Fr Austin's Holy Thought

Fourth Sunday of Easter - Good Shepherd Sunday

Good Shepherds for Our Times

      Who remembers Albino Luciani..the 33-day pope of 1978? As John-Paul I he was the first pope to be born in the twentieth century, and the last pope to die in it. He was also the first pope in a 1,000 years not to have a solemn coronation. He chose instead a simple inaugural mass as ‘Supreme Pastor’ - his preferred title. And all four popes since then have followed this pattern.

       Pastor (shepherd) stresses the caring or watchful side of a pope’s vocation, and the sheep (as in today’s gospel) will always recognise the voice of a good shepherd. Today Pope Leo has a voice as the shepherd of humanity. He insists that the message of Jesus as one of peace & forgiveness, not war & revenge. Those who sincerely want peace will recognise his voice.

       We thank God for Good Shepherds in our midst today especially those we welcome for this Jubilee day of our parish - our Archbishop Bernard Longley - our Vicar General Jonathan Veasey - our catechists and teachers, as well as parents, grandparents and spouses - people who care for others.

       We thank God too for civic leaders, especially our Solihull MP Dr.Neil Shastri Hurst, and our Solihull mayor Annette McKenzie, who have made an effort to be with us on this parish church jubilee day. In their different ways they too are shepherds, to whom God has entrusted a flock, and every Sunday we pray for our leaders.

        A world in conflict needs good shepherds at all levels - local - national - & international, both within the church and without the church.  So we look to Jesus the Good Shepherd to send us the shepherds we need in turbulent times, and give them gifts of wisdom and courage, and a power that can only come from above.            

 

Fr.Austin scj   

Email Fr. Austin SCJ

 

Weekly Diary

26th April - 3rd May 2026	Fourth Week of Easter
Fourth Sunday of Easter 26th April Act 2:14,36-41 1Pt 2:20-25 Jn 10:1-10 9.00 People of the parish living and deceased 11.00 People of the parish living & deceased also Danielle Mc Skeane RIP 6.00 Mass People of the parish living & deceased Exit Collection Diocesan Clergy Training Fund	Dear Brothers & Sisters, Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, when we pray for all the shepherds of the church, and for an increase in those who hear the call to be pastors to the flock.  ******************************* Archbishop Bernard writes to us today: “Dear friends, today is Good Shepherd Sunday, when the Church prays especially for vocations to the priesthood. I want to ask you to join me in praying that all those whom Our Lord is calling will respond with & generosity to his invitation to serve their brothers & sisters as priests in our Archdiocese.  If you feel the Good Shepherd might be calling you (and if you are 18 or over) I would ask you to write to me directly at archbishop@rcaob.org.uk. I shall be happy to meet you, with our Vocations Director, Fr Craig Szmidt, & hear your story as you discern what the Lord is asking of you today & in years ahead. Please pray for me & all our priests. With my prayers & kindest wishes +Bernard Longley Archbishop of Birmingham  ************************************ This week we’ve a host of famous saints: St.Louis de Montfort (Monday) founder of the Montfort fathers & brothers who work closely with us SCJs in Thailand. St.Catherine of Sienna (Wednesday) the enclosed Dominican nun who had such  powerful influence on popes & bishops far & wide, unafraid to reprimand both! St.Pius V (Thursday) who reconvened the stalled 16th century Council of Trent, and brought it to a successful conclusion. St.Joseph the Worker (Friday) patron saint of all manual workers, husbands & foster parents. Because of his flight into Egypt he is also patron of refugees. St.Athanasius (Saturday) patron saint of orthodoxy, since he defended divinity of Christ against popular preachers who denied it, suffering exile in the desert on two lengthy occasions.
Monday - 27th April Act 6:8-15 Jn 6:22-29 7.00 Mass Private Intention 10.15 Mass  Laura Crouch, Elliott, Phobe & James
Tuesday –28th  April St.Louis de Montfort & St Peter Chanel Act 7:51-8:1 Jn 6:30-35 7.00 Mass Bridie Dillon 10.15 Communion Sevice 10.45 Rosary of the unborn
Wednesday - 29th April St.Catherine of Sienna Act 8:1-8 Jn 6:35-40 7.00 Mass Susie 10.15 Mass mary’s Honour Prayer Group 11.00-12.00 Prayer Group (day chapel) 6.00pm Vigil Caroline Louise Sparling
Thursday - 30th  April St.Pius V     Rev 12:10-12 2Tm 2:8-13,3:10-12 Lk 9:23-26 7.00 Mass James Fay RIP 10.15 Requiem Caroline Louise Sparling 11.00-12.00 Prayer before Blessed Sacrament
First Friday - 1st May St.Joseph the Worker Act 9:1-20 Jn 6:52-59 7.00 Mass Mary Waldron Healy  10.15 Mass Mark Hurley RIP also Katie McDonagh 11.00-12.00 Prayer before Blessed Sacrament
Saturday 2nd May St.Athanasius 1Pt 5:5-14 Mk 16:15-20 9.30 Confessions 10.15 Mass Una & Gavin Buckley also Hazel Scott
Fifth Sunday of Easter 3rd May Act 2:14,36-41 1Pt 2:20-25 Jn 10:1-10 9.00 May Mary Walsh RIP (100th birthday) 11.00 Norah & Francis McGreal 6.00 Mass People of the parish also Bridget Green Exit Collection Carlo Acutis Youth Leaders training

