Bishop Pat will be here on Friday (7.30pm) to confirm 32 of our young people.  Please remember them in your prayers:

Aine Coleman                             Phoebe Lams

Phaedra Corteen                       Rachel Loader

Elizabeth Dale                           Beth O’Sullivan

Stella Delf                                   Catherine Price

Rebecca Fleming                      Lysandra Rajakanar

Ellie Griffiths                             Annie Rogerson

Sophie Horner                          Phoebe Rothon

Chola-Marie Ingle                   Darcey Scott

Emily Jones                               Niamh Wakefield

Joe Becton                                  Alex Mocanu

Sam Cassar                                Joe Paris

Guy Clayson                              James Purves

James David                             Matthew Salter,

Sean Forde                               Patrick Scott

Ben McCarthy                         Michael Wickenden

Matthew MacDonald            Thomas Wilson.

Most of these were in retreat last weekend at our diocesan youth centre in Whitstable - and by all accounts had a fantastic time!  Many thanks to Anne Jackson, Zosia Bajorek and Graham Price for leading this group.  Thanks also to all their parents for their support and encouragement.  We hope to keep this group together, and to involve them as young adults in the life and work of the parish.

Bishop Pat will also preside at all Masses here next weekend.  On Saturday afternoon he will visit several of our home communicants, and on Sunday afternoon, he will lead a session with our pastoral teams, and with other members of the parish who hold positions of responsibility.

I hope you will get an opportunity to speak with the Bishop after Mass.

Today:

2^nd collection for Maintenance and Refurbishment Fund (please use Gift Aid envelopes!).  Please note that the hall will be out of action from Monday July 23^rd until the end of August.

Also today:

Sale of oil paintings in aid of CAFOD (back corridor of church) do have a look as you leave church and perhaps buy a canvas - and remember that all donations will be match - funded (i.e. doubled) by the government but this runs out on Wednesday! So we must post our cheque TODAY!

Many thanks to Teresa Wells for organising the sale - and thanks also, of course to her mother, the artist Dorothy Swain.

Mass attendances last Sunday were 701.
Sunday 13/5/12	Sixth Sunday of Easter (B) 6pm – Claire Draper RIP (F & S Simon) 9.15am – Ernie Field well being. (May Field & Family) 11am – People of the Parish
Monday 14/5/12	St Matthias, apostle 9.30am – Martin O’Connor RIP
Tuesday 15/5/12	Feria 9.30am – Edith May George RIP. Wedding Anniversary 68 yrs. (George Family)
Wednesday 16/5/12	St Simon Stock, priest 9.30am – Monsignor John Elliott RIP (M. T. Kelly)
Thursday 17/5/12	Feria 9.30am – Josephine Carland (Liam Carland)
Friday 18/5/12	Feria 9.30am – Brian “Tug” Wilson (M & B McCarthy & Tim Marshall)
Sunday  20/5/12	The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ (B) 6pm – People of the Parish 9.15am – Elwyn Ingrams & Family (Michael Ingrams) 11am – William & Nora Kirwan RIP (Roger & Ellen Wright)
Monday: Finance committee (presbytery, 10.30am). Confirmation rehearsal 7pm in church (with sponsors if possible). Joint PAT/MaP meeting - meeting room at 8.30pm.
Tuesday: Journey in Faith (for those to be received at Pentecost or later in the year).  Presbytery 8pm.
Friday: Confirmation Mass 7.30.pm - Bishop Pat Lynch ss.cc.(Area Bishop).
Saturday: Mass for new Catholics at St. George’s Cathedral (for those received at Easter).  Several of our community will be going (11am)
Next Sunday will be the solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord into Heaven and there will be a 2^nd collection for World Communications Day - the work of the Catholic Church in the media.  Visit the site: www.catholicnews.org.uk – and take a card as you leave Mass today.
Newcomers Afternoon.  Saturday June 9^th.  3.30pm-5pm.  For those who have arrived at St James in the last 12-15 months.  Please make sure you have filled in a registration form.  Invitations will be issued - children welcome.
Bereavement Support Group: We now have a small group of experienced parishioners who would be happy to help those suffering from bereavement - if you would like some support, or know of anyone who might, do let me know and I will make the connection.
Parish Library: Its position upstairs is far from ideal and we plan to re-site the library soon in the back corridor.  In the meantime, do go and have a look.  We have over 500 volumes.  In time we want to develop childrens’ religious books, and also to stock DVDs.
You might like to buy the booklet ‘Brother Roger and Taize’ - published by the CTS - £1.95.  Very good value (in porch.)
Sponsored Fun Run (5 km)!! in aid of the Refurbishment Fund – a ‘final spurt’! Sunday July 8^th after the 11am Mass.  Followed by parish picnic in the garden.  Full details soon.  But please book the date NOW.
Autumn Festival 2012: Would you like to be part of the organising team for this year’s Autumn Festival?  The kickoff meeting is at 8pm in the Social Centre on Wednesday 23rd May and we are looking for team members to help organise this wonderful parish event.
Do remember that worship goes on here apart from Sunday Masses!  Each morning (Mon-Fri), Morning Prayer is said at 9.10am (you may hear the angelus rung) followed by Mass at 9.30am.  On Tuesdays, Mass is followed at 10am by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament - 30 mins of silent adoration. Confessions are also heard at this time, and also on Saturdays from 5.30pm-6pm. All these things are ’stand alone’ – just come along to whatever is possible for you.  It would be really good to see parents of younger children (who are not at work) at the 9.30am Mass on some days.
Coffee is served in the Social Centre after the Wednesday morning Mass, and also after the 9.15am and 11am Masses on Sundays - do come in for a short while.....
Every blessing, Fr Bryan.