Habemus Papam! Pope Leo XIV (14th)

First Holy Communion programmes will continue this Tuesday, 13th May for the older children at 4.15 and for the younger ones on Thursday, 15th May at 4 pm (the hall will be open from 3.30). A reminder that the First Holy Communion Mass will be at 12 noon on Sunday 8th June; this Mass will be in addition to the usual 8 and 10 am Masses. Hopefully, given the number of children for First Holy Communion and their guests, everyone will be accommodated across the three Masses. The following Saturday, 14th June, the children will be given their First Holy Communion certificates at the evening Mass and this will be followed by a ‘First Holy Communion Breakfast’ in the hall; you are welcome to join the children and their families for a cup of tea and ‘lite bite.’ Confirmation programme continues on Thursday 15th May at 6 pm. There are nine young people who will be Confirmed by the Bishop on Saturday 24th May at a Mass at Arundel Cathedral; we ask you to keep the candidates, their families and their sponsors in your prayers at this time

ROSARY CIRCLE FOR PRIESTLY VOCATIONS If you haven’t already done so, but would still like to commit to praying a decade of the Rosary each day during May, then please do put your initial or a tick in one of the boxes on the ‘Rosary Circle’ chart in the church porch. Our thanks to all those who have ‘signed up’ already to be part of the ‘Rosary Circles’. So as to keep this spiritual exercise in our minds and hearts, the first Sunday of each month is a ‘sign up’ weekend, when people can recommit to this by 'signing up again' or indeed take up this prayerful activity. Let it be said, however, that anyone can join the Rosary Circles at any time, so, even if you haven’t done so thus far, please be encouraged to do so. Details of how to be involved are on the notice in the church porch. Thank you. Prayer for vocations to the Priesthood: ( Dropped in through the presbytery letter box, so a ‘thankyou’ to the courier) God our Father, look in love upon our homes, our families and our communities. Raise up from amongst us worthy priests to preach the Gospel to all people, to minister at your altar and care for your flock. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and make us faithful and inspiring witnesses to your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill:- The Bill is scheduled to have a Report Stage /Third Reading this Friday, 16th May, although this may be delayed. There have been many reports of insufficient scrutiny of the Bill, that major safeguards have been removed (a High Court judge no longer overseeing due judicial process) and, critically, the Bill has been rushed. If such reports are true, then purely on the grounds of procedural failure, surely, the Bill should be rejected. That aside, a retired anaesthetist informs us that pain can be very closely managed and that far more funding should be directed towards end of life care, every reason then, to support ‘care not killing’ campaigns; other medical professionals have said they will leave the profession if the Bill succeeds. Additionally, anecdotes about extreme medical conditions would seem to be unfounded in these Isles, since professionals inform us that there would be medical intervention before any such extreme conditions arose. As has been said before, in the longer term (40, 50 or 60 years hence) with an ever diminishing public purse, given the extremely low fertility rate in the country at this time with the consequent lack of revenues from income tax, there is every reason to suspect that coercion, on budgetary grounds alone, over and above the intrinsic dignity of the person, would becomes a very attractive proposition as a money saving exercise, as is evidenced in Canada. All this is borne out by a communique which came through late on Friday afternoon, as follows:- “a newly published government impact assessment has revealed that assisted suicide could reduce public spending by over £100 million a year, by cutting costs in healthcare, pensions, care homes and disability benefits. This opens the door to a dangerous logic where ending lives is seen as a cost-saving measure. In that climate, vulnerable people—especially those who are elderly, disabled or under-supported—could feel pressured to see death as their duty. And in a crumbling healthcare system, doctors may come to view death as an acceptable “treatment,” rather than continuing care. This mindset has already warped Canada’s healthcare system. In one shocking case, a disabled veteran seeking a stairlift was offered assisted suicide instead.” In so many ways this Bill is wrong and should be voted down. Please continue to urge your MP to oppose the Bill.  SPUC, Right to Life, Christian Concern, Care Not Killing and many other groups will be demonstrating against the Bill outside Parliament while the Report Stage is going on. The details for the demonstration are: Date: Friday, 16 May 2025 Time: 9am – 12pm Location: Old Palace Yard , by the statue of George V, SW1P 3JY. Further details at https://christianconcern.com/action/act-now-to-stop-assisted-suicide/ as the date of the rally approaches.

