31st May, 2014 – First Mass (The Ascension of the Lord)

WELCOME

Times of Mass and Devotions

Sat   31 May  5.30pm HA   John Ades (RIP)
Sun    1 Jun  9.15am HF Sixth Sunday of Easter For the families of the sailors lost at sea
  11.00am HA   Special intentions of the people of the Parish
Mon   2 Jun     NO MASS  NO MASS
Tue   3 Jun  10.00am HF St. Charles Lwanga & Companions Pattie McBryan & Kenneth Dickson (RIP) Holy Souls Book
Wed  4 Jun   9.30am HA Wed. after 7th Sunday of Easter David Daniels & Kearn’s family (RIP) Holy Souls Book
Thu   5 Jun   7.30pm HF St. Boniface Doger Lebon & Joseph Lebon (RIP) Holy Souls Book
 Fri    6 Jun 12.00pm HA Fri. after 7th Sunday of Easter Ian Reeves & Kathleen King (RIP) Holy Souls Book
Sat   7 Jun  5.30pm HA First Mass Alex Bolt, argaret McGowan & Brian Balmer (RIP)
Sun  8 Jun  9.15am HF Pentecost Sunday Bill Ryan (RIP)
  11.00am HA   Special Intentions of Sheila Deery

 

Special Collection

TODAY there will be a Special Collection for The Catholic Communications Network

 

Liturgy

1st June,  2014

7th Sunday of Easter – The Ascension of the Lord

Ent:              HA: 292   HF: 508
New Praises be given
Offertory:     HA: 721  HF: 568 How great though art
Final Hymn: HA:  644 HF: 37
Alleluia sing to Jesus

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: The Ascension

 

Collections for 25/5/2014

Holy Angels: Offertory: £ 251.00
Holy Family: Offertory: £ 626.00

(Collection information will not be provided for Sunday, 1st and 8th June will be resumed from the 15th June)

 

Information 

Annual General Meetings for both Parishes:

Holy Angels: 11th June at 7.30pm
Holy Family:  12th June at 8.00pm

 

First Communions:

Holy Angels:  Sat. 14th June at 1.00pm
Holy Family:  Sat. 21st June at 1.00pm

Volunteers required to sing the Hymns.  There will be a lot of visitors at the First Holy Communion Masses.  Some may be familiar with the hymns, many – especially if they are not used to going to church may not be familiar with the hymns.  The FHC Masses are very special and memorable occasions and so we are asking for volunteers to sit by the organ and help with the singing at both FHC Masses.  Please see the Volunteers List at both Churches.  There will be a refresher practice 20 minutes before the Mass.  A list of the Music is available from Fr. David or Deacon John.

 

St. Mary’s Church, Ash Vale: Have invited families to a Plenty-Cost-Nothing Party on Sunday, 8th June at 2pm until 5pm. At Ash Manor School.  (Bring a picnic.)

 

Holy Angels and Holy Family FREE Parish Fun Day will take place on Sunday, 6th July, 2014 from 1pm until 5pm at Holy Angels Church, Ash. Why not come along.  There will be lots of fun with games, face painting, we will even have a Fire Engine on site for the children. (see poster for more details)

 

Sacred and Secular Concert:  Crondall Community Choir (CCC) are performing a mix of sacred and secular songs (including songs from the shows). Next Saturday  7th June 7.30pm. Sue Haworth-Edwards on 07899 868739  or suehaworthedwards@btinternet.com

 

Banns for forthcoming Weddings:-

Jon Bricker & Clare Hayes (HF) 10th July, 2014
Dan Geraghty & Lysette Blondell (HA’s) 12th July, 2014
David White & Marie Purchase (HA’s) 19th July, 2014
Joshua Richard & Yara Bou Antoun (HF) 1st August
Darren Stephenson & Emily O’Connor (HA) 29th August
Mateusz Szalankiewicz & Karolina Szalankiewicz (Poland) Please remember in your prayers these young couples as they embark on their married life together.

 

Prayer Requests

For the sick:  Deacon David Morgan, Newton Abrew, Paul Gibson’s Mother, Judy.

 

Holy Angels

Children’s Liturgy: More help is required to help run the Children’s Liturgy, Ii you are able to help, please contact Bec Newey on 07854 231469 or johnandbec@ntlworld.com

 

Prayer Group for Holy Angels and Holy Family Churches takes place once a month on a Tuesday in the Parish Office at Holy Angels.  The next date is this Tuesday, 3rd June, and thereafter 8th July and 2nd September.  (Coffee at 7.30pm for 7.45pm start).

 

Today’s Gospel – Ascension of the lord

The ascension of Jesus is the climax of his victory over sin and death.  It is a day of joy and hope.  Jesus wants us to share in his victory.  It’s important to realise that he hasn’t left us, but is still with us, helping us in our struggles.

Jesus is going to the Father, going to glory.  But in his going he is not thinking only of himself.  His going is connected with the sending of the Spirit.  His going was necessary for him and for the apostles.

It was necessary for him because thus he was entering into his glory.  It was necessary for the apostles because otherwise the Spirit could not come.  ‘Unless I go, the Spirit cannot come.  But if I go I will send him to you.’  Thus, in his going he was not thinking just of himself and his own glory, but of the needs of his friends.

The apostles seemed to understand this because St; Luke says that they returned in joy to Jerusalem.  However, pain was mingled with their joy.  They were glad that Jesus was going to glory, but sad that he was leaving them.

Yet they glimpsed that somehow his going was necessary.  There are things people can give us and do for us in their absence which they can’t give us or do for us in their presence.  In their absence we see their true worth.  We get a fuller picture of their characters and a better appreciation of their achievements and of what they have meant to us and done for us.  There is a sense in which they enrich us through their going.  By going they make space for us.  The give us room and freedom.  They give us a chance to assume responsibility.  They show confidence in us by the trust they place in us.  And we know that they are still interested in us, and still love us.  We still enjoy their support.

The leaving of a dear one is a painful thing because we become conscious of his or her absence, and of our own emptiness and aloneness.  But this pain has to be faced.

Jesus honoured his apostles (and now honours us) by entrusting them with the task of carrying on his mission.

The only assurance Jesus gave them was that he would be with them always: ‘I’ll be with you always; yes, to the end of time.”  However, that assurance would give them the courage and strength to face whatever difficulties lay ahead. (written by Flor McCarthy, SDB) 

 

First World One 100th Anniversary:  The First World War began on 4th August 1914.  The Masses on Saturday, 3rd and Sunday 4th August will be in Remembrance of those who died and to pray for Peace.

There will be a Joint Mass of Remembrance for our two churches on Monday, 4th at Holy Angels.  The books of Remembrance with the names of those who died for Ash, Tongham, Normandy and Heath End will be brought to the Altar by a representative of each community at the Mass.  Nominations from Ash, Tongham, Normandy and Heath End to bring the book of their local community should be handed to Fr. David or Deacon John as soon as possible.  There will be a receptions after the Mass and people of all Religions, Faiths and non will be welcome.  The Our Father will be said in English and German – One Prayer and One Hope uniting two nations in prayer.  The Lamb of God will be sung in Latin – the common prayer language at the time of World War 1 for both nations in Catholic Services.

If you would like to include the name of a relative who is not on our local list of Remembrance, please complete the form handed out with this Newsletter before 20th July.

PLEASE NOTE:  The Parish Office will be closed from Monday, 2nd June until Friday, 13th June inclusive.  Please do not email the office during this time as emails will not be responded to until after the 16th June.  Please contact Father David or Deacon John Edwards if you require any assistance during this time.