Thank you for your offerings last week of £1,598.  Second Collection £639.65.  Mass attendance 808.
Sunday 2^nd July (Saturday Vigil)	Thirteenth Sunday 6pm Kay Livingston RIP (M Farrell) 9.15am  Joshua Canning on what would have been his 18^th birthday (Canning Family) Francesca M Sio RIP (J&LSio) 11am Peter Keen RIP (Jo Keen)
Monday 3^rd July Please note change of time	St Thomas 11.30am Requiem Mass for Lucia Jakubowicz
Tuesday 4^th July	Feria 9.30am Luisito Ortiz Espinosa RIP (Lucan & Espinosa Family)
Wednesday 5^th July	Feria Please note that the Mass will take place in the hall. 9.30am Jacqueline Barford RIP (E Chavannes)
	10.45am Eucharistic Adoration
Thursday 6^th July	Feria 9.30am William & Nora Kirwan RIP (R&E Wright)
Friday 7^th July	Feria 9.30am Carmen Novaes Suzzara RIP (D Suzzara) 7.30pm Eucharistic Adoration
Sunday 9^th  July (Saturday Vigil)	Fourteenth Sunday 6pm Helen Geoghegan RIP (M Thompson) 9.15am Francesca M Sio RIP (J&L Sio) 11am Fr David Camilleri

Confessions heard Saturday 5.00-5.45pm or by appointment.

Morning Prayer: Takes place Monday – Friday at 9.10am.  All are welcome to attend.

Pondering the Word (Lectio Divina)

A quiet reflective look at the following Sunday’s Gospel.  Mondays 11am - 12 noon, except for Bank Holidays, here in the Church.  All welcome.

Offertory collections

This week’s second collection is for St Helen’s parish in Peru.

Grenfell Tower Collection

Should you wish to make a contribution to the Grenfell Tower victims there will be a collection box on the sanctuary over the next few weeks.

Fr David writes…

When I arrived in London in 2003, one of the things that fascinated me was the way commuters on the train avoided any kind of connection.  Each passenger had their own Metro or Evening Standard to read, their own headphones and also iPods or phones to communicate with.  There was definitely no eye contact.  If there was any contact, there would be awkwardness or even paranoia involved.  Their personal space needed to be respected as they settled into their imaginary ivory towers.  As time passed, I started to collude with the anti-social behaviour myself.  If you cannot beat them, join them they say.  I also retreated into my own mental haven escaping any kind of encounter.  The emergence of diverse terror attacks that we have experienced in London has made us more suspicious of one another I feel.  There is a hyper vigilant air about us.  We prefer to lock our doors both of our hearts and houses in order to protect ourselves from possible intruders.  Suspicion and fear overwhelm us into enclosing ourselves in our small claustrophobic worlds.  We tend to socialise with our own kind because that is where we feel safe.  We do not have to push our comfort zones.  We know the laws and regulations of our cultural milieu.  So it is simple and safe.  No wonder ethnic minority groups find support and acceptance within their own kind.  And yet the more we are being encouraged by sectors of society to live behind high walls to protect ourselves from potential threats, the more the minority groups feel disenfranchised from the main culture.  And they are becoming more angered whilst our lives are becoming even smaller and poorer.

We can become too homogenous in our attitude at the expense of living poorer existences.  Opening ourselves to others, especially opening ourselves to strangers, can open us to rich and powerful experiences.  We can expand our horizons of thought and behaviour.  Risking the opening of ourselves to the stranger can be the key to pushing our comfort zone and be enriched in return.  Our humanity has the potential to expand if we dare to trust the stranger.  I can understand that we must not be naïve.  However, we are giving no one any chance because of fear and suspicion.  We have gone to the other extreme of some of our ancestors who used to leave the door key on the outside of the front door to invite any one in if they need a haven at any time.  In the tradition of tribes who move from place to place to find new grazing lands for their cattle, hospitality becomes a matter of life and death.  Their modern equivalent might be the emigrant workers who leave home to find a job in different areas and countries.  All these people depend on welcome if they are to thrive.  In the sacred tradition of Israel hospitality, it was regarded as one of the chief responsibilities of a caring people.  The stranger, the outsider, anyone outside home territory – all were regarded as people who needed special care.  The reason for this was enshrined in the law “if a stranger lives with you in your land, do not molest him.  You must count him as one of your own countrymen and love him as yourself – for you were once strangers yourselves in the land of Egypt.  I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34).

