Examination Prayer
Please remember, in your prayers, all those who are about to start their exams.
For those about to begin these A level, degree year end, BTEC and GCSE and other exams and tests, here is a prayer that you can say yourself as you prepare:
Lord, I know you are with me and love me.
Give me peace of mind as I prepare for this time of study.
Help me to focus on my books and notes.
Keep me from all distractions so that I will make the best use of this time that is available to me.
Give me insight that I might understand what I am studying,
and help me to remember it when the time comes.
Above all, I thank you for the ability to be able to study
and for the many gifts and talents you have given me.
Help me always to use them in such a way
that they honour you and do justice to myself.
Amen
ORDINATION OF BISHOP-ELECT BOSCO MACDONALD
Participation in person with tickets only please.
You will be able to watch the Ordination of Bishop-elect Bosco live on the Diocesan website from midday, Wednesday 8th May 2024
We also give thanks for 23 years of devoted service to the diocese of Bishop Declan
Reflections for Seventh Sunday of Easter Year B from Deacon Vincent.
1st Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 1: 15-17, 20-26.
Peter is showing his leadership skills, which is not always apparent in the Acts. Here we have Peter initiating God’s choice of a successor to Judas. Notice the criteria for an Apostle, “Someone who has been with the Twelve the whole time that Jesus was travelling around with them, right from when John was baptising until Jesus was taken up from the Twelve – this person can act as a witness with the Twelve to Jesus’ resurrection.” The emphasis that they must choose a successor to Judas and his betrayal was foretold tells us that they believe they are being prompted by God in the Holy Spirit to select Judas’ replacement. To enhance the idea that this choice must not be influenced by their likes or choices they agree to let the Holy Spirit choose by the casting of lots over the two candidates found amongst the Disciples who met the required criteria, thus allowing God to select the desired replacement. As the lot falls to Matthias, he is selected to be numbered amongst the Twelve. Strange that Matthias is never heard of again. This whole episode illustrates that God is in charge and the Holy Spirit is irresistibly running the show by prompting Peter. We witness right from the beginning the influence of the Holy Spirit upon the Church’s appointed Vicar of Christ.
Psalm 102: 1-2, 11-12, 19-20.
This song is written in praise of God’s goodness. God is so good he removes our sins as far as the East is from the West. God’s forgiveness is totally abundant to those who choose to seek Him.
2nd Reading from the first letter of John 4: 11-16.
Once again, this letter echoes the language of the Fourth Gospel, as the writer links the God’s Spirit dwelling in us to showing our love to our neighbour, especially within our community, by accepting Jesus as Son, Saviour and Love. To live in love is to live in God, and God lives in them. Typical of John’s Gospel, we have this commandment; “the one who loves God should also love their brother and sister.” We have this assurance that, “God is \love.”
The Holy Gospel according to John 17: 11-19.
At this point it moves from being a discourse to almost a priestly prayer. In the selection we have today we concentrate on the people the Father gave Jesus from the world. “Keep them in your name.” Next Jesus warns us that the world will hate them. There follows a prayer for those whom they will reach out to, namely us. Jesus will pray that we will all be one. His followers will be consecrated in the truth just as Jesus consecrates himself in the truth. Jesus is praying that we will become like him. When we encounter Jesus in the Eucharist he continues to fashion us in his likeness. As stones in the Temple of the Lord must be chiselled and have their rough edges removed so we need shaping to fit into that spiritual temple with Jesus as the corner stone and ourselves honed into one, just as he requests the Father to make us one like Jesus is one with the Father.
Lord grant us faith and patience to become one with You.
Deacon Vincent
1st Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 1: 15-17, 20-26.
Peter is showing his leadership skills, which is not always apparent in the Acts. Here we have Peter initiating God’s choice of a successor to Judas. Notice the criteria for an Apostle, “Someone who has been with the Twelve the whole time that Jesus was travelling around with them, right from when John was baptising until Jesus was taken up from the Twelve – this person can act as a witness with the Twelve to Jesus’ resurrection.” The emphasis that they must choose a successor to Judas and his betrayal was foretold tells us that they believe they are being prompted by God in the Holy Spirit to select Judas’ replacement. To enhance the idea that this choice must not be influenced by their likes or choices they agree to let the Holy Spirit choose by the casting of lots over the two candidates found amongst the Disciples who met the required criteria, thus allowing God to select the desired replacement. As the lot falls to Matthias, he is selected to be numbered amongst the Twelve. Strange that Matthias is never heard of again. This whole episode illustrates that God is in charge and the Holy Spirit is irresistibly running the show by prompting Peter. We witness right from the beginning the influence of the Holy Spirit upon the Church’s appointed Vicar of Christ.
Psalm 102: 1-2, 11-12, 19-20.
This song is written in praise of God’s goodness. God is so good he removes our sins as far as the East is from the West. God’s forgiveness is totally abundant to those who choose to seek Him.
2nd Reading from the first letter of John 4: 11-16.
The Holy Gospel according to John 17: 11-19.
At this point it moves from being a discourse to almost a priestly prayer. In the selection we have today we concentrate on the people the Father gave Jesus from the world. “Keep them in your name.” Next Jesus warns us that the world will hate them. There follows a prayer for those whom they will reach out to, namely us. Jesus will pray that we will all be one. His followers will be consecrated in the truth just as Jesus consecrates himself in the truth. Jesus is praying that we will become like him. When we encounter Jesus in the Eucharist he continues to fashion us in his likeness. As stones in the Temple of the Lord must be chiselled and have their rough edges removed so we need shaping to fit into that spiritual temple with Jesus as the corner stone and ourselves honed into one, just as he requests the Father to make us one like Jesus is one with the Father.
Lord grant us faith and patience to become one with You.
Deacon Vincent
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