Children's Liturgy is back! We are very happy to be able to offer a space for primary school children so they can reflect on the Sunday Gospel at a child friendly level. It will take place every fortnight at the10am Mass so here are the dates for your diary: May 11th and 25th, June 8th and 22nd and July 6th and 20th. We look forward to welcoming all the parish children.

Monthly Holy Hour:- of adoration and prayer this Thursday 8th May 7.00pm - 8.00pm. All are welcome to come and meet directly with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist which, we were reminded of during Pope Francis funeral this week, is a real and tangible way to ‘spend time with our Lord and Saviour, risen and living with us today’

Confirmation programme continues on Thursday 9th May at 6 pm. There are nine young people who will be Confirmed by the Bishop on Saturday 24th May at a Mass at Arundel Cathedral; we ask you to keep the candidates, their families and their sponsors in your prayers at this time

THANK YOU:- For your Easter offering, details of which will be available shortly, for the Easter cards, chocolate and other goodies! Thanks also to all those who helped with the Holy Week liturgies, especially the altar servers, the singers, musicians, readers, special ministers of Holy Communion, those who prepared things in the sacristy, the flower arrangers, and those who tidied and washed and cleaned the church the previous Saturday. Might I also take the opportunity to thank all those of you who help out in the life of the parish in so many varied and different ways, organising and running different things, whether that be the collectors, the coffee morning providers, ‘Mass & Meet’ the repository and card sellers, the flower arrangers, the parents who get their children in on time to serve Mass, the servers themselves, the welcomers, the readers and Special Ministers, the money counters, the gift aid organisers, the sacristans, the readers and Special Minister rota organiser, those who tidy up both in and around the church, the cleaners and of course the people that I will have forgotten to mention. Thanks also to those who have volunteered to take on a number of roles as we move forward with the Diocesan Pastoral Plan; just to reassure you, we will gather together those who have offered to help with the varying parochial needs. Again, many thanks, Fr. Ian

The conclave:- Following on the death of a Pope, the Cardinals of the Church, as successors to the Apostles, will gather in conclave to elect from amongst themselves, the successor to St. Peter, who was the first Pope. We commend the Cardinals of the Church to your prayers as they prepare for the conclave, that guided by the Holy Spirit and in all humility of mind and heart, they may be obedient to the will of God the Father in the election of the next Pope Suggested reading: There are two useful articles in this weeks ‘Catholic World Report’ one is about the election of the Pope and a short history of the conclave, the other, perhaps closer to home, is about Carlo Acutis, the 15 year old who is to be canonized, the article will be of particular interest as it identifies something of the impact of mobile phones, social media, mental health and the thirst for God! Conclave Cooperation: The Cardinals, the Holy Spirit and You – Catholic World Report and Roadmap to Reality beautifully depicts the impact of St. Carlo Acutis – Catholic World Report

THANK YOU:- For your Easter offering, details of which will be available shortly, for the Easter cards, chocolate and other goodies! Thanks also to all those who helped with the Holy Week liturgies, especially the altar servers, the singers, musicians, readers, special ministers of Holy Communion, those who prepared things in the sacristy, the flower arrangers, and those who tidied and washed and cleaned the church the previous Saturday. Might I also take the opportunity to thank all those of you who help out in the life of the parish in so many varied and different ways, organising and running different things, whether that be the collectors, the coffee morning providers, ‘Mass & Meet’ the repository and card sellers, the flower arrangers, the parents who get their children in on time to serve Mass, the servers themselves, the welcomers, the readers and Special Ministers, the money counters, the gift aid organisers, the sacristans, the readers and Special Minister rota organiser, those who tidy up both in and around the church, the cleaners and of course the people that I will have forgotten to mention. Thanks also to those who have volunteered to take on a number of roles as we move forward with the Diocesan Pastoral Plan; just to reassure you, we will gather together those who have offered to help with the varying parochial needs. Again, many thanks, Fr. Ian