Thank you for your offerings last week of £1,338. Mass attendance 590.
24th March (Saturday Vigil)	Palm Sunday of The Passion of The Lord 6pm Tom Benson RIP (Benson Family)
Sunday 25th March	9.15am Francesca Sio RIP (Sio Family) 11am Christopher Walsh RIP (Benson Family)
Monday 26th March	Monday of Holy Week 9.30am Angela Leeson RIP
Tuesday 27th March	Tuesday of Holy Week 9.30am Sean Loughlin RIP (Pini Family)
Wednesday 28th March	Wednesday of Holy Week 9.30am Marie and Bill Morley (Howell Family)
	10.45am Eucharistic Adoration
Thursday 29thMarch	Maundy Thursday
	8pm Barbara Bridle (Howell Family)
Friday 30th March	Friday of The Passion of The Lord
31st March (Saturday Vigil)	Easter Sunday of The Resurrection of The Lord 8pm People of The Parish
Sunday 1st April	9.15am Francesca Sio RIP (Sio Family) 11am Joseph Deasy RIP (Deasy Family)

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.

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!

Offertory collection

The new boxes of gift aid envelopes will be available for collection. Please take your box. The collection at the Masses over the Easter weekend are your personal offerings for your Parish Priest.

Fr David writes…

How quickly praise can turn to derision. It is very easy once people start complimenting us, that our ego is boosted, and we start believing our specialness through people’s eyes. Some of us crave for affirmation constantly. They gauge their self-esteem and identity in accordance to how people view them and what they say about them. It is very easy to fall into this temptation. These are those who waste a lot of their energies trying to please people in order to be praised. We find such people in all spheres of life – in business, in politics, in the Church, even with our family and friends. Although it is nice to be affirmed from time to time, if we start expecting praise in order to be happy, we will end up being disillusioned eventually and hurt. No one can keep up with the intensity of the craving for adulation. People in general are very fickle. We see it played out in front of our eyes continuously in the media and politics. People have the ability to build you up and make you feel very important and special. However once they start to realise that you are as mortal as anyone else. Once they detect your Achilles heel, they have the power to destroy you.

Look at what happened to Anthony McPartlin (Ant and Dec) this week. There is surely a price for adulation. He fell from grace very quickly, it is sad to see. People can be cruel. There is no compassion in a crowd. No understanding. People love to build you up and at the same time they delight in cutting you down to size and also destroy you. It is scary. I always feel a bit cynical when people see what they want to see in me. As I know that I cannot live up to people’s expectations all the time. And there are going to be moments when I would disappoint people as I have already. I know. For this reason, I refuse to allow myself life in self-delusion believing what others project on me. I, of course accept my strengths and gifts, however I know the reality of my clay laden feet. One minute somebody is singing praises, the next its insults and scorn.

The gospel readings display that very juxtaposition today. We come to the church singing ‘Hosanna’ and just a few minutes later, we are crying out ‘Crucify him’. The people wanted an earthly king to shake off Roman occupation and achieve political independence. But how quickly they turned on Jesus when they realised that he would not fulfil their plans. Jesus did disappoint them. However, God had something else for them in store. As Jesus did not meet the expectations of the crowds or his disciples, they turned and fled. The entire passion narrative in Mark shows the confusion, bewilderment and misunderstanding that played out the horrific scene of Jesus’ Crucifixion. The crowds believed that Jesus was calling out for Elijah, the chief priests and scribes mock Jesus as one who cannot save himself. Pilate acquiesces to the crowd’s demands and participates in a miscarriage of justice. The centurion alone, a Gentile is the only one to face the crucified after death and proclaim faith in him. Mark also in his narrative, portrays the anguish of Jesus, abandoned by friends and disciples and resigned to his fate. He submits to arrest, he offers no response to the false accusations made against him. He makes no reply to Pilate. When asked if he is the Messiah, Jesus replies, ‘I am’ and speaks of his glory to come. Mark also portrays the disciples’ failure to provide any support to Jesus in his time of need. The last disciple who flees naked into the night when Jesus is arrested is a powerful symbol in Mark’s gospel of the disciple who left family and friends behind to follow Jesus but now leave everything behind to get away from him.

