Mass of Welcome for new Catholics - a reminder...
There will be a diocesan Mass of Welcome for all new Catholics (and their families, friends, sponsors, catechists, parish priests, etc) on Thursday May 31st at 7pm at St Joseph's Gateshead with Bishop Seamus. (The Cathedral is undergoing further alterations so is not available for this diocesan mass).
All are invited to stay for refreshments after the Mass. Please tell your RCIA people about it. More details |
Using the Sunday Readings
David, from Hartlepool RCIA, writes about using the current Sunday Readings to reflect on our Journey in Faith:
Using the Sunday Readings to reflect on our Journey in Faith
From the Feast of Pentecost to the 11th Sunday of the year B
 For those groups following the cycle of September to May for our Journey in Faith we are now in that quiet period when we have time to reflect on what has passed and build up our energy for the next journey. We will shortly celebrate the Mass of Welcome, which this year will take place at Saint Joseph’s Gateshead, and then we can relax. For those who have a continuous programme of RCIA this is merely a stepping stone in their journey and they will continue into the summer months and beyond.
Over these next few weeks the feasts or solemnities come thick and fast with Pentecost, The Most Holy Trinity and Corpus Christi on successive Sundays until we return for a brief time to the Ordinary 11th Sunday of the year. As these feasts are celebrated every year, with the same or similar scripture passages, it is often difficult to find something new to reflect upon. Perhaps, at this time it is good to remember that the new members of the church are coming to these readings fresh, and possibly for the first time, so the birth of the church and the two pillars of the Trinity and the Eucharist are times of real mystery to them.
Pentecost Sunday is the day when the Holy Spirit is foremost in our minds and hearts. When we hear the first reading from the Book of Acts we can almost feel that ripple of noise going through the crowds as they each hear the Word proclaimed in their own languages. Combine this with the flaming tongues of fire and a real sense of new birth in the Holy Spirit is generated. One of the fascinating facts of this day is when the multinational crowd “all hear”; it reminds us that we, as catechists, speak to people from all walks of life and often from other nationalities but they all hear our words and understand...Download full article |
Bottom Line
 CHURCH OXYMORONS
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.
~ Brief meeting
~ Pastor's day off
~ Clear calendar
~ Volunteer waiting list
~ Concluding remarks
~ Short sermon
~ Short agenda
~ Simple request
~ Quick question
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