Thank you for your offerings last week of £1367.  Mass attendances were 801.

Sunday 5^th March	First Sunday Of Lent
6pm (Saturday Vigil)	Mary Casartelli
9.15am	People Of The Parish
11am	Joe Flynn (T Sweeney)
Monday 6^th March	Feria
9.30am	Keith Blacker RIP
Tuesday 7^th March	Feria
9.30am	Camilo D’Souza RIP ( Leola, Evaristo, Sally Lobo)
Wednesday 8^th March	Feria Joe Wills RIP (Gaynor Whitley & Family)
9.30-10.45am	Eucharistic Adoration
Thursday 9^th March	Feria
9.30am	Foundation Mass – Deceased Members Of The Fenner Family
Friday 10^th March	Feria
9.30am	Anthony Olivelle RIP (M Olivelle)
Sunday 12^th March	Second Sunday Of Lent
6pm (Saturday Vigil)	People Of The Parish
9.15am	Mr Tony O’Farrell (Troy Family)
11am	In Thanksgiving (Howell Family)

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.

Holy Baptism

This weekend we welcome Bailey and Edith Lane and their parents Guy and Claire; Erin Bridie McGuire and her parents Sean and Elizabeth; and Julia Maria Anderson and her parents Stewart and Maria.

Fr David writes

The persona, for the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, was the social face you and I present to the world – a kind of mask, designed on the one hand to make a definite impression upon others and on the other to conceal our true nature.  For Jung, he considered having a persona as a vital part of human development.  We all need a persona to live healthily in the social world.  However the danger, according to Jung, is when we become identical with our personas – the professor with his textbook, the tenor with his voice.  This strong identification with our persona would result in a shallow, conformist kind of personality which is “all persona” with its excessive concern for what people think.  We all have masks/persona – a public face but we cannot totally conceal ourselves from ourselves and others all the time.  Individuation in our development happens when there is actually a breakdown of the persona that marks our true self.  The encounter with our true self, the acceptance of our true self is the mark of a healthy psyche.  The fantasy which we have built ourselves on, for so long our true self, needs to disintegrate at the expense of feeling the pain to face the demons within ourselves.  That’s the only way we can mature spiritually, psychologically and emotionally.  It’s not in hiding that we find life but in the disclosure of our True Self.  That is how we can enter intimate relationship with ourselves and one another.

And that is the place where God wants to encounter us.  In the beginning according to the genesis, there was the age of innocence and of peace with God.  There were no masks.  But it did not last.  By eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve disobeyed the word of God.  Their eyes testify to their new knowledge and lost innocence.  Ashamed of themselves and now afraid of God, their first reaction was to hide some parts of themselves from one another and the whole of themselves from God.  Cover up – living in a persona becomes the new way of relating to God and each other.  With the introduction of sin, we spend so much time and energy in cover-up.  We cannot face God.  In the Genesis story, God has to come searching for Adam and Eve.  So the first question of God in the Bible is the everlasting one “Where are you?”  And if salvation is a matter of being found by God, the first question is the root of the first biblical questions “Where are you?”

We can spend our whole lives escaping answering this question.  We can spend our whole lives actually refusing to hear this question.  We lose ourselves in activism, in escapism.  Especially when we are in our younger years, our priorities are different.  Our attention is focussed on our careers, bringing up the family, our significant relationships.  And that is how it should be, but not at the expense of ignoring completely our inner world.  Our inner landscape can suffer in these years.  We can feel a sense of existential void.  Nothing seems to fulfil us.  Nothing nourishes us.  We can learn to live our lives on the surface and yet the answers lie in our core.

In the gospel today we are told that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert.  The place of no distractions.  The place of no escape.  A place of encounter with oneself and one’s God.  In the parched landscape of the desert, Jesus is tempted.  Jesus is tempted to move away from the essence of the truth of who he is and opt for a life of deceit.  A temptation to move away from the true self and opt to live behind a mask.  Jesus chooses the former.  It is very easy when we feel vulnerable and get tempted to empower ourselves by succumbing to the temptation of relinquishing oneself to the promises of our fantasies.  But in doing so we will perpetuate the pattern of closing our ears from God’s question to us “where are you?”  Are we ready to keep on covering up and not engaging with our true self.  Jesus came to save us from this pattern.  And instead of feeling shame in acknowledging where we are and who we are, we feel empowered to live in the truth of who we truly are.  During Lent we are invited to let God find us where we are.  God has the same question to ask each of us: “where are you?”  During this Lent we can make time to look at where we are in our lives and discover God’s presence anew.  We are challenged to make time to listen to his word.  We are invited to let him get close to who we are and how we are.  During Lent, we could make a little time – five or ten minutes a day – to let the word form us as it formed Jesus, and let it influence what we do and say.  Let the word of God find us so that we can emerge from our hiding places into the peace of God’s presence.

