Today’s Liturgy The Apostles joined Jesus after their missionary expedition. They were probably elated as they told him all they had done. They had been teaching in villages and performing miracles. Amidst the bustle of busy lives there is always something to do, always something to sort out, always something going wrong. Jesus suggested the Apostles must STOP and come away to some lonely place. In the spiritual life we all need time for the quietness of prayer and being alone with God. We too must put aside the mobile ’phone and the babble of modern life. In the quietness of prayer we can be alone with God. Today, Jesus returns to the theme of the Good Shepherd. He will lead us to restful waters, give us repose and refresh our tired spirits, protect us from harm and lead us to true happiness. He does all this because he is the Good Shepherd, with an intimate knowledge of his sheep. Jeremiah is scathing about useless shepherds. They scatter the sheep and let them wander and get lost. They have no real care for the sheep. In Jesus’ time the false shepherds were the Scribes and Pharisees. When Jesus saw a large crowd he took pity on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. The Good Shepherd leads his sheep to rich pastures beside running water, where they can rest without fear. He is close to them. Goodness and kindness is lavished on them as it is lavished on us.
Psalm 23 Hymn of the Sacraments.
Water of refreshment (Baptism).
Led on paths of justice (Confirmation)
Rod and staff (Penance)
A prepared table (Eucharist)
Walk in the valley of death (Anointing of the sick)
Head anointed with oil and the cup (Holy Orders)
Goodness and kindness all the days of my life (Marriage).
Parish Pastoral Council will meet on Tuesday 23 July at 7.00pm in the Centre. The proposed agenda is on the Parish website. If anyone has any other items they would like to raise please contact John Lally 07970 621 673.
New Hymn Books Our old hymn books are in a bit of a state and will be replaced. If anyone wishes to make a donation towards the new hymn books, it will be most welcome. Please put a donation in an envelope marked Hymn Books and place it in the 200 Club Box. Our thanks to Juliette and Josephine Griggs who were selling bracelets last week. They made £81.65 for the new hymn books. Well done!
Sanctuary Lamp This week the lamp burns in prayer for the Deceased of the Downes and Brindley Families. Why not put in a request for your deceased relatives and friends, Just a £10 offering
8.30 Sunday Coffee Club Thank you to those who attend and make donations for the tea, coffee, and biscuits. The surplus, after costs, is given to local charities. This week £50 was given to each of St Basil's and the Basement Project for their work with young people in Bromsgrove.
200 Club Envelopes for Weekly and Monthly Payers are at the back of church waiting to be snapped up. They should take us into next year. There are application forms at the back for anyone who wants to join the Club.
Maryvale Institute In a new venture between our Archdiocese and St Mary’s University, Twickenham (SMU), 3 of Maryvale’s Programmes (validated by the Open University and Liverpool Hope University) will move to a new Maryvale at St Mary’s. Maryvale Higher Institute of Religious Sciences (HIRS), the first of its kind in the English-speaking world, will serve the Diocese and the wider Church. Two flourishing programmes, the Bachelor of Divinity and Licence in Catechetics degrees are recruiting for academic year 2024/25.
Gas and Electric These figures don’t include maintenance and servicing. In 2022 the total cost for Gas and Electric was £7,084. This figure jumped to £19,073 for 2023. The 1st quarter of 2024 Gas cost £3,232. This year with changing our supplier, confusion and delays, we have only just paid for the Electric we used in Jan 2024. Please keep praying and giving. Fr Thomas has been informed we may have to start burning the church furniture to stay warm in the winter.
Church Cleaners Saturday 27 July Team 2 please and thank you.
200 Club Week 1024 £100 win for Francesca McGowan (No 157)
Standing Orders Very grateful thanks to all of you who make your donations to our Parish by Standing Orders. It makes the administration side of the Accounts much easier. The total donated in June 2024 was £2,765.17. Thank you.
