ST. BENEDICTS R C CHURCHOWEN STREET, ATHERSTONE,

WARWICKSHIRE, CV9 1DG Tel: 01827 713177,

Website: st-benedicts-atherstone.orgParish Priest: Mgr. Paul Watson

Finance Secretary: Jo Howe 01827 750214Newsletter: Brian Ingram 01827 704858

email: brianingramocds@gmail.comItems for inclusion in the Newsletter by Thursday Noon

Dates for your Diary Monthly Cake Stall: Future dates :- May 16th/17th and June 27th (at Summer Fete)

Tribute Concert for Noel O'Brien - Hinckley Operatic Society will be performing a tribute concert in memory of Noel O'Brien, who was a member of the Society. This will take place at St Benedict's Church on Friday 15th May at 7.30pm. Entrance is free, but Noel's wife Ann asked that tthere be a collection towards Parish Funds. All are welcome.

Some Ecumenical Events:

Churches Together in Mancetter & Atherstone - Meeting in Trinity Church at 7.30pm on Wednesday 6th May. All welcome.

Joint Service for Pentecost - 24th May at Mancetter Rec, 3 pm. Revd Tony Tooby to preach.

Future Plans

Prayer Group - Fr Paul would like to know if anyone would like to take part in a regular group for prayer. This could probably take place on a weekday evening (after evening Mass, if Tues or Thurs). Primarily, it would be to pray for the parish and to discern God's purposes and the direction He wants to parish to develop and grow. It could involve some teaching also about Worship of God, Scripture, Intercession and Spiritual Warfare. As for regularity - weekly, fortnightly or monthly, as seems appropriate.

Scripture Group - Reading of Scripture plays a vital role in developing our personal relationship with God. We speak to God when we pray, but God speaks to us through his Word. God's Word is essentially Jesus himself, but Jesus communicates through the Scriptures and the power of the Spirit. If you would like to learn more about the Scriptures and how we might use them in our daily lives, then think about joining a group for a regular meeting. List at the back of Church to express your interest in either or both groups.

We extend a warm welcome to everyone worshipping here this weekend, refreshments are served in the Church Hall after 9.30am

Mass, please come and join us, ALL ARE WELCOME.

5th SUNDAY of EASTER (B)Sat 2nd May 4.00 pm Vigil of Sunday Patricia Morris

Sun 3rd May 9:30 am5th SUNDAY OF

EASTER For the Parishioners

Mon 4th May - No Mass

Tues 5th May 7:00 pm EASTER FERIA

Wed 6th May 10.00 am EASTER FERIA

Thurs 7th May 7:00 pmConfirmation

Committment Mass

Fri 8th May 10.00 am EASTER FERIA

Sat 9th May 4.00 pm Vigil Mass

Sun 10th May9:30am

11.30am

6th of EASTER

1st Com Committment For the Parishioners

AnniversariesWe pray for all our deceased relatives and friends especially those anniversaries fall at this time,, John Mulhall, Delina Grubb, Patrick Guilfoyle, Fr Bunce, Maria Morgan, Bill Cunningham, James Milburn, Jaames Madden, Jane O'Grady. May they Rest in Peace.

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ctThe Liturgy & the Care of the ChurchReaders this week: Confirmation Children Readers next week: " " "

Offertory Procession this week: Children Eucharistic Ministers M. Bourne M. Heath Next Week D. Leaper T. Willmott Church Cleaning - Mrs S Batty & Mrs N Osbourne Altar Society - " " " "

Confessions - Saturday 11.30am - 12 noon

Money MattersCollections last week: Ist - 239.46 2nd - 113.06 - thank you!

Gift Aid donors - Please see Tracey (Sat) or Jo (Sun) after Mass

1. Please throw away old envelopes. They will not be accepted any more.2. If you miss a week through holidays etc... please combine your offerings together into one envelope. There is no need to submit multiple envelopes.3. 14 new parishioners joined the Gift Aid in March! Thank you4. Donating your offertory collection by standing order is the parish preferred method and we thank the small but increasing number of people opting to use this method.

TOTE: Nos 11 & 36 Payout 36.36 Rollover - Snowball 10

More ItemsBible Alive - Easter issue - available at the back of the Church - please take one

Unused Rosaries: Do you have unused rosaries tucked away in the cupboard or drawer, we are collecting rosaries to send out to various missions around the world, this appeal is being made by The Catenians who have so far sent out 135,000 rosaries. It would be good if we could give this initiative our support, spare rosaries can be given to Brian Ingram.

Confirmation Candidates - During May and June, children from Year 6 at St Benedict's School will be assisting with the weekend Masses as part of their preparation for Confirmation. Please support them in their roles and keep them in your prayers at this important time in their spiritual lives. To accommodate this there have been some changes to the Readers and Offertory Rotas (new rota is on the notice board in the porch). If this affects you, we hope that you will understand. Thank you!

Mass of Commitment to Confirmation - this will take place on Thursday 7th May at 7.00pm, followed by a short meeting in the Parish Hall for the Confirmation Children and their families. All are welcome to the Mass.

Mass of Commitment to Ist Communion - this will take place on Sunday 10th May at 11.30am.

Parents Evening in preparation for 1st Communion - at 6.00pm on Wed 6th May at St Benedict's School.

The Sick and their CarersPlease pray for Father Andrew, Pat & Maureen Burke, Bridie Symmons, Ada Russell, Winifred Jones, Charlotte Smith, Kath Ford, Ursula Cope, Patricia Carter, Christina Chetwynd, Olive Fortune and Father Paul. Please remember our housebound parishioners in your prayers: Marion Burrows and Marie Aherne .

EastertideAs we continue to celebrate the weeks of Eastertide, our Masses invite us to experience the Risen Jesus in our own lives. Last week marked a transition in the Eastertide readings. Up till last week, each Sunday Gospel presented us with an occasion of encounter with the Risen Jesus. Last week we read from John's Gospel in which Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd. This week, again from John's Gospel, Jesus describes himself as the True Vine. Both of these Gospel readings focus on our relationship with Jesus - but using different images. Last week, the Good Shepherd image invited us to reflect on belonging to Jesus who laid down his life for us. The image of the true vine focuses much more on the interior life of Jesus which, when we are united to him, also flows within us. This life is one of self-sacrificing love, which begins to be manifest in each one of us. If we are not bearing this fruit, it is because we are not maintaining our union with Jesus - through prayer & reading his word in Scripture.