Weekly Newsletter - Olton Friary Church

Fr Austin's Holy Thought

Second Sunday of Easter

Divine Mercy Day

Whose Sin You Shall Forgive...

John 20.19-31

Pope Pius XII (died 1958) isn't much evoked these days, and we don’t seek to declare him a saint, as we do his successors. But all students of the bible thankfully recall his 1943 encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu (influence of the Holy Spirit). It won’t be found in W.H.Smith or Amazon Prime.

But this message freed the church to embrace modern scripture research, and use it to see the true meaning of a text, without past prejudice. Nobody was obliged any more to hold that the world was made literally in 7 days, or that Moses wrote the first 5 books of the bible single-handedly.

The Pope was aware of dangers involved. In 1943 cold winds came from uber-liberal scholars who doubted the divinity of Christ, or were sceptical about miracles. (and atheist communists eagerly pounced on these!)In 2026 dangers come from scary internet memes of the Apocalypse, tinged with U.S. Politics. But the Pope was confident in 1943 that the Holy Spirit would guide his church to the truth despite distractions.

Modern study gives us better insight into today’s gospel, especially Jesus’ call: ‘Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven’. We usually hear what follows as ‘Whose sins you retain they are retained’. But a more faithful translation of this second part would be ‘Those people you hold fast are held fast’, as ‘sins’ are not mentioned at all in the original ... So it becomes a word of support rather than judgement.

This translation chimes better with Divine Mercy, and the revelations given to Sister Faustina 100 years ago, and the devotion made popular in modern times by Pope John Paul II. So we thank God today for the inspiration of an Italian pope and two Polish saints, and the gift of mercy.

Fr.Austin scj

Email Fr. Austin SCJ

Weekly Diary

12th April - 19th April 2026	Second Week of Easter
Divine Mercy Sunday 12^th April Act 2:42-47 1Pt 1:3-9 Jn 20:19-31 9.00 Mr & Mrs J.J. Gallagher RIP 11.00 Liz & Phil Garvey 60^th Wedding Anniversary 2.30pm Divine Mercy Chaplet & Benediction 6.00pm Mass People of the Parish also Michael & Eveleen McDermott RIP Anniversary Exit Collection SCJ Missions	Dear Brothers & Sisters, The Easter season continues today with the gospel of ‘Doubting Thomas’, and Divine Mercy Sunday. Nearly 100 years ago, a young Polish Sister, Faustina Kowalska was gifted with revelations of the mercy of God. The simple message in a time of great turbulence, when some were using God’s name for sinister political projects and others totally denying God’s existence, was ‘God is love and his first trait mercy’ The Chaplet of Divine Mercy slowly spread, but really caught on when a young Polish mystic, Karol Wojtyila was much moved by her vision. Later as Pope John Paul II he began Divine Mercy Sunday, which we keep today. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is kept at 2.30pm today in church, with Benediction. The feast of pope Martin I (Monday) honours a 7^th century pope who defended the true humanity of Jesus against aggressive opponents. As always heretical currents were enmeshed with politics and he was imprisoned by the Byzantine Emperor and then exiled to Kerson, now in modern Ukraine, where people have known great suffering these last three years. Martin was originally a monk of St.Basil with no interest in a church ‘career’ but he reluctantly accepted the role of diplomat, and then pope in order to protect God’s people. He paid for this with his life, witnessing to the words of Jesus: ‘A man has no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends’
Monday - 13^th April St. Martin I pope & martyr Act 4:23-31 Jn 3:1-8 7.00 Mass Special Intention 10.15 Mass Fr Edward Simpson SCJ anniversary also Marcella (Rita) Glendon
Tuesday –14^th April Act 4:32-37 Jn 3:7-15 7.00 Mass Danny C. 10.15 Mass Mary’s Honour Prayer group also Peggy Conran 10.45 Rosary of the unborn 7.00pm Prayer before Blessed Sacrament
Wednesday - 15^th April Act 5:17-26 Jn 3:16-21 7.00 Mass John D. 10.15 Mass Protection of the Unborn Child also Margaret Morres RIP 11.00-12.00 Prayer Group (day chapel)
Thursday - 16^th April Act 5:27-33 Jn 3:31-36 7.00 Mass Sean C 10.15 Mass Phoebe Kerr 11.00-12.00 Prayer before Blessed Sacrament 7.00pm Vigil Matthew Gallagher
Friday - 17^th April Act 5:34-42 Jn 6:1-15 7.00 Mass George Wilkes RIP 10.15 Mass Cecilia, Ann and families 11.30 Requiem Matthew Gallagher
Saturday 18^th April Act 6:1-7 Jn 6:16-21 9.30 Confessions 10.15 Mass Deceased of Ganderton family RIP also Ros Sherman
Third Sunday of Easter 19^th April Acts 2:14,22-33 1Pt 1:17-21 Lk 24:13-35 9.00 People of the Parish also Thomas Sherlock RIP 11.00 Grazia De Feo 12.30 baptism 6.00pm Mass James & Mary Mc Namee Exit Collection Friends of the Holy Land FHL

