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Thank
you for your offerings last week of £1,523.
Mass attendance 707. |
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19th May (Saturday Vigil) |
Pentecost Sunday 6pm William & Nora
Kirwan RIP (R&E Wright) |
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Sunday 20th May |
9.15am People of The Parish 11am Sharon Fernandes RIP (Fernandes
Family) |
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Monday 21st May |
Feria 9.30am Fausto Suzzara
RIP
(D Delf) |
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Tuesday 22nd May (Please note change
of time) |
Feria 10.30am Requiem Mass for Marjorie Mary Farrell RIP |
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Wednesday 23rd May (Whole School Mass) |
Feria 9.30am Bridget & Paul Wiggins |
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10.45am Eucharistic Adoration |
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Thursday
24th May |
Feria |
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9.30am Marjorie Ingledew
RIP (M
Ingledew) |
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Friday 25th May |
Saint Bede the
Venerable 9.30am Mary & Jimmie O’Connor |
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26th May (Saturday Vigil) |
The Most Holy Trinity 6pm Robert G H Powell RIP (McGinley
Family) |
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Sunday 27th May |
9.15am People of The Parish 11am Peggie & Mai Linehan |
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.
Rosary
Every day after Mass there
is rosary. All are welcome.
Sunday Mornings in the Community Centre
Every Sunday coffee and tea
are served after the 9.15am and 11am Masses.
Please join us for a while and get to know each other over a cuppa!
Second Collection
Next week’s second
collection will be for the Maintenance Fund
Fr David writes…
There are times in life
when we do feel stuck. Sometimes
tiredness or burnout does not allow us to function well or think rationally. Negativity takes over our soul, and a cloud
seems to clutter our vision. We home in
on the darkness of that particular moment which
hinders us from seeing the bigger picture.
We all get off days. As we grow
older we start learning how to live with them.
The difficulty arises when the days become weeks, months and sometimes
even years. This could be triggered by
an experience which crushes our mental harmony or also sometimes it seems that
it is coming from a combination of reasons.
We find ourselves pushed into an existential vacuum. Even our intimate relationships do not seem
to satisfy our deepest longings any longer.
We experience ourselves enclosed in between locked doors. We also experience panic attacks for the
first time, which might frighten us as we feel we are losing complete control. Nothing seems to give us relief. For some time we seem to go on automatic drive. Fortunately most of the time, we convince
ourselves to seek help. Either by an
insistence of a loved one or else by self-referral. To do this, we need to stop perceiving
therapy or counselling as a taboo. Stop
thinking that therapy is for the weak. For
us who had access to therapy in our lives, know the benefits of exploring in a
safe environment with someone what’s troubling us. It is liberating to be yourself without
feeling judged. Most of the time, as we
embark on this journey, we need to feel worse in order to
start feeling better. However at some
point, we realise that something has shifted.
And we resume the harmony which we had lost and the feeling of inner
peace.
A similar experience
happened to the disciples on the Feast of Pentecost – today’s feast. The reading for today’s gospel is the Easter
night appearance of the risen Jesus before his ten disciples (Thomas is not
present). In the fourth gospel by John,
Easter night is the Pentecost event. Jesus
appears to ten frightened disciples even though they are hiding behind locked
doors and greets them with Peace. As God
breathed life into Adam in the Genesis story of creation, Jesus breathes the
Holy Spirit upon his disciples giving life to the new creation of the church of
the resurrection. In the resurrection,
the Spirit replaces their sense of self-centred fear and confusion with the
peace of understanding, enthusiasm and joy and shatters all barriers among them
to make of them a community of hope and forgiveness. Pentecost was a very ancient Jewish holiday,
celebrated fifty days after Easter. It
commemorated the arrival of the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. Moses climbed the mountain; he encountered
God and received the Law to be transmitted to his people. The Israelites were very proud of this gift. To thank God for this predilection, the
Israelites had set up a feast: the Pentecost.
