If Easter is to be a positive and creative reality in our lives we must co-operate with God. Otherwise it remains just a fantastic (possibly true) story but with no real ‘bite’ in our lives - something that happened a long time ago and a long way away.

But the true power and reality of Easter (the ‘Paschal Mystery’- the dying and rising of Jesus) - is a present reality - and, indeed, we make it present every time we celebrate the sacraments (especially Baptism and the Eucharist.)  We need to ‘ let Jesus Easter in us.’ (G.M.Hopkins). 

The following poem expresses this well.  It is by Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako (Sudan).  Use it in your prayer time - I personally have found it spiritually helpful:

Roll back the stone doors,

The doors of fear,

Fear of difficulties and problems.

- the doors of relying on our own strength;

- the doors of human respect.

And what we call our common sense.

- the doors of our sinfulness

And human frailty

- the doors of mediocrity and laziness.

We pray this Easter for Faith, Lord;

Not for faith in your rising to life

But for faith in your raising us to life with you.

The Good News

Of your resurrection from the dead

Will never spread to the whole world

Without that of our new life in you.

We pray for new vitality

For your Church,

For each one of us.

Call us out of the tomb,

And help us to unbind one another.

Mass attendances last Sunday were 706.
Sunday 29/4/12	Fourth Sunday of Easter (B) 6pm – People of the Parish 9.15am – Kenneth Jackson (M. Jackson) 11am – Helen Alcock RIP (Miriam & Colin Travers)
Monday 30/4/12	Feria 9.30am – Maureen Crossinggum (CWL)
Tuesday 1/5/12	St Joseph the workman 9.30am – Richard Nelligan RIP (Ivy & Dennis Nelligan)
Wednesday 2/5/12	St Athanasius, bishop & doctor of the Church 9.00am – Jean Craen (Mothers’ Prayer Group) (In St James’ School)
Thursday 3/5/12	SS Philip and James, apostles 9.30am – Elizabeth O’Connor RIP (Rosemary Scott)
Friday 4/5/12	The English Martyrs 9.30am – Maria Moody (Marie Morley)
Sunday  6/5/12	Fifth Sunday of Easter (B) 6pm – Kevin Forkan (T. Forde) 9.15am – People of the Parish 11am – Olive Cosgrave RIP (Cosgrave Family)

Today we have a 2^nd collection for Ecclesiastical Education.

Thank you so much for the children’s shoes last week, and also for the Maintenance Fund.

Monday:

Confirmation Group at 7pm.

Readers’ training session (in church) 8.30pm.

CWL at 7.30pm, then an open session with speaker on ‘Religious Rights in the Workplace’ at 8.30.pm. Have you met problems at work because of your faith?  This is an increasingly important issue - please support!

Tuesday:

Journey in Faith (for those being received later in the year) - 281A Crescent Drive at 8pm.

Wednesday:

Mass at 9am in St. James’ School (NOT here).  Year 4 will lead on the theme of Our Lady.  ALL most welcome - coffee in school after Mass.

Thursday:

New Eucharistic Ministers training at 7.30pm (in church).

Baptism rehearsal at 8.15pm (in church).

Friday:

28 of our confirmation candidates will be going with three of our catechists for their retreat at our diocesan youth centre at Whitstable.  Meet at church 4.45pm prompt with light luggage.  We wish them an enjoyable weekend.

Saturday:

Nine adult members of our community will be commissioned at Aylesford by the Archbishop as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist: Susan Scripture, Margaret Riley, Tricia Willard, Gladis Foster, Patricia Cantopher, Christine Dobson, Jim Callinan, Martin Smith and Bruno Cotta.  May they be faithful in their ministry.

Sale of paintings - half price!

On Sunday May 13^th a variety of oil paintings by Dorothy Swain (Fr. Bryan’s mother-in-law) will be on sale in the back porch of the church.  All proceeds will go to CAFOD who will match fund (i.e. double) all money raised but only up to May 17^th.  So please bring your cheque books along on the 13^th.

Dorothy Swain is a Royal Academy trained artist and continues to work in East Sussex.

Mass intentions Please always use the brown envelopes and fill in very clearly.  We get very booked up.  All intentions can now be viewed online.

Do you have your faith card with you?  If not take one from the porch, fill in your name and pop it in your ‘cards’ wallet.  Take some for other Catholic friends and family if you wish.  A simple but effective means of ‘outreach.’

Every blessing for the coming week.  Fr Bryan