Catholic Parish of
Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Springfield

TRINITY SUNDAY (A)
7th June 2020

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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This week we return to the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. This Sunday and next, however, are designated as solemnities - special days that call our attention to central mysteries of our faith. Today on Trinity Sunday we celebrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity, one God in three persons.

Today's Gospel is from the beginning of John's Gospel. The passage we read follows Jesus' conversation with a Pharisee, Nicodemus, about what it means to be born of both water and the spirit. Nicodemus approaches Jesus at night and acknowledges Jesus as a teacher from God. Jesus tells him that only those who are born from above will see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus misunderstands and questions how a person can be born more than once. Jesus tells Nicodemus that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. Jesus is essentially explaining Baptism, which we celebrate as a sacrament today. Yet Nicodemus, we are told, still does not understand what Jesus is saying. Jesus continues by testifying to the need to be born from above so that one might have eternal life. After the dialogue with Nicodemus, the author of the Gospel offers his own explanation of Jesus' words. This is what we read in today's Gospel, John 3:16-18.

In the context of today's focus on the mystery of the Holy Trinity, the reading calls our attention to the action of God, who reveals himself in three persons: God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father, out of love for the world, sent his Son into the world in order to save it. Through the death and resurrection of the Son, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. As three persons, God acts always as a God of love; he does not condemn the world but acts to save it.

The Gospel also calls attention to the response that is required of us. God's love for us calls us to respond in faith by professing our belief in God's son, Jesus, and the salvation that he has won for us. This profession of faith is a sign of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Wishing you all a peaceful and serene time. Stay safe and healthy. May God the father and the son and the Holy Spirit fill you with peace and hope.

SEND O LORD, HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH.

Fr. Sabu Pariyadan RCJ

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Notices:

• From Fr. Sabu: A very special thank you to all for your calls and emails. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support in this season of pandemic. Keep up the good spirit and continue to stay safe and healthy and relax as per the new guidelines. I am regularly praying for you all and most especially for all those suffering with Covid-19. Let us look forward with hope to the new measures which will be discussed between the religious leaders and government officials for the safe reopening of the churches. Let us pray ardently for this intention.
• Youth member to PPC: We have recently held a Pastoral Parish Council meeting to review our parish situation, as we usually do every quarter or thereabouts. We are still looking for a member under the age of 30 yrs. IS THIS YOU? Please, if you think you might like to be involved, let Fr Sabu know.
• Volunteers needed: As you will have been reading in the press, it is hoped that our churches may be allowed to open for private prayer from about 4th July. Of course this is by no means definite. However it is clear that when we do open the church we will need volunteers to open the church, to be there whilst it is open and to clean the church (by wiping down chairs, door handles etc.) at the end of each session. In light of what we know about who may become most seriously ill with Coronavirus, please can we have volunteers age 69 yrs and younger. If you can help, please let Father Sabu know, including days/times you would be available. We have already obtained cleaning materials.
• Keeping In Touch: As a parish, we have our website, Facebook and the email chain to keep us in touch. The SVP have been phoning some of those among us who do not have internet access. Please, if you know someone who would like to see our news, and if you cannot print off from the webpage for them, do let Father Sabu know, so that we can produce hard copy and arrange to deliver it.
• The Brentwood Catholic Children's Society (bccs) is unable to host its popular Ascot Ladies' Lunch this year but is asking for people to get involved in their 'Hats On for bccs' event in their homes or gardens at some point on Friday 19th June or over that weekend. We are asking for families to have a little get-together at home or via an on-line medium, put on their hat or fascinator, raise a glass to absent friends and make a small donation to our fundraising page: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/Hatsonforbccs.
  Everyone is welcome to get involved - read more on our website https://www.bccs.org.uk/fundraising-and-events/all-events/hats-bccs. Thank you for your support at this difficult time.
• Corpus Christi, Sunday 14th June, 10.30am Mass for Holy Communion children and their families. With a special message from Bishop Alan, and music recorded before lockdown from children's choirs across the Diocese, this Mass will be celebrated as a children's Mass, with simplified readings, and intercessions recorded by Holy Communion children. The Mass will be offered for the children and their families. On both YouTube and Instagram we are BrentwoodCYS, and more details of the Mass are at https://bcys.net/events/corpuschristi/
• Looking out for our friends: If you know any of our parishioners or your neighbours, who live alone and who may not be using the new world media and communication technologies like internet and smart phones, it would be great if you have their telephone numbers, to give a call and offer words of support and make them feel connected.
• Parish Email Chain: There is a parish group of email chain circulating around, connecting people and sharing their lockdown activities and advices. So if you wish to be added to the email chain please click here to Email the parish address or click here to Email directly to Margaret cook who is coordinating it. Thank you all for the good job.
• St Paul In Acts: During the Easter period we have been hearing excerpts from the Acts of the Apostles at the Liturgy of the Word at Mass. It is from Scriptures such as these, which point to the priorities of Christian faith lived in the world, that we can reinvigorate our faith as we go forward from Pentecost to face new problems for the world and for the Church. Fr Adrian Graffy, Scripture scholar and parish priest of Gidea Park, has prepared a new talk 'Paul in Acts' which can be accessed by going to www.whatgoodnews.org/faith-talks
• Director of Communications The Diocese of Nottingham seeks to appoint a Director of Communications to work with the Bishop of Nottingham and the Parishes, Chaplaincies and Schools of the Diocese to lead the development and implementation of an effective communications framework across the Diocese, promoting the Diocesan Vision and Mission and the three themes of Encounter, Discipleship and Missionary Discipleship. This would suit a committed Catholic with a strong track record in communications; an experienced media professional (or journalist) who has recently been involved in leading communications in a dispersed organisation. Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 dependent on qualifications and experience. For more information and an application pack click here to EMail. Closing date 22 June 2020.
• The Good Friday Collection for the Holy Places, mandated by the Holy See, will now take place on the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross.

