER KEVIN
Mass times (suspended until further notice)
Masses are generally held at the following times. For weekly variations, please consult our Bulletin.
St Francis St Augustine
Sunday 09:30 & 11.15 08:00
Monday 09:30
Tuesday 12:00
Wednesday 10:00
Thursday 19:30
Friday 19:30
Saturday 10:00 & 17:30
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday 10.30am – 11.00am and 4.45 pm – 5.15 pm
Masses are generally held at the following times. For weekly variations, please consult our Bulletin.
St Francis St Augustine
Sunday 09:30 & 11.15 08:00
Monday 09:30
Tuesday 12:00
Wednesday 10:00
Thursday 19:30
Friday 19:30
Saturday 10:00 & 17:30
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday 10.30am – 11.00am and 4.45 pm – 5.15 pm
Liturgical Dates
Click here to see the liturgical dates for 2020 as published by the Liturgical Office for England & Wales.
The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham: Registered Charity No. 234216 and complies with its Privacy Notice
Prayers for the sick
Our Parish actively encourages praying for our parishioners, relatives and friends who are sick and in need of support. Until now this has been achieved on an informal basis by parishioners providing details to one of our Priests. With the advent of GDPR, we are obliged to make that process more formal - please click here in order to read more and to download the form that must be completed and given to one of our Priests.