Sixth Sunday of Easter

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