“Drop-In” – Evening Surgery

The next Drop-in Surgery will take place on Tuesday 14^th March between 5pm – 7pm.  Please call at 281a Crescent Drive.  No appointments are necessary.

The Parish Pastoral Council

The next parish pastoral council meeting will take place on Wednesday 8^th March at 7.30pm in the Community Centre.  Parishioners are very welcome to come along for the first half hour of the meeting.  Alternatively, you may raise any relevant issue using the PPC mailbox which is ppc@stjamespettswood.org

Evangelisation Pillar

Lenten Evening Talks (8 to 9:30pm)

Tuesday 7th March  Fr Denis McBride on Stations of the Cross.

A Redemptorist Publications bookstand will be available after Fr Denis’ talk.

Monday 20th March  Margaret Connell on Bach's St Matthew Passion.

Wednesday 5th April  Fr Geoff Wheaton on Christ's Passion and Crucifixion through Art and Scripture.

Please put the above dates in your diary.  The talks will be excellent preparation for us during Lent.  Full details given here.

Baptism Preparation Classes

Will take place this Monday 6th March at 8.15pm in the Parish Office (281a Crescent Drive) for those parents that have been invited.

Readers, Welcomers and Eucharistic Ministers

These vital ministries are especially important during this season.  If you are able to minister during the Holy Week Masses and special services, please sign your names on the sheets in the porch

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.

Readers

We are looking for some additional people to become Readers at the Sunday morning 9.15 Mass.  Training will be provided.

Children’s Liturgy

If your child is 3 years old or above, they are welcome to join us for Liturgy sessions at the 9.15am Sunday Mass each week.

Calling Children to Read and Sing at Mass

We are inviting children who have made their First Holy Communion and those who are older to become readers/singers at the 9.15am Mass on Sunday mornings.  We are hoping to start a Children’s Mass once a month at 9.15 am when the children do the Readings but also the singing and serving.  Please let the Parish Office know if you are interested.

Urgently needed

a pianist for Sunday 11am Mass.  Please contact the parish office if you are interested.

Youth Pillar

Whitstable Youth Retreat - 29^th September to 1^St October 2017

The Parish Youth Team are organising a retreat on the above dates at St Vincent’s Centre Whitstable.  All young adults who have been confirmed are invited to attend this retreat.  If you could confirm your interest to the Parish Office via telephone 01689 827100 or email parish.office@stjamespettswood.org

Communications Pillar

Parish Facebook Page

We have a Facebook page for the Parish and are posting a mixture of spiritual and informative items.  If you would like to receive these updates from the Parish on Facebook you can find the page by searching Facebook for ‘St James’’ the Great RC Church Petts Wood’ and click on ‘Like’.

The Parish diary is online

There is an online diary for parish events which you can find at www.stjamespettswood.org/diary.html or go to the parish website and use the main menu item "Parish diary".  Bookings will continue to be made through the parish office but hopefully the diary will help you to identify free dates for your events.

Social Pillar

The Friends of St James' – Coffee and pastries after Mass on Sunday, 5th March

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 2017.  Hot drinks are free to anyone wearing a Friends badge.  We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Diary date – Seniors’ Lunch - Sunday, 23rd April 2017

The Friends of St James’ would like to invite all of our seniors to a celebratory St George's themed Fish & Chips lunch in the Community Centre after the 11am Mass on Sunday, 23rd April.  The cost will be £5 per person.  If you would like to come along, please leave your name and £5 payment in the Parish Office before the Easter weekend.  We hope you can come along to enjoy the afternoon!

St Patricks Night ‘Craic’ Saturday 18th March 2017

Organised by Knights of St Columba

Live music-disco-buffet-Traditional Irish entertainment to take place in the Community Centre from 7pm – 11pm.  Tickets £10 or £25 family ticket.  Now on sale after Mass.  All profits to the Development Fund.

A big thank-you from Petts Wood CWL

The CWL Military Whist was a very enjoyable and successful evening.  An added bonus was that we raised £360 for charity as well as making a donation towards the Church Development Fund.  Thanks to everyone who came along and supported the event.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day!

