Congratulations to the newest members of our 'Parishes in Communion for Mission' who were Baptised or Received into the Catholic Church at both the Easter Vigil and at Sunday Mass here at St Augustine's recently.
We warmly welcome Richard Tam, Joy Chiu, Jean Tsui, Tony Wu, Elsie Lau, Annette Poon & Bennett Poon to our Church Community.It was wonderful to celebrate with them all.
Thanks to Deacon Vincent for his Reflections for Sixth Sunday of Easter Year A
Here Luke is setting a scene using the Deacon Philip, who we thought was elected to help with the distribution of food, but here we find him preaching to great effect in Samaria. He casts out evil spirits and converts many in the city, and we have another Lucan expression, “joy and rejoicing” were the mark of the presence of the Holy Spirit. We are shown how the early church evolved the Trinitarian baptism. Initially they were Baptised in the Lord Jesus, but it was important for them to have hands laid upon them to receive the Holy Spirit so Peter and John are sent to complete their reception by receiving the Holy Spirit. Jesus was preached as God’s Son, so we have the Trinitarian baptism completed and we are shown how the Church needed to be Apostolic, so we have Peter and John completing the early Creed, i.e., Father Son & Holy Spirit, and Apostolic. Luke is careful to prepare the readers for our early Creed.
Psalm 65: 1-7, 16-20.
A great shout of, “Thanksgiving to God”, a recognition that the whole earth belongs to God, so it must also sing to God, hence the hum of the insects, the singing of the birds the roar of the wild beasts the wind sea and thunder shout out their praise to their creator. Our forebears had a greater understanding that we are merely stewards of the world, not Masters!
2nd Reading for the first letter of St. Peter 3: 15-18.
We continue our reading of St. Peter, and here he proffers some advice to those of his readers who might be suffering religious persecution, but it would also be helpful to slaves and wives living in this patriarchal society where they had little if any rights. The instruction has a couple of elements, “to suffer for righteousness has an echo in the Old Testament, which is linked to the Gospel. We are drawn to the Beatitudes, “Blessed are those who suffer in the cause of righteousness, your reward will be great in heaven.”. and then as all Christians living must relate to Christ’s death and resurrection, so putting our own sufferings at one with the Lord’s unjust treatment, can assist us on the way to God if we but manage to relate it with Jesus’ crucifixion and death; for it will lead us to the wonder of the Resurrection.
The Holy Gospel according to John 14: 15-21.
We are reminded of the linkage between love of the Lord and keeping his commandments. We quite often forget that all sin is a lack of love for Jesus. It runs counter to his desire for our happiness. We are virtually saying we know better than God. We return to the Garden of Eden and the serpent’s temptation to become like gods ourselves. John now introduces us to the Advocate, a legalistic appointment, whom we call to our side, so Jesus is not abandoning us, but the Advocate is a token that he is alive, and we are beloved of him. The second task for the Advocate is to educate us in everything that Jesus has passed on to us. We must thank John, for this is one of his great contributions to Christian theology. Jesus is still with us and teaching us and leading us to the Father. We need to search for him in the scriptures and the Eucharist, where we can encounter him and converse with him because the Advocate, The Holy Spirit has drawn us to him. So, we can rejoice that Jesus returns to the Father, and that great moment of their reunion in heaven bursts open with so much love that the heavens cannot contain it and comes down on us like a mighty force that is irresistible.
Let us give joyful thanks for Jesus Life, Death and Resurrection, at his Ascension! & Prepare for the Coming of the Advocate.
God Bless us All. Deacon Vincent.
"Come, follow me"
This Eastertide we continue in Clifton Diocese to pray for vocations to the priesthood for our own diocese. Please watch Fr Stephen Corrigan of St Peter's, Gloucester talk about vocation and his own call to priesthood, about being a seminarian and now being a priest in a parish, as well as the joy and fulfilment in his life and ministry as one of our newer priests:
This Eastertide we continue in Clifton Diocese to pray for vocations to the priesthood for our own diocese. Please watch Fr Stephen Corrigan of St Peter's, Gloucester talk about vocation and his own call to priesthood, about being a seminarian and now being a priest in a parish, as well as the joy and fulfilment in his life and ministry as one of our newer priests:
Clifton Diocese are offering Pastoral Ministry courses to all.
The Courses:
*The Diploma in Pastoral Ministry run by Loyola University Chicago is a two-year online course covering ten units of study each module being six weeks’ long. It is a demanding course but one that allows people to explore in depth and importantly in their own time, the richness of our Catholic Faith.
