The Word This Week

Peter and Paul are the two great heroes of the Apostolic Age – Peter for leading the first Christian communities and binding them in unity, a role that springs from his profession of faith in Caesarea Philippi, and Paul for travelling throughout the Roman Empire as the Apostle to the Gentiles, ensuring that the Gospel could be heard by all. They both ended up in Rome, the heart of the Empire, where they crowned their lives of witness by shedding their blood for Christ. As the ancient hymn for this feast day (“Decora Lux aeternitatis”) says: “Rejoice, O Rome, this day; thy walls they once did sign With princely blood, who now their glory share with thee. What city’s vesture glows with crimson deep as thine? What beauty else has earth that may compare with thee?” In celebrating the death of these apostles and martyrs, we celebrate the triumph of life and death offered fully to God.

Scripture (Weekday Readings: week 13, year 2;Psalter: Week 1)

Vigil Mass

Acts 3: 1-10
Response: Psalm 18
The heavens proclaim the glory of God
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
and night unto night makes known the message.

No speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the earth,
their words to the utmost bounds of the world

Galatians 1: 11 – 20

Acclamation for the Gospel:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Lord, you know everything;
You know I love you.
Alleluia!

John 21: 15 – 19

Day Mass

Acts 12: 1–11
Response: Psalm 33
I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad.

Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free.

Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called; the Lord heard him
and rescued him from all his distress.

The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

2 Timothy 4: 6 – 8, 17 – 18

Acclamation for the Gospel:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.
And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.
Alleluia!

John 20: 19 – 23

Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord, rescue us.

To read Today’s scripture, visit the Catholic Online website.

St Helen’s Family Groups Calendar 2014

All Family Group members and their families are welcome. More details will follow prior to each event.
Transport can be arranged if necessary. Please contact leaders for more information.

Date & Time Event Name Location
Jun 29th 12.00 pm Picnic and Walk Tredegar House, Newport
Aug 16th 12.00pm Picnic and Paddler Caswell Beach, Swansea
Sep 20th 10.00 am Day Out Margam Park, Neath
Oct 17th 6.00 pm Friday Night BBQ Hoy Family Home, Caerphilly
Nov 8th 6.00 pm Bonfire Night St Helen’s, Caerphilly
Dec 5th
TBA
Christmas Night Out Adults Only
Dec 19th 6.00 pm Christmas Party St Helen’s, Caerphilly

Every Blessing to our Children Sharing Communion for the First Time

Every Blessing to our Children Sharing Communion for the first time this weekend, and to their families.

At 6.30pm on Saturday: Mark Catulinan, Louis Chadd, Samuel Deane, Leo King, Jessica Lowe, Rowan Lyons, William Morse, Aine and Owain Murphy, Andrew Raven, Benjamin and Esme Wall, and Luca Zenati- Parsons.

At 10.30am on Sunday: Gabriele Batenga, Ethan Boswell, Zofia Chowdhury, Cian and Sean Cooper, Holly Curtis, Katie Donovan, Julia Dziadosz, Marie Faulkner,Elisha Gough, Thomas Jeffries, Cari Jones, Rohan Mathew,Tomas Moya, Alex O’Brien, Jazmine Paje, James Perry, Liam Shaughnessy, Llwyd Teves, John Underwood, and Amelka Warot.

Thank You to their dedicated, faithful, and loving Catechists, growing with them in sharing God’s love: Caroline, Christine, Geraldine, Gina, Hilary, Lynne, and Martin (yes, a man!) And to their teachers and assistants in Saint Helen’s School.

And thanks also to their parents, who have brought them so far into sharing God’s life and love, in fulfilment of the commitments they made at the children’s Baptism.

The Word This Week

The Holy Trinity, El GrecoWe begin our Summer ‘Ordinary Time’ by celebrating a strange feast – not of a particular saint or event, but of the awesome paradoxes of our God, the Three-in-One, Father, Son, and Spirit; so immeasurably distant, yet so amazingly close; so full of power and so full of love. It is love that is the key to the mystery: the revelation of God, to Moses and in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, shows a perfect love – a perfect unity. In the beginning, in the story of Creation in Genesis, God made man and woman ‘in the image and likeness of God’, to live together as a community of love. So too, the Church is an image of this perfection of communion which is Father, Son, and Spirit. We, as many members of one Church, strive in our everyday lives to imitate God who is Three and One, perfect unity and perfect love.

Today’s Scripture: (Psalter: Week3)
Exodus 34: 4–6, 8–9
Response: Daniel 3: 52 – 56
You are blest.
Lord God of our fathers.
To you glory and praise for evermore,
Blest your glorious name.
To you glory and praise for evermore.

You are blest in the temple of your glory.
To you glory and praise for evermore.
You are blest on the throne of your kingdom.
To you glory and praise for evermore.

You are blest who gaze into the depths.
To you glory and praise for evermore.
You are blest in the firmament of heaven.
To you glory and praise for evermore.

2 Corinthians 13: 11 – 13

Acclamation for the Gospel:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
the God who is, who was, and who is to come.

John 3: 16 – 18
Prayer of the Faithful: R/. Lord, come with us.

To read Today’s scripture, visit the Catholic Online website.

Family Groups Picnic – Tredegar House

Tredegar HouseSt Helen’s Family Groups was formed last year. We have arranged activities such as a BBQ in Cosmeston Lakes (Penarth), a Christmas Carol sing-along and a walk and picnic in Garwnant Forest. These get-togethers are informal, fun and are aimed at deepening the community life of a parish. The support and friendship offered by the parish family can help to combat loneliness and provide a genuine support network for individuals, couples and families.

Here is an article on the last Family Group outing we did.

Well, this month we will be holding another Family Group outing to Tredegar House. It will be held on Sunday the 29th of June – please meet us after mass or meet there about 12:30. Bring a picnic/chairs/blanket/outside games, etc. If anyone ends help with transport please let us know. If you’d like more information, please contact Tracey Lee Hoy orSimon O’Brien for more information.