Dear Friends in Christ

Fifty days after the Resurrection of The Lord comes His Ascension into Heaven. This Solemnity has been restored to its correct Day and is celebrated on this coming Thursday; it is a Holyday of Obligation. After Ascension Day, the Church joins in continuous and intense prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Essentially the return of Jesus to Heaven at His Ascension, moves us to keep our gaze upwards. Where Christ has gone ahead of us, there we hope to follow.

Last weekend we welcomed the Bishop on this three-yearly Visitation of our Parish. He seemed to find everything in good order and was very grateful for the warm welcome he received! We thank him for his words to us at Mass and for conferring the Sacrament of Confirmation on twenty-six of our young people. We pray that they, with their Sponsors and families, will now be ever greater witnesses to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our world. So also pray for those children who received Holy Communion for the first time, I am very grateful to all those who played any part in the celebrations of the last two weekends: those who prepared the young people, the liturgy, the refreshments and all who prepared the church. These celebrations are always beautiful days in the life of the Parish Family and they express the marvellous spirit of collaboration that we enjoy.

Let us now prepare to celebrate Ascension and Pentecost with hearts overflowing with love and faith in the Risen Christ. Every blessing to you all!

Msgr Kevin Hale

Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org