*The Ministry Skills Course which runs alongside but independently of the Diploma course, lasting two and a half years, enables participants to develop practical skills in accompaniment, listening, discernment and group facilitation while being rooted in prayer and the Ministry of Jesus. A Parish project at the end of the course cements learning and understanding while offering the opportunity for theological reflection.
*Next Course - we are now actively seeking to recruit for the next course which begins in September 2023. The course is ideal for ANY parishioner who seeks to develop their capacity to serve the parish in anyway which they believe the Lord is calling them. If you are a catechist – this course is for you. If you are a minister in any form – this course if for you. If you are not involved in any way – but would like to be – this course if for you!
Interested? – then please do come to one of our information evenings which will be taking place around the Diocese in June. Here you will hear in more detail about the two courses, content of both, time commitment involved and costs including the role of parishes to support those who take on either of the courses.
Dates and Venues for information sessions are below. Each session starts at 7pm, no need to book, just turn up on the evening.
Thursday 1 June: English Martyrs, Chard
Tuesday 6 June: St George, Taunton
Wednesday 7 June: St Gregory the Great, Cheltenham
Monday 12 June: St George, Warminster
Tuesday 13 June: Sacred Heart, Westbury-on-Trym
Wednesday 14 June: St John the Evangelist, Bath
Thursday 15 June: St Peter, Swindon
Tuesday 20 June: St Margaret Mary, Coleford
On Saturday April 29, family and friends of the Pastoral Ministry Course gathered to celebrate having successful completed the first Clifton Diocesan Formation Certificate in Pastoral Ministry Skills. For some it was a dual occasion because they had also completed their Loyola University Certificate in Pastoral Ministry, resulting in a Clifton Diocesan Diploma. It was a beautifully sunny day. Mass was celebrated by Bishop Declan who commissioned each of the ‘graduates’ to serve within the Diocese. Certificates were presented and a reception followed. As the first completers of these two courses, the occasion was testament to their hard work, resilience and commitment over two and a half years.
See https://cliftondiocese.com/ and scroll down to the 'latest news' for more info and photos etc
The Courses:
*The Diploma in Pastoral Ministry run by Loyola University Chicago is a two-year online course covering ten units of study each module being six weeks’ long. It is a demanding course but one that allows people to explore in depth and importantly in their own time, the richness of our Catholic Faith.
*The Ministry Skills Course which runs alongside but independently of the Diploma course, lasting two and a half years, enables participants to develop practical skills in accompaniment, listening, discernment and group facilitation while being rooted in prayer and the Ministry of Jesus. A Parish project at the end of the course cements learning and understanding while offering the opportunity for theological reflection.
*Next Course - we are now actively seeking to recruit for the next course which begins in September 2023. The course is ideal for ANY parishioner who seeks to develop their capacity to serve the parish in anyway which they believe the Lord is calling them. If you are a catechist – this course is for you. If you are a minister in any form – this course if for you. If you are not involved in any way – but would like to be – this course if for you!
Interested? – then please do come to one of our information evenings which will be taking place around the Diocese in June. Here you will hear in more detail about the two courses, content of both, time commitment involved and costs including the role of parishes to support those who take on either of the courses.
Dates and Venues for information sessions are below. Each session starts at 7pm, no need to book, just turn up on the evening.
Thursday 1 June: English Martyrs, Chard
Tuesday 6 June: St George, Taunton
Wednesday 7 June: St Gregory the Great, Cheltenham
Monday 12 June: St George, Warminster
Tuesday 13 June: Sacred Heart, Westbury-on-Trym
Wednesday 14 June: St John the Evangelist, Bath
Thursday 15 June: St Peter, Swindon
Tuesday 20 June: St Margaret Mary, Coleford
On Saturday April 29, family and friends of the Pastoral Ministry Course gathered to celebrate having successful completed the first Clifton Diocesan Formation Certificate in Pastoral Ministry Skills. For some it was a dual occasion because they had also completed their Loyola University Certificate in Pastoral Ministry, resulting in a Clifton Diocesan Diploma. It was a beautifully sunny day. Mass was celebrated by Bishop Declan who commissioned each of the ‘graduates’ to serve within the Diocese. Certificates were presented and a reception followed. As the first completers of these two courses, the occasion was testament to their hard work, resilience and commitment over two and a half years.
See https://cliftondiocese.com/ and scroll down to the 'latest news' for more info and photos etc
Next week is Laudato Si Week,
the eighth anniversary of the publication of the Pope's letter to the world, Laudato Si, on care for creation, our common home.
Have a look online for all the activities that are going on, such as those advertised on the Laudato Si Movement's website....
Have a look online for all the activities that are going on, such as those advertised on the Laudato Si Movement's website....
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