Lent was originally a period of intense preparation for people being baptised at the Easter Vigil. 

These would have been adults who would have been instructed in the Faith for maybe two years.

Here at St James we rejoice that we have a group of some 15 adults who are thinking seriously about the Catholic Church – and they are supported by an almost equal number of Catholics in our Evangelium course on Monday evenings.

We rejoice too that we shall have an infant baptism at the Easter Vigil service (9pm, Saturday April 2^nd) and at that liturgy we shall all renew our baptismal promises.

All this is about the Paschal Mystery  - the dying and rising of Jesus at Easter which is the centre and kernel of our faith. So Lent is meant to be a very positive time, a time of growth and renewal in our lives, a time of great hope and expectancy.  May this be our experience throughout this Lent.          

Today we begin Lent in earnest, hopefully we have all made some kind of Lent “rule” – confidential between ourselves and God. Keep it simple and easy- the whole point is that we keep it!! A warm welcome to new, or newish people, in our congregation. Do come in for coffee after Mass.
Notices and Items of interest
Today we welcome (Sat 3.45pm) through Holy Baptism Lucas Valentine Simpson his parents Victoria and Daniel and godparents Felix and Philip. Stations of the Cross – 6pm – a prayerful meditation on the 14 events in Christ’s journey to the cross on Good Friday.  (Lasts about 30 minutes) – do come and experience this moving devotion.
Monday 22/2/10	Confirmation – first session 7pm in the social centre CWL meeting - 8pm in the St James’ pre-school room (entry by the social centre) Evangelium -8.30pm
Tuesday 23/2/10	Mass at 7.15pm Lent course – this inter church course is for the five weeks of Lent and starts this week on Tuesdays at Christ Church Willett Way or on Wednesdaysat the Friends Meeting House, Ladywood Road).  Please sign up or just turn up. Details in porch.
Wednesday 24/2/10	Deanery Pastoral Council at St Joseph’s Bromley. The meeting last month was dynamic and upbeat and we have high hopes of this Deanery Team.  Our reps are Zosia Bajorek and Nick Babb. Mass at 8pm for Bill Gudge RIP (Knights of St Columba)
Thursday 25/2/10 Thursday (con’t)	Requiem Mass for Bill Gudge at 11am.  I do hope that many parishioners will attend this requiem.  (No Mass at 9.30am) Baptismal Preparation Evening for parents who have been invited – 8.15pm in the meeting room
Friday 26/2/10	CAFOD Family Fast Day (please bring envelopes on Sunday) Choir for Holy Week and Easter – 7.30pm in church. All singers  welcome.
Saturday 27/2/10	Baptism of twins Sophia and Alexander Clark (4.30pm)
Sunday 28/2/10	Taize service at 5pm –informal rehearsal and setting up at 4pm.  Our January service attracted 40 people. A lovely meditation for the second  Sunday of Lent – no Stations today.
Friday 5/3/10	Women’s World Day of Prayer there will be a service today here in St James at 2pm.  All ladies most warmly welcome.
Being responsible – I do ask that we constantly check that the hall (and occasionally the church) are treated with respect. The property here is for us all to use, not abuse.  Please check children in the hall if there is a problem. We are also responsible for God’s world  and I should like to suggest a Parish Lent  Rule for each of the 6 weeks of Lent.  This is an invitation to care even more than we do for the physical environment, and you are invited to take the sheet each week from the porch and to perhaps follow up one or two of the suggestions.  This is a form of loving God -  hopefully we shall find this helpful and an integral part of our personal spirituality.  Week one:   The Use of Transport

From Quark to Planet - a poem by Chris Polhill

Creator God,

from quark to planet your universe is awesome.

Give us eyes to gape at the wonders daily about us,

and the will to live in the harmony of your creating.

Help us to recognise and honour the connections of all things,

even at cost to our own wants and comforts:

so we may live gently on Earth

and all creation praise you. Amen

Every blessing.  Fr. Bryan

Mass attendances last week were 675.

Mass Intentions for Sunday  21^st February 2010 First Sunday of Lent
Sunday	6pm	People of the Parish
	10am	Andy & Mita D’Souza (the Howell Family)
	11.30am	In thanksgiving for favours received (M Akpata)
Monday   The Chair of St Peter	9.30am	CWL
Tuesday Feria	9.30am	Olu Akpata RIP (M Akpata)
	7.15pm	William O’Riordan RIP (Ned)
Wednesday	9.30am	Mita D’Souza RIP (L Da Cunha)
Thursday Feria	9.30am	Kitty O’ Riordan RIP (Ned)
Friday Feria	9.30am	William Keeble RIP (Pam Lundy and family)
Mass Intentions for Sunday  28^th February 2010 Second Sunday of Lent
Sunday	6pm	Michael Cassidy RIP (M Kelly)
	10am	People of the Parish
	11.30am	Andy& Mita d’Souza RIP (L Da Cunha)

Morning Prayer:- Monday - Friday at 9.10am

Weekday Masses:- Monday- Friday at 9.30am and Tuesday 7.15pm  

Confessions are heard:- Saturday at 5.30-6pm and Monday at 10-10.30am

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:- Mondays at 10-10.30am

Don’t forget to visit our parish website:  www. stjamespettswood.org