Perhaps the word ‘immediacy’, characterizes our readings today. The tale of Jonah - of which we have just a tiny fragment today - read the whole hilarious story sometime-- is about the peoples’ repentance and God’s mercy. A bit like cause and effect. They repent - God forgives! The gospel reflects the radical decision to follow Jesus by Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John. Jesus calls- and they immediately follow. And in 1 Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us that ‘the time is short’. The implication is that we must respond to Jesus here and now rather than keep on procrastinating (as we all tend to do.).
Here and Now. Time. It is becoming clearer every day that our time (rather than our money) is our most valuable commodity, the thing we seem to have less and less of, even though we have marvellous means of communication today, which should save us time.
‘Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.’ For us, that means: repent, follow Jesus, put our lives in order, now, today! ’ For the time is short...and the world as we know it is passing away.’
Thank you so much for making Mgr. Elliott’s Requiem such a fitting tribute. So many people worked so hard and we were, of course, delighted to welcome Peter our Archbishop to St. James’ for the first time. It was good to see so many parishioners of today and the past, and also so many bishops, priests and deacons, with whom Mgr. had been associated. His ashes will be scattered (at his wish) in front of the baptistry window, on Lakeswood Road, on Monday morning (tomorrow) after Mass, at about 10 am.
Thank you all again- and may we all thank God for his 53 years of priesthood, over half of which he spent here as your pastor at St. James.’ May he rest in peace- and rise in glory!
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Mass attendances last Sunday were 735.
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Sunday 22/1/12 |
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) 6pm – Noah Mark Rothon RIP (Rothon Family) 9.15am – People of the Parish 11am – Deceased relatives & family of Ford family (G & B Ford)
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Monday 23/1/12 |
Feria 9.30am – Margaret Hall RIP (G & B Ford)
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Tuesday 24/1/12 |
St Francis de Sales 9.30am – Patricia & Nora Lanigan (M O’Leary)
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Wednesday 25/1/12 |
The Conversion of St Paul, apostle 9.30am – Laraine Henderson (G & B Ford)
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Thursday 26/1/12 |
St Timothy & St Titus, bishops 9.30am – Tony Huntington RIP (Huntington Family)
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Friday 27/1/12 |
Feria 9.30am – Paula Nelligan (Nelligan Family)
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Sunday 29/1/12 |
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) 6pm – Sister Maureen Fay (welf) (Mary & David Kelly) 9.15am – Relatives & Friends of Marie Brier (Found) 11am – Helen Alcock RIP (M & C Travers)
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Today (Sunday) our confirmation candidates will be attending the 12 noon Mass in St. George’s Cathedral, as part of their programme. We shall present them to you in due course.
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Fr Uchenna Njoka, (vice provincial superior of the Holy Ghost Fathers) will preside at the 11 am Mass today- we bid him a warm welcome.
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At 9.15 Mass –junior childrens’s liturgy group (school years 3-6), in addition to the younger group. Only leaders and designated helpers should be at these groups - I do ask all parents to respect this please.
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This afternoon - Stainer’s Crucifixion choir (3pm-4.30pm). All parishioners are warmly welcome to come and sing- its great fun- don’t worry if you have never sung before! A great start was made last Sunday, with about 60 singers! (Performance: Sunday March 25th at 7.30pm: raising funds for Marie Curie Cancer Fund.)
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Tuesday. Churches Together in Petts Wood – meeting of reps., Friends Meeting House, 8pm. (We are in the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 18th-25th).
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Wednesday. Justice and Peace Group at 7.45pm. Consolation (Bereavement Support) Group at 8pm (meeting room.)
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Saturday (28th) First Communion session – 4.45.pm
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Sunday (29th) Taizé service at 5pm (NB new time) followed by refreshments. A quiet, meditative service with the beautiful Taizé music. Ends approx. 5.45pm.
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There are quite a few new notices on the porch board (including teaching vacancies) – please have a look before you leave church.
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Have a good week (Don’t forget we have daily Mass Mon-Fri at 9.30am!) Fr Bryan |
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