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Thank you for your offerings last week of £1,512.94. Mass attendances were 734.
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Sunday 13/9/15 |
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
6pm Saturday Anthony Olivelle RIP (M Olivelle)
9.15am People of the Parish
11.00am Jean Rawling RIP (Foundation Mass)
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Monday 14/9/15
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The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
9.30am Carmelo D’Chanuele RIP
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Tuesday 15/9/15 |
Our Lady of Sorrows
9.30am Welfare of Jason Sigalas
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Wednesday 16/9/15 |
St. Cornelius, Pope & St Cyprian, Bishop
9.30am Michael Feeney RIP (M Feeney) - With St James’ School
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Thursday 17/9/15 |
Feria
9.30am Longan Family RIP (M O’Leary)
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Friday 18/9/15 |
Feria/St Edith of Kemsing
9.30am In Loving Memory of Maria & Woclow, Parents (Lucia Jakutowicz)
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Saturday 19/9/15 |
Vigil Mass
6.00pm Vic & Ellen Clark RIP (M Clark)
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Sunday 20/9/15 |
Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
9.15am People of the Parish
11.00am Michael Feeney RIP (M Feeney)
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Confessions heard Saturday 5.00pm-5.45pm or by appointment. |
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A warm welcome is extended to all our Parishioners, new members of our Parish and any visitors who are here with us this weekend.
Fr David writes......
Whilst the media was frantically focussing on the photo, pregnant with pathos, of the toddler dead on the shores of a Turkish beach, there was a member of a political party, which I am not going to mention, who totally succeeded to churn my stomach upside down. As the global media were awakened at last to the plight of the refugees by the same photo, this man wrote on his twitter that he blamed the death of the toddler on his parents who had too much greed for personal wealth. First of all he was obviously ignorant of the fact that his mother had drowned with her two sons leaving the father bereft. Secondly he reminded me of someone who was living in a very comfortable “bubble” and was totally incapable of any humane empathy at all. It felt like this man was stuck in his ivory tower and very narcissistically ignored or even denied the reality of people out there whose lives are not as comfortable as his. He was obviously oblivious of the fact that some people needed to struggle and grapple with the basics of life in order to survive. After self reflecting upon why did this comment had triggered such an angry response in me, I realised that it is very easy, when I have a roof over my head, when I had a job to go to, when I am earning money to live a decent living, when my family is all healthy and happy, when I have the freedom to go to church to worship or not – when I have all these things under control, it is very easy for me to feel complacent and stop trying to enter into someone else’s shoes in order to try to understand something of their journey. In this manner it is very easy to judge from a superior judgemental standpoint. Without any struggle in life, we can easily become a very narcissistic community – inward looking. At this point we stop being humane because as humans we are called to reach out and be in relationship with others not only with those we feel comfortable with but also with those we feel we are challenged by for some reason or another. Our strong powerful ego needs to experience somehow a death from time to time in order to connect with others who are suffering. To empathise with others who are grappling with life’s challenges. It is a healthy paradox what Jesus is telling his disciples today after harshly rebuking Peter. Peter, as a good loyal friend was trying to tell Jesus not to go to Jerusalem if he knew he was going to suffer. Peter was trying to protect Jesus from pain. It’s a reaction of any good and loyal friend I thought. But Jesus in his wisdom, knew that somehow his suffering is indispensable for healthy living – suffering and death to the ego gives us life. He needed to face his own cross to give us life. And he is saying the same thing to his disciples. Somehow if we live in a bubble all the time, always protecting ourselves from pain and suffering, we will never grow, we would become impoverished human beings. Somehow according to Jesus, we need to live life and that means grappling with what life throws at us – grounding us in reality with all that is good and with all that gives us pain. “For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his or her own life for my sake and for the sake of the gospel will find it”. Let us allow ourselves to be once again disturbed by Jesus’ word today.
