Lent starts on Wednesday  – the 40 days before Easter when we ask God to help us to grow in our humanity, in our love for him and each other- and in love for ourselves!  I have two great hopes for the parish this Lent:

1.That we all resolve (if we need to) to be at Mass each Sunday (or Saturday). ‘The church makes the eucharist and the eucharist makes the church.’  I encourage you to be absolutely faithful to both our Lord’s command, and to the teaching of the church, and to be at Mass each Sunday unless you really are prevented by a just cause.  Every absence weakens the Body of Christ.  And parents - do think of the example given to your children – they will imitate you - and they are the (adult) church of the future.

2.That we all resolve (if we need to) to make our confession this Lent.  There will be plenty of opportunity (see our Lenten flyer ‘A Feast of Lent!’ ).  Let us all encourage each other to pray that the Lord will reveal our hidden faults to us, and that we will humbly confess them and receive the cleansing and strengthening of absolution.  The Simple Prayer Book has an excellent guide to examination of conscience - do use it. And do not be anxious about coming back to confession if you have ‘let it go’. ‘There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who need no repentance.’ (Luke 15:7).

There are many varied activities for Lent – I hope you will take part in some of them (see flyer ‘A Feast of Lent!’) We start off with the two Masses on Ash Wednesday at 9.30am (with St.James’ School) and at 8pm.

‘Reusing’

 A poem for Lent by Chris Polhill

Jesus our saviour, take our rubbish, the greed indulged,

The broken promises, anger, resentments.

Take the long list of sin that warps our being,

And weave your forgiving love that makes of waste

A growing place.

Mass attendances last Sunday were 688.
Sunday    19/2/12	Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) 6pm – P. O’Malley RIP (Spooner Family) 9.15am – Eileen Macey RIP (M. Jackson) 11am – People of the Parish
Monday 20/2/12	Feria 10am – Mary Concannon RIP (M T Kelly)
Tuesday 21/2/12	Feria 9.30am – Patrick & Camilla DD’s Welfare (90^th birthday Patrick) (B. D’Arcy)
Wednesday 22/2/12	Ash Wednesday 9.30am – Flor Murphy RIP (Harrington Family) 8pm – People of the Parish
Thursday 23/2/12	Feria of Lent 9.30am – Sydney & Dorothy O’Leary RIP (M. O’Leary)
Friday 24/2/12	Feria of Lent 9.30am – Denis & Agnes Crowley RIP (Harrington Family)
Sunday  26/2/12	First Sunday of Lent (B) 6pm – Mgr. John Elliott RIP (Marshall Family) 9.15am – People of the Parish 11am – Patrick O’Connor RIP (R. Scott)
Ash Wednesday Masses at 9.30am and 8pm.  Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence (only one main meal, no meat- many people also refrain from alcohol) .
Friday - Stations of the Cross at 6.30pm (7pm on subsequent Fridays of Lent).
Next weekend we launch the parish library. Many thanks to volunteer librarians- a few more would be welcome! (List on porch board.)
Next Saturday (25^th) 12 adult members of our community, with their sponsors, will be attending the Rite of Election in St.George’s Cathedral as they prepare to be baptised and/or confirmed here at Easter (or Pentecost). This is great news for the parish. We pray for them and their sponsors: Sandra Baron, Claire Fisher, Lisa Foster, Amber Fudge, Tatiana Kasatkina, Aimalohi Hermeling, Alice Neal, Carole Robinson, Ross Amor, Mark Hermeling, Peter Robinson and Philip Widdrington- Davies.  The Archbishop will preside over a packed cathedral with hundreds of candidates from all over the diocese!
Next Sunday.  Taize service at 5pm (foll. by refresh.) Silence and Taize chants - a great way to end Sunday. There will be a trip from St James’ to the Taize Community in Burgundy from August 5^th-12^th (details very soon.)
Monday Feb. 27^th- Requiem for Stuart Lowe, RIP, at 10.30am (no 9.30am Mass), followed by committal at Beckenham. Crem.  Our prayers and sympathy are with Teresa and Peter at this sad and difficult time.
Tuesday Feb.28^th- Film-‘Brother Sun, Sister Moon’  (about St Francis) at Christ Church, Willett Way 7.30pm. Also Clifford Longley (‘The Moral Maze’, writer for the Tablet, broadcaster) speaking on Catholic Social Teaching at Holy Innocents, Orpington 8pm. Both these events are free, and both highly recommended. A shame they clash.
Wednesday Feb. 29^th- First choir practice for Easter services (April 5^th-8^th)- 8pm. All welcome to come and sing but you must commit.
Saturday March 3^rd- Eucharistic Ministers- ‘Sharing Good Practice’-9.30am -12 noon at St Joseph’s Bromley. Can as many ministers as possible please attend this session?- a sharing of ideas and part of ongoing formation. (Please sign list in porch).
Hope to see you all some time on Wednesday.  Until then … Every blessing Fr Bryan