ST. BENEDICTS R C CHURCH OWEN STREET, ATHERSTONE,

WARWICKSHIRE, CV9 1DG Tel: 01827 713177,

Website: st-benedicts-atherstone.org Parish 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 Cake Stall next weekend: Calling all Bakers! Please help if you can - cakes, biscuits, pastries, any home produce much appreciated by our customers. All proceeds give a boost to Church funds.

Summer Fete Saturday 27th June 1.00-4.00pm on the School Field. Please put the date in your diary. This is a joint venture, Parish and School working together to raise much-needed funds. Coming soon - a list in the porch for names of volunteer helpers and a box for donations of gifts for the various stalls and games.

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 thatthere be a collection towards Parish Funds. All are welcome.

Some Ecumenical Events

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

Future Plans

Prayer Group - Scripture Group - After advertising the possibility of these groups for several weeks, a number of people have signed the sheet in the porch to express interest. Perhaps now we could meet to discuss the practicalities - the format of the group meetings, frequency, day and time of meetings and venue. Fr Paul would like to propose a meeting in the Hall on Thursday evening 14th May after the 7.00pm Mass (i.e. at about 7.40pm). Since a number of people have signed up for both groups, you are all invited to this initial meeting to discuss the way forward. If you are unable to attend, it would be helpful if you could let Fr Paul know your thoughts and preferences regarding frequency and day and time for the meetings. It might be a good option, especially for the Scripture group to begin with a limited series of meetings - for example, 6 weekly meetings leading up to the summer, followed by a further series of meetings in the Autumn.

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.

6th SUNDAY of EASTER (B)Sat 9th May 4.00 pm Vigil of Sunday The Gomes Family

Sun 10th May9:30 am 12 noon

6th OF EASTER 1st Com Committment

For the Parishioners Private Intention

Mon 11th May - No Mass

Tues 12th May 7:00 pm EASTER FERIA

Wed 13th May 10.00 am EASTER FERIA

Thurs 14th May 7:00 pm Feast of St Matthias

Fri 15th May 10.00 am EASTER FERIA Jane Power

Sat 16th May 4.00 pm Vigil Mass Rosa & George Wood

Sun 17th May 9:30am Feast of the Ascension For the Parishioners

AnniversariesWe pray for all our deceased relatives and friends especially those anniversaries fall at this time,, George Tite, Ronald Smith, Susan Egan, Michael Clifford, John McDonald, Tom Geraghty, Winifred Cullen, Tennyson Roberts, Susannah Atkins, Mary Ann Foody, Dorothy MccLoughlin, Liam Shuttleworth, Mary Ann Hearns, Kathleen Charnell. May they Rest in Peace.

"Tha

t in a

ll thin

gs G

od m

ay b

e glo

rified

St.

Bene

dictThe Liturgy & the Care of the Church

Readers this week: Readers next week: Sat: Grace W, Cerys, Enya and Robert

Sun: Ellie, James

Offertory Procession this week: A Senter & Co. Eucharistic Ministers D. Leaper T. Willmott Next Week T. Wright D. Dickens Church Cleaning - Mr & Mrs Wrobel Altar Society - ------------------

Money MattersCollections last week: Ist - 248.54 2nd - 149.40 - thank you!

Next week, it is proposed to hold a special 2nd Collection for the crisis in Nepal.

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

TOTE: Nos 13 & 36 Payout 48.48 1 winner Snowball next wee 11

More ItemsBible Alive - May 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 Ist Communion - this will take place on Sunday 10th May at 11.30am.

Baptism - We welcome and congratulate Ben Peter Spencer, who was baptised here on Saturday 9th May. Ben will be making his first Holy Communion next month with the other children. Let's pray for them all, that they would experience the joy of Jesus' presence in their lives.

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. Today's reading (especially the 2nd and Gospel readings) speak about loving one another. But it is important to understand that the call to love is not simply a moral exhortation. So often the Christian message has been reduced to this. Actually, it's not really possible - we probably realise this and just have it as a kind of ideal which we know we cannot really attain. We opt for doing what we can - loving those we get on with. But the Gospel message is primarily about the love God has for us. This love of the Father is something that Jesus himself experiences and because of that experience, Jesus shares and reveals that same love to us. The key thing therefore, is to know and experience the love that Jesus has for us, and through the gift of the Spirit, to know and experience the love of the Father. The Father has the same love for us as he has for his beloved Son! We are invited today to open our hearts to the love Jesus has for us!