Dear friends in Christ

The Solemnity which we celebrate this weekend is nothing less than the greatest Treasure which the Church possesses on earth: the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord in the Eucharist. The French call this Day simply: Fete Dieu, The Feast of God, and so it is. There is nothing more beautiful in our Faith than the joy we have in giving praise and worship to God on this Day because it reminds us that Jesus remains with us on earth under the appearance of food. Our acts of adoration given to our Lord on this Day, can make up for the incredulity, cynicism and rejection of the world. We say in this feast each year that, there is something greater than us, something greater than materialism, something greater than the world, which can be loved simply for the sake of loving. There is no greater recklessness for the Christian than loving Jesus in the Eucharist simply for His own sake. I hope you will all make the effort therefore, to participate in our annual Parish Procession this Sunday afternoon, simply for the love of God who outpours Himself for us daily in the Eucharistic Sacrifice.

This Monday 23rd - Vigil of the Birthday of St John the Baptist - I hope to celebrate my third decade of Priesthood with a Sung Mass at 7.30pm followed by a Reception in the Gilbert Room. A few of my close priest-friends are joining us, including the recently consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham. I hope many of you will be able to join me in thanking God for the immense gift of the Priesthood in the Church, which makes it possible for us to have Christ with us in the Sacraments,

Please continue to pray for our Bishop-elect - Fr Alan Williams - who will be consecrated on 1st July in Brentwood. On the preceding evening there will be a Holy Hour in our church to pray for his intentions at the same time as a Holy Hour in Brentwood Cathedral when Fr Williams will make his Canonical Oaths and the Blessing of the Pontificalia will take place.

God bless you all!
Fr Kevin Hale