Saying that the Spirit descended upon the disciples on the day of
Pentecost, Luke wants to teach us that the Spirit has replaced the old law and
became the new law for the Christian.
Before receiving the
outpouring of the Spirit, the world was like a big bramble. God had given people great directions, a set
of rules, precepts, many recommendations.
But the external rules and regulations did not change their hearts. Their hearts were far away from God. So he decided to change the hearts of his
people. With a new heart – he thought –
they would no longer have need of any external law. They would have done good things by following
the impulses coming from within them. Here’s
what the law of the Spirit is – it is the new heart; it is God’s life. When it enters a person, it transforms us,
and we produce good fruit. When a person
is filled with the Spirit, something unheard of happens in us. We love with the love of God himself. From that moment, we do not need anyone to
teach us. We won’t require another law.
On Pentecost, once the spirit imbued the disciples,
they got out and started proclaiming the good news to others. All their fear dissipated. The Spirit empowered them to live life in a
freer way. No more shackles. No more locked doors. They became people on fire for God and to
share with others what God had done to them.
Pentecost is also the feast of the birthday of the Church. They all started to understand each other
beyond the diversity of languages. The
language was one – that of the heart. It
became an inclusive community of faith, encompassing all. The requirement was Agape – Charity. God works through people who can experience
the freedom of the heart which the disciples experienced that day. We need to be open to receive. The movement of the spirit is not only
concerned with insights, but the experience of Pentecost is one of the heart. A realisation that we do not need to know it
all. That we are not in control, but the
Spirit of God is leading our lives. This
realisation gives us the freedom to live our lives more focussed on what
matters. May we all risk to open
ourselves especially during this time to the gift of the Holy Spirit in our
life. Let us risk to allow him in as
individuals and as a parish.
“Drop-In”
Evening Surgeries
Please note that the
next surgery will be on Wednesday the 30th May 2018. Fr David will be available at 281A Crescent
Drive from 5.00-7.00pm and no appointment is necessary.
Holy Baptism
This
weekend we welcome, through Holy Baptism, Joseph Colonnese
and his parents Paul & Louise; Enzo Agostini and his parents Max and
Catherine; and also Julius Lin and his parents Eduardo
and Xin
Pastoral Pillar
Service at St James the Great to mark Dementia Awareness Week.
On Sunday 20th May at 3pm you are warmly
invited to a service here at St James’ to mark the start of Dementia Awareness
Week which is from Monday 21st May to Sunday 27th May. The service will be led by Fr David and take
place in the Church. It will be a time
of singing, poetry and prayer followed by refreshments in the Community Centre. We do hope you can join us.
Healing Mass
This will take place on Sunday 27th
May at 2.30pm, followed by refreshments in the Community Centre. Should you require a
lift to and from the Healing Mass please contact the parish office giving your
name, telephone number and address. A
member of the SVP will then contact you to make the necessary arrangements.
Helplines and Counselling Services
As part of our care for the community a list of helplines and counselling
services has now been added to the parish website and placed in the porch. The purpose of this is to give contact
details of various organisations which can provide help in difficult times
thereby enabling people to seek privately the information and support they may
need.
Liturgy Pillar
Eucharist Adoration
This 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 7.30–9.00pm and concludes
with Benediction. The next one will take
place on 1st June. Everyone is welcome
for all or part of this time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
200 Club
£100 No 35 Mrs
A Hawkins
£50 No 20 Mrs
H Wright
£25 No 75 Mr
P Sheary
£25 No 104 G
Ford
Congratulations
to our winners. Thank you for all
parishioners who renewed subscriptions. So
far, the 200 Club has raised £6,250 for church funds. However, there are still vacancies available. For any wishing to join please contact Ken Evans.
Justice & Peace
Please
note there will be no Group meeting on Wednesday 23rd May.
Pots for sale
A number of used garden pots have been donated. Have a look at the photos at the back of the
church and if would like one contact the parish office to reserve it. All donations will be going to the St
Catherine’s in the Philippines.
