SCRIPTURE NOTE: This final blessing on the mission of the disciples
summarizes events narrated in the Acts of the Apostles, events which
show the power of the Spirit at work in their mission. The account of the
Ascension itself is modelled on the account given in the Acts. The
Ascension conveys to us the assurance of the power of Christ which
stands behind all the works of his followers and believers. Most of the
activities described in the reading would not be experienced in today’s
Church, but the first and the last (casting out devils and laying hands on
the sick) are still the task of the Church. Casting out evil spirits and
healing may not be done so dramatically as the Gospel narrates, but it is
still the Christian’s duty to bring goodness where there is evil and
healing where there are wounds. We have many opportunities in the
course of the day either to foment anger and enmity or to bring peace:
opportunities to either roughen a wound or to smooth it down. As we
know from our failures to do this, such works flow from the Spirit of
Christ, who supports our own weaknesses and triumphs over our own
leanings towards evil.
What would you say are the marks of Christ’s presence and power at
work in the Church?
REFLECTION: Instruments of the Lord
‘Go, preach the Gospel to all nations.’ This was the farewell command of
Christ. He has no body now on earth but ours. He has no hands but ours
to raise up the fallen. No feet but ours to seek out the lost. No eyes but
ours to see the silent tears of the suffering. No ears but ours to listen to
the lonely. No tongue but ours to speak a word of comfort to the sad. No
heart but ours to love the unloved. Lord, take pity on us, your timid and
fearful disciples; give us the courage to witness to you in the world, and
so the Gospel will be preached, and people will find their way into your
kingdom.
PARISH PRAYER
Heavenly Father, pour down on our Church your Holy Spirit, the fire of
your love. Give us the courage, the wisdom and the faith to be salt for
the earth and light for the world.
Help us to build warm and welcoming communities of faith in our
families, our neighbourhoods, our Parish. May we carry the Good News
by word and action into all our environments, especially those which are
hostile and hurting.
Together with Mary, the first evangeliser we entrust all our efforts into
the care of the Divine Spirit, who fills and renews the face of the earth.
Amen.
Franciscan
Church of St. Francis of Assisi
277 Sandygate Road, Sheffield S10 5SD
Telephone 0114 263 0383
Email: stfrancis@frkevin.f9.co.uk
parishcounci26@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.stfrancisrc-sheffield.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 512021
Parish Priest: Fr Kevin Thornton
Parish Deacon: Stephen Parker
YEAR B - PSALTER WEEK 3
THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
Mass book pg 272.
Preface II of the Ascension of the Lord pg 61.
Eucharistic Prayer II pg 25.
Sunday
17th
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd
23rd
9:00 am
11:00 am
10:00 am
7.00 pm
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
11.15-11.45
12 noon
(Margaret Higgins)
(People of the Parish)
(Kathleen Carr)
(Therese Boyle)
(Colin William Biss)
(Amenda Starling)
(Eileen Jones’ Intentions)
Sacrament of Reconciliation
(Matthew Sheppard)
Thank you for last week's OFFERTORY COLLECTION.
Today is COMMUNICATIONS SUNDAY and there will be a collection
for evangelisation through the media.
PLEASE PRAY for Alan, Alexander, Alison, AM, Fr Antony Hayne,
Benjamin Lewis, Brian Dwyer, David Skinner, David Thomas, Eileen
Jones, Ellen Dalton, George Windsor, Ian Baxter, Irene Bell, Jim Foley,
John Denzil Joseph, John Rowan, J&E.D, JTD, Karen Kilbride, KC,
Leonora, Margaret Paget, Mary Hunt, Mary Rigby, Maura Kay, May
Leonard, Michael Hulley, Nancy Lennon, Rachel Grace, Roger Kemp, Fr
Roy Pannell, Ruth Hill, Teresa Kenyon, Tony Mulchrone, Willow Grist
and Yvonne Reaney, who are sick, for Colin William Biss, lately dead
and for Amenda Starling whose anniversary occurs about this time.
‘LITTLE FISHES’ - Praise and play for the under fives will be on Monday
18th May at 1.45pm. Meet in the Assisi Hall and then in the Blessed
Sacrament Chapel. Contact Clare Byrne for more information. New
people always welcome.
th
The PARISH COUNCIL AGM will be at 7:30pm on Tuesday 19 May in
the Assisi Hall (Mass will be at 7pm). We will present a summary of our
activities over the last year and a report on the finances of the parish.
