Holy Thursday 17 April till Good Friday 18 April The Filipino community of the Black Nazarene in the UK will be sending the Suffering Christ statue to St Peter’s Church.
Thank you because these will go towards training of Rosminian students. Please consider to GiftAid your offerings using the white envelopes.
The Burial of Jesus In the past, a widow's hope is on her own children. But Jesus' Passion and Death meant Our Lady's 'only Son' was taken away from her. His Last Word: ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ which made the most sorrowful Mother's whole body trembled in the bitter pain of her heart, still present and fresh in her ears whenever she thought on this cry. Watching Him buried in the cold tomb, how much tears she must have shredded when bidding her final farewell, and how many 'final glance' at her Son she would have took, to a point that she would willingly to be placed alive in the grave with Him! We can imagine this pain as if her heart was torn into pieces, and everything seemed to be lost... How many times had we or saw others vent anger on God during our sufferings? Or falling into depression due to the miseries in lives? But our dear Mother, although in inexpressible anguish, was in peace and had unshaken fortitude. Why? Because of her 'fiat', her total abandonment to God's Will, her perfect faith in the Almighty God. Since she knew that everything had happened according to His Will and could not have happened unless He had allowed it. So she thanked God for everything, thus within her sadness there was even some joy, because she saw that Jesus had, in his great love, wanted to suffer this much for the sins of mankind. Jesus' Sacrifice redeemed our souls and brought us our salvation. And Mary, also loves us so, united her sufferings with her Son's and took part in the Work of Salvation. Not only that, she kept this sorrow within her heart and remained on this earth to be a witness of God's Love for all until her Assumption. May this Lent be a time that we re-examine our relationship with God, a time of realisation of how much He has done for us, and a time to begin to tell our neighbours how much He Loves us! (Reference: The Prophecies and Revelations of St Bridget of Sweden)
The Archdiocese’s Safeguarding Team is working with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to deliver free ‘live’ online training sessions via TEAMS: 1) Professionals / Volunteers Protect (1 April 6-8pm) 2) Digital Resilience (11 June 6-8pm) 3) Understanding Harmful Sexual Behaviour (24 September 6-8pm) 4) Child sexual exploitation awareness (12 November 6-8pm) To book, please contact safeguarding@rcadc.org – stating which date and your name
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)