12th April - 19th April 2026

Second Week of Easter

Divine Mercy Sunday 12^th April

Act 2:42-47 1Pt 1:3-9 Jn 20:19-31

9.00 Mr & Mrs J.J. Gallagher RIP

11.00 Liz & Phil Garvey 60^th Wedding Anniversary

2.30pm Divine Mercy Chaplet & Benediction

6.00pm Mass People of the Parish

also Michael & Eveleen McDermott RIP Anniversary

Exit Collection SCJ Missions

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

The Easter season continues today with the gospel of ‘Doubting Thomas’, and Divine Mercy Sunday. Nearly 100 years ago, a young Polish Sister, Faustina Kowalska was gifted with revelations of the mercy of God.

The simple message in a time of great turbulence, when some were using God’s name for sinister political projects and others totally denying God’s existence, was ‘God is love and his first trait mercy’

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy slowly spread, but really caught on when a young Polish mystic, Karol Wojtyila was much moved by her vision. Later as Pope John Paul II he began Divine Mercy Sunday, which we keep today.

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is kept at 2.30pm today in church, with Benediction.

The feast of pope Martin I (Monday) honours a 7^th century pope who defended the true humanity of Jesus against aggressive opponents. As always heretical currents were enmeshed with politics and he was imprisoned by the Byzantine Emperor and then exiled to Kerson, now in modern Ukraine, where people have known great suffering these last three years.

Martin was originally a monk of St.Basil with no interest in a church ‘career’ but he reluctantly accepted the role of diplomat, and then pope in order to protect God’s people. He paid for this with his life, witnessing to the words of Jesus: ‘A man has no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends’

Monday - 13^th April

St. Martin I pope & martyr

Act 4:23-31 Jn 3:1-8

7.00 Mass Special Intention

10.15 Mass Fr Edward Simpson SCJ anniversary

also Marcella (Rita) Glendon

Tuesday –14^th April

Act 4:32-37 Jn 3:7-15

7.00 Mass Danny C.

10.15 Mass Mary’s Honour Prayer group

also Peggy Conran

10.45 Rosary of the unborn

7.00pm Prayer before Blessed Sacrament

Wednesday - 15^th April

Act 5:17-26 Jn 3:16-21

7.00 Mass John D.

10.15 Mass Protection of the Unborn Child

also Margaret Morres RIP

11.00-12.00 Prayer Group (day chapel)

Thursday - 16^th April

Act 5:27-33 Jn 3:31-36

7.00 Mass Sean C

10.15 Mass Phoebe Kerr

11.00-12.00 Prayer before Blessed Sacrament

7.00pm Vigil Matthew Gallagher

Friday - 17^th April

Act 5:34-42 Jn 6:1-15

7.00 Mass George Wilkes RIP

10.15 Mass Cecilia, Ann and families

11.30 Requiem Matthew Gallagher

Saturday 18^th April

Act 6:1-7 Jn 6:16-21

9.30 Confessions

10.15 Mass Deceased of Ganderton family RIP

also Ros Sherman

Third Sunday of Easter 19^th April

Acts 2:14,22-33 1Pt 1:17-21 Lk 24:13-35

9.00 People of the Parish

also Thomas Sherlock RIP

11.00 Grazia De Feo

12.30 baptism

6.00pm Mass James & Mary Mc Namee

Exit Collection Friends of the Holy Land FHL

Notices

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As this Easter season unfolds, I wish you all a very happy Easter season ....your families.... friends .... and work colleagues. May we all come to know more deeply the presence of the risen Jesus in our lives.

Scripture today tells of doubting Thomas with whom many of us can easily identify. Doubts have always been a feature of our journey in faith, but especially in this 21^stcentury when we seek scientific ‘proof’.

The ‘proof’ that Jesus offered Thomas was not logic or argument but simply the marks of his wounded hands and side. And what a marvellous example that is to us now! In this brave new world, people need to know we share their suffering, and their hunger and thirst for mercy & justice. This speaks to them more powerfully than any ‘scientific’ argument, because it moves the heart, deep down inside them.

