PENTECOST SUNDAY (A)
(Day of Prayer for the Church)
3rd/4th June 2017
Dear Parishioner,
Today we celebrate the great day of Pentecost when Christ filled the Church with the power of his Spirit and sent it
out into the world to bring his peace, joy and forgiveness to all mankind. Pentecost literally means 50th. It is a
feast celebrated on the 50th day after the Passover feast by the Jews and a feast celebrated on the 50th day after the
feast of the Resurrection of Jesus by the Christians.
The first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-11), describes in detail the miraculous
transformation that took place during the first Pentecost, thus fulfilling Jesus' promise to his apostles that they
would receive "power from on high".
In the second reading (I Cor 12:3-7, 12-13), St. Paul explains how the sharing of the various spiritual gifts
of the Holy Spirit enriches the Church. He refers to the varieties of gifts given to the Church as coming from the same
Spirit Who activates all of them in Christians for the common good.
Today's Gospel relates how the Risen Jesus gave his apostles a foretaste of Pentecost on the evening of Easter
Sunday by appearing to them and sending them to carry on the mission given him by his Heavenly Father. He then
empowered them to do so by breathing upon them and saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit". On the day of
Pentecost, Jesus fulfilled his promise to send the Advocate or Paraclete. The gift of the Spirit would also enable them
to fulfill Jesus' commission to preach the Gospel to all nations.
So on this great day of Pentecost let us be aware of our real worth again. We are Christians, we are filled with the
Holy Spirit, and we are the living temple of the Spirit and therefore God lives within us. Let us acknowledge this
fact, profess it and live it out in our daily living. We are not worthless human beings. We are all saved by
Christ's death and resurrections and strengthened by the Holy Spirit to live our life and to join our creator. So
let us live this life with courage.
"Send 0 Lord, Holy Apostles into your Church"
Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ
Notices:
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CHURCH INFORMATION Over the last 3 weeks we have much damage done to the Church. Last Sunday evening
we had more damage done. We are asking parishioners to be vigilant and if you are passing the Church at anytime
please check around. The Police have been notified. We do need CC TV around the Church building. Secondly we have
quite a lot of other repairs. The recent Quinquennial Report has shown that the work required over the next five
years will cost £58,000. If any Parishioner feels they could contribute toward CC TV we would be very grateful.
Thank you all for your support and God bless.
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PARISH BBQ SUNDAY 25 JUNE 2PM-5PM Fr Sabu has very kindly offered us the Presbytery gardens to
hold a family BBQ. Please bring your own food & drink to cook on the BBQ. A fun day for all!
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INDIAN EVENING SAT 15 JULY ADVANCE NOTICE More info to follow!
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SVP COLLECTION FOR ST JOHN BOSCO'S CHILDREN'S CAMP Amongst their other important work, the
SVP helps to provide holidays for disadvantaged children at the St John Bosco Camp. These holidays are organised and
manned by volunteers. We will be holding a second collection after Masses on 10/11 June to help fund this initiative.
Your generosity is appreciated.
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STEWARDS OF THE GOSPEL PARISH MEETING 14 JUNE at St Augustine's after evening Mass. This will be
an opportunity for all parishioners to explore some of the ideas forthcoming in the Stewards of the Gospel process.
The Preliminary Observations that come out of the combined responses to the Questionnaire that we also completed for
our parish can be found on our web site at http://staugustine-springfield.com/stewardship.html This document also raises important questions about
how we should approach 4 key subjects in the future.
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WANTED-PIANIST FOR 10.45AM NEW HALL MASS The New Hall music group is looking for a pianist to
assist with the singing at the 1O.45am Mass each Sunday. Please phone Jackie on 01245 464465 if you can help. Many
thanks.
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CHARITY TOMBOLA Phil Perrier will be holding her tombola draw for charity on Saturday 10 June at
Christ Our Saviour and Sunday 11 June at St Augustine's Church. Tickets are £1 and every ticket wins a
prize. The proceeds will go towards the work of the Denis Hurley Centre in Durban, South Africa.
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MISSION APPEAL AT MASSES ON 3 & 4 JUNE: We are fortunate to have Sister Michela Pirra of the
Comboni Missionary Sisters coming to talk at all Masses about the inspiring work of Sisters, particularly in Africa.
Please give what you can to support this worthwhile work in this time of great need. Many thanks in advance for your
generosity.
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200 CLUB We are relaunching our popular 200 Club. Tickets will be £10 each and there will be
10 draws each year starting in June. If we can reach 200 participants, it will raise £1,000 for the Parish. We
will be collecting money or giving payment instructions for several weeks until we do the first draw. More info from
Chris Thompson click here to
Email
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30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ABBOTSWICK Diocesan House of Prayer, Brentwood 11.30am - 4.30pm 8th
July 2017. Please join us for this wonderful event. A Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated at 2pm by Bishop Alan
Williams and Bishop Emeritus Thomas McMahon. Please bring a packed lunch. Cake and refreshments will be provided.
Further info: 01277 373959 or www.abbotswick.org.
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THE CANONESSES OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE GARDEN PARTY to raise funds to support the sisters' work in
the war-torn area of East Kivu Mirhi D.R. Congo. Sunday 2 July 12.30 for lpm at the home of the Willis family at
658 Galleywood Road, CM2 8BY. £15 per person with meal and welcome drink included. Please send cheques to
Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre to 43 Anderson Avenue, Chelmsford CMl 2DA 01245 604108 click here to
Email
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DIOCESAN CENTENARY LECTURES WEDNESDAYS AT 7.30PM at Cathedral Hall, Brentwood-Admission Free,
Bookstall available
7 June: Father Stewart Foster, Diocesan Archivist: 'The Foundation & Early Years of the Diocese
(1917-1951)'
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VACANCY - Full time Parish Catechetical Coordinator at Brentwood Cathedral. 35
hours p.w. The role requires flexibility, working daytime, evening and weekends. If you - or any of your
family/friends - are interested, please first contact Brentwood Cathedral on 01277 265235 for a job description
and person specification or download from www.cathedral-brentwood.org/blog-2/catechetical/
Please remember to pray for:
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died: Mgr George Stokes
Years Mind:
Thursday: Fr Edmund Tyler
Sunday: Fr Thomas Crowe
Next Sunday - THE MOST HOLY TRINITY (A)
First Reading Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9
Lord, Lord, a God of tenderness and compassion
Second Reading 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13
The grace ofJesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Gospel John 3: 16-18
God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved.
