Dear Parishioners and Visitors,Today’s Gospel goes back to the Last Supper.

In terms of time and the rhythm of the liturgy, it seems ages ago yet we celebrate it every time we come to the Eucharist (thanksgiving) or the breaking of bread as it was first known.

It’s not the actions of Jesus, though they show how important service is (the washing of the feet), but the NEW COMMANDMENT, which he gave us and nobody can suspend or excuse us from it if we are followers of Jesus. We must love one another (not necessarily LIKE), but forgive, help, and not exploit in anyway another person.

St Paul in 1Cor:13 gives us a practical commentary on what love is. There are no shortcuts to ‘Love one another as I have loved you.

And it is because of that being the First Commandment that the betrayal of children and the vulnerable is all the more shocking in the church. So I draw your attention to the cream sheet which gives the times and dates for our parish to respond to the Bishops of England and Wales call, to do reparation and atonement for the sins of some in the church.

A very valid point raised, by more than one, last weekend was, ‘why should it not be the clergy, religious and others who directly or indirectly should be called to pray.’ The answer is that we are interconnected by virtue of our baptism and so as you attend Mass and pray for those you have never met or heard of, so too with the priest, we pray for the health of the whole body of the church, not part of it.

This weekend we will hear the dulcet tones of Paul O’Donovan who is making an appeal.

Fr Paul has been rescued, welcome back Paul.

Bible Alive: May £1;

 My Day by Day: 50

God Bless Fr John