Today’s gospel reading is Jesus’ famous parable of the sower. He is using ideas that were very familiar to his agricultural hearers- maybe not so much to us, but I know many of you are very keen gardeners!
The seed is the Word of God (in the scriptures.) Do we really listen at Mass, and allow the Word to establish deep roots in our lives? Or does it all go over our heads?
The Lord’s great wish for us is that we should be good soil, in which his Word will take root and flourish. The results should be two-fold:
a) A deepening of our own faith and of our commitment to Jesus Christ as we encounter him in Word and Sacrament, in prayer and in each other (and especially in those who suffer.)
b) A rich ‘harvest of souls’. That’s a rather old-fashioned expression but it means sharing our faith with others and drawing them close to Jesus Christ. Many of us are not very good at that and in the autumn we hope to address this issue.
In the meantime, is there just ONE person you could pray for, and encourage to join the church? (Our new Journey in Faith for non-Catholics will re-start in September.)
‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few.’ Many thanks to those who have returned their time and talents sheet (about 110 to date) but that leaves an awful lot of non-labourers! Please fill in your form today- we must ALL play our part in God’s harvest.
May we be really good soil, and produce a rich crop.
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Mass attendances last Sunday were 657.
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Sunday 10/7/11 |
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) 6pm – Gloria Calnan RIP (Harrington Family) 9.15am – People of the Parish 11am – Gerry Geogheghan RIP (M. Thompson)
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Monday 11/7/11 |
St Benedict 9.30am – Kathleen Hilborne RIP (Huntington Family)
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Tuesday 12/7/11 |
Feria 9.30am – Gloria Calnan RIP (Deirdre Marshall)
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Wednesday 13/7/11 |
Feria 11am – Gloria Calnan RIP
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Thursday 14/7/11 |
Feria 9.30am – Kathleen Hilborne RIP (Huntington Family)
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Friday 15/7/11 |
St Bonaventure 9.30am – Chris D’Arcy RIP (B D’Arcy)
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Sunday 17/7/11 |
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) 6pm –Gloria Calnan RIP (Geoff Harrington) 9.15am – Kitty O’Riordan (Ned) 11am – People of the Parish 3pm – Mass for the Sick 7pm – Taizé service
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TODAY (Sunday) |
Parish picnic in the garden (12 noon to about 2pm). Bring your own lunch and mingle….
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Fr Pat’s Funeral is on Tuesday 12th July at 12 noon in St Joseph’s Bromley. His body will be received into the church at 4.30pm on Monday, and there will be a Mass for him at 7.30pm in St Joseph’s. There will be a reception in St Joseph’s hall after the funeral on Tuesday and the final committal at Hither Green at 3.15pm. You may like to take a copy of Fr Pat’s obituary notice from the table in the porch. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
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Mass on Wednesday will be at 11 am (NOT 9.30am) and will be a farewell Mass for Anna Clarke (reception teacher at St James’ School) who is retiring after 20 years at the school. The whole school will be attending, and I hope as many parishioners as possible will come too. We thank Anna for her wonderful work with the children and wish her every blessing for the future. We are all invited back to school after Mass for a picnic lunch (please bring your own.)
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Eucharistic Ministers’ Day |
At Emmaus, West Wickham Saturday 10th September. Would Ministers please book themselves on to this course (details on porch board – 020 8777 2000). As you know all ministers are expected to attend a day of reflection each year. (Please initial list in porch when you have booked – thank you).
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There will be no more Masses on Tuesday evenings at 7.15pm until further notice.
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Pam Lundy retired as parish administrator last month. However she continues in a voluntary capacity and deals with all financial matters, invoices, etc. I am extremely grateful to the other members of the parish who have taken on the remaining administrative tasks to run the parish office. A really big ‘thank you’ to all."
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Autumn Festival |
Saturday 1st October. Please take a flier and get involved!
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Next Sunday |
Fr Arbo Lekule (Founder of U Touch Africa) will be preaching at all Masses and we shall have our final collection for this charity. Your response over the past year has been amazing (in excess of £8,000) and we look forward to his visit.
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Also next Sunday |
Mass for the Sick, with anointing (3pm). Followed by tea in the social centre. All most welcome.
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And finally next Sunday |
Taizé Service at 7pm. Silence, meditation, reflective music – the perfect end to a summer Sunday (followed by refreshments).
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We hope to have special envelopes for the African Drought Appeal today (if not next Sunday).
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It would be really good to see more people at daily Mass (9.30am Mon – Fri, ends by 10am) and /or Morning Prayer at 9.10am (Mon – Fri, ends 9.25am). Do take advantage of these means of God’s grace. We are very fortunate to have daily worship – many places do not.
Every blessing, Fr Bryan