Dear Parishioners & Visitors,

I am writing this during Election Day. What we end up with or whom, we will not know for 24 hours or longer. There has been much argument and disagreement these past few weeks on the political front. The claims being made or evaded were strong; it would be nice to think they had learned a lesson from recent events. What has happened in politics happened in the early church too and countries today. It’s called human nature, people knowing with varying degrees of certainty what is best for everyone else. We see in today’s reading from Acts, how difficult it was for some early Christians with a Jewish background to accept that other Christians or those who wanted to be Christians would not have to undergo certain rituals which were part of the Jewish way. By reading all of chapter 15 of Acts you will see how Peter and James led the way for the solution that such rituals did not have to be observed by now Jews and now as Christians it is ‘through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved’ 15:11. So Peter and James etc preached that it was the Lord that saves, not a man, not a prophet. If only our politicians would get this, what a more respectful world we would live in!

• Popes visit to GB, 16-19 September - Preliminary Information. It is a state visit as opposed to a pastoral visit. On the 18^th there will be some evening event organised in London (venue not announced yet). On the 19^th he is due to preside at the Mass of Beatification of Cardinal Newman at Coventry at 10am. Both events will be all ticket (called invitations). More information as it becomes available.
• Publication of the English Translation of the Roman Missal will be in 2011, Jan-March or May-July. This will be preceded by a period of catechesis (teaching) as to any changes.
• Congratulations to our First Communicants, their parents, families, catechists and teachers.
• Next Thursday, at 9.30am a Liturgy of the Word.
• On Friday next, May 14^th, the young people of Frimley, Camberley, and Bagshot will be confirmed at OLQH at 7.30pm by Bishop Kieran. Please pray for all.
• Keep in mind our Friday prayer slots in the month of May.
• St. Augustine’s School has been given a slot for the till tokens at Waitrose this month. If you shop there, don’t forget to support the school.
• Various supermarkets also give you schools vouchers which offer things like free computers or sports equipment. Any of these vouchers that you collect at the supermarket tills, we will forward to the schools that serve our children & youth.
• Day by Day – 50p & Bible Alive - £1 in the porch.
• The current edition of ‘The Echo’ is now available – FREE, thanks to our advertisers.

God Bless, Father John