‘That God may raise us up’
Now as he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven. (Lk 24:51)
Lift us up with you, Lord Jesus Christ,
from the sickness, suffering, fear and grief of these last months.
Bless all that your body, the Church, has achieved through her worship of God
and her care of God’s children.
Renew the Holy Spirit among us,
that, sent like your apostles, to the people of our diocese,
all may contribute to the proclamation of God’s word
and to the growth of God’s kingdom.
Amen

From the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord the Church now prepares to celebrate the coming of the Paraclete, the Advocate who came down upon the disciples of the Church at Pentecost. The Bishop's Conference has produced these resources to assist us in the days ahead as we approach the Birth of the Church and the end of the Easter Season on 23rd May.

In the parish we are praying each day to receive the Spirit anew:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. 

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Today we are asked to pray for our brothers and sisters of the churches in the east, remembering that from these ancient churches, our Catholic faith first came. Many of these church communities are now small and suffer from hardship and persecution, living under the threat of war and oppression. 
​
Please pray for them today and perhaps use this prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray today for peace in the world, especially in the Middle East. By your heavenly grace, strengthen the faith and hope of Eastern Christians. May they be blessed with peace and prosperity in their countries.  May we be inspired by their devotion and witness to the Gospel, by their love and compassion for all in their communities, and by their courage, their endurance and self-sacrifice. Through their charity, tolerance and friendship, bring peace and reconciliation to those troubled lands, where Christianity was born and first spread. This we ask of you through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

For more information about prayer for and supporting the Eastern Christian Churches see www.facecharity.org  

The great gift of Jesus is that he calls us friends. He is the one who offers the invitation to friendship with him which is real and founded upon love. So often we can think we are the ones who choose friendship with God, but it's the other way around. Once we discover this truth it can be easier to respond. Today let us consider the signs of this friendship in our lives. We can ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen this friendship and help us to reveal it by the way in which we live out the Lord's commandment of friendship. "Love one another as I have loved you."

As Pope Francis invites us to take part in a prayer marathon this May by reciting the Rosary each day or part of the prayer of the Rosary for the intention of an end to the Pandemic, we have invited you to create a May Altar at home and to share your photos with us. Here are the first two photos we have received. Thank you Margo and Jeanne. Please email your photo to the parish holysouls.bham@rcaob.org.uk