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Thank you for your offerings last week of £1,678. Mass attendances were 908.
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Sunday 19th March |
Third Sunday Of Lent |
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6pm (Saturday Vigil) – Camilo D’Souza RIP (E&G Rebello) |
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9.15am – People Of The Parish |
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11am – Mick Brace RIP ( Tomkins Family) 4pm - Stations of the Cross
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Monday 20th March |
Saint Joseph
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9.30am Cornelius O’Shea RIP ( E Gibson) |
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Tuesday 21st March |
Feria |
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9.30am – Alan Smith RIP (Troy Family)
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Wednesday 22nd March |
Feria
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9.30am Michael Kenny RIP
10.45am - Eucharistic Adoration
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Thursday 23rd March |
Feria |
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9.30am – Carmella RIP – Rosa Battista’s Mother (Jo, Barbara & Friends)
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Friday 24th March |
Feria |
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9.30am – Stewart Lowe RIP ( Lowe Family)
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Sunday 26th March |
Fourth Sunday Of Lent |
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6pm (Saturday Vigil)- Christopher Walsh RIP (Benson Family)
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9.15am – People Of The Parish
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11am – Tom Benson RIP (Benson Family)
4pm -Stations of the Cross
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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.
Second Collection
There will be a 2nd collection next week (25/26th March) for the Maintenance Fund.
Holy Baptism
This weekend we welcome Nicole Vaz and her parents Darrell & Carol.
Fr David writes…
Encountering each other on the level of a shared human experience is the only way to build bridges. Living in a world where the populist rhetoric nowadays is one of division and of building walls, speaking about the importance to encounter others who are different, to share together our basic life stories is received with raised eyebrows. To believe that in order to live in a more peaceful and harmonious world, we need to emphasis the qualities on what unites us rather than that of what divides us, most of the time falls on deaf ears. Someone, who speaks of these values, is considered to be an idealist, a dreamer. However what is the alternative? The alternative is to keep on entrenching ourselves more fully in our own culture, in our own way of thinking, in our own perception of reality and live in a world view of ‘us’ and ‘them’. With the prospect of annihilating one another in the end. The other alternative is to keep on building walls for self-protection and at the same time, these same walls have the capacity to imprison us in our small worlds. We are much less enriched when we live in our own small circles and keep ourselves away from meeting those who we consider are different. We grow up within a closed mentality, full of prejudice because of our ignorance of the other. Sharing each other’s stories creates forums where we can listen to each other’s narratives from the common denominator of our shared human experience. Sometimes I wonder whether we do not opt for this solution because it demands a more rigorous harder process than doing nothing and just be stuck in our own little ghettos. Encounter demands a process of letting go of ones prejudices and assumptions of the other and be as open as possible to listen with an open spirit. This demands skill and a big heart.
In today’s gospel we see a man and a woman who meet at a well beyond the edge of town. They are strangers – not only because they have never met before but because they should never be meeting at all. He is a Jew who is travelling through a foreign land; she is a Samaritan who is on home territory. Their people have been estranged from each other for centuries and that ancient hostility has been kept alive by all generations. According to their traditions, they should remain strangers to each other. The evangelist shows us that Jesus is a weary and thirsty traveller who wants to make inroads into people’s lives. No matter who they are. It is Jesus who makes the first move, expressing his need for a drink from her. He encountered her as a thirsty human being connecting with her own need to quench her own thirst. He met her as a human being to another human being with our own similar basic needs. The woman at first is taken aback. A Jewish man should never been speaking to her on any level. The division needed to be respected. He then intrigues her by suggesting that if she knew his real identity she would ask him for living water. The fact that he had no bucket worries her, but the water Jesus has to give turns into a spring inside of people. He then focuses on the woman’s track record with men. She has a thirst for meeting Mr Right. Her thirst is for intimacy. But the thirst has not been quenched after the fifth husband. And she is now living with another man. She has now encountered a foreign man and he seems to know all her life story.
