Dear friends in Christ

This week we enjoyed two major celebrations in our Parish: firstly the visit of our Bishop—Alan Williams—on Wednesday. The culmination of his visit was the Confirmation of fifty of our young adults; we offer them our heartfelt good wishes and prayers as they now take their places as fully initiated adult members of the Church.

Then on Thursday—forty days after Easter—we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Now, seated at God’s right hand in glory, we await the coming of Jesus at the end of time. Meanwhile, He does not leave us orphaned but promises to send us the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will remind us of everything He did and taught. In these days of the Novena for Pentecost, we can look forward to next Sunday when we experience afresh, the outpouring of the gifts of Paraclete on our lives and on the life of the Church.

Also, this coming weekend, our Nation and Commonwealth celebrates the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty. We give thanks to God for her long and faithful reign and ask God to continue to keep her firm in Christian faith and devotion to the people she has served for seven decades. Traditionally the monarch was prayed for at the end of the Solemn Mass each Sunday: Domine, salvum fac reginam nostram Elizabeth…Lord, save our Queen Elizabeth, and graciously hear us in the the day we call upon You. We too sing this prayer next weekend and make these sentiments one of thanksgiving and rejoicing for her long and glorious reign!

God bless you all too, especially over the long Bank Holiday weekend ahead.

Msgr Kevin Hale