Dear Friends in christ
The Fourth Sunday of Easter each year is Good Shepherd Sunday. In the Gospel of St John, Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd, because He is the one who is prepared to lay down His life for the ones He loves. This is also the Day of Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. This year, our seminarians - those training to be priests for our Diocese - are going out into our Parishes to introduce themselves to our people and speak at Mass about their call to Priesthood and the Religious vocation. We welcome this weekend Mr Michael Barwick who will speak at our Masses. Michael is from Chelmsford and is a student at St Mary’s College, Oscott. He is very welcome to Leigh and I am sure he will enjoy being with us and meeting all of you. Please do keep our students in your daily prayers; and also, pray for a continued stream of young people who will respond to the call of Christ to be Disciples in His Church today.
Next Sunday (29th) is the day of the Coast to Coast Rosary. All around our country next Sunday afternoon, the Holy Rosary will be prayed publicly at 3pm. We will pray specifically for our country, for peace in the world and for the upholding of the dignity of human life; this week marks the fiftieth anniversary of the implementation of the Abortion Act, so we ought to pray with greater intensity for a reversal of this law and in reparation for the millions of babies killed as a consequence. Pope Francis has sent his blessing to those taking part in the event: he assures participants of his “spiritual closeness” and places them “under the protection of Our Lady”. I would recall some words of St Louis Marie de Montfort, who said: When people say the Rosary together it is far more formidable to the Devil than one said privately, because in this public prayer it is an army that is attacking. Our Parish will pray the Rosary at the waters-edge at The Crowstone, bottom of Imperial Avenue at 3pm next Sunday. Let’s turn-out in great numbers for this. You can visit the website for more details: www.rosaryonthecoast.co.uk.
May God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
Homily available at LourdesLeigh.org