 

 

Notices

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

From the bottom of my heart I give thanks to God, and to all of you who made our Jubilee night such a beautiful festive occasion on Tuesday. It was good to welcome Fr.John Cavanagh o.f.m. for the evening, and he went away with a very favourable impression of our parish.

The jubilee continues today, and we welcome Archbishop Bernard Longley for the morning masses, and Fr Jonathan Veasey (Vicar General) for the evening mass.

We welcome our Solihull mayor Annette McKenzie at 11.00am mass, and also our Solihull MP Dr.Neil Shastri Hurst. It is so good of them to give their time & energy to be with us for this occasion. There will be a light buffet in the parish hall afterwards, and everyone is invited.

Though this jubilee celebrates 100 years since laying the church foundation stone, we all know that Christ is the real foundation of our community, and that our parish can only work if we build our lives on Christ as our foundation.

So I gave thanks for all the people in our parish who have Christ as their foundation. Their spirit shows in their willingness to serve others, their commitment to prayer, and the use of their talents to serve the community. Deo Gratias!

And may our Mother Mary, who was always with the disciples from the very beginning, stay with us in these anxious times and give us her maternal care.

Fr.Biju Parish Priest

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SCJ News: 

Chiang Mai-Solihull Bro.Andrew is now back from Thailand, after visiting all our mission stations, and should be with us today for the jubilee celebrations. He has also been to Vietnam to see our brothers of Betharram in Ho Chi Minh City.

Pope Leo was in Bamenda last week (in the Anglophone part of Cameroon*) and was fearless in calling out those who fomented division. (Cameroon has suffered sporadic civil war for 10 years killing over 10,000) Speaking in English he said: "The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants ….. The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild."

* This part of Cameroon was touchingly described by Gerald Durrell decades ago in ‘The Bafut Beagles’

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Friary Snippets 

 ** Friary Church Jubilee Celebrations **

∆ Today 26^th April: 9.00 Celebration Mass with Archbp Longley. Tea & coffee afterward

∆ 11am Celebration Mass with Archbishop Longley along with our local Solihull Mayor Annette McKenzie & local Solihull MP  Dr. Neil Shastri-Hurst. Buffet afterwards in hall.

∆ Tours of the church & Friary in afternoon. Every 30 minutes from 12.30 to 3.00pm

∆ 6.00pm Mass with Fr Jonathan Veasey Vicar General. Tea, coffee & cakes after mass

∆ All are welcome with family and friends.

Blessed are those who mourn…...

Our Bereavement Support Group meets here each month for all seeking support after a loss. All welcome no matter the kind of loss or when.