“Drop-In” – Evening Surgery
Starting next Tuesday 15th September, I will be holding a “Drop-In” evening each Tuesday evening from 5.00pm – 9.00pm, in the Parish Office, 281a Crescent Drive. If you wish to speak to me about any matter, please feel free to come along. No appointments are necessary. Fr David.
Reminders - Church Cleaning!
Saturday 19th September – Year 4 Parents
Saturday 26th September – Year 7 Parents
Second Collections
There will be a second collection this weekend for the Maintenance Fund.
Morning Prayers
Takes place Monday – Friday at 9.10am. All are welcome to attend.
Lost Ring
A man’s gold signet ring has been lost in the church. If you have found this please contact the parish office – 01689 827100.
Holy Baptism
This weekend we welcome Molly Iris Markey, her parents Joanna and Bernard and Godparents Siobhan and Bernard.
Traidcraft Stall
Will be held next weekend 19th/20th September. Old favourites and some new items to try.
Annual Day of Renewal
All parishioners are invited to attend the sixth annual Day of Renewal on 26th September 2015 at St George’s Cathedral, praying for the needs of the Diocese and organised by the Diocesan Service Team for charismatic renewal. If you would like to attend please contact Stefanie Donovan on 01892 542245 or email stefaniedawn61@gmail.com. More details on poster in porch.
Leave the Car at Home Weekend
For one weekend in September 2013 a large number of parishioners left their cars at home when coming to Mass. This was in support of the LiveSimply project, showing our commitment to the principle of Sustainability. The J&P Group is asking the parish to repeat that initiative on the weekend of 26-27th September. Please note that this request is for those fit enough to travel by foot, cycle, bus, scooter, push chair, etc! There will be stickers for children. Help to renew our promise to live simply.
Annual Day of Recollection for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Readers
This will take place on Saturday 14th November at Bishop Thomas Grant School, Belltrees Grove, SW16 2HY, registration at 10.30am. The day will be led by Fr. Ashley Beck, from St Edmund of Canterbury, Beckenham. Bishop Patrick Lynch will end the day with Mass at 3.00pm. All Ministers of Holy Communion and Readers are encouraged to attend. Please email or call the parish office so that we can reply with the names of those that are attending.
Appeal from Knights of St. Columba
Please continue to bring in your used postage stamps. If they are on postcards, it is fine to donate the postcard as well. Many thanks for your continued support.
New Church Cleaning Rota
We are proposing to reinstate a rota of volunteers to clean the church each week. If you would like to go on the rota please contact the parish office. Please note - the current rota will still be used until further notice.
Pondering the Word (Lectio Divina)
A quiet reflective look at the following Sunday’s Gospel. Mondays 11-12 noon here in the Church. This is an ancient way of praying the Scriptures, grounded in the fundamental premise that “the Word of God is alive and active” (Heb. 4:12) and has something to say to each one of us. It is not Bible Study and it is not a discussion group. The emphasis is on silence: listening rather than talking. All welcome.
Foodbank Collection
Thank you all very much for your generosity last weekend. Your contributions were delivered on Monday and they weighed in at 294.9 kg. The staff at the Foodbank were delighted and asked me to pass on their thanks to you all. J&P Group
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Confirmation in 2016
If you would like to apply to take part in our parish programme for Confirmation, please cut out this box and complete the information requested below. Please then return the full slip to the Parish Office (281A Crescent Drive) by Sunday 13th September. Please note the following:
- Candidates must be in Year 9 or above.
- There will be a weekend retreat and dates will be advised in due course.
- All sessions will be on Monday evenings.
- You must attend Mass every week so that you will be confirmed in a faith that you have already been committed to in your life.
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We are interested in taking part in the Confirmation Preparation Course.
(Please print.)
Parents Names……………………………………
Home Address………………………………….
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Phone number……………………………………
Email address……………………………………
Young person’s name………………………………………
Date of Birth………………………………………. |
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