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Novena for the Safe Re-opening of the Churches and the Restoration of Public Mass as soon as possible:

The following Litany will be said by Catholics across the UK from Sunday, 26th April, until the following week Monday, 4th May, the Feast of the English Martyrs.

Please join us. If you hear about it later than those dates, please join anyway. This novena petitions Our Lord, the Good Shepherd, that it may be safe to re-open Churches and restore public Masses as soon as possible.

The Litany of the Sacred Heart

For the Intention that it may be safe to re-open the Churches and restore public Masses as soon as possible, we pray:

Lord, have mercy on us.
-	Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
-	Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
-	Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
-	Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
-	Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
-	Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Formed by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mother,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Substantially united to the Word of God,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Of Infinite Majesty,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Holy Temple of God,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Tabernacle of the Most High,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, House of God and Gate of Heaven,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Burning Furnace of charity,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Vessel of Justice and love,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Full of goodness and love,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Abyss of all virtues,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Most worthy of all praises,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, King and centre of all hearts,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, In Whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, In Whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Divinity,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in Whom the Father is well pleased,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Of Whose fullness we have all received,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Desire of the everlasting hills,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Patient and abounding in mercy,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Rich unto all who call upon Thee,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Fountain of life and holiness,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Atonement for our sins,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Filled with reproaches,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Bruised for our offenses,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Made obedient unto death,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Pierced with a lance,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Source of all consolation,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Our Life and Resurrection,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Our Peace and Reconciliation,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Victim for our sins,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Salvation of those who hope in Thee,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Hope of those who die in Thee,
-	Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Delight of all the Saints,
-	Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world,
-	Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world,
-	Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world,
-	Have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
-	Make our hearts like unto Thine.

Let us pray.

Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Thine most-beloved Son, and upon the praises and satisfaction He offers Thee in the name of sinners; and appeased by worthy homage, pardon those who implore Thy mercy, in Thy Great Goodness in the name of the same Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Amen.

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Please remember to pray for:

Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese

The sick and housebound

Those who have recently died

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