Many thanks to all who came and made this such an enjoyable and fun event.  Special thanks to the Chef’s Suzy and Lucie Paris, Catherine and Caroline Price who were “ flipping” fantastic on the night and to all who made a donation on the night.  The SVP.

Finance Pillar

200 CLUB

A big thank you to the 97 people who have signed up for this important venture.  As you can see we are well short of our target so if you wish to join and have a form you have yet to complete I shall be grateful if you will return it to the Parish Office as soon as possible but at the latest by the 22^nd March.  The cost is only £5 per month, with the first draw being held on 9^th April.

First Prize £100

Second Prize £50

Plus Others…

Bumper draws in July and December with First Prizes of £500.

We have a large debt outstanding to the Diocese as a result of the refurbishment of the Community Centre, so this is a way of repaying this as well as having a little fun.  Please contact Ken Evans if necessary by emailing 200club@stjamespettswood.org

What is easyfundraising.co.uk?

Click on www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stjamespettswood when you shop online with retailers such as Amazon, eBay, M&S, John Lewis, Argos, tour operators, etc.  Without any extra cost to you, St James’ will receive a donation each time you buy something this way.  Supermarkets also make donations but only for non-food items.  You have to register first but once that’s done it really is easy!  So far we have raised £2,249 for the parish.  The current figure is updated regularly on the parish website home page.

Justice and Peace

Bromley Borough Foodbank

The food bank is short of tinned rice pudding, custard and sponge pudding, long life fruit juice and all forms of toiletries.  They still have plenty of pasta, baked beans and soup!  The local organiser Vanessa sends her thanks for our support and wishes us a blessed and fruitful Lent.  Thank you.

Care for Our Common Home event

You can now read all about the event which was held on Saturday 11th February.  The parish website has a short report, photos, and all the material presented at the event.  A guest from Blackfen wrote a very nice report about her experience, mentioning especially the welcome given by St James' parishioners, and this is also available.  Those interested should go to the website home page and click on the link.

CAFOD Lent Fast Day

The J&P Group will be giving a short talk at the end of each Mass this weekend encouraging us all to support Fast Day on Friday 10th March.  Envelopes will be handed out at the end of Mass today and whatever you can save by fasting on the day can be donated at the following weekend's second collection.  You might also consider setting up a monthly direct debit in favour of CAFOD as many parishioners have done.  The envelopes give full details about how to do this.

Parish Life….

We welcome The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK on the 19^th March at 5pm in the Community Centre.  More information to follow.  All parishioners welcome.

The Monday Club

meets from 1.30-4.30pm in the Community Centre.  Please come and join us – it’s fun!

Parent & Toddler Group

A Parent & Toddler Group meets every Friday during term time in the Community Centre from 1.30 – 3pm.  Parents with babies from 0 up to age 5 are welcome to attend.  Do come along and enjoy the companionship and the fun.  Refreshments provided.

Firm Believers

is our inter-church Fun-Fitness class to music.  It takes place every Tuesday (in term-time), 7.00 - 7.45 pm, in our Community Centre here at St James’.  Stay for tea or coffee and chat afterwards if you wish.  So come and give it a try, with a group of friendly ladies of all abilities - cost £5.  You're welcome to just turn up, or contact us (contact firm.believers@stjamespettswood.org).

Furniture Appeal

If you have furniture which is in good condition, suitable for a child’s bedroom and you would be happy to donate please contact Pat by emailing pat.murray@stjamespettswood.org.  Collection is not a problem.

St James’ Preschool

The preschool has spaces available for September 2017 intake.  Please email: stjamespreschool@live.co.uk to register interest and arrange a visit.

Reminder for Parents

Food & Drink should not be brought into the church for consumption during Mass.  Thank you for your co-operation.

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.

12^th  March
Mass		Saturday 6pm (Vigil)	Sunday 9.15am	Sunday 11am
Welcomers		A Huntington	L Thomas F Mace	Uniformed Groups
Readers		A Prifti D  Woolston	C D’Souza C Hairs	Parade Mass
Ministers of Holy Communion		P Crosland J Bajorek H Rothon M Cahill C Cahill	M Howell S Cotta D Hairs B Cotta W David	K Chan P May S Ingle R Del Guercio Z Bajorek
Coffee			E Aletta S Dixon	T Troy J Cosgrave B Bridle
Bar	O Clutton A Barradell M Horner

Tellers

A & S Barradell

Saturday 11th March
Cleaning the Church	A Haylock, A Crosland, G MacManus & K Evans