Newsletter - 25 May 2025
Pentecost Novena
First, something about numbers:
The events of Easter took place at the time of the Passover,
an annual Jewish feast remembering their deliverance from Egypt.
In the gospel of Luke the risen Jesus remains with the disciples for 40 days and then disappears (we remember this on the feast of The Ascension).
10 days later came the Jewish feast of Shavuot which was a commemoration of the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai. It was always 7 weeks after Passover - a “week of weeks” 7 x 7 + 1 = 50, hence the Greek name Pentecost, meaning 50.
God chose this Jewish feast to send the gift of the Holy Spirit (the new law) to Jesus’ followers who were gathered behind locked doors.
It was Pope Leo XIII who in 1897 decreed that the Church should pray a novena for the Holy Spirit from Ascension to Pentecost (a novena is any period of 9 days when you pray for something in particular). It is thought to be the first and most important novena.
It came at the bidding of Blessed Elena Guerra, the founder of the Oblates of the Holy Spirit, who around the turn of the century begged Pope Leo to dedicate the 20th century to the Holy Spirit. She wrote: “Pentecost is not over. In fact it is continuously going on in every time and in every place. . . so we do not envy the apostles and the first believers; we only have to dispose ourselves like them to receive Him well, and He will come to us as He did to them.”
So we recommend that together we pray this novena for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our church and the world. The version we’ve chosen is based on the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit and was adapted from one written by the vocations office of the Diocese of Westminster. It is found on the Walsingham Shrine website. You can save it to your phone or pick up a paper copy from the entrance hall. It begins on 29 May.
Also a reminder that on Pentecost Eve, we will have a special ecumenical prayer meeting. We have invited people from our neighbouring churches and will include members of the Chemin Neuf Community from all over the UK (see newsletter for details).
Nancy Wood, ccn
Focus of the week
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
The next First Holy Communion mass will be on Sunday 25 May at 11am.
Please pray for the children receiving Communion for the first time and for their families.
Please note that parking will be difficult on these days, so consider either walking or parking at alternative places.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
Registration for the Sacrament of Confirmation is open for year 10 and above.
The first session will be on Thursday 11 September at 6–7.30pm and every Thursday until Confirmation date.
Forms are available in the entrance hall.
Please contact Caterina Schifano: cockfosterspa@rcdow.org.uk