Sunday is the Feast of Divine Mercy. There will be devotions in our Church that afternoon at the following times:

Chaplet and Blessing of Images, 2:30pm

Three O’Clock Prayer

Mass with Hymns, 3:10pm

Adoration, 3:45pm

Benediction, 4:30pm

Confessions will be heard during that time.

Please note that Vespers and Benediction will take place as usual at 5:30 and 6pm.

…from the Fathers and Brothers, and some photographs of the High Mass on Easter Sunday.

Our team of young public speakers has gone from triumph to triumph in the Rotary Club “Youth Speaks” competition. Brian Clarke, Natasha Seneviratne and Michael Jacobs defeated teams from across the Thames Valley on 20th March and then went on to win the South East regional final on 24th March. The judges described them as the “clear winners”. They now go on to speak once more about “The green-eyed monster” on 28th April at the University of Hull, where they will compete against teams from all over Great Britain and Ireland.

PALM SUNDAY – 24th March

Saturday Vigil Mass: 6.30pm

Latin Mass (1962): 8am

Parish Mass: 9.30am

Solemn Mass & Blessing of Palms: 11am

Vespers & Benediction: 5.30pm

Evening Mass: 6.30pm

Confessions before all Masses

MONDAY, TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

Mass at 7.30am, 10am & 6pm ;

Stations of the Cross at 10.30am

Confessions before all Masses

MAUNDY THURSDAY – 28th March

Low Mass: 12 noon

MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER at 8pm

Watching at the Altar of Repose until midnight

Compline: 11.45pm

Confessions: 11am-12noon and before Mass

GOOD FRIDAY – 29th March

Matins and Lauds: 9am;

Children’s Stations of the Cross: 11am

LITURGY OF THE LORD’S PASSION at 3pm

Stations of the Cross: 7pm

Confessions: 10am-12noon and 1.45-2.45pm

HOLY SATURDAY – 30th March

Matins and Lauds: 9am

THE EASTER VIGIL at 8pm

Confessions: 10am-6pm

!!! PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CLOCKS GO FORWARD ONE HOUR TONIGHT !!!

EASTER SUNDAY – 31st March

Latin Mass (1962) 8am

Parish Mass: 9.30am

Solemn Mass: 11am

Vespers & Benediction: 5.15pm

Evening Mass: 6.30pm

Confessions before all Masses

This year’s Paschal Candle, beautifully decorated as ever by Freddie Quartley, brings out themes from the Year of Faith.

At the bottom of the candle we see St Peter being held up by the Lord as he walks across the Sea of Galilee:

“And the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were troubled, saying, It is an apparition. And they cried out through fear. But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, “Take courage; it is I: be not afraid.”

And Peter answering him said, Lord, if it be you, command me to come to you upon the waters. And he said, Come. And Peter, having descended from the ship, walked upon the waters to go to Jesus. But seeing the wind strong he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me.” And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught hold of him, and says to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they had gone up into the ship, the wind fell. But those in the ship came and did homage to him, saying, “Truly you are God’s Son.”” (Matthew 14: 26-32)

The picture at the top of the candle shows St Thomas putting his hand into the Lord’s wounds:

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: “Peace be to you.” Then he said to Thomas: “Put in your finger here, and see my hands; and bring here your hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered, and said to him: “My Lord, and my God.” Jesus said to him: “Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.””

The 6pm Mass today was followed by a sung Te Deum to thank God for our new Holy Father.

The Holy Father, before he gave his blessing, asked the crowds gathered in front of St Peter’s to pray for him. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit may continue to guide the Church and keep Pope Francis faithful to his service.

Let us pray for Francis, our Pope.

May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.

Our Father. Hail Mary.

O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all thy faithful people, look mercifully upon thy servant Francis, whom thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over thy Church. Grant him, we beseech thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, he may attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray.
O God, eternal shepherd,
who govern your flock with unfailing care,
grant in your boundless fatherly love
a pastor for your Church
who will please you by his holiness
and to us show watchful care.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

May the wondrous grace of your majesty,
we pray, O Lord,
gladden us with the gift of a shepherd
who will instruct your people by his virtues
and imbue the minds of the faithful
with the truth of the Gospel.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us. Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.

St Michael, pray for us.
All holy angels, pray for us.

St Joseph, pray for us.

St Peter, pray for us.
St Paul

St Linus
St Anacletus
St Clement I
St Evaristus
St Alexander I
St Sixtus I
St Telesphorus
St Hyginus
St Pius I
St Anicetus
St Soter
St Eleuterus
St Victor I
St Zephyrinus
St Callixtus I
St Urban I
St Pontian
St Anterus
St Fabian
St Cornelius
St Lucius I
St Stephen I
St Sixtus II
St Dionysius
St Felix I
St Eutychian
St Caius
St Marcellinus
St Marcellus I
St Eusebius
St Militiades
St Sylvester I
St Mark
St Julius I
St Damasus I
St Siricius
St Anastasius I
St Innocent I
St Zosimus
St Boniface I
St Celestine I
St Sixtus III
St Leo I
St Hilarius
St Simplicius
St Felix III
St Gelasius I
St Symmachus
St Hormisdas
St John I
St Felix IV
St Agapetus I
St Silverius
St Gregory the Great
St Boniface IV
St Adeodatus I
St Martin I
St Eugene I
St Vitalian
St Agatho
St Leo II
St Benedict II
St Sergius I
St Gregory II
St Gregory III
St Zachary
St Paul I
St Leo III
St Stepehn IV
St Paschal I
St Leo IV
St Nicholas I
St Adrian III
St Gregory VII
St Celestine V
St Pius X
Bd Pius IX
Bd John XXIII
Bd John Paul II
All holy Popes

St Aloysius
St Philip Neri
All holy men and women

That you would be pleased to govern and preserve your holy Church, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would grant peace and unity to the whole Christian people, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would strengthen and preserve us in your holy service, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would lead all people to the light of the Gospel, we beseech you, hear us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.

Let us pray.
O God, eternal shepherd,
who govern your flock with unfailing care,
grant in your boundless fatherly love
a pastor for your Church
who will please you by his holiness
and to us show watchful care.

O God the source of all holy desires,
right counsels, and just works,
grant to your servants that peace which the world cannot give;
that our hearts may be wholly devoted to your service,
and that, freed from the fear of our enemies,
we may pass our days in quietness under your protection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

As the cardinals prepare to go into conclave on Tuesday to elect the 265th successor to St Peter, we must pray especially to the Holy Spirit for them and for the whole Church. To this end, we will be having a Holy Hour tomorrow (Monday) from 5 to 6pm.

Mr Aidan Mackey, creator of the G K Chesterton Library, gave a talk to the CS Lewis Society last week, which he described as his “swan song”. Mr Mackey knew Dorothy Collins, Mrs Cecil “Keith” Chesterton as well as other Chesterton associates. He spoke entertainingly about his memories of them. He managed to persuade a young audience of the importance of GK Chesterton today, and gave a brilliant recitation from memory of some of Chesterton’s poetry.

The Chesterton Library will of course be housed in the new Oratory Library, which will make it accessible for the first time and enable the items in it to be properly looked after. They include not only first editions of Chesterton’s works, but also items such as his toy theatres, walking stick and hat.

To find out more, visit: The G K Chesterton Library Blog

There will also be memorabilia of C S Lewis to be found in the Oratory Library. Here Aidan Mackey stands with Walter Hooper, former private secretary to CS Lewis and his biographer.

Photography by Tom Readings