We would like to hear your views and suggestions. The agenda is:
1. Annual report
2. Financial report
3. Views and suggestions from the Parish
4. Election of new Parish councillors
5. Any other business
The annual report is displayed on the church wall and also available on
the church website. All members of the Parish are invited to attend.
Refreshments will be provided.
We need new MEMBERS FOR THE PARISH COUNCIL. The Parish
Council meets every two months on Tuesday evening. If you can help or
would like more information, please speak to any Parish Councillor or Fr.
Kevin or email parishcounci26@yahoo.co.uk.
Please see the POSTERS ON THE NOTICE BOARD, which include:
 Council of Christians & Jews Provincial Study Day ‘Finding Common
Ground’ - 10:30am, Monday 18th May at Sheffield Jewish Centre.
 Church Action on Poverty in Sheffield - ‘Problems and Possibilities’ at
7pm followed by AGM at 8:30pm. 21st May, Quaker Meeting House.
 Corpus Christi Procession through Sheffield City Centre - 7th June.
The FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME will continue on
Wednesday 20th May at 6:30pm in the upper room.
On Pentecost Sunday (24th May), there will be an INTERNATIONAL
MASS with readings and bidding prayers in foreign languages. We
would also like to use this occasion to sell international food - savouries,
puddings and cakes for the Hallam Bethlehem Fund. The Hallam
Bethlehem Fund aims to raise £250,000 to buy land in Bethlehem to
build a new Day Care Centre. Everybody, not just our international
community, is invited to bring something along. It would be lovely to
have a big variety of special food in the Assisi Hall. National Costumes
are
also
welcome.
Please
contact
Susanne
Staub
on
s.staub@btinternet.com if you would like to take part or contribute
towards the food stall.
The King's Singers will be performing Pater Noster and songs in close
harmony as part of the ST MARIES CATHEDRAL CONCERT SERIES
on Thursday 28th May at 7:30pm.
PARISH SOCIAL NIGHT on Friday 5th June at 8pm. Enjoy a convivial
evening of chat, cheese and wine in the Assisi Hall, with music from the
excellent The Grand Plan. First glass of wine and some cheese and
nibbles will be provided as a gift from the parish, but please bring your
own favourite cheese/condiments/drink too. Tickets (£3 adults, £1
primary school children) available after each Mass. Raffle and all
proceeds in aid of Nepal earthquake relief. If you’re unable to buy tickets
in person, or would like to donate a raffle prize, contact Ruth Stanley on
stanleyruth75@gmail.com or via the event Facebook page (search "St
Francis of Assisi Parish Social Night"). Tickets are limited and will be
sold on a first-come, first-served basis, so buy early to avoid
disappointment!
HALLAM CHARITY NIGHT is at 7:30pm on Saturday 13th June at
Doubletrees Hotel, Chesterfield Rd. It will raise money for St Vincent
Furniture Store and Hallam Bethlehem Fund. Contact Des Keating for
tickets (£32.50 each).
The fifth SHEFFIELD NIGHTFEVER will be on Saturday 20th June from
5.30pm to 11pm at St Marie’s Cathedral. Volunteers will go into the
streets to invite passers-by into the Cathedral to light a candle, say a
prayer, experience the sacrament of reconciliation and adore before the
Blessed Sacrament. You are invited to experience Nightfever and also to
be part of our prayer, mission or welcome teams. Please contact
nightfeversheffield@gmail.com for more information.
Paid welfare worker needed at ST WILFRID’S CENTRE for 15 hours per
week (11am to 2pm Mon to Fri). Will involve working directly with clients
and self referrals as part of the Welfare Team. Please contact Helen
Lowry for an application form on 2555720.
HALLAM CARING SERVICES wish to recruit qualified social workers or
counsellors to work with children and their families within a school
setting. For further information please contact Susan Tym on 2566407 or
suetym@btconnect.com.
Please donate more TEA, COFFEE and SUGAR for St. Wilfrid’s. Thank
you.
S2 FOOD BANK is short of food and money to buy goods. Can you
help? There is a container in the narthex for your donations.