​From ‘Ortodoxy’ by G K Chesterton
 
“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”

Rosary and Benediction Feast of The Most Holy Trinity – Evening on Sunday the 26th of May at 5 pm / 1700, there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Rosary and Benediction in St Alphege Church.  

First Holy Communion
Please do pray for Abigail, Audrey, Chimbudike, Eloy, Holly, Isabelle, Mabel and Sofia
who make their First Confession and who will receive our Lord in Holy Communion for the first time today on the Feast of Pentecost

Prayer in Preparation for the Feast of Pentecost
It would be wonderful if we could continue to join together in this time of prayer and each day, wherever
we are, pray the great prayer of St Pope John the 23rd.  
​
Father, pour out your Spirit upon us, and grant us
a new vision of your glory, a new experience of your power, a new faithfulness to your word, and a new consecration to your service, that your love may grow among us, and your Kingdom come:
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

I’m really glad to finally arrive in Bath and be able to take up my appointment as Parish Priest of St Alphege and Peasedown St John.   After almost 16 years as a Regular Chaplain in the Army I am of course sad to leave behind a community of people and friends I have come to know and love so well – I will certainly miss them.    However now I’m looking forward to meeting you and becoming part of this (our) community in the months ahead.
 
Of course, this week marks change in the life of our Diocese.  Bishop Elect Bosco will be consecrated to his new ministry and Bishop Declan will move to a well deserved quieter pace of life after so much devoted service to the Diocese.  Please keep them both in your prayers.
 
In fact, I have known St Alphege Church for a while.  When I was younger (admittedly a long time ago) my mother and I lived outside Norton St Philip and though I learnt to serve Mass in the Church there, for some big Sundays we would come to St Alphege for Mass as a treat.  I also nearly joined Downside Abbey rather than the Diocese so being in Churches and Parishes with a Benedictine heritage is a real joy for me.
 
On Thursday this week we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension, the Lord’s return to the Father, and his great commission to each of us to “proclaim the Good News to all creation”.  The Church then begins a novena of prayer to prepare for our celebration of the Feast of Pentecost, praying that the gifts of the Holy Spirit might be renewed within each one of us to fulfil this mission. 
 
It would be wonderful if we could, from Thursday, join together in this time of prayer and each day, wherever we are, pray the great prayer of St Pope John the 23rd. 
 
Father, pour out your Spirit upon us, and grant us
a new vision of your glory, a new experience of your power, a new faithfulness to your word, and a new consecration to your service, that your love may grow among us, and your Kingdom come:
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monsignor Robert Corrigan