Foodbank
The list of needs has changed and is now: tinned potatoes, tinned
tomatoes, tinned soup, long life fruit juice, jam, rice, shampoo, toothbrushes,
baby wipes, washing up liquid and washing powder. Thank you for continuing to donate these much-needed
supplies.
Diocesan Justice & Peace Commission
Spring Assembly 2018 entitled Laudato Si!
Responding
to the call of Pope Francis, the Spring Assembly will be held at St Mary’s
Church, 70 Wellesley Rd, Croydon CR0 2AR, on Saturday 2nd June from 10.30am to
4.00pm. It will be preceded by Mass at
10.00am celebrated by Bishop Lynch. The
keynote speaker will be Ellen Teague. This
is a free event, and everyone is most welcome to attend. Please bring a packed lunch, but tea and
coffee will be provided. See the poster
on our church entrance notice board.
Catholic Women's League
Please note that this month's meeting will be held on 21st May at
7.30 in the Community Centre. Members of
the parish are welcome to join us at 8pm when we have a local solicitor coming
to talk about the difference between the healthcare power of attorney and the
lasting power of attorney and the importance of making a will.
A big thank you to everyone who came along and made our Military
Whist Drive such an enjoyable evening.
Social Pillar
Film Night
A big thank you to
everyone who supported our first film night on 5 May. Apart from being deeply moved by the film,
“I, Daniel Blake”, you donated an amazing £122 for the St James’ Memory Café. Thank you so much for your generosity!
Our next Film Night
will be held on Saturday 9 June at 7.30pm.
We will be showing “La Vie en Rose”, an OSCAR/BAFTA, Golden Globe
winning French film about the life of Édith Piaf. The running time is 140 minutes. There will be a 15-minute interval and on
this occasion any donations raised will be for the Foodbank. We look forward to seeing you!
Note for your diaries. The subsequent Film Club will be held on
Saturday, 14 July. Details to follow in
due course.
Senior Citizens’ Summer lunch
The
SVP Senior citizens Summer lunch will be on Sunday June 10th at 1pm.
This
was a very popular enjoyable and sociable event last year so keep this date
free in your diary. Signup sheets will
be available next week.
Save The Date
St James’
Garden Party & Fun Run
8th July
After 11am Mass
Music, Drinks, Cakes – Fun for the whole
family!
If
you would like to get involved, please contact either parish.office@stjamespettswood.org
or
Mary O’Mahony at mary.omahony@stjamespettswood.org
Sewing
Machine
If you have an unwanted
sewing machine, please contact the parish office on 01689 827100 to
arrange for immediate delivery or collection. Thank You.
Seeking Job
We have a parishioner who is an experienced
domestic cleaner looking for work, housekeeping, ironing, cooking and cleaning. She has references. Please contact the parish office for more
details.
Polite Reminder
The Parish
disabled parking spaces are for Blue Badge holders only.
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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Saturday 26th May
2018 |
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Cleaning the Church |
A
Haylock, A Crosland, G MacManus, K Evans |
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Wednesday Coffee 23rd May |
M
Howell, S Barradell |
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27th May 2018 |
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Mass |
Saturday 6pm (Vigil) |
Sunday 9.15am |
Sunday 11am |
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Welcomers |
J Callinan |
L Samuels J Samuels |
G Whitley M Ingledew |
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Readers |
K Lams L Rushmini |
Children’s Mass |
N D’Silva R Morrison |
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Ministers of Holy
Communion |
P Crosland C Wakefield C Cosgrave P Cosgrave P Driscoll |
M Smith M Howell S Cotta A Ward B Cotta |
V Terry N Longhurst K Chan K Evans A Evans |
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Bar |
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A Barradell M Horner |
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Coffee |
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D Delf F Curran E Aletta |
K walsh L Moore |
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Altar Servers |
R&F Norman-Brown P Kukula P Marshall |
L Delamain P Marshall |
Emily J Monaghan |
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Tellers |
P Cosgrave, P Dabrowski |