Apr 12th 2025

PALM SUNDAY - 13th April 2025

Dear Parish Family,

Holy Week is a profound time in the Christian liturgical calendar, marking the culmination of Lent and leading us into the celebration of the Paschal Mystery. It invites us to reflect deeply on the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. And that journey begins with Palm Sunday, a day which is filled with both joy and sorrow as we commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and anticipate His impending passion.

In Year C of the reading cycle, Palm Sunday presents a rich tapestry of scripture before us. The Gospel begins with the account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-40), where He is greeted by crowds waving palm branches, proclaiming Him as the King. This moment of celebration contrasts sharply with the events that follow, highlighting the dual nature of the Great Week ahead. The crowd’s joyful acclamation transforms into cries for His crucifixion, reminding us of the fickleness of public opinion and the depth of human sin.

The second part of the liturgy presents the Passion narrative (Luke 22:14-23:56), where we witness the betrayal, suffering, and ultimate death of Christ. This reading invites us to engage with the gravity of His sacrifice and the profound love He demonstrated for humanity. As we enter Holy Week, Palm Sunday serves as a poignant reminder to reflect on our own hearts, our call to discipleship, and the transformative power of that Christ’s love can have on us, which leads us ultimately to the joy of Easter and new and eternal life.

As we walk with Christ our Lord through this coming Great Week, may He give us profound blessings.

Father Victor

HOLY WEEK BEGINS

13th April

THIS SUNDAY - PALM SUNDAY

Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.15 am.

PROCESSION OF PALMS AND HIGH MASS at 10.00 am.

14th April

MONDAY

Chrism Mass with Bishop Paul in Lichfield Cathedral at 11.00 am.

Low Mass and Address at 7.00 pm.

15th April

TUESDAY

Low Mass and Address at 7.00 pm.

16th April

WEDNESDAY

Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.00 am.

Low Mass and Address at 12.15 pm.

17th April

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.00 am.

Preparing the Church for the evenings Mass and Watch from 10.00 am

SOLEMN MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER at 6.30 pm.

18th April

GOOD FRIDAY

Vigils and Lauds at 9.00 am.

Children’s Liturgy and Party at 12 noon.

SOLEMN LITURGY OF THE LORD’S PASSION at 6.00 pm.

19th April

HOLY SATURDAY

Vigils and Lauds at 9.00 am.

Preparing and Decorating the Church for the Vigil and for Easter from 10.00 am.

THE BLESSING OF THE NEW FIRE AND THE EASTER CANDLE WITH VIGIL AND THE FIRST MASS OF EASTER at 8.00 pm.

20th April

EASTER SUNDAY

Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.15 am.

FESTAL HIGH MASS followed by Children’s Easter Egg Hunt at 10.00 am.

TEA AND COFFEE IS AVAILABLE AFTER MASS ON SUNDAYS - DO JOIN US FOR FELLOWSHIP.

PARISH NEWS

OUR HALF HOUR BIBLE STUDY GROUP ON SUNDAY This is a regular meeting that takes place after Sunday Mass and Coffee every week - Father Tunji leads us to reflect more closely on the Holy Scriptures, which are one of God’s most precious gifts to us. Bibles texts will be supplied.

YOUTH GROUP

The Youth Group meets for a Meal, for Fellowship, Discussion or some other Activity, usually at 6.45 pm on Wednesdays in the Vestry Hall.

LENTEN GIVING: This year is for the Additional Curates Society and in support of future Ordinands. Please start to bring back the collecting boxes to Church.

CONFESSIONS - As well as Saturday mornings, the Sacrament of Confession can be celebrated 20 minutes before any of the Weekday Masses and immediately afterwards. Please speak to Father Victor, Father Ian or Father Tunji.

PREPARING THE CHURCH FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER - We will need help on Maundy Thursday morning from 10 am to prepare the Altar of Repose and its flowers together with the Church in readiness for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and the Watch.

We will also need help from the Parish family on Holy Saturday morning from 10 am to prepare and beautify the Church for the Easter Vigil and for Eastertide in general. We want the Church to be alive with flowers, clean and with all the statues, shrines and candles restored and sparkling. PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO ASSIST.

REPOSITORY - OUR PIETY STALL

This is open before and after Mass on Sundays and weekdays selling a wide range of items from religious cards, rosaries, books, crucifixes and icons to mugs, fridge magnets, church diaries, pens and note books.

