From time to time you will have heard about the “Second Vatican Council” and many of us of a certain age tend to forget that this took place almost 50 years ago and we often assume that everyone knows about it – the election of Pope John XXIII and the sheer joy and expectancy that he brought, not just to the Catholic Church but to the whole world.

However many of you were born long after this and some of you have asked for some homilies about Vatican II, so I shall preach about this on the following three Sundays: -

· May 16^th (Ascension): the Setting and Context of Vatican II (1962-65)

· May 23^rd (Pentecost): Lumen Gentium (Christ the Light of Humanity)- the Council’s key document on the nature of the church

· May 30^th (Trinity): Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope) –the Council’s key document on the relationship of the church to the modern world

Vatican II is arguably the most important religious event of the 20^th Century. It began to change the way in which the church understood itself as being not just for Catholics or Christians but for the entire human family. Much still needs to be “unpacked” from the sixteen authoritative documents of the Council, which are a charter for the future of the church.     

I hope you will get some value from these homilies and it may be that you would like to discuss them at some point during the summer ...... I am up for it if you are!

Welcome to Mass today and a special welcome to our uniformed organisations at 11.30am. Our community is growing by the week and this is a cause of great joy and hope (Gaudium et Spes). Do come in for coffee after Mass – and don’t forget to fill a Parish Registration Form (in porch) and return to Presbytery asap (283 Crescent Drive).

We welcome today (Sat 2pm) though Holy Baptism, George McDermott (11 mths), his parents Christian and Natasha and godparents Richard, Helen, Paul and Lisa.

Care of the Sick – please remember Elena Lams and Olive Cosgrave in your prayers, and please let me know of anyone in the parish who is ill – thank you.

Notices
Today	3pm Petts Wood Festival Chorus rehearsal at Christ Church, Willett Way
Monday 1o/5/10	Requiem Mass for Kevin Brady RIP at 10am. Kevin was organist here for many years. The family hope that as many parishioners as possible will come. 7pm Confirmation preparation  8.30pm Evangelium – (the Eucharist) (All parishioners most welcome.)
Tuesday 11/5/10	Mass at 7.15pm. 8pm Justice and Peace  - ‘the Heart of the Gospel’ – lots to discuss including Manna Centre; Paul and Rachel in Peru etc so please do come along and help to make the world a more just and peaceful place.
Thursday 13/5/10	7.45pm Mission and Planning Team (MaP)- meeting room.
Tuesday 18/5/10	Confirmation Mass with Bishop Pat at 7.30pm Please pray for our candidates (list in porch)
Wednesday 19/5/10	7pm – Meeting for all parents of First Communion children (ending by 8pm.).  Please note change of date and time

Your favourite music in Petts Wood!

Sunday May 16th

3pm at Christ Church Willett Way

and 7.30pm at St James

Vivaldi’s Gloria, Zadok the Priest by Handel, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach, plus the moving music of the cello with nationally acclaimed artistes Tim Wells and Dominique Wong-Ming.

Don’t miss this popular progrsamme by the Petts Wood Festival Chorus (supporting Demelza House – children’s hospice).

Tickets from Rainbow in Queensway (£7.00) or from our repository on Sunday after Mass.

“Churches Working Together Through Music to Serve the Local Community”

Parish Administration

Experienced in Building and Health and Safety Regulations?  We need a couple of volunteers, who have experience in the building environment, and the associated health and safety regulations, to join the Parish Property Committee, to help us to manage building maintenance on our site.  If you could help please see me after Mass or call me  on 01689  827100 or Pam Lundy - and thank you.

Parish office – Clare Stone (our Parish Administrator) will be returning this week and will be in the office on Mondays and Tuesdays 5pm-10pm.  Our thanks go to Pam Lundy who has acted as Administrator for the past 9 months. Pam’s contribution and professionalism has been fantastic and I am really pleased that Pam will continue to assist on Wednesday mornings 10.30am-1pm.   It would be helpful if you could call during these hours.

LYRA –four young Russian singers from St Petersburg- here again in St James on Saturday May 22^nd 7.30 pm. Retiring collection.  –a great evening!

Fr. Bryan

Mass attendances on Sunday were 642.
Mass Intentions for Sunday 9^th May 2010
Sunday	6pm	Ellen & Frederick Durden RIP (MV Colman)
	10am	Kathleen Jeeves WELF (the Bridle family)
	11.30am	People of the Parish
Monday    Feria	10am	Requiem Mass  for Kevin Brady RIP (No confess/exposition today.)
Tuesday Feria	9.30am	Jan Jakubowicz RIP (Zofia Wocial)
	7.15pm	John Joe Mulcair RIP
Wednesday Feria	9am	Daniel Carrigan RIP (Gwen Carrigan)
Thursday Our Lady of Fatima	9.30am	In thanksgiving for Kenneth Jackson  (M Jackson)
Friday St Matthias	9.30am	Rosina Simmonds RIP (Sheila and Frank Simon)
Mass Intentions for Sunday  16^th May 2010 The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Sunday	6pm	Martin O’Connor RIP (Ned)
	10am	Edith Mary George RIP (the family)
	11.30am	People of the Parish

Morning Prayer:- Monday - Friday at 9.10am

Weekday Masses:- Monday- Friday at 9.30am and Tuesday 7.15pm  

Confessions are heard:- Saturday at 5.30-6pm and Monday at 10-10.30am

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:- Mondays at 10-10.30am

Don’t forget to visit our parish website:  www. stjamespettswood.org

Please make sure you are registered with the parish! (forms on porch) and that our current info is up to date.