All posts by 3 churches

Holy Communion

newsletter,

These middle two weekends of the month we have First Holy Communions – at St Brigid’s 10.30 Mass this Sunday, and at Christ the King 10.30 Mass this (11th) and next Sunday (18th May).

We join our children in giving thanks for this great Sacrament. They have been busy preparing since the New Year, and nowadays the programmes in both parishes are based on the same material, “God’s Greatest Gift”. The overall number of children is well over forty – a bumper crop, so to speak!

We can all take this annual and very special celebration as an opportunity to renew our faith in and love for the Holy Eucharist. This is, indeed, the greatest gift of Jesus, because what could be greater than the gift of yourself? At the Mass heaven touches earth, the divine infills the earthly and human, as Jesus comes to us.

Let us deepen our belief in this Real Presence, and at the same time recommit ourselves to being really present to Jesus. Prepare for Mass, perhaps by looking at the readings beforehand. Prepare your heart to receive, if necessary, by the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Remember that these children whose special days we are celebrating are absorbing from all of us our attitudes, the way we act in church, our attitude and atmosphere of faith etc. What kind of example do we set?

First Holy Communion is a beautiful celebration not only for the children and for their families and friends, who we warmly welcome. These are celebrations for our church worshipping communities, as we are reminded of the One who gives himself to us, that we may become more like him – every time we come to Mass.

Fr Matthew

Come what May

3 churches

There’s a lot going on this month in our 3 Churches…

Mission Appeal This weekend and the weekend of 17/18 May
Fr Jack Thora (not sure I’ve got the right spelling!) a priest
from the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) will be making
an appeal at Christ the King, and at St Brigid’s/St Paul’s
respectively. Please support them with your usual generosity.

Celebrate This weekend you are very welcome to attend the Celebrate Wales Weekend at Corpus Christi School Saturday 9am-9pm Sunday 9am- Mass at 2.00pm. Come anytime during these periods.

Life in the Holy Spirit Do you need renewal in your Christian life and faith? Do you want a “refresher” or perhaps you are looking for a “starter”? Are you looking for a follow-up to Celebrate? Do you know much about the Holy Spirit? From Sunday 11th May a series of seven weekly gatherings will take place in St Brigid’s Hall at 7.30, where we will revisit the foundations of our faith and grow in the power of the Holy Spiritt. Fr Matthew leads the first session. Other speakers include Fr Gareth Leyshon, Deacon Rob Coyne and others

First Holy Communions The middle two weekends of the month we have First Holy Communions – at St Brigid’s 10.30 Mass on 11th May, and at Christ the King 10.30 Mass on 11th and 18th May. We remember the children and their families in our prayers.

Our Lady May is a month of special devotion to Our Lady. The Rosary is prayed several times a week before weekday Mass at St Brigid’s and/or St Paul’s. If you wanted to do something special, you could attend the annual Torchlight Procession that takes place at Belmont Abbey, Hereford, on Wednesday 14 May starting at 9pm. Preacher: Dom Brendan Thomas. Refreshments available afterwards. Info: tel 01432 374 735.

Confirmations… are just around the corner in the first week of June!

Fr Matthew 

Christ the King bidding prayers, 2nd Sunday of Easter

bidding prayers, Christ the King

Priest: On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we remember gratefully our Father’s endless patience and concern for us and therefore offer our petitions to Him with confidence

Our response today is “In your mercy Lord, hear our prayer!“

We pray today for all ordained ministers of the Church and give thanks for their selfless service to the communities they serve, remembering especially Fr Owen Hardwicke who has just celebrated 60 years of priesthood

(PAUSE)

We pray

In your mercy Lord, hear our prayer

Today in our parish we welcome Estelle Jolly and Seren Nia Hammond as they join our Christian family in the sacrament of Baptism . We pray for them as they grow in the knowledge of the Lord and also for their parents, godparents and wider family who will be their guides and supporters on their pilgrim journeys

(PAUSE)

We pray

In your mercy Lord, hear our prayer

We pray now for peace in the many trouble spots of the world  thinking especially of the Ukraine, Syria and the Middle East. We  remember especially the families which have been divided or bereaved and ask that that they may know the Lord’s concern for them. We pray also for those who are attempting to find a peaceful way forward

(PAUSE)

We pray

In your mercy Lord, hear our prayer

Remembering the sick, lonely bereaved and deprived of our community we ask the Lord to comfort them in their time of need.

(PAUSE)

We pray

In your mercy Lord, hear our prayer

For a few moments let us remember our Father’s mercy shownto us so often and listen to His voice in our hearts

LONGER PAUSE

We ask Mary our Mother to join her prayers to ours saying 

HAIL MARY etc

Priest: Loving Father hear our petitions and in your loving mercy grant them through Jesus who lives in glory with you and the Holy Spirit for ever  AMEN.