As I mentioned at the end of last Sunday’s morning mass, we have much to thank the Lord for in those among us who are preparing to celebrate the sacraments among us. They are signs of the Lord’s love for our community. Therefore, please pray for them: For the Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion . Currently, we have Kyan a local student who has been among us for well over a year and he has begun undertaking catechetical formation in preparation for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. To be Received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church . We have Luke. Luke has been among us now for about a year and is nearing readiness to be received into Full Communion. He will be celebrating the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and participate in Holy Communion for the first time among us, on Pentecost Sunday. He will join the likes of Lori who was received during the Easter Vigil. The Sacrament of Confirmation Over the past 6 months or so our young men Emils and Matiss, have been preparing for Confirmation and are now ready. It is hoped that Emils and Matiss will celebrate the Sacrament with Bishop Mark in Llanelli on Saturday 1st June at 11.00 am. First Holy Communion Among our younger parishioners we have Dominik, Denzel and Rocco who will be joined by Leonard, Lilly, and Illia in celebrating their First Holy Communion. This special celebration will be on the Feast of Corpus Christi – The Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ – Sunday 2nd June at the 10.00 am mass. The Sacrament of Marriage Although late in the day we congratulate Mary Chidimma who on 6th April married her fiancé Arinze back home in her native Nigeria. Looking ahead in September Lori and Robert will celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony among us.

Fr John Patrick is encouraging us to pray the Rosary in each other’s homes during May. Our Blessed Mother is the Queen of Peace and in these times of uncertainty and unrest many especially those who are suffering persecution and violence, need our prayers. Already in St. Bride’s Angela and Adrian have offered to host parishioners wishing to take up this invitation wo join them each Wednesday afternoon throughout May. They have printed a little hand out for parishioners with their contact details which are available in the porch at St. Bride’s.  It would be great if parishioners in Gorseinon parish would also take up this invitation. If you are willing, please let him know.

Reflection - False Prophets Admirers have suggested that the brilliance of Oscar Wilde’s plays was only surpassed by that of his conversation. He was a superb raconteur whose conversational offerings were heavily laced with irony. He had a particular penchant for parables, often recounting them in the style of the gospel narrative. Here is one of them. “One day, an unknown man walked down the street. It was the first hour of daylight and people had not yet gathered in the market place. The man sat down by the wayside and, raising his eyes, he began to gaze up to heaven. And it came to pass that another man who was passing that way, seeing the stranger, he too stopped and raised his eyes to heaven. At the second and third hour, others came and did likewise. Soon word of this marvellous happening spread throughout the countryside and many people left their abodes and came to see this stranger. At the ninth hour, when the day was far spent, there was a great multitude assembled. The stranger lowered his eyes from heaven and stood up. Turning towards the multitude, he said in a loud voice: “Amen, amen~ I say unto you. How easy it is to start a religion!” To start a religion, as Wilde observed, may not be that difficult, but to ensure its survival is quite another matter. People are gullible. Futurists predict a growth in religious activity in the 21st century. For them it forms part of the leisure industry which is expected to expand dramatically. Whether one should greet this prediction with joy or apprehension is a matter for debate. A purely statistical increase in church membership is a dubious gain. What counts for Christianity — indeed, what ensures its survival — is not external but internal growth. What is required is not more members of the Catholic Church, but better disciples of Jesus Christ. Mere membership and full discipleship are worlds apart. Christianity has always suffered from a surfeit of members and a shortage of disciples. Humans are social animals and crave to be associated. In a world grown cold and depersonalised the churches offer a comfortable ambiance of friendship and security. Often the gospel is diluted to accommodate the prejudices and lifestyle of the parishioners. Few preached fearlessly enough, like St Paul, to risk their livings, let alone their lives. The radical Christ is made into a benign bishop and the collection plate registers members’ approval. Too many withered branches remain un-pruned. St John tries gently to prod us into discipleship. “My children, our love is not to be just words or mere talk, but something real and active.” You won’t meet Christ in your Sunday liturgy, if you haven’t rubbed shoulders with him in the office, in the factory or in the kitchen. You won’t hear his message from the altar, if you were deaf to his call at your office desk. Jesus put it simply and bluntly: “It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit and then you will be my disciples.”  © Irish Association of Catholic Priests.