* Meet 1^st Sunday each month for prayer, conversation & encouragement of one another as we journey together.

* We aren’t a counselling group but promise good listening skills, respect for confidentiality and of course a cuppa.

****Next Meeting next Sunday 3^rd May**** 3.00pm to 4.30 in the Friary Lounge

* For info call parish Office 0121-706-0505 

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Marriage Matters: Fourth Sunday of Easter 

Acts 2:14, 36-41 1 Peter 2:20-25 John 10:1-10 

Jesus describes us as ‘sheep’. God watches over and feeds us with his Word, and in the Eucharist. With God’s help we have created a few more sheep, so we pray for His help, read books, use the internet to protect our children from the harm done by the ‘media’ and many of today ‘addictions’. That’s being good shepherds.

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Big thanks to the secret army of cleaners who keep our church tidy all year round: Week starting 26^th April: Group B

Please pray for Caroline Sparling -Vigil Wed 29 April - Funeral 10.15 Thur 30 April; James Gavin – Wed 6 May 10.15; Vigil 7pm 5 May; Ann Letts – Thur 7 May, 10.15a.m, Vigil 6 May 6pm; Tony Davies Funeral  Thurs 21 May 10.00am. Remember too Paddy Benger, Pansy Pascoe & Alfons Kvelums. +++May they rest in peace +++

Meditation Group at Holy Souls parish meeting room 1pm: April 27; May 11 & 25; All welcome.

Diocesan Vocations Discernment Day for young men (Y9-13) sensing call to priest- hood. Young Discerners Group meets Sat May 9 at Oscott College. Learn about priesthood & seminary life. Prayer & meet seminarians & explore discernment. Parents also invited in parallel programme. Info? Deacon Owen deacon.owen@vocations.org.uk Call 0121 321 5135 for more info or sign up.   

Jubilee Mass-Good Shepherd Sunday-April 26

* 11.00am Jubilee Mass Programme Today

* with our Archbishop Bernard Longley.

* Blessing Foundation Stone outside church

* memorial tree planting ceremony.

* Procession to the church with banners

* Reading Parish History & Jubilee hymns

* Presentations & Vote of Thanks

* Refreshments in Hall-Cutting Jubilee cake

* 6.00 pm Mass similar to 9.00am but with Canon Jonathan Veasey. Foundation Stone poem to be read

 TWO SPECIAL Friary Jubilee Events

 * Friary Centenary Draw.  

 Boxes for each of the 100 years since 1926 .

C hoose a box for £10.

Grand draw today 26^th of April.

1^st prize £100. 2^nd prize £50. 3^rd prize £25

 * Tea at The Friary

May 24 to mark 100yrs

Afternoon tea for only £15, 2.00-5.00pm. Delicious homemade cakes & sandwiches

Scones with strawberry and cream.

Live music from across the decades.

Health & Safety notice: Please respect 1-way system in our car park & 5 mph speed limit.

* Top gate (by cemetery) for entrance only

* All must exit via other gate (north end)

golf by the wayside! Our Lady of Wayside invites Olton Friary golfers to join their annual golf day at Fulford Heath Golf Club, Tanners Green Lane, Wythall B47 6BH on May 21. Cost? £60 per head includes 18 holes, tea, coffee & bacon rolls, after-noon buffet & prizes. Buggy hire £35. Interested? Call Ray Hunt 07955 359242 or rayhunt47@btinternet.com for info. Three charities this year: (i) funds to take young adults to Lourdes; (ii) SVP Society & (iii) Father O’Mahony Trust. Donations or sponsorship much appreciated.    

GIFT AID…. Pennies from heaven!

* We can reclaim tax on all gifts to parish

* Each £1 given nets the parish an extra 25p

* No charge or extra tax. Just complete a Gift Aid Declaration in narthex

* Give by standing order, weekly envelope or DONA card reader.

