Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Saviour to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection.  Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Mass Times Palm Sunday (13th April) 9:30am 11:30am Maundy Thursday (17th April) 7pm Good Friday (18th April) Children Station of the Cross 10.30am Liturgy at 3pm Station of the Cross at 6pm Holy Saturday Vigil Mass (19th April) at 8pm Easter Sunday (20thApril) 9:30am 11:30am

We have had to delay the Confirmation this year, it is likely to be around October time.  Notice will be in newsletter in plenty of time for anyone wishing to make this Sacrament.

Sunday 27th April St Albans Church , Cardiff Confessions 2pm – 4pm 2.30pm Blessing and Veneration of the Image 3pm Divine Mercy Chaplet & the Three o’clock Prayer

Jesus' Body was taken from the Cross Apart from regret, how much we grief at someone's death depends on how much we love that person. And Mary loved Jesus so much that she experienced the most sadness that anyone can imagined. Oh Virgin Mary, Jesus's Heart was like your own heart, so when Cassius pierced Jesus' Side, you felt as if your own heart was pierced also. The sound of the hammering to drove the nails out from His Hands hung on the Cross made you shuddered and pierced with new grief as if expecting to hear His cries again, yet grief renewed at the silence as He was already dead. After received His body onto your lap with great care and love, you beheld Him who looked like a leper, as He was completely covered with bruises and blood. His eyes were lifeless, His mouth as cold as ice, His beard like string, His face paralyzed, His limbs stiffened... Every thorn you plucked out which still left embedded in His Head from the Crown grieved you repeatedly. As you cleansed the Wounds on His Sacred Body from blood clots, dirt, spittle and sweats, they revealed the countless hidden wounds even deep to the bones, they spoke of the horrible Sufferings He endured from the cruelty of men, they reminded you of His Pain once more and renewed your Sorrows again. When Bl Anne Catherine Emmerich contemplated on this scene, she was given the experience of what you has gone through. After she came around from her deathlike faint, she described it as 'sharp anguish like a sword cut through my soul...became like one in death agony'. Our dear Lady, you are the Martyr of Martyrs, as you bear the Sorrows in your heart that should have killed a human being many many times. But your Son left you a very precious gift - John, who became your new child and took you to his own home. We can also be like John by taking Mary into our hearts, and love her by stop hurting Jesus and love Him more from now on. (References: The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations The Prophecies and Revelations of St Bridget of Sweden)

THIS WEEKEND SECOND COLLECTION AT ALL MASSES  This year’s appeal postcards call on the Government to adhere to the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child. Please be as generous as you can to help SPUC defend unborn babies and their mothers.

This weekend, we read the Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Mark: "...Catholics maintain a principled objection to this change in law recognising that every human life is sacred, coming as a gift of God and bearing a God-given dignity...The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will fundamentally change many of the key relationships in our way of life: within the family, between doctor and patient, within the health service. Yet there has been no Royal Commission or independent inquiry ahead of its presentation. It is a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill itself is long and complex and was published just days before MPs voted on it, giving them inadequate time to consult or reflect upon it. The time for debate was minimal. The Committee examining the Bill took only three days of evidence...In contrast to the provisions of this Bill, what is needed is first-class, compassionate palliative care at the end of our lives… No-one should be dispatched as a burden to others. Instead, a good society would prioritise care for the elderly, the vulnerable, and the weak. The lives of our families are richer for cherishing their presence....So, I appeal to you: even if you have written before, please make contact now with your MP and ask them to vote against this Bill..." Right to Life UK has an online mechanism to allow people to submit a message to ask their MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law, and it only takes a few moments. Please access via: https://righttolife.org.uk/asvote

Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’ (John 8:11)

The Crucifixion of Jesus But Mary, Our Lord's Sufferings made you want to follow Him even more. No matter what others said and how they laughed at you. Their threats would not made you back off. You loves God so much and His Will totally became your own will. Like a lover cannot be separated from her Beloved, you follows Him wherever He goes, to the very foot of the Cross, even to death you will not shrink, because love is stronger than death. You watched on, as they stripped off His clothes in order to let Him experienced a shameful death. You witnessed His most painful execution as He was nailed to the Cross. His sweet, clear cries of anguish like a sword that pierced your motherly heart. As you saw your Son hanging pitifully, you was so grieved and heartbroken that you could barely stand up. Because His limbs were like your own limbs and His heart like your own heart. It is true that one can receive consolation by easing the sufferings of their loved ones. But how dreadful it was that you can only watch Him suffered and cannot do anything for Him: Our Lord was burning with fever from the countless wounds and his tongue got so parched that it was drawn back in the throat, as He said: "I thirst." Yet you were unable to give Him even a sip of water to drink. In the midst of His loneliness and feeling of abandonment, He cried: "My Lord and My God, why have you forsaken me?" You can only watched in tears at the foot of the Cross but can't get any closer to offer your embrace. Every drop of Blood that dripped down on the earth for the salvation of mankind brought Him a step closer to His Innocent Death… And Our dear Lord, although He was surrounded by these pains, but when He beheld the griefstricken you and his weeping friends who would rather have suffered His Pain themselves than to see Him tortured in this way; His sorrow over your sorrow exceeded all the bitterness and grief which He had endured in body and heart, for He loved you all so tenderly. Oh Lady, is there any use to go to witness the death of this Son at Calvary? But you know this was everything you could do - by being there with all your heart to offer your compassion. Shame and horror cannot stop you, because you only care for His Suffering and Death. This Lent, may our broken and contrite hearts join Mary's Immaculate Heart at the foot of the Cross, to console Our Lord, to thank His Love and everything He did for us with all our love. (References: The Prophecies and Revelations of St Bridget of Sweden. The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations. The Glories of Mary, by St Alphonsus Liguori)