NEWSLETTER

Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of Tony Weston, Les Rickards, Bill Nunn and Richard Byrne who have all died recently. May they rest in peace.

Confession

Attention All Gift Aid Donors.

The tax year 2020 / 2021 will be coming to an end on 5th April and the Parish will then undertake the process of claiming back the Gift Aid refunds on donations made during the year. If your circumstances have changed and you no longer pay income tax or the amount paid has reduced, please let Father Anthony know or contact Barry Johnson or Louise Sadio, the local organisers ( 01952 403440 ) by the 5th April, otherwise it will be assumed you have paid sufficient income Tax for the Parish to reclaim Gift Aid on donations made during the year.

If anyone wishes to join the Gift Aid Scheme for the first time, or needs any more information please use the same number ( 01952 403440).

 
Further details of the Gift Aid Scheme and weekly donations can be found on the parish Website: SS Peter & Paul Church Newport

Date	Time	Service	Intention
Sunday 11 April	Mass 9.15	Second Sunday of Easter Divine Mercy Sunday	Parishioners
Monday 12 April	Mass 10.00	Monday of 2nd Week of Easter	Assunta Gelder
Tuesday 13 April	Mass 10.00	Tuesday of 2nd Week of Easter St Martin 1, Pope	Bill Nunn
Wednesday 14 April		Wednesday of 2nd Week of Easter
Thursday 15 April		Thursday of 2nd week of Easter
Friday 16 April	Mass 10.00	Friday of 2nd week of Easter	Prince Philip
Saturday 17 April		Saturday of 2nd week of Easter St Stephen Harding
Sunday 18 April	Mass 9.15	Third Sunday of Easter	Parishioners

Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter. It is based on the revelations of St. Faustina Kowalska, which recommended a particular devotion to the Divine Mercy.  The devotion was actively promoted by Pope John Paul II. On April 30, 2000, the date of her canonisation, and the second Sunday of Easter, it was officially designated as the Sunday of the Divine Mercy. St. Faustina said Divine Mercy is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the risen Christ and offers to humanity.

Regina Coeli Traditionally said after Compline in the Easter season

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia!

For he whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia,

Has risen as he said, alleluia!

Pray for us to God alleluia!

Wilf McSherry from our sister parish in Market Drayton has now received, after a long journey, confirmation from Bishop Mark that he will be ordained as a Permanent Deacon on 24 July at 12 noon. The event will take place at the largest church in the diocese – St Michael & All Angels, Birkenhead CH49 5LB to allow for any Covid-19 restrictions still in place at that time. Further details will follow. Wilf would like to thank you for all your prayers and support during his time of formation.

Saint of the Week             St Stephen Harding         

Stephen was born at Sherborne in Dorset,  and died on 28 March, 1134. He was educated at Sherborne, Paris and Rome. Much impressed by the holiness of Robert of Molesmes he joined that community, where he practised great austerities, became one of St. Robert’s chief supporters and was one of the band of twenty-one monks who, by authority of Hugh, Archbishop of Lyon, retired to Cîteaux to institute a reform in the new foundation there. He became Prior, and later Abbot. Stephen, however, insisted on retaining the original strict observance of the Cistercians and was even forced to beg alms from door to door. It seemed as if the foundation were doomed to die out when in 1112 St. Bernard with thirty companions joined the community. This proved the beginning of extraordinary prosperity, and Stephen founded 13 more monasteries. In the Roman calendar his feast is 17 April, but the Cistercians themselves keep it on 15 July, with an octave, regarding him as the true founder of the order. Insisting on simplicity in all aspects of monastic life, Stephen was largely responsible for the severity of Cistercian architecture.  The nearest Cistercian Abbey is Mount St Bernard’s Abbey, Coalville, Leicestershire, which was featured in the recent BBC 4 documentary Brotherhood.

Continued …

Gospel John 20:19-31 Eight days later, Jesus came again and stood among them

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you

 retain, they are retained.’

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him: ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

Commentary The readings today radiate life and joy, and the response to the Psalm God’s love has no end justifies the name of Divine Mercy Sunday. The Gospel takes us back to the times of the Resurrection itself. This was the moment that the disciples (except one) saw Jesus. Previously in John, Peter and the beloved disciple had seen the empty tomb and believed, and only Mary of Magdala had seen the Lord. Thomas was not there and still needed to be convinced that the Lord was alive., actually saying I refuse to believe. Eight days later Jesus appears again and this time Thomas believes in him. Jesus remarks Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe, but he does not rebuke Thomas. Faith is an encounter and a gift from Jesus, such generosity in the face of our reluctance is indeed divine.   Decani Liturgy