Jesus encountered her where she was existentially at. He went straight where it hurt for her. This could be intimidating but she saw him at this point as a prophet. He is a man who knows who she is and yet does not leave her in a heap of pain. He doesn’t call her names, he doesn’t judge her. He merely states how things are. At this point she moves the conversation to discuss the place to worship God. When someone gets too close to the core of our reality, we all feel the need to protect ourselves by moving to a painless, abstract place. Jesus is more concerned about worshipping God in spirit and truth. How can you worship God if you don’t face the truth about yourself? What kind of worship is it if it does not connect with where people are at? What kind of liturgy is it if it is not relevant to our lives today? So Jesus tells the woman who he is. He tells an outsider that he is the Christ. And in telling her, he gives himself away to her. He gives her the living water. She runs off to tell the town about the man who revealed her to herself. She does not keep her experience a secret. She turns her experience of meeting Jesus, into a message for others. She is a summary of how people come to understand Jesus: first as a Jew; then as a prophet; than as the Christ. She is one of the first witnesses of John’s gospel who leads others to Jesus. The encounter between the strangers transforms not only herself but others too. One needs to risk and take courage in order to build bridges. Jesus risked by taking the first step and healing occurred. Lenten Blessings to all.
“Drop-In” – Evening Surgery
The next Drop-in Surgery will take place on Tuesday 21st March between 5pm – 7pm. Please call at 281a Crescent Drive. No appointments are necessary.
Evangelisation Pillar
Lenten Evening Talks (8 to 9:30pm)
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.
Lenten Evening Talk at Southborough Lane Baptist Church 8pm.
Tuesday 21st March Revd Ben Marlowe Reflective Evening ‘40 days and 41 nights’
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 1st 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.
Easter Choir
We would like to hear from anyone who is interested in joining our Easter Choir this year. The Easter Choir will be singing in the special services during Lent and Holy Week, and in particular the Easter Triduum services. You don't need to commit to all the services but for whichever services you are able to join us in, you must be willing to do your utmost to attend the rehearsal which is relevant. Everyone is welcome and we will try to give as much support as possible, so don't be shy!
The services will be as follows:
Monday 3rd April, 8.00pm - Reconciliation Service
Thursday 13th April, 8.00pm - Maundy Thursday Service
Friday 14th April, 3.00pm - Good Friday Service
Friday 14th April, 8.00pm - Prayers around the Cross (PWCT)
Saturday 15th April, 8.00pm - Easter Vigil
Rehearsals will take place in the Church as follows, covering music for the services specified:
Thursday 16th March, 8.00-9.15pm - Maundy Thursday
Thursday 23rd March, 8.00-9.15pm - Easter Vigil
Thursday 30th March, 8.00-9.15pm - Reconciliation Service, Prayers around the Cross, Good Friday
Thursday 6th April, 8.00-9.15pm - Good Friday
Wednesday 12th April, 7.00-8.00pm - Maundy Thursday & Easter Vigil
Wednesday 12th April, 8.00-9.15pm - Good Friday
These rehearsals are subject to change, so if you are interested in joining in please sign up at the forms at the back of the church after Mass or email the Parish Office with your details so that we can keep you informed. We look forward to singing with you!
Re-Enactment of the Stations of the Cross
A Re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross for the whole family is being produced on Sunday the 9th April at 4.00pm – Palm Sunday.
We are looking for Actors and Readers. All the family may take part in this Devotion.
There will be two rehearsals – Saturday the 1st April at 11.00am – 12.30pm and Saturday 8th April at 11.00am -12.30pm and Sunday the 9th April at 2.00pm. Come and experience the passion and death of Christ by being part of the Greatest Story ever told.
CHILDREN'S LITURGY 9.15 Mass
If your child is 3 years old or above they are welcome to access the gospel at their level via Children's Liturgy. We understand some children may be unfamiliar to what happens & will need a few weeks to settle in. If they are unable to stay out on their own then perhaps try again when they are ready in a few more weeks. May we politely remind you that this is liturgy for children and not adults. Too many adults have been seen going out regularly week after week and this is a very serious safeguarding issue. Our leaders and helpers have been DBS checked. Thank you to those parents who do leave their children under our care. We hope you enjoy the time to reflect upon the gospel/ homily in peace knowing that your child too is accessing the gospel at their level. If you would like to be a leader or helper then please contact:
childrens.liturgy@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’.
