3rd Sunday of Easter

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

3rd Sunday of Easter The Road Home Dear Friends, dear parishioners The most lonesome journeys linger in our memory. I can still recall the cold March air on the morning I walked from the hospital where my Father died. There are others who know the walk of disappointment or of shame. Walking away from a broken relationship, hope, or dream. There are times we feel ourselves to be on a road to nowhere.  Or on a journey from a place we feel impelled to leave because of our disappointment. After his burial some of the disciples of Jesus walked away from Jerusalem. They were disillusioned. They are walking away from God. Yet along the road they encounter Jesus. The risen Jesus walks with them. He in turn helps them understand themselves. He restores their confidence. He gives them new hope. He begins the healing of their memory. On the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus they are given the courage to return to Jerusalem, to re-join the community of believers. The risen Lord they meet is no ghost. He eats and drinks with them. Yet he is different. We are invited to meet the risen Lord Sunday by Sunday and daily in the Mass. In every Eucharist the Lord invites us to take, eat and drink. In the Mass we are offered nourishment, forgiveness and healing. The Eucharist makes Jesus present. It’s our encounter with the Lord We are all in a sense on an unfinished journey. With our wounds, memories and histories. The Christian journey is not to be made alone. The Lord walks with us. It is also why Jesus calls the Church, the community of believers into existence. We walk together, not alone, a pilgrim people. We are a community called to be peace makers. A community that understands and lives out the power of reconciliation.   Your welfare is my concern, because Jesus made it so. We can only do this because we are sustained, empowered and animated by the gift Jesus gives.  The Holy Spirit. The road may be long with many a winding path. It may be a long and winding road that leads to who knows where? If we are faithful to the journey it will always lead us to the open door of Gods Merciful, faithful, Loving Kindness. Mgr Jim For news and prayer list for the sick and our deceased go to the notice board section of our website.    HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, RIP God of our lives, we give thanks for the life of Prince Philip  and for his devotion to duty. We entrust him now to your love and mercy. Be close to all who mourn, especially The Queen and all members of the Royal Family. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.    Sunday Evening Mass Sunday Evening Mass returns at 6.00 pm from Sunday 18th of April. Priest Training Fund Collection Next Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday, the day we pray for priests and for vocations to the priesthood. The annual collection for the Priest Training Fund will take place next weekend. This fund pays for the priestly formation of men for the Catholic priesthood. There are currently 42 men studying at Allen Hall seminary, 18 of whom are for our own Diocese, and two men are studying in Rome, also for our Diocese. Last year two men who studied at Allen Hall and one who studied in Rome ordained to the priesthood to serve as our future priests. This fund also supports the ongoing enrichment and formation of our ordained priests. Your generous donation helps ensure we can support these men who are called to be like Christ the Good Shepherd. Donation leaflets are available in the back of the church. Please take one home, read the information, and bring it back next weekend with your donation. Please continue to pray for vocations and for our priests. You can donate online anytime atwww.rcdow.org.uk/donations  A date for your diary Commemorating the one hundred and sixth anniversary of the Armenian genocide there will be here at Our Lady of Victories a service of vespers at 7 pm on Tuesday April 27th. This service was postponed from last year due to Covid restrictions.    Our Lady of Victories 16 Abingdon Road London W8 6AF 020 7937 4778  [email protected]