Mass Times * News * Fr Cyril Chiaha Writes
Weekly Mass: 22nd – 30th May
Throughout the Pandemic all Masses will take place in the parish church of St Richard of Chichester, Buntingford.
The obligation to attend Mass remains suspended. Please see the Coronavirus page for more details.
Saturday 22nd May: Vigil Mass of Pentecost
- 6.00pm: Buntingford
Sunday 23rd May: Pentecost
- 9.15am: Buntingford
- 11.00am: Buntingford
Today, there is a pastoral letter from the Bishops of England and Wales
Tuesday 25th May: St Bede the Venerable, Priest & Doctor
- 9.30am: Buntingford
Thursday 27th May: Our Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest
- 9.30am: Buntingford
Friday 28th May: Easter Feria
- 9.30am: Buntingford
- 10.00am: Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Saturday 29th May: Vigil Mass of The Most Holy Trinity
- 6.00pm: Buntingford
Sunday 30th May: The Most Holy Trinity
- 9.15am: Buntingford
- 11.00am: Buntingford
The readings for Mass can be found every day on the ‘Universalis’ website.
Some churches in our diocese stream Mass online, you may be able to watch one of these during this time.
A warm Welcome to you if today is your first time to attend Mass since the easing of the lock-down. Our church is planned in a COVID-safe manner. Thank you in anticipation for adhering to the safe measures in place – maintaining safe distancing and hygiene.
Sacrament of Confession
- In these exceptional times confession is by appointment and will be held at Buntingford.
Parish Office Hours
- Please consider using the email or telephone for office matters. While we must all support each other in these times, we must also try and do our part in lessening the spread of the this disease.
Attending Mass during the pandemic – while the church remains open for public Mass during this time, please keep in mind that anyone who has any symptoms of the coronavirus is expected to stay at home and follow the government guideline. Doing so is for the good of all and speedier resolution. Also those who attend has to remain in the seat until the end of Mass.
Offertory Collection
- Many Thanks to all those who have maintained regular parish offering through Standing Order, loose plate or cheque and to those who wrote a cheque covering the time we were in lockdown.
- Setting Up A New Standing Order: If you are setting up a Standing Order or donating online for the first time, please note that a new Confirmation of Payee service has been rolled out for additional security reasons.
- Although no changes have been made to the name of our parish bank account, you would be required to use the full name of the parish account set below when setting up a new payment instruction. In other words, the full meaning of the abbreviation WRCDT has to be used.
| Account name: Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee Old Hall Green and Puckeridge Parish |
Account name: Westminster Roman Catholic Diocese Trustee Buntingford Parish |
|---|---|
| Account Number: 91270044 |
Account Number: 51308610 |
| Sort Code 40-05-20 | Sort Code 40-05-20 |
Fr Cyril Chiaha Writes:
The feast of Pentecost, which we celebrate on this Sunday, recalls the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. It is a descent, which not only marks the birth of the mission of the Church in the world, but also fulfils God’s plan.
The First and Gospel readings of today’s Sunday present us with the background to this narrative. They recall how the disciples locked up themselves in the room because of the fear of Jews, as well as, how they were unable to confront the great odds or challenges facing them, because of the loss of their Master.
With the descent of the power of the Spirit upon them, their fears were turned into courage and so, they were empowered to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
It is not always easy to believe that there is good in everything that happens in life. For instance, it is only with hindsight that the disciples will be able to see the good reason behind Jesus’ statement, “it is for your own good that I am going, because unless I go, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). Accordingly, Jesus’ impending departure was for good, but His disciples did not understand it then.
Pentecost is God’s way of being and acting. It is God’s way of breathing and filling us with His own spirit; sending us out to be like Jesus. It is what resuscitates our lives. It is what enables the disciples to overcome their fears. It is what unlocks the doors to new life.
As we mark this feast, may we pray for the rekindling of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives, as He is the Advocate who will be on our side for ever, reminding us of Christ’s teaching; guiding us into all truth, as well as, leading us to discover goodness in the events and happenings around us and to us. He is the one who will enable each of us to know that God stands with us forever. Have a blessed week!