I give thanks once more for our beautiful Easter services this year and the joy of thenewly baptised and received into full communion with the church. Praise God!

Praise God too for the team who adorned our church so well, our servers & Eucharistic ministers, our readers, catechists and collectors. Thanks also to our welcomers & wardens, and many others who served so faithfully, not only at Easter but throughout the whole year.

Thanks too for the generous Easter offering to our SCJ community last weekend. This goes to fund clothes, transport, vacations, health care & personal needs, and is both necessary and very much appreciated.

2026 is our Parish Jubilee Year -100 years since the church foundation stone was laid, and we have a range of events starting in two weeks. (see next column for details)

And may our Mother Mary, who stayed with the apostles after Easter until Pentecost, stay with us in these anxious times and give us her maternal care.

Fr.Biju Parish Priest

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SCJ News:

Holy Land We continue to pray for our Holy land communities in Nazareth & Bethlehem where both communities still live with the daily echoes of explosions despite an apparent ceasefire.

On Palm Sunday Pope Leo said: ‘God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them’ and he quoted the prophet Isaiah: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood’ (Isaiah 1.15)

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Friary Snippets

Divine Mercy Sunday Devotions today .... Benediction, Exposition and Divine Mercy Chaplet, Holy Rosary, Confessions in the Church. 2.30pm to 3.30pm.

** Friary Church Jubilee Celebrations **

∆ 100 yrs since laying the foundation stone:

∆ Tuesday 21^st April (actual Jubilee date); Thanksgiving mass with Capuchin Friars at 6.30pm. Singing & readings from 6.15.

∆ After this Mass, tea and coffee and light refreshments will be served in the hall.

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

∆ 11am Celebration Mass with Archbp Longley in the presence of our local Solihull Mayor Annette McKenzie & local Solihull MP Neil Shastri-Hurst. Buffet reception in the hall

∆ Tours of the church and Friary after mass

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

∆ All are welcome with family and friends

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Marriage Matters: Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:42-47 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31

Our ‘togetherness’ in what we do and say is a ‘sign’ of our love and a source of joy for us. Sometimes, like Thomas, we can be stubborn, with an attitude of ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ creating a sense of separation and distance. But together we have the power to stop, reflect, be forgiven, and begin again.

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Big thanks to the secret army of cleaners who keep our church tidy all year round: Week starting 12^thApril: Group F

Please pray for Matthew Gallagher Funeral 17^th April –Vigil 16^th April; Jimmy Gavin, Vigil 5^th May, Funeral 6^th May, Anne Letts- Funeral 7^th May: Vigil 6^th May Hazel Scott, and Tony Davies.

++++May they rest in peace ++++++++

Meditation Group at Holy Souls parish meeting room 1pm: April 13 & 27; May 11 & 25; June 8& 22 & July 6. All welcome.

NEWS FLASH We now have an Instagram Page for Catholic Churches in Solihull. Just follow the new joint South Solihull Catholic Churches - Search SouthSolihullRCChurches for shared events, information and news.

https://www.instagram.com/southsolihullrcchurches?igsh=cG5reW8za3YwNGsy&utm_source=qr

Lisieux in the footsteps of St Therese ….. Pilgrimage from London 8–11August 2026. The Spiritual programme is based on the teachings of St.Therese & “The Little Way” from Westminster Cathedral by coach £599

2026 Walsingham Diocesan Day Pilgrimage Saturday 9^th May:

* Pilgrims invited to arrive at the Shrine by 11am. Visit Slipper Chapel & Chapel of Reconciliation & Shrine shop & café.

*1.30 Mass in Chapel of Reconciliation

*3.00pm Procession to Priory ruins in village ending with time of prayer at the site of the Holy House. Depart 5.00pm.

The Fatima Saints in Birmingham

* Relics of St.Jacinta & St.Francesco, the Fatima children, will come to the UK soon.

* World Apostolate of Fatima will bring them for veneration to St.Chad’s June 28

* The children were only 9 & 11 when they died in the 1919 flu epidemic.

* despite popular opinion then, the Vatican declared them too young to be canonised.

* But Pope Francis waived this in 2017 and canonised them 100yrs after the apparitions

Pilgrimage to Fatima 11-15 Sept 2026. Pilgrimage with Fr.Andrew Franklin, flying from Manchester staying at Hotel Steyler, close to the Sanctuary. £1100 pp. Deposit of £400 needed. Info & booking: Tangney Tours on 01732 886666 or email Clare@tangney-tours.com

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.