SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER: “If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father” (John 14:28).

ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY (d. 605), 27th MAY

Christianity in Britain started early, but was largely submerged by the pagan Anglo-Saxon invasions of the fifth and sixth centuries. It remained alive only in the far west, which remained British because it was too remote and inaccessible for the invaders to attack.

It is said that Pope Gregory the Great saw some fair-haired Anglo-Saxon slaves exposed for sale in a market in Rome. He asked where they were from, and when he was told, replied non Angli, sed angeli – “not Angles, but angels,” and determined to secure their evangelization.

Whatever the truth of that story, it is certain that Gregory did organise a party of thirty monks to travel to south-eastern England and spread the Gospel there, and chose as their leader Augustine, prior of the monastery of St Andrew in Rome. They landed in 597, and were welcomed by the king of Kent, Ethelbert, who became a Christian along with many of his subjects. A second wave of missionaries arrived in 601. Augustine went to Arles, in France, where he was consecrated archbishop of the English, and then returned to Canterbury to set up his see. The mission prospered, and he founded two more sees, at London and at Rochester in Kent.

The evangelization of the country was planned in close agreement with Pope Gregory, and took care to respect existing traditions. Pagan temples and holy places were not to be destroyed, but to be converted to Christian use; and pagan feasts were to be superseded by Christian ones. This is consistent with the pattern of evangelization throughout the first millennium, which saw Christianity as a fulfilment of what went before, rather than a contradiction of it. Even in Rome itself, temples of Juno had a tendency to become churches dedicated to Our Lady. (It is only with the Spanish colonial evangelizations of the mid-second millennium that the policy of making a clean break with the past began: a policy that works faster but whose effects are not always permanent).

In the far west of Britain, where British bishops had survived the pagan invasions – or where they had fled to escape them – Augustine was less successful in establishing his authority. The traditions of the Celtic church were different from the Roman ones, and bishops who had guided their people for generations were not about to submit to a jumped-up missionary from overseas. It took several generations for the whole of Great Britain to become Christian and for the English and British liturgical traditions to be reconciled.

Augustine died at Canterbury on 26 May 604 or 605.

From Universalis

The canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis has been postponed due to the death of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. It will be the decision of the successor of Pope Francis which will determine the new date for the canonization to go ahead. Pope Francis had wanted to celebrate Blessed Carlo in the Church on earth. Now, please God, it will be Blessed Carlo who celebrates Pope Francis in the Church in heaven.

Devotion to Blessed Carlo in our parishes has taken deep roots and produced much fruit in many people’s lives, often in surprising ways. Last summer, we obtained a first class relic of Blessed Carlo (hair cuttings) which it would be good to make available for people to see and venerate when they visit St. Mary’s in Largs. With the Bishop’s permission, it is hoped to erect a SHRINE TO BLESSED CARLO in St. Mary’s church, probably at the back of our current side aisle. The basic idea is to erect a “triptych” or three-panelled display: at the centre, will be a representation of Blessed Carlo and, on either side, representations of SS. Francis and Clare of Assisi. A few benches will be removed to make room for a votive candle stand and a kneeler. Our first class relic of Blessed Carlo will be embedded appropriately to ensure security and accessibility.

As an extraordinary expense, the project can only proceed if we raise enough funds to realise it. In order to produce something truly beautiful and worthy of our church, I think we want to aim for about £10k. My hope is that the shrine can become a place of pilgrimage for people who hear of it and in whose hearts there is already a devotion to Blessed Carlo and the other saints of Assisi. The main goal must remain to draw them closer to the Eucharist, to Christ Himself.

If you are able to make a contribution towards this project (and I know not everyone is in these challenging times), I would be very grateful. On the contactless terminal in St. Mary’s church, an option is there to donate towards the Blessed Carlo shrine. Evidently, you can donate in any other way you wish. May God bless and prosper this project!

QR code and link to facilitate donations.

Blessed Carlo Shrine

THE FIFTH OF POPE FRANCIS’ REASONS FOR HOPE, MAY 2025: We need to find reasons for hope that will reach our young people:

POPE FRANCIS’ DOCUMENT convoking the Jubilee Year of 2025: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/bulls/documents/20240509_spes-non-confundit_bolla-giubileo2025.html

PORNOGRAPHY: The Bishops of the United States have just produced the second edition of their document: “Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography.” It gives a word of hope and healing to those who have been harmed by pornography and raises awareness of its pervasiveness and harm. If you, or someone you know or love is struggling with pornography, this document looks like a great gift to help you. The full text of the document can be found at: https://www.usccb.org/resources/Create-in-Me-a-Clean-Heart-Statement-on-Pornography.pdf

CATHOLIC FAMILIES FOR LIFE Newsletter from the National Commission for Marriage, Family and Life – latest version can be found at www.marriagefamilyandlife.org.uk

ENCYCLICAL LETTER OF POPE FRANCIS ON THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS:

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/20241024-enciclica-dilexit-nos.html

PASTORAL LETTER OF BISHOP FRANCIS DOUGAN REGARDING THE JUBILEE 2025 YEAR:

JUBILEE PASTORAL LETTER OCT 2024

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS – Journey in Faith: For more information, please visit our page: https://www.rclargsandmillport.com/rite-of-christian-initiation-of-adults/

RELIC OF BLESSED CARLO ACUTIS: For information and photos, please click on this link: https://www.rclargsandmillport.com/2024/08/21/relic-of-blessed-carlo-acutis/

PHOTO GALLERY, ST MARY’S PARISH FESTIVAL 2024: St Mary’s Festival Photos

PHOTO GALLERY, ST MARY’S GARDEN 2024: St Mary’s Flower Garden

PHOTO GALLERY, ASSISI PILGRIMAGE OF FEBRUARY 2024: Assisi Pilgrimage 2024

OUR LADY’S PARISH CENSUS: If you are a Catholic who lives within the boundaries of Our Lady’s Parish (Millport), please consider filling out a Census form. Hard copies of the form are available in Our Lady’s church porch. Alternatively, you can fill in one on line by using the following link: https://forms.gle

ST. MARY’S PARISH CENSUS: If you are a Catholic who lives within the boundaries of St. Mary’s Parish (Largs, Fairlie and Skelmorlie), please consider filling out a Census form. Hard copies of the form are available in St. Mary’s church porch. Alternatively, you can fill in one on line by using the following link: https://forms.gle/bViFEJBgCRVjuYnE8

SCOTTISH CATHOLIC SAFEGUARDING STANDARDS AGENCY (SCSSA): The official website of the new Agency can be found at: https://www.scsafeguarding.org.uk/SCSSA

“IN GOD’S IMAGE”, version 2: The Safeguarding Instruction of the Bishops of Scotland. https://www.rclargsandmillport.com/2021/08/28/in-gods-image-version-2-safeguarding-instruction-of-the-bishops-of-scotland/

DIOCESAN WEB-PAGE & FACEBOOK PAGE ON THE SYNOD: https://gallowaydiocese.org.uk/synod https://fb.me/gallowaysynod

VATICAN NEWS: Keep up to date with all news from the Vatican in English at: https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html

LITURGY

– SUNDAYS:

LARGS (live-streamed): Saturday Vigil, 6pm & Sunday 10am; Monday-Friday: 10am Mass, with exception of 2nd Thursdays.

MILLPORT (live-streamed): 12.15pm, Sunday; 10am on 2nd Thursdays.

LIVESTREAM LINKS:

– HOLIDAYS OF OBLIGATION:

LARGS: Vigil Mass at 7pm; 10am Mass on the Day

MILLPORT: 12.15pm Mass on the Day

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER: “If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father” (John 14:28).

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