FR JEROME WRITES
We had a lovely school Mass on Tuesday for children, staff and parents of Year six.  We wish them all well in their new schools in September.  Whichever schools they are moving onto we are all part of the Parish family and we welcome them back with their families in September.
For all those going on holiday I wish them a very safe journey and peaceful rest.

FR DAVID WRITES
Thank you to everyone who helped organise or support our Parish Summer BBQ. It was a great evening! This Tuesday at 10am we will welcome children from our school to the end-of-term and school leavers’ Mass. Please join us if you can. Current Y2 parents (Y3 September): please take note of the First Holy Communion notice below. Thank you also for your recent generosity towards three projects: our building fund, Peter’s Pence, and the Apostleship of the Sea last weekend. We are most grateful for everything you bring and give for the life of the Church.  Finally, I am going on holiday this week and will be back in the middle of August. As some of you know, I have other responsibilities in addition to the parish, so I really value the break and the opportunity to spend time with family, but I still keep you in my prayers and Masses. I would like to thank you all for your kindness to me, and to wish you all a very happy summer: wherever and however you choose to spend it! God bless you all.

FR DAVID WRITES
Thank you for your generosity towards Peter’s Pence last weekend. Today there will be retiring collection after all Masses for the Apostleship of the Sea. Please note that the First Holy Communion registration is open. Parents of children should sign up if the child will be in Y3 in September and they are part of this parish. Please note that we will not be able to accept late applications. Please continue to pray for Fr Jerome and Fr Andrew O’Connell as they prepare to begin their new appointments later this summer. Have a great week!

CLERGY MOVES - FR DAVID WRITES
As you know, Fr Jerome has been appointed Parish Priest of St John Vianney, West Green. Fr Jerome will take up his new appointment at the beginning of September, after the summer holidays. Fr Andrew O’Connell has been appointed to take over as assistant priest here. He will begin early by celebrating some of the Sunday Masses during the summer, before officially moving in at the start of September. So there will be some overlap of the curates while I am away on my summer break. I know you will make him very welcome. Please keep them both in your prayers as they prepare for their new appointments. Please pray for those who were ordained recently as deacons and priests to serve in our diocese.

FR DAVID WRITES
On Friday we celebrated a lovely Mass with the whole primary school in thanksgiving to God for the recent First Confessions and First Holy Communions. Thank you to all those involved. Y2 parents: please keep an eye out for the newsletter in the coming weeks about registration for the next First Holy Communion programme.

FR DAVID WRITES:
Thank you to the Cardinal, priests and everyone who came to our special Mass here on Friday to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart and our Parish Centenary. Many thanks to everyone who helped to prepare and/or celebrate this special event. Lots of work went into the wonderful evening. Please pray that the Lord will be with us in the years ahead. Please pray for Father Jerome who has been appointed as Parish Priest of St John Vianney Parish, West Green, in addition to his role as Justice and Peace Coordinator of the Holy Ghost Fathers in Britain. Please also pray for Fr Andrew Bowden who has been appointed as Parish Priest of Poplar and Limehouse. Congratulations to them both. The appointments will begin in September.

CARDINAL’S VISIT TO OUR PARISH - FR DAVID WRITES
This coming Friday is the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At 7 pm we will celebrate our parish centenary Mass with Cardinal Nichols. Everyone is invited, and there will be a reception afterwards in the parish centre. A bit of advice: it might be better to walk, take public transport or park on the street as the car park will be very busy. We look forward to welcoming the Cardinal and seeing you all at this special event. The work in the church (so far) is almost concluded; the contractors will hand back the church officially on Monday. The stone work and gradine will be installed later in the year. Thank you all for your patience, generosity and support.

FR DAVID WRITES
In the past few days the builders have been installing the new device to support the statue of the Risen Christ. The scaffolding will soon be gone. The new spotlights are on the sanctuary walls. The stone for the new tabernacle pedestal and steps has proved difficult to source, ship and cut in the timeframe. This means there will be a temporary timber pedestal and steps installed in the meantime, including when the Cardinal will be here. Please rest assured that the final product will eventually be a handsome stone gradine at the back of the sanctuary, and not just wood! There are still some more final touches to go, plus the concrete floor at the back of church which still needs repainting. Thank you all.

FR DAVID WRITES
In today’s readings Paul presents an image of the Spirit as the giver of Gifts; he recognises the Spirit is working through him, leading him to go out and speak to the people about the sacrifice of the Cross.  He foresees that the Spirit will inspire the people of God to use their individual gifts. Giving them guidance, ability, and courage, so that, through working together, using their gifts, they can bring God’s kingdom to our world.  He sees the unifying power of the Spirit creating a church in which everyone’s talents can be seen and used for the benefit of all.  

FR DAVID WRITES
On Thursday we celebrated the solemnity of the Ascension, and now we look in prayer towards the celebration of Pentecost Sunday next weekend. These day that lie between Ascension and Pentecost are marked by prayer to the Holy Spirit. Today at the 11.15am Mass we will celebrate our ‘Going Forth Mass’ in thanksgiving to God for the recent First Holy Communions. Congratulations once again to the children and their families. This week on Tuesday we are hosting the meeting of the deans of the north London area with Bishop Sherrington. Please keep us in your prayers. Finally, some of you may have heard that my cousin sadly died recently. Later this week, I will need to go home for the funeral celebration. Please keep him and my family in your prayers. I should be back by next Saturday evening.

FR DAVID WRITES
Congratulations to the 64 young people who were confirmed by Bishop Sherrington on Friday evening. Thanks to Fr Liddle and the people of Whetstone Parish for letting us borrow their church! Thank you also to the parents and families of the newly confirmed, and to our catechists and parishioners who helped to prepare them for this special moment.