When Jesus as Elisha, is welcomed into towns and villages by people, who see him as a holy messenger from God, they receive a holy man’s reward: the poor hear the Good News, the sick are healed, and sinners come to know the forgiveness of God.  The people receive their own reward for the hospitality of a faith that welcomes Jesus.  Their hospitality is opening their heart to the visit of God who comes in the person of Jesus.  They are changed because of his visit.  This does not mean that everyone was hospitable to Jesus and his disciples.  However those who did not welcome them, received a cloud of dust.  Hospitality means embracing those who are different to us and who need our assistance.  Hospitality means reaching out from our self-centred lives.  It demands us to push our comfort zones and allow ourselves to be opened and enriched by the stranger.

I hear very positive remarks nowadays from newcomers to our parish who feel extremely welcomed here.  I wish to commend this attitude.  It is a sign of a healthy community when we are opened and inclusive to others.  Let us build on this value.  God rewards us with an abundance of blessings as we welcome the stranger.  Let us not only welcome but find ways for how strangers can become partakers and active members of our community.  We hope that the skills and talents survey which the Communication Pillar of the Parish Pastoral Council has prepared will enhance more sharing of our gifts and talents within the parish for the benefit of all.  Let us celebrate the gift of hospitality within our parish.  I feel that it needs to become the hallmark of our life together in faith.  This for me expresses the concept of Evangelisation.

“Drop-In” – Evening Surgery

The next Drop-in Surgery will take place on Tuesday 4^th July between 5pm – 7pm.  Please call at 281a Crescent Drive.  No appointments are necessary.

Liturgy Pillar

Eucharist Adoration

takes place for an hour each Wednesday shortly after the morning Mass starting at 10.45 am and finishing at 11.45 am.  This Devotion to the Eucharist is a time of silent prayer and quiet music.  Everyone is welcome for all or part of this time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

First Friday of Month - Eucharist Adoration also takes place on the 1^st Friday of each month from 7.30 pm – 9pm and concludes with Benediction.  Everyone is welcome for all or part of this time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Pastoral Care Pillar

Peace Candle in Our Lady’s Chapel

In the light of the recent shocking and sad events that have taken place in Manchester and London the Pastoral Care Team felt it would be appropriate to create a corner of the church where people can come and spend some time, to reflect and pray bringing both their worries and hopes for the future to God.  This quiet space has been created in Our Lady’s Chapel.  A book has been placed alongside the dove and candle for everyone to have an opportunity to write their prayer for peace or their own personal intentions.

Holy Baptism

This weekend we welcome, through Holy Baptism, Mia Ellis and her parents Craig and Pia; Clara Lall and her parents Siddarth and Olivia; and Eric Laino and his parents Miguel and Malgorzata.

Youth Pillar

Post-Confirmation Retreat 29^th September – 1^st October 2017.

In collaboration with Southwark Catholic Youth Service, we are offering all young people who have made their Confirmation the opportunity to attend a Post- Confirmation retreat which promises both fun and faith exploration under the experienced guidance of the youth team in Whitstable (Costs tbc) For more information and to register your interest please contact the parish office by 20^th July 2017.

Parish Life……

Silver Jubilee & St James’ Feast

Celebrations

Garden Party & Fun Run

9th July

After 11am Mass

Music, Drinks, Cakes – Fun for the whole family!

The Friends of St James' – Coffee and pastries

You’re invited by the Friends of St James' to come and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea (or squash for little people!) and a pastry after both Masses this Sunday in the Community Centre.  Meet members of our Parish and chat over a cup of coffee or tea and find out more about the Friends, what the group does, and the events it has planned for the remaining year.  Hot drinks are free to anyone wearing a Friends badge.  We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Senior Citizens’ Lunch

On Sunday 16^th July at 1pm in the Community Centre.  If you would like to attend please sign the sheet at the back of the church.

The Power of Colour

Seven Sisters Seascape, October 7^th 10am to 1pm in the Community Centre.  Unleash your creativity at a palette knife workshop with Zsuzsanna Pataki.

Following a step-by-step demo by Zsuzsanna, you will develop your own seascape in acrylics, with sponges and palette knives.  Great fun and a new technique if your default tool is a brush.  Professional colours, canvas and tools provided.  Beginners are very welcome.