* If you no longer pay tax, just alert the office

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REGULAR ACTIVITIES IN OUR PARISH HALL

Monday Zumba 1.30 - 2.30 & 7 - 8pm

Tuesday Latin & Ballroom Dancing 10.30 -12 noon & 7.30 - 9.30pm. Yoga 5:45 - 7:00pm

Tuesday U3A (2nd Tuesday, monthly)

Wednesday Stroke Club 9am - 1.30pm. Slimming World 2.30 - 8.30

Thursday Zumba 11am - 12 Noon.  U3A Quiz (2nd Thursday monthly) Fitness Pilates (term time) 6.30 - 8.30pm

Friday Yoga 10.45am - 12.00 noon

 

PARISH CENSUS: Please fill in details online or manually. Info? Email:

martin.hayden@oltonfriary.org.uk or call office 0121 706 0505.

https://forms.office.com/e/dHWqGN3HG2

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Safeguarding: Our Parish follows correct safeguarding policy & practice at all times. Safeguarding Parish Reps: Carol Foster & Maureen Treanor: sg.oltonfriary.solihull@rcaob.org.uk Diocese Rep: Claire Reay: safeguarding@rcaob.org.uk Call 0121 230 6240 for any concern or query

The Parish operates in accordance with Statutory Safeguarding Guidance and the National and Archdioceses policies & procedures at all times. Our Parish Safeguarding Representative is Carol Foster and  Maureen Treanor. They can be contacted at: sg.oltonfriary.solihull@rcaob.org.uk or alternatively the Diocesan Safeguarding team can be contacted on 0121 230 6240

safeguarding@rcaob.org.uk if you have any concern.

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PARISH GROUPS—Please check your information posted on the Parish website.  Any updates/corrections/alterations, please email the parish office.

SOLIHULL/HEARTLANDS HOSPITAL Please ask hospital Switchboard for on-call Catholic Priest 0121 424 2000, & they will call the duty Priest. Catholic Chaplain at Solihull & Heartlands is Fr Roger Raven. Data Protection law means visit from  priest must be actively sought. He doesn't have access to patient files.

CAR PARK - Please be considerate when parking/manoeuvring your car and please note the disabled parking bays are for the use of those with disabled badges, there is no parking in either the Community and Staff designated areas and the front & rear of The Friary Residential block.  When parking on a Sunday, please do not park on or drive over the grass adjacent to the gate leading into the graveyard.  Only authorised cars to park at other times, by arrangement with the Parish Priest.

GOING TO HOSPITAL -Please let your parish priest know if you’re going into hospital. On admission ask for the Catholic chaplain as Chaplains no longer receive names of Catholic patients unless they opt in.

SECURITY NOTICE - Please ensure Friary doors are kept closed & locked when necessary.  If you attend a meeting please make sure that the last one out has secured the outside doors.  The front door should not be left on the hook unattended.  Besides Church security, the Friary is home to priests & brothers who need to know they are safe.

FLOODLIGHT DEDICATION—You are able to have the Church floodlit in memory of someone.  A suggested donation is £10 a week, the name of the person in whose memory it is in would appear in the newsletter.  Forms are available in  narthex, or from parish office.

THE SICK OF OUR PARISH - If your name or the name of a friend or relative was on the parish list of prayers for the sick, and you would like that name to remain on the list, would you please contact the Parish Office on 0121 706 0505.  Data protection law obliges us to ensure that you or your friend or family member has consented to being on the list, as it can be seen by many, (e.g. church notice board) and is available for anyone to pick up.  We make great efforts to ensure the church abides by new data protection and privacy law.

VEHICLE CRIME ALERT - The neighbourhood Policing Team would like to draw your attention to an increase in vehicle crime in the area.  5 crime reduction tips—ALWAYS close the windows and doors in your vehicle, DON'T leave any valuables on display and where possible do not leave ANY valuables in the vehicle such as Satnavs, Mobile Phones, Wallets, Purses, Bags or iPods, ENSURE your registration plates are fixed using 'anti tamper screws', KEEP your car keys in a safe place in your house.

KEEP YOUR VALUABLES SAFE - Please do not leave bags unattended in Church, even at Communion time.  Bags and valuables should not be left on display in cars as this can present a target for thieves.