Thank you for your offerings last week of £1,350.  Second collection £654.  Mass attendance 682.
Sunday 9th July (Saturday Vigil)	Fourteenth Sunday 6pm Helen Geoghegan RIP (M Thompson) 9.15am Francesca M Sio RIP (J&L Sio) 11am Fr David Camilleri
Monday 10th July	Feria 9.30am Anthony Olivelle RIP (M Olivelle)
Tuesday 11th July	St Benedict 9.30am Angel Villanueva RIP (H Walters)
Wednesday 12th July	Feria 9.30am Dennis Nelligan RIP
	10.45am Eucharistic Adoration
Thursday 13th July	Feria 9.30am Sheila Simon RIP (Simon Family)
Friday 14th July	Feria 9.30am Fausto Suzzara RIP (D Suzzara)
Sunday 16th July (Saturday Vigil)	Fifteenth Sunday 6pm     Peggy Cornwell RIP (M Farell)             Sharon Fernandes RIP (Fernandes Family) 9.15am Francesca M Sio RIP (J&L Sio) 11am David Bridle RIP (Bridle 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.

Fr David writes…

Since the middle ages, pilgrims flocked to the Camino de Compostela.  Literally thousands and thousands of men and women felt the need to go through the Camino for one reason or another.  The Camino became a metaphor of life and those whom one encounters on the way, sharing their life’s stories, become literally pilgrims on the same journey.  St James the Great is depicted as the Pilgrim par excellence.  I personally feel honoured that at this stage of my life I am serving a community who looks upon him as their patron saint.  I do feel a deep affinity with St James.  Celebrating milestones in our lives gives us an opportunity to stop and reflect.  Looking back at my life, I do see myself as a pilgrim.  Pilgrims are intrinsically seekers.  Searchers for what gives meaning to their lives.  Searchers for Beauty.  Searchers for the Sacred.  From my cultural home rooted in a very Mediterranean island, I have been blessed to live and experience different cultures and peoples.  I could move into other cultures and embrace diversity, because I knew who I was.  My beloved parents and family had given me a strong foundation to explore my own identity both culturally and personally.  I have been blessed to know that I was loved.  My journey took me to the Missionary Society of St Paul who after forming me academically through their Secondary Catholic College, I joined the Society in 1982 at the tender age of 19.  I look back at the 10 years of University studies, formation programmes, community living and cross-cultural pastoral placement as being pivotal for my spiritual, human and pastoral development.  I will always be indebted to the Missionary Society for giving me all the experiences I was privileged to embrace.

On the 3^rd July 1992, together with four other young men, I was ordained priest at St John’s Cathedral in Valletta Malta.  It was a day I will never forget.  I was surrounded by my dear parents and family and friends.  I felt totally engulfed in love.  On their faces as I walked down the aisle that day, I saw pride but also I felt their expectations on me.  Together with feeling utterly entranced by the whole atmosphere, I also felt fear.  I humanly knew that I could not live up to all the expectations being placed on me.  I knew my limitations, my struggles, my wounds.  On that day on the sanctuary I remember very clearly that I had made an internal conversation with God.  I remember saying “Lord you know whom you have chosen and called.  Accompany me all through this uncharted journey”.  At that point, peace embraced my soul.  From that day on, my life took its own unique process.  I knew that wherever I would be, my first priority was to engage with the lives of human beings.  I dreamt and prayed to make a difference in their lives and allow them to enrich mine.

I was first assigned to minister in Melbourne Australia.  It was my first real cross-cultural experience.  Away from the security of one’s culture and family and friends, I was immersed into a very intense time of self-discovery.  It was at this time that I had my first real bereavement, as in 1997, I had to return to Malta to bury my father.  I did not know what hit me at that time.  It was a very hard time coming to terms with his loss and on account of it I could start to empathise more deeply with those my ministry led me to.  After eight years ministering in Australia, I then embarked into a soul searching period in Ottawa Canada.  I consider Canada as a gift.  It provided me with a container that I could explore once again who I was and where my future lay.  I had the opportunity to own my choice and decision.  It was not an easy period but very necessary for my spiritual and human development.  Canada provided me also with the theory and skills to understand deeper the human psyche.  Once again I delight in remembering the many people I met in Canada, both at St Paul’s University and also at St Patrick’s Parish in Fallow field where I used to minister, for their friendship and support and for allowing me to minister to them.  My discernment process in Ottawa led me to leave the MSSP Community I had belonged to for the last 21 years and find a new home – a new beginning.