Invite friends and sign up together by calling the parish office on 01689 827100.  Recommended age 14-144 years, special discount for the parish £25 per person.

Justice & Peace Group

Bromley Foodbank requests

During the summer holidays, families have particular problems feeding children who obviously don’t benefit from school meals.  They are now preparing their Summer Holiday Meal packs and are quite short of certain food items.  Last year they supported 60 families for the 6 weeks of the holidays and need to build up stock before the end of July.

We are asking parishioners to bring what they can from the list below over the weekend of 15-16th July.  Let’s make this a really big collection for a local good cause.

Items needed are: tinned meat such as stewed steak, chunky chicken, minced beef, etc., tinned potatoes, tinned vegetables, tinned tomatoes, custard, rice pudding, tinned fruit, desserts such as jellies, instant whips, and sponge puddings, small bottles of squash, and UHT milk.

Parish Peru Project

Second collection next weekend.  This will be for our overseas project to help St Helen's parish in Peru.  We normally look to support an overseas cause for two years and as we have now been supporting St Helen's for about two years this will be the final collection for St Helen's.

So far £10,387 has been raised which has helped to fund the building of a chapel, called the Adoration Chapel, at the Family Centre in St Helen's parish and to fund the cost of buying tables and chairs, a projector and screen and a sound system in a small hall in the Family Centre.

Fr Alex the parish priest has expressed his gratitude for the generous help St James’ has given him.

The Justice and Peace Group is looking at a new overseas project to replace the Peru project to propose to the parish.

Pre-School

Noah’s Ark

The preschool would like to invite all parishioners to watch the dress rehearsal of their show Noah’s Ark on Monday 10^th July at 10.30am.

Reading with the children

If there are any parishioners that would like to read with the preschool children or do any crafts then they are very welcome.  DBS checks will need to be carried out by the parish office.  Please contact the preschool on stjamespreschool@live.co.uk with dates and times that suit you.

Communications Pillar

Mass Intentions

Please note that, due to high demand, mass intentions for services up to and including September 2017 are fully booked.  Please bear this in mind when filing your mass intentions, and try to give the office as much lead in time as possible to help ensure you get the dates you would like. 

The Passage helping homeless people

Flower Stall

A representative from the Knights will be selling flowers after all three Masses over the weekend of 1^st / 2^nd July all the proceeds would go to their action project The Passage, which is a charity based in London for homeless people to help transform their lives (www.passage.org.uk).

Passage Garden Party

There will be a Garden Party in aid of The Passage in the historic College Garden, Westminster Abbey on Friday 21 July 2017 from 6.00 p.m.  Visit the oldest cultivated garden in England with a back drop of the Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.  Tickets £40 from The Passage, St Vincent’s Centre, Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1NL tel.  020 7592 1856 email tickets@passage.org.uk which includes buffet supper, wine, soft drinks, live music and a prize raffle.  Tickets are also available through passage-garden-party.eventbrite.co.uk

Seeing a Chaplain if You Are Admitted to Hospital

Protecting personal information (data protection) is really important when you become an inpatient in hospital.

So please specifically ask hospital staff to pass on your details to the hospital’s Roman Catholic chaplain as soon as you are admitted if you would like a Chaplain to visit you.

Fr David would always be very happy to visit you too, so please ask a relative or friend to let him know about your admission.  You or they can email Fr David on father.david@stjamespettswood.org, or phone the parish office on 01689 827100.

Weekend Rotas:  Thank you for helping.

Wednesday Coffee	5^th July – M Gyi, S Barradell, B D’Arcy
Cleaning the Church	8^th July – O Clutton, M Mathews, R Blanco, R Mwansa
Mass 9th July	Saturday 6pm (Vigil)	Sunday 9.15am	Sunday 11am
Welcomers	K Moon	J Samuels L Foster	M Ingledew K Edwards
Readers	C Kiely J Bajorek	R Lim C D’Souza	T Dabrowski M O’Mahony
Ministers of Holy Communion	P Driscoll T Babb B Babb R Wright A Guyton	T Forde M Smith M Howell S Cotta D Hairs	K Chan A Evans P May S Ingle R Del Guercio
Coffee		L Lynch S Barradell	M Harrington S Paris R Scott
Bar	B Fleeman, P Troy

Tellers

L Lynch, M Ardron