SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A 23 APRIL 2017

CORPUS CHRISTI WITH ST JOSEPH

REFLECTION

Not so long ago we used to speak of the Sundays ‘after’ Easter. The terminology has changed and we now speak of the Sundays ‘of’ Easter. In other words, we now recognise that the liturgical readings and prayers for each Sunday between Easter and Pentecost invite us into different movements of the one great symphony of resurrection faith.

The first scene in today’s gospel has the disciples hiding behind closed doors “for fear” of those who had handed Jesus over to be executed by the Roman authorities. As supporters of someone executed on a political charge, they had reason to be fearful. Jesus appears among them, offers a greeting of peace, and tells them that he has been sent by God, his ‘Father’. They receive from him the gift of the Holy Spirit. He sends them in turn to bring peace and to mediate the forgiveness of God through the power of the Spirit. The story invites us as believers to place ourselves in the shoes of the earliest disciples. It invites us to receive the gift of the Spirit, to emerge from behind the doors that close us in on ourselves and that prevent us from rising above the fear of reprisals in the pursuit of justice and peace.

The second and third scenes in today’s gospel focus on Thomas who was not with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared in their midst. Thomas seems to trust only his own first hand experience. We all know people like Thomas. They test our patience because they seem to lack imagination. Then they make big statements when they come around to understanding what everyone else has known for a while. If we think, however, that those who hear in the first place are any better than Thomas, we need to note that the doors are still closed eight days later! The simple fact of knowing has not dispelled the fears. Even those who do believe and trust often need time to take the gospel message on board.

Priest: Fr Steven Restori Parish Office: 21 Gladys Avenue, Portsmouth PO2 9AZ tel 023 9266 0927 – [email protected] Corpus Christi Church: Gladys Avenue, North End PO2 9AZ St Joseph’s Church: Tangier Road, Copnor PO3 6JH Parish Sister: Sr Mary Gleavey FMDM 07586 801868 St Joseph Hall Bookings: Mrs Mary Vale 07897 488254 Safeguarding Representative: Elaine Lindsay 07749 200592 www.ccsj.uk 1 SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A 23 APRIL 2017

DIOCESAN NEWS YOUTH NEWS

NEW APOSTOLIC APPOINTED SUNDAY NIGHT EXTRA (11 – 18) An American archbishop who has served as nuncio to Sunday Night Extra is our youth club for young people Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the Philippines has been aged 11 – 18 who would like to explore their faith appointed the ’s ambassador to Great Britain. deeper. We run from 1900-2045 in the St John’s Archbishop replaces Cathedral Hall and a typical evening features time to Archbishop Antonio Mennini, who earlier this year was hang out with your friends, food and then time to transferred to the Secretariat of State, the Vatican explore a different topic of faith. We then aim to finish department responsible for relations with states. For with a time of prayer. There is a suggested £2 the last six years Archbishop Adams, 72, has been donation towards the cost of food. In our next nuncio to Greece. session Helena Finch is coming down from Abingdon to share with us about the Ascent programme for LIFE-PREGNANCY MATTERS - MUSICAL DELIGHTS young leaders. Next Session: Sunday 23 April A FREE Charity concert featuring close Harmony choirs, soloists, musicians and a comedian Friday April ZONED In (Year 5 - 6 Youth Club) 28 at 1930 at the Church of the Sacred Heart and St ZONED In is for young people in school years 5 and 6 Peter the Apostle, London Road Waterlooville PO7 and runs from 1830-2000 at Corpus Christi Catholic 7SR Donations will be appreciated for the Life School, North End. There is a £5 annual membership Pregnancy Care Helpline. Contact R CUTHBERT 023 92 fee plus £1 a week subs. We run a varied programme 79 3085 [email protected] including sports activities, games, arts and crafts as PASTORAL AREA NEWS well as workshops and reflective sessions. For more information or to sign your child up please contact FRIENDS OF BAMENDA QUIZ NIGHT Dom. It’s been a great term, have a great Easter Due to a lack of ticket sales at this time this has been everyone. Next Session: Thursday 27 April postponed until later in the year. SCSP YOUTH (11 – 18) LIFE & SPUC JOINT PETITION On Sunday 7 May we are running our second SCSP To strip Marie Stopes of its licence to carry out Youth Club session for young people in school year 6 abortions after the Care Quality Commission and above. SCSP Youth will run from 1215 – 1400 at St uncovered a catalogue of dangerous and illegal Paul’s in Paulsgrove and is an practices; the appalling treatment of women and opportunity to meet other young people and explore recognising that ever abortion takes the life of an your faith. Bring a packed lunch with you and we can unborn baby. Petition forms at the back of the church. all eat together – nibbles and drinks will be provided. The theme is ‘Who do you say I am?’ and looks at how THE BEACON PROJECT we understand Jesus. First Session: Sunday May The Beacon Project is for anyone aged 16+ who wants to come and spend some time in prayer, hear some FLIP OUT TRIP great teaching and meet other Catholics from around On Wednesday 10 May we will be taking a trip to Flip the Pastoral Area. We run from 1930-2100 @ St Out Trampoline Park in Paulsgrove. The trip is open to Swithun’s and if you want any more information anyone aged 11 – 18, will run from 1900-2030 and costs please contact Paul Vacher on a discounted £9.50 which includes entry to the [email protected]. We will look to let you trampoline park and the special socks. If you are know the dates of our next Beacon Project sessions interested in joining us, please get in touch by email shortly. and I’ll send you a consent form. Wednesday 10 May

PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM 7/8 JULY For more info, to sign up for clubs or to book There are still a few places remaining. Please contact contact Dom DeBoo: 023 9283 6524 Sylvia Foster on 023 9273 4549/mobile 07973 174058 [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.

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PARISH NEWS 200 CLUB MARCH 2017 WINNERS THANK YOU £50 (34) Miss M. Owen, Station Road, Copnor Father Steven would like to thank everyone for their £25 (135) Miss J. Francis, Whittington Gardens, Copnor generosity, gifts and cards this Easter. £10 (39) Mrs M. Vale, Althorpe Drive, Anchorage Park £5 (6) Mr M. Connolly, Laburnum Grove, Copnor CONGRATULATIONS We welcome Samuel Hale & Matilda Driver in baptism Next draw on Sunday 23 April 2017. Collecting at Corpus this weekend. Please keep them and their families in Christi on Sunday 9 April and St. Joseph on Saturday 22 your prayers. and Sunday 23 April 2017.

LENTEN ALMS - TWO SAINTS & THE ROBERTS CENTRE APRIL IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST Please do not forget to bring in any remaining Lenten Please pray for the sick and homebound of our parish alms. community and all those who are in need of our prayers especially: John Bee, Patrick Burke JR, John Clarke, Don EASTER DUTY Cornborough, Ianthe da Cunha, Kathleen Doherty, The Church recommends that the faithful, if they have Maria Douglas, John Fry, Mark Hamilton, Cecilia the required dispositions, receive Holy Communion Hartigan, Sheila Heaword, Elizabeth Jones, Bill whenever they participate at Holy Mass. However, the Leightley, Janet Lentieul, Tom Maguire, Joan Mason, Church obliges them to receive Holy Communion at Eleanor Minter, Yvette Pearcey, Frances Pratt, Angie least once during the Easter season. (Compendium of Sharma, Marie Simpson, John Topham, Angela Waldren the Catechism, n. 290) and Katherine Young. PSG MEETING For those who have died: Antoni Gumieny RIP The meeting scheduled for this week has been postponed until 6 June. BOOK OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER In each of our churches, near the Lady Altar, is placed a FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PREPARATION book in which we are invited to write any intentions we The next session for those children enrolled in this may have. Each week the parish will pray for the year’s course is on Saturday 29 April at 1000 sharp in intentions recorded in these books Corpus Christi Community hall. REGINA CAELI MISSIO RED BOXES During Eastertide the Regina Caeli replaces the Angelus These are now due to be emptied and should be at the start of Mass [Prayer cards are available at the brought into church as soon as possible. back of the church].

PARISH REGISTRATION V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, Alleluia! If you are new to the parish or have not completed a R. For he whom you did merit to bear, Alleluia! Parish Registration or Census form, please take a form V. Has risen, as He said, Alleluia! from the back of the church, complete and return it to R. Pray for us to God, Alleluia! the Parish Office as soon as possible. V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia! EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT R. For the Lord is truly risen, Alleluia! Every Friday at Corpus Christi Church 1000-12000 Every Saturday at St Joseph’s Church 1715-1800 O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we VOUCHERS FOR SCHOOLS beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the At this time of year many grocers issue vouchers for Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of schools. To support our parish school of Corpus Christi everlasting life, through the same Christ, Our Lord. please bring your vouchers to mass and place them in Amen the collection baskets at the offertory.

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READINGS FOR SUNDAY OTHER CITY PARISHES

Second Sunday of Easter Year A St John’s Cathedral Acts 2:42-47 Bishops House, Bishop Crispian Way, 1Pt 1:3-9 PO1 3HG Tel. 02392 826170 Jn 20:19-31 [email protected]

Responsorial Psalm: Our Lady of Lourdes & St Swithun 105 Waverley Road, Southsea, Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, PO5 2PL Tel. 023 9282 8305 for his love has no end. [email protected]

Second Sunday of Easter Year A St Colman with St Paul Acts 2:14.22-33 St Colman’s Presbytery, St Colman’s Avenue, 1Pt 1:17-21 Cosham, PO6 2JJ Tel. 023 9237 6151 [email protected] Lk 24:13-35 Pastoral Youth Worker PARISH MASS TIMES Dom DeBoo Saturday 22 April SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A Tel 023 9283 6524 / 07769 185603 - 1800 St Joseph People of the Parish [email protected]

Sunday 23 April SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A MASS TIMES ACROSS THE CITY 0900 ST JOSEPH Private Intention (SR) 1100 Corpus Christi Nazareno (Joe) Pace F ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL Weekday 1215 Monday 24 April ST GEORGE, PATRON OF ENGLAND, SOLEMNITY Sunday 1800 (Sat), 1000, 1200, 1800 1200 Corpus Christi Antonio Solis RIP [0800 Extra-Ordinary Rite]

Tuesday 25 April ST MARK, APOSTLE, FEAST ST SWITHUN 1000 St Joseph Colin & Carol Russell GE Weekday 1000 Sunday 0830, 1015, 1800 (Polish) Wednesday 26 April OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER 0930 Corpus Christi Fr Cyril Elkington RIP OUR LADY OF LOURDES Thursday 1200; Sunday 1800 (Sat) Friday 28 April OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER 0930 Corpus Christi Hugh Griffin F ST COLMAN Saturday 29 April THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A Weekday 0915 (Wed & Thur); 1830 (Fri) 1800 St Joseph Jim Pidgley F Sunday 1800 (Sat), 0930

Sunday 30 April THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A ST PAUL 0900 ST JOSEPH People of the Parish Weekday 0930 (Tue); Sunday 1100 1100 Corpus Christi Mr & Mrs Swanton F QA HOSPITAL P: Perpetual F: Foundation Sunday 1600

ORDINARIATE CHURCH - ST AGATHA Sunday & Weekdays 1100

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