Sick Show favour, O Lord, to your servants who are sick: Pope Francis, Mgr Graham, Fr Tony Rohan, all in hospitals, Care Homes and the housebound. May the risen Lord bring them healing. Strengthen and support all who love and work for the sick. Lord, if you will you can cure me. Amen
Deceased Bring the good news of peace to all who have died: Felix McCoy(1975), Veronica Harris(1980), John Graham(1992), Albert Mason(1993), Delia Joyce(1994), Bill Sullivan(2006), Michael Winwood(2012) and Margaret Hutchins( 2022). Remember all those killed in the horrors of the wars taking place in Gaza, Iraq, Israel, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen. Welcome especially those killed in wars they do not understand. May all the dead pass to newness of life with the risen Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear us. Amen.
Psalm 23 Hymn of the Sacraments.
Water of refreshment (Baptism).
Led on paths of justice (Confirmation)
Rod and staff (Penance)
A prepared table (Eucharist)
Walk in the valley of death (Anointing of the sick)
Head anointed with oil and the cup (Holy Orders)
Goodness and kindness all the days of my life (Marriage).
Parish Pastoral Council will meet on Tuesday 23 July at 7.00pm in the Centre. The proposed agenda is on the Parish website. If anyone has any other items they would like to raise please contact John Lally 07970 621 673.
New Hymn Books Our old hymn books are in a bit of a state and will be replaced. If anyone wishes to make a donation towards the new hymn books, it will be most welcome. Please put a donation in an envelope marked Hymn Books and place it in the 200 Club Box. Our thanks to Juliette and Josephine Griggs who were selling bracelets last week. They made £81.65 for the new hymn books. Well done!
Sanctuary Lamp This week the lamp burns in prayer for the Deceased of the Downes and Brindley Families. Why not put in a request for your deceased relatives and friends, Just a £10 offering
8.30 Sunday Coffee Club Thank you to those who attend and make donations for the tea, coffee, and biscuits. The surplus, after costs, is given to local charities. This week £50 was given to each of St Basil's and the Basement Project for their work with young people in Bromsgrove.
200 Club Envelopes for Weekly and Monthly Payers are at the back of church waiting to be snapped up. They should take us into next year. There are application forms at the back for anyone who wants to join the Club.
Maryvale Institute In a new venture between our Archdiocese and St Mary’s University, Twickenham (SMU), 3 of Maryvale’s Programmes (validated by the Open University and Liverpool Hope University) will move to a new Maryvale at St Mary’s. Maryvale Higher Institute of Religious Sciences (HIRS), the first of its kind in the English-speaking world, will serve the Diocese and the wider Church. Two flourishing programmes, the Bachelor of Divinity and Licence in Catechetics degrees are recruiting for academic year 2024/25.
Gas and Electric These figures don’t include maintenance and servicing. In 2022 the total cost for Gas and Electric was £7,084. This figure jumped to £19,073 for 2023. The 1st quarter of 2024 Gas cost £3,232. This year with changing our supplier, confusion and delays, we have only just paid for the Electric we used in Jan 2024. Please keep praying and giving. Fr Thomas has been informed we may have to start burning the church furniture to stay warm in the winter.
Church Cleaners Saturday 27 July Team 2 please and thank you.
200 Club Week 1024 £100 win for Francesca McGowan (No 157)
Standing Orders Very grateful thanks to all of you who make your donations to our Parish by Standing Orders. It makes the administration side of the Accounts much easier. The total donated in June 2024 was £2,765.17. Thank you.
Sick Show favour, O Lord, to your servants who are sick: Pope Francis, Mgr Graham, Fr Tony Rohan, all in hospitals, Care Homes and the housebound. May the risen Lord bring them healing. Strengthen and support all who love and work for the sick. Lord, if you will you can cure me. Amen
Deceased Bring the good news of peace to all who have died: Felix McCoy(1975), Veronica Harris(1980), John Graham(1992), Albert Mason(1993), Delia Joyce(1994), Bill Sullivan(2006), Michael Winwood(2012) and Margaret Hutchins( 2022). Remember all those killed in the horrors of the wars taking place in Gaza, Iraq, Israel, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen. Welcome especially those killed in wars they do not understand. May all the dead pass to newness of life with the risen Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear us. Amen.