Holy week confronts us with the powerful symbol of the Cross. No other word or object so definitely and completely symbolises God’s love for us. No other symbol confronts us with the very worst we fail to see in ourselves, that part of us that enables us to rationalise the crucifixions we execute. Jesus’ spirit of humility and compassion become a force of hope and re-creation in our hurting and despairing world. Jesus enters Jerusalem for the final and climatic chapter of his life, when God will vindicate his son’s teachings on selfless love, his exaltation of humble service, his revelation of God as the Father of reconciliation and compassion. As a Community of faith we are immersing ourselves in the most powerful week of our Christian Calendar. It is a week where the liturgies are full of pregnant drama. It is the week where as individuals and as a community we are invited to relive the most powerful story ever told. A story of abundant and unconditional love of God for us through his son Jesus. Let us participate fully in the celebrations that are being offered and may we find hope and reconciliation. especially if we are going through our own Passion at this time. May you all have a blessed Holy Week.

“Drop-In” Evening Surgeries

Please note that the next surgery will be on Wednesday the 11th April 2018. Fr David will be available at 281A Crescent Drive from 5.00-7.00pm and no appointment is necessary.

Bible found in the car park

A bible was found in the bushes of the Parish car park this week. It looks loved and very much used and quite possibly someone is missing it very much. Please contact the Parish Office if you have lost it or know someone it may belong to.

Pastoral Pillar

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 also, 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 1^st Friday of each month from 7.30–9.00pm and concludes with Benediction. The next one will take place on 6th April. Everyone is welcome for all or part of this time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Mass in celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage

St George’s Cathedral 16^th June 2018. If you are celebrating your 1^st, 10^th, 25^th, 40^th, 50^th or 60^th+ wedding anniversary this year and would like to attend the Mass then please give your names as soon as possible. Forms can be found at the back of the church.

Evangelisation Pillar

Lenten Programme

A Re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross for the whole family is being produced on Sunday the 25th March at 4.00pm – Palm Sunday. Come and experience the passion and death of Christ by being part of the Greatest Story ever told.

Święconka

Polish traditional blessing of Easter Baskets

Easter Saturday, 31^st March, 11am - Please join us in continuing to celebrate this colourful and engaging tradition by bringing your own “Święconka” to St James’ for a short (15-20 min) blessing service. Blessing will be done in Polish and English. All very welcome.

Social Pillar

Community Centre

The St James’ Social Club is responsible for the running and licensing of the bar in the Community Centre. The AGM will be held on Sunday 22 April at 12.30 pm after the 11.00 am Mass in the Community Centre. The items on the agenda will be as follows:

1. Minutes of the last AGM

2. Election of Committee for 2018/2019

3. Financial Report

4. Any Other Business

All are welcome to attend.

Children's Easter Egg Hunt Easter Sunday, 1st 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.

Parent and Toddler Group

The Parent & Toddler Group will be starting back up from Friday 27th April. They will meet 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.

Wednesday Morning Coffee

We are in urgent need for new people to go onto the Wednesday morning coffee rota. If you are interested, please contact the parish office.

Monday Club

Mondays 1.30pm to 4pm in the Community Centre.

. Meet others.

. Opportunity for fun and good company.

. Now is your chance to play…

. Discover new interests…

. Afternoon tea and chat.

. You are all very welcome.

Youth Pillar

Careers Fair

As part of the CYM programme for this year, we are currently planning a Careers Fair for young people on Saturday 21^st April from 10.30-2.30pm here at St James’.

The aim of this event is to assist and equip young people in making decisions regarding their future and to provide information and guidance on a range of opportunities available to them, such as:

· Interview skills training

· CV assistance and advice

· Peer Ministry & GAP year opportunities

· Vocations advice

· Modern day apprenticeships

· Information stands:

- NHS

- Teaching

- Armed Forces

· Workshop talks/ Q&A re: pursuing faith at University, advice and guidance for parents

We would be very grateful for any help on the day and particularly with interview training, CV writing or general advice regarding any of the opportunities or industries listed above. If you would like to become involved or know of individuals who may have key experience or core skills to share, please get in touch. All suggestions, comments and ideas regarding the plan for this event are welcome and encouraged. Please contact Susan Longhurst on -susan.longhurst@bromleydeanery.org. Thank you.

Message from Stella Delf

I’m getting ready to run the Brighton Marathon on the 15th April (my first marathon!). I'm going to be running for Cancer Research UK and I'm looking for sponsors and cake eaters to help me raise money for this amazing cause. If you would like to give your support, I'll be at the back of the church with a sponsorship form on the 24^th and 25^th March and will be hosting a cake sale at the end of the masses on the 7^th and 8^th April. You can also donate via my giving page: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/stellas-giving-page

Thank you, Stella

200 Club

Firstly, thank you so much for joining the 200 Club which has proved to be a great success in the past year with over £6000 being raised for Church funds.

