CHURCH IS OPEN – Thursdays, from 11am to 2pm for reflections before the Blessed Sacrament

READINGS FOR 10 MAY
1^st Reading: Acts 8:5-17, They laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 66: Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.
2^nd Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18, Being put to death in the flesh but being alive in the spirit.
Gospel Reading: John 14:15-21, I will ask the Father and he will give you another helper.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, says the Lord, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. Alleluia. 
Communion antiphon: If you love me, keep my commandments, says the Lord, and I will ask the Father and he will send you another Paraclete, to abide with you for ever, alleluia.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MAY
That everyone might have food
We pray that everyone, from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food and to ensuring that everyone has access to quality food.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
13 May – Our Lady of Fatima

ASCENSION DAY – THURSDAY 14 MAY
This is a holyday of obligation.  Full, sung Mass here at 7.00pm.
Forty days after Easter Sunday, we observe the ascension of of Our Lord into heaven, so this solemnity commemmorates the last earthly appearance of Jesus.  Ten days later, we will celebrate the feast of Pentecost (24 May) and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, giving them the grace and courage to continue Christ’s
holy work.

COFFEE MORNING LAST WEEK
A big thank you to everyone who supported last week’s coffee morning after Mass.  We’ve really missed it!  A special thank you for the many kind and generous donations.  And the biggest thanks of all to those who baked cakes, made sandwiches, poured the drinks, washed up and cleared away – ensuring that everyone enjoyed a lovely bit of time together. Raffle and donations: £141.50.  Thank you again.

WELCOMERS NEEDED 
We would love to expand our rota of welcomers, so please don’t be shy!  Have a chat with Father or Diane after Mass, if you’d like to find out a bit more, and see if it’s something that might interest you.

CHOIR MEMBERS NEEDED
Our dedicated and hardworking choir would welcome two or three more voices to help swell the ranks.  Our Lady’s boasts one of the best churches for congregational singing amongst all the FoP, so we know there are some keen and enthusiastic singers amongst us. If you enjoy a ‘good, rousing sing’, then please have a word with Liz Cheetham after Mass, to find out a bit more.  You will be most welcome. 

SCARECROW FESTIVAL – SATURDAY 16 MAY
We will be entering the Festival again this year, so if anyone would like to help out, please speak to Vivienne or Joanne Eland.  We will be grateful for any prizes for the tombola stall – please the box in the porch / take round to Fr John’s, 39 Kearseley Ave.
And if you live near to church, feel free to put up your own scarecrow –
it can only help to add to the fun of this special occasion. 
Most importantly – save the date and come along and support!

MARY’S MEALS – ‘PRAY IN MAY’
Mary’s Meals is a movement of people who are committed to tackling world hunger through one simple solution: providing a daily meal for every child at school. During the month of May, we’d like to invite you to join us in praying for this work and for all those connected with Mary’s Meals around the world.
Leaflets are available in the porch
The Mary’s Meals Prayer
Our Father, give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us for the times when we take more than our share
of the bread that belongs to all.
Let us help you fill the starving with good things,
and not with scraps from our table.
Teach us how to share what is not ours to keep.
Clothe us with your love that we may complete
each good work you created us to do.
Place in our hearts your compassion for each starving child
and use our little acts of love so that they may starve no more.  Amen

MASS INTENTIONS
Mass intentions are welcome, not just for our dear departed, but for any other occasion eg in thanksgiving, A successful outcome (exams / operation), wedding / anniversary blessings. Please write your name and intention, with the preferred date – if applicable – on a piece of paper and place in an envelope, along with your offering, either in the weekly offertory basket or through the presbytery door.  Every effort will be made to find a date as close as possible.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES / GIFT AID / STANDING ORDERS!
If you are a taxpayer then you can easily help the parish to claim 25% extra on top of every donation you make – and it won’t cost you a penny!  Eg: a donation of £10 per week would result in £12.50 going to the church. If you are able to use gift aid, please collect a form from the porch on your way out today, and return it to the Parish Office asap. 
If you are a taxpayer who makes regular cash donations, please consider using an offertory envelope instead of just placing your ‘loose’ donations in the basket. This is really important: it can bring in more than £1000 to the church every year, as we’ll be able to claim gift aid directly on every donation you make.  It won’t cost you anything at all, but it will make a huge difference to our finances.
Please contact the Parish Office if you’d like to use envelopes – they are free! 
Even better – you can donate ‘painlessly’ each month by setting up a standing order with your bank.  Forms are available in the porch.

PRAYERFUL REFLECTION BEFORE MASS
Some of our parishioners who like to pray and have a few moments of quiet reflection before the start of Mass.  And of course, we have every opportunity to have a chat and catch-up after Mass. 
Our monthly coffee mornings provide an ideal occasion for this! 

VOTIVE CANDLES
People have been asking how much they should donate for a votive candle.  Fr John is happy to leave it to your discretion, as all donations will be gratefully received – whenever they are made.

GLUTEN FREE SACRAMENT AVAILABLE
Please indicate to Fr John if you need to receive a gf host when you come to receive communion.

ST IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA: The Loving Generosity of Christ
He is generous to exhaustion and what is most wonderful is that he gives himself thus entirely, not once only but every
day, if we wish it.  Every fresh Communion is a new gift, which Jesus Christ makes of himself.