THE PROCEEDS OF EVERYTHING WE SELL ON OUR PIETY STALL GOES TOWARDS WELL NEEDED CHURCH FUNDS.

Items can be seen in the glass case by the font at the back of church and in the glass case in the Vestry Hall. Please take a look.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL takes place each and every Sunday during school term time. If you have children between the ages of 5 - 12 they will be most welcome from 10 am in the Vestry Hall. Hope to see you there.

FATHER VICTOR IS ALSO BROTHER CUTHBERT OF THE BENEDICTINE COMMUNITY OF THE HOUSE OF INITIA NOVA - WHAT’S THIS ABOUT?

We are a Christian and monastic community officially recognized by the American Episcopal Church (our Sister Church in the United States). This means we are an officially recognised community of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

And may be its for you. What are you looking for? Does life seem like one distraction after an other – and yet the end is never insight? Does one’s history keep you from becoming more?

Do you yearn to live a more intentional, Christian life?

If any of these ring true, you may be the perfect inquirer into Religious Life.

If you are someone who desires a Contemplative life, God – You  – Community; centered in prayer, dating back 1,500 plus years yet speaking to contemporary life: this Benedictine House may be what you are looking for!!

Members are found in the United States, England, Scotland, Cuba, Australia.

For more information: houseofinitianova@org

Motherhouse is in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Abbot Michael-John Austin – Superior – tel:2816304842

So, if you are interested in knowing more, please speak to Father Victor / Brother Cuthbert.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PRAYERS or Mass intentions you would like me to offer at Mass or if would like someone added to our parish prayer list of the Sick or Departed.

My contact details are as follows:

Telephone: 07714190663

Email: Vicarstmartin@outlook.com

I am also available in person during Surgery Hour on Saturday’s in Church between 10.30am - 11.30am.

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION AND RECONCILIATION is also available at this time.

Please continue to remember the following in your prayers:

For a good keeping of Holy Week, that the Lord will draw us ever closer to Himself.

For our Church community, that we may continue to grow into the likeness of Our Lord through worship, prayer and service.

For our young church members who have recently made their First Holy Communion and for our newly Confirmed.

To offer thanks for the glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, for our salvation and the gift and pledge of new and abundant life.

For our Parish that we may emulate him in our faithfulness to the Gospel and its proclamation and to the care of our brothers and sisters in their need.

For our Bishop Paul and all the Parishes that look to him in the See of Oswestry.

For our Sunday School and for the children attending.

That the gifts of the Holy Spirit may be ours so that we may grow our Parish and serve the people of Fenny and Bletchley more effectively.

For the successful implementation of our ‘Growing Healthy Churches’ initiative.

For a deepening of our faith and a greater commitment to Christ.

For the strength to remain firm in our Christian faith and to give witness to it through our own example.

For the people of Israel and Palestine and for an ending of the conflict there.

For an end of war in the Ukraine and in Somalia and the re-establishment of Peace.

That we may continue to remember, the needs of those so less fortunate than ourselves.

For those at school, college or University, that they may be kept safe and well.

For those who work, particularly those who have families or other dependents.

For our new Government, that in this time of rising costs we may see increased integrity within the world of politics.

For peace to reign within our homes and between one another.

For the elderly, housebound and those living in residential and nursing homes.

For our Ambulance Service and for our other Emergency Service Staff and for Milton Keynes Hospital and all who work there.

For Father Victor, Father Ian, Father Tunji and for all parish clergy as they seek to continue to make present in our midst the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, the other Sacraments of Christ and offer continuing Pastoral care.

For our now fully recognised Monastic Community of the House of Initia Nova of the Order of Saint Benedict and for its Motherhouse in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

For it’s Abbot, Michael-John Austin, for all of the community and for those new to its life.

For the Sick:

For Margaret Namisi, Yvonne and Denis Simpson, Gary Ashby, Heather Burke, June Reid, and Nicola Monaghan.

For the Departed:

For Oblate Pat, Agnes Ashiono, Jannetta Doan and all the recently departed, and for Dorothy Russell, Denzil Pateman, Arthur Eames and all whose anniversaries fall at this time.

Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord.

And let Light Perpetual shine upon them.

May the Lord be with us all as we begin our keeping of Holy Week and Easter.

Every Blessing.

Father Victor (Brother Cuthbert)