However, my identity had to be renegotiated at the age of 40.  The doors opened wide in the Southwark Diocese.  At this stage I also suffered the loss of mum.  I knew in 2003, I had embarked on a new path once again.  My pilgrimage continued.  My curacy at St Anselm’s Dartford initiated my pastoral life in the UK.  I feel blessed that I had started there.  I remember with fond memories the parish priest Fr William Scanlon RIP, parishioners and friends I met there.  After only ten months in Dartford, I was given my first parish of St Benet’s in Abbey Wood.  I consider my years there as being foundational in my pastoral practice as a Pastoral/Spiritual Leader in a very multicultural part of London.  It was such an enriching experience.  My next phase of the journey then took me to the South west where, as a hospital and hospice chaplain immersed me into the rawness and vulnerable side of life.  The patients as they struggled with their own illness taught me so much about what is essential in life.  The present moment becomes the essence.

My sabbatical in 2014/2015 connected me with my own roots as I wanted to experience living in Malta once again.  I also wanted to be imbued by the spirit of my spiritual mentor Pope Francis as I continued my sabbatical in Rome and my highlight visiting for the first time the Holy Land.  It was after such an enriching experience, I was assigned to St James’.  I feel blessed here.  I am definitely in a different stage of my life both as an individual and also as a priest.  So celebrating my Silver Jubilee at this parish encapsulates the learning of so many experiences on the way.  Meeting Pope Francis on the 28^th March this year was a gift I will never forget.  For me Pope Francis is constantly refocusing me on what being a priest, a church is all about in 2017.  I feel so grateful to be a priest during his time.  As I am celebrating my 25^th year of ordination with you, I feel both humbled and grateful.  Humbled by God’s generosity and faithfulness all through my journey till now but also grateful to God and to all those whom He has put on my path.  Thank you all for your love and support.  Please pray for me.

Sunday 9^th July - St James’ Feast and Silver Jubilee Celebrations

Today we are celebrating St James’ Feast and Fr David’s 25^th anniversary of ordination.  We especially welcome Bishop Pat amongst us at 11am Mass, Fr David’s brother Godwin and his wife Pauline, and his friends and all parishioners.  Please come along and enjoy the Garden Party and Fun Run after 11am Mass.  Music, drinks, cakes and fun for the whole family!

“Drop-In” – Evening Surgeries

There will be no drop-in evening surgeries until further notice.  So if you would like to see Fr David, please email him or phone the parish office for an appointment.  Thank you.

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.

Communications Pillar

Time and Talents Questionnaire

A questionnaire about our parish’s 'time and talents' is attached to Briefly this weekend.  Many different skills are needed to help the PPC to support the work of the parish, so thank you to everyone who is already on a volunteer's rota or helping the parish in other ways.  If you can offer help with any of the skills listed in the questionnaire please complete the form and return it to the parish office by 31st July.  Thank you.

You can download a copy of the questionnaire by going to the Parish Pastoral Council web page and using the link there.

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.

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.

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.

Justice & Peace Group

Request from Bromley Foodbank

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.

Senior Citizens’ Lunch

Sunday 16th July at 1pm in the Community Centre.

If you would like to attend please sign the sheet at the back of the church by Thursday 13^th July.  Transport can be provided, please contact Peter Benson on peter.benson@stjamespettswood.org

Parish Life…

Dad & Me

The next meeting of Dad & Me will be held at the Community Centre on Saturday 15^th July at 10am-11.30am.

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.

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

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 12th July	T Forde, E Cushman
Cleaning the Church 15th July	CWL, Eucharistic Ministers
Mass 16th July	Saturday 6pm (Vigil)	Sunday 9.15am	Sunday 11am
Welcomers	A Delamain L Delamain	B Guyton A Guyton	L McDonald S May
Readers	M O’Mahony K Salter	S Cotta B Cotta	M Morley P Lowe
Ministers of Holy Communion	P Cantopher J Bajorek H Rothon M Cahill C Cahil	B Cotta W David D Hairs T Forde M Smith	Z Bajorek T Troy B Bridle A Bunnage P Murray
Coffee		D Delf F Curran E Aletta	P Flockhart A Huntington S Ingle
Bar	P Cosgrave, R Monaghan

Tellers

L Delamain, M Edwards