We now have 181 members and since April last year there have been 39 winners, one parishioner winning twice, two winning £500 each in the Summer and Christmas draws.

The new year starts on 1st April with the first draw taking place on the 2nd Sunday of each month. As many of you paid by cheque last year and assuming you wish to continue paying this way I shall be grateful if you will send a cheque for £60 payable to St James 200 Club for the attention of Ken Evans at the Parish Office – 281A Crescent Drive, Petts Wood. BR5 1AY.

If, however you wish to pay by standing order at £5 per month (payable on the 1st of the month) please contact Ken. I do hope you will continue to support this excellent fund-raising initiative and thank you again for your generous support.

GIFT AID

A very big thanks to all who have gift-aided their offertory and 2nd collection donations as well as their donations to the Maintenance/Refurbishment Fund during the 2017/18 tax year.

Your boxes of new Gift Aid envelopes (with your name on) for the coming 2018/19 tax year are now ready in the porch, along the back of church, for you to collect.

If you cannot find your box, please speak to Geoff Ford (the Gift Aid Administrator) – email him at gift.aid@stjamespettswood.org or he can usually be found in the "counting room" at church after 11am Mass on Sundays.

Please note, the amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax you pay or will pay during a tax year must be at least equal * to the total amount of tax that all Charities (i.e. not just St James’) will reclaim on your gift-aided donations to them for that tax year. Other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify.

* You must have paid at least 25 pence in Income/Capital Gains Tax for every £1 of gift-aided donation you make to all Charities (i.e. £25 tax for every £100 given). If you pay less Income/ Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all your donations in that tax year, it is your responsibility to pay any difference to HMRC.

Please also speak to Geoff if:

a) you are unsure that you will have paid adequate tax,

b) you wish to know the total recorded amount of your offerings,

c) you move or marry and change your name. (It is important that our record of your name and address is recognisable to the tax man.)

d) you wish to transfer your gift aid donations into your spouse’s name (perhaps because you have stopped working and no longer pay tax),

e) you would like to Gift Aid your contributions to St James’ but have not yet completed a Declaration Form.

As every charity will tell you, by gift-aiding your donations your contributions are substantially increased at absolutely no cost whatsoever to you. If you are not already in our Gift Aid scheme, all you have to do is sign a Declaration Form enabling the Church to recover the tax you will have already paid before making your donation.

Standing Orders

If you make your weekly offering to St James’ by standing order, please still take your box of envelopes. Your box will include special envelopes for Diocesan second collections and for Easter/Christmas offerings which are not included in standing orders.

If you wish to make a standing order with St James’ please email or speak to Geoff before arranging it with your bank.

Justice & Peace

The Justice and Peace Group will meet on Wednesday 28th March at 7.45pm in the Parish Office meeting room (281A Crescent Drive). All parishioners are assured of a warm welcome.

Foodbank

The current list of items needed is: tinned potatoes, tinned soup, long life milk and fruit juice, rice, pulses, shampoo and toothbrushes. Thank you for continuing to donate these much needed supplies.

Catholic Women’s League

All ladies are warmly invited to attend the Petts Wood CWL AGM (Now called an annual review) which will be held in the Social on Monday 26th March at 8pm.

Polite Reminder

The Parish disabled parking spaces are for Blue Badge holders only.

Outside the Parish

National Catholic Men’s Pilgrimage to Walsingham

Sunday 22^nd April 2018, 10.30-17.30

A warm invitation to the first, annual pilgrimage for Catholic men. Meet, talk and share the faith with other men; listen to speakers, celebrate confession and Mass, pray for families and for the country; process to the old Abbey grounds for Benediction. We welcome lay and religious, single and married, young and old, fathers and sons. "When England returns to Walsingham, Our Lady will return to England". Pope Leo XIII, 1887

In partnership with the Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady and Catholic Man UK. For more information visit www.catholicman.co.uk

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.

Saturday 31st March 2018
Cleaning the Church	P Driscoll, J Rogerson, M Mitrovic (Tuesday team – 3rd April)

Wednesday Coffee 28th March

S Barradell, B D’Arcy

1st April 2018
Mass	Saturday 6pm (Vigil)	Sunday 9.15am	Sunday 11am
Welcomers	Please sign the form at the back of the church to volunteer for Easter Masses
Readers	Please sign the form at the back of the church to volunteer for Easter Masses
Ministers of Holy Communion	Please sign the form at the back of the church to volunteer for Easter Masses
Bar			B Meehan O Clutton
Coffee		D Delf F Curran E Aletta	P Flockhart A Huntington
Altar Servers	R&F Norman Brown N Cracