Parish of the Sacred Heart and Saint Margaret Mary, Parish of St. Joseph’s Parish Priest: Fr. Stephen Pimlott Telephone (0121) 327 0235 [email protected] website www.sacredheartaston.com Safeguarding Representatives: Sacred Heart – Teresa O’Gorman 07585907706 & Sheila McKernan 0121 344 3028 Roman Catholic Archdiocese of - Registered Charity No. 234216

EASTER SUNDAY 4th April 2021 Day Aston Nechells Intention EASTER SUNDAY 10.00 am Nora O’Connor Easter Monday Noon People of Parish Easter Tuesday Canon Eddie Mullins Easter Wednesday Rev Dn Pat Duffy Easter Thursday 10.00 am Vivienne Boylan Easter Friday Noon Anne Ashmore DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY 11th April 2021 Easter Saturday 11.00 am Fr. Pat Joyce Sunday vigil 6.00 pm Marion Cowden DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY 10.00 am Peter Jayacody Monday 12.30 pm Funeral Mass for Mary Coy Tuesday Patrick O’Neill Wednesday 10.00 am Annie Rochford Thursday Fr. Peter Kelly Friday Day of abstinence Noon Anne McCleary Saturday 11.00 am Terry & Sharon Sunday Vigil 6.00 pm Patrick Crowley EASTER III 10.00 am People of Parish

Dear Parishioners, Christ is risen! Alleluia! It is always such a joy to get to the Easter festival after all the hard work of Lent and Holy Week. JOY is the word that characterises the Easter season expressed in the word ALLELUIA that great cry of praise for what God has done. It can’t really be called a word. It is all the vowel sounds put together, just to make a gleeful and happy sound. It expresses something that cannot be put into words. We are like new born babes chuckling with delight knowing in some sense that it is good to be, to be alive, to be loved. Easter Day is the first day of the week, the first day of the new creation which Jesus brings about through his resurrection and so the first day of the week becomes for us the day to gather together and offer the Mass, to give thanks. We call it the Lord’s Day and it takes over from the Sabbath Day, the 7th day, the notion of resting, of a day different to every other day, a day on which God blesses his creation, but now on the Lord’s Day that blessing is open to us in a much more profound way by the death & resurrection of Jesus. On a personal level in anticipation, I should like to thank you all for your generosity in your Easter offering for me, but even more for your support and prayers. Priests and people together in that unique spiritual relationship make up the living Church. May God bless you all with a very Happy and Joyful Easter Fr. Stephen Pimlott LENTEN ALMS The Archbishop is suggesting that you might like to give your Lenten alms to St. Chad’s Sanctuary which helps refugees and asylum seekers. See St. Chad's Sanctuary DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY was instituted through the command of our Lord to St. Faustina in a similar way that the Sacred Heart Friday was instituted by his command to St. Margaret Mary, our patron, some 200 years earlier. There are a few rather nice Divine Mercy Booklets available free at the back of the Church. OUR ON-LINE BIBLE STUDY of St. Mark’s Gospel continues. You can still join in. Please contact George on 07870 153066 or at [email protected] to register. You have to register to get in. YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL organised by the Kenelm Youth Trust. See Young Adult Social - KENELM YOUTH TRUST Please Pray for the sick; Mary Levell, William Parish, Anne Robinson, Maura Greene, Jimmy Armstrong, Pat Davis, Bernadette Harnett, Lisa Brean, Michael Brennan, Alex McClure, Phil Robinson, Mona Recci, Mary Cartridge, Bill Marron. The funeral of William Goodby will take place at St. Joseph’s on Wednesday 21st April at 10.30 am. The number of people allowed at funerals is still restricted to 30. St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Nechells Dear Parishioners, Just a short note from us here at St Joseph’s School to let you know what is happening with us converting into a MAC. Last year you may remember that St Joseph’s School started the process of joining the St Teresa of Calcutta MAC. In this MAC there are currently 3 schools, Archbishop Ilsley Catholic Secondary School, Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School and Holy Souls Catholic Primary School. The aim is for St Joseph’s, St Chad’s and The Rosary to all join the MAC in September 2021. This process is going well and in April we will be starting the final part of the process to convert. Please do keep the children, families and staff of our school in your prayers during this time. Michelle Ashley BECOMING A CATHOLIC If you wish to become a Catholic, or know someone who wishes to become a Catholic, or perhaps are a Catholic but have little perception of what that means, please contact Fr. Stephen by phone, email or in person. MARRIAGE MATTERS www.twoinoneflesh.org.uk Easter Sunday (Acts of the Apostles10:34, 37-43 Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-9) A sign of new life Today we celebrate the resurrection and new life in the Lord. In our marriage we too rise to new life when we put each other first in all we do and say. Let us live openly, honestly and truthfully so that we become a ‘sign’ to our families that Jesus is alive in our married love. Second Sunday of Easter (Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35 1 John 5:1-6 John 20:19-31) Doubt no longer Sometimes we are asked to trust our spouse implicitly despite the doubts that plague us. Can we believe them when something really important depends on it? Thomas needed proof of Jesus’ wounds before believing. Jesus said: “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe. Bishop Challoner TSA is currently working with around 40 Primary and Secondary schools in the Birmingham area to help new teachers into the profession. Anyone is welcome to join for a free online information event on Wednesday 28th April at 6pm or Thursday 13th May at 5pm to find out more about the School Direct / PGCE route into this exciting and rewarding profession. See www.bctsa.org for details, or email [email protected]. CORONAVIRUS For the Church’s guidelines see the Conference of Bishops website https://www.cbcew.org.uk or go to COVID-19: guidance for the safe use of places of worship - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

USEFUL WEBSITES https://www.mcnmedia.tv For access to many streamlined Masses in UK & Ireland https://www.wordonfire.org https://www.stchadscathedral.org.uk/ https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/ https://www.ewtn.com/radio/shows/called-to-communion https://www.catholic.com/ https://www.walsingham.org.uk/ https://magiscenter.com/ Lust is Boring on Apple Podcasts