Fr. Aaron Writes 21st May 2023

Dear Friends,

Greetings on the Seventh Sunday of Easter! The last Sunday before the great Feast of Pentecost. During this past week, on

Thursday, we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, where He sits at the right hand of the Father. This week we await,

just like the disciples in the Upper Room in our first Reading, in a spirit of continuous prayer, the descent of the promised Spirit of

Truth – the Holy Spirit, the Advocate.

This weekend, we continue to give thanks forthe gift ofthe MostHoly Eucharist, which some of our children received this weekend

for the first time – may their, and their parents’, Faith and love of the Lord and His Body the Church grow each day. May they keep

the Faith in these challenging times.

In this month of May, may we continue to pray the powerful prayer of the Holy Rosary; perhaps we can endeavour to offer at least

a decade a day for vocations to the priesthood or for any other intentions we have at this time. Maybe, this week, we could pray

for our young people preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation and those preparing for marriage.

First Holy Communion – Congratulations to the children who will receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the first time on

Saturday 20th May and to those children who received the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time last Saturday. What

wonderful celebrations these have been for us.

Feast of Pentecost – I encourage everyone coming to Mass on Pentecost Weekend to dress in something red or to wear a red

accessory.

This week – I shall be in Cardiff on Monday and Tuesday for the AGM and other meetings ofthe Roman Association, of which I am

Secretary. On Wednesday to Thursday, I shall join the Bishop and other clergy for our annual in-service at Horsley estate.

In Memoriam - Please can you pray for the repose of the soul of Tony Cooper; we also hold his family in prayer at this sad time.

His Requiem Mass will take place this Friday, 26th May, at 10am here at St John’s.

With every prayer and good wish for the coming week.