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 £2,270 for the parish. The current figure is updated regularly on the parish website home page.
Social Pillar
Children's Easter Egg Hunt and cake sale - Easter Sunday, 16th April
The Friends of St James’ invite the children of the Parish to an Easter egg hunt taking place after the 9.15am Mass on Easter Sunday. Children will be provided with a basket to collect the eggs and the cost will be £3 per child payable on the day. Let's hope the April showers stay away. If they do, the hunt will take place in the Parish garden. If not, it will be in the Community Centre. We'll also be hosting a cake sale in the Community Centre at the same time and donations of delicious homemade cakes are most welcome. Please let the Parish Office know if you can help.
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!
Welcomers Meeting
will be taking place in the Community Centre on Wednesday 22nd March at 8pm. If this is a ministry that you feel you would like to be part of please join us.
The Women's World Day of Prayer Committee
would like to thank everyone who attended the service for the Philippines on Friday 3rd March. Special thanks to Fr David and our own Filipino community who made the service so very special. A big thank you also to the Filipino ladies for their delicious food. Ninety people attended and the collection raised £371.29p before gift aids which will be put to good use by the WWDoP charities. The attendance and collection were a local record so once again many thanks to all involved.
Finance Pillar
200 CLUB
Inaugural draw for 200 Club on 9th April (1st prize £100, 2nd £50 and others). Numbers are increasing daily so don’t be late if you wish to join (It’s only £5 per month) please send in your application to the Parish Office as soon as possible before the draw date."
Petts Wood Catholic Women's League.
The Petts Wood CWL will be holding their AGM on Monday 27th March at 8pm in the Community Centre. Please feel free to come hear what we have been up to over the last year.
Justice and Peace
Please support…
Now back in the UK having worked in Uganda for a small NGO for the last two years, Nick Babb is keen to continue to promote the NGO's core value of socio-economic empowerment. To this end, he will be having a small display of the popular craft and coffee items after all three masses this weekend. Please support by buying something small as an authentic gift for a loved one!
CAFOD Fast Day collection
This Lent Fast Day our parish collected £2,185 for CAFOD. Thank you for your support. This incredible amount will help more hardworking people like Florence in Zambia to turn something as small as a tiny fish into something amazing, like an education for her children.
Justice & Peace Group
will meet on Wednesday 22nd March at 7.45pm in the Parish Office meeting room (281A Crescent Drive). All parishioners are assured of a warm welcome.
Traidcraft Stall
There will be a stall after all Masses next weekend. All the usual favourites and orders will be taken for the REAL EASTER EGG. Out of 80 million chocolate Easter eggs sold each year this is the only Fairtrade one with the Easter story in the box.
Parish Life….
We welcome The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK on Sunday evening at 5.30pm in the Community Centre. 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).
Lunch Club
Holy Innocents, Orpington, runs a lunch club for over 60’s every Wednesday during term time. If any parishioner is interested and would like to attend please contact Catherine on 01689 855541.
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.
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26th March |
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Mass |
Saturday 6pm (Vigil) |
Sunday 9.15am |
Sunday 11am |
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Welcomers |
M Walters |
L & J Samuels |
L McDonald S May |
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Readers |
M O’Mahony K Salter |
Children’s Mass |
M Ingledew N D’Silva
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Ministers of Holy Communion |
Jim Callinan Patrick Driscoll Tony Babb Bea Babb Roger Wright
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Doreen Hairs Bruno Cotta Will David Brigid D'Arcy Teresa Forde
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Nigel Longhurst Rachel Mwansa Phil May Ken Evans Angela Evans
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Coffee |
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G & D Brookes |
P Flockhart A Huntington S Ingle
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Bar |
F Simon P Dabrowski
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Tellers |
L Delamain M Edwards
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Saturday 25th March |
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Cleaning the Church |
CWL, Chris Hairs, Martin Gallagher |