A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

Happy Feast Day - Pentecost Sunday and the culmination of all that Easter promises: new life for all in the Holy Spirit. Make sure you celebrate with something special if you can - an extra piece of chocolate, or spoon of ice cream, or strawberry or just something to enhance the flavour of this wonderful day.

Having said that, my mind goes to the ‘happening’, that first Pentecost; what was it like. We have a sense of what it must have been like for the Apostles as their hearts were full of joy and confidence, energised for their mission to proclaim good news to the whole world.

But what about their hearers? Those people from Phrygia, Pamphilia Cappadocia and all over the known world - about three thousand of them - were touched to the very root of their being. They became believers for sure; they formed the basis of new communities all over the mediterranean and Middle East. I like to think of them years later saying to their grandchildren, ‘I was there on that day.’ And their grandchildren asking them, ‘What was it like? Tell us again, please.’

A great day for remembering the Holy Spirit in our lives and all that that Spirit has enabled us to do, to hold firm to our faith and hand it on to others. Thanks be to God.

A special memory for me today is that of Fr Marnie Cunningham, former parish priest of St Charles, a good and wise man and a good friend; it’s the 20th anniversary of his going to heaven today.

Let’s continue to remember in our prayer today all those who care for the sick and all our frontline workers:

Joseph, Lisa, Patrick, Chris, Catherine, Anne, Terry, Mark, Theo, Clare, Richard, Anthony, Jane, James, Andrew, Mary, Francis, Ruth, Tony, Sue, Dan, Fiona, Katy

St Joseph, pray for us

Every Blessing

Fr John

PS three extra things for consideration:

1. You should have received the note concerning parish donations - please do what you can

2. Please remember the Food Bank

3. Poetry Evening tomorrow at 7.00pm on Zoom