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

1^st 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, 1^st and 8^th June will be resumed from the 15^th June)

 

Information 

First Communions:

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

 

Holy Angels and Holy Family FREE Parish Fun Day will take place on Sunday, 6^th 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

 

Prayer Requests

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

 

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, 3^rd June, and thereafter 8^th July and 2^nd 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 100^th Anniversary:  The First World War began on 4^th August 1914.  The Masses on Saturday, 3^rd and Sunday 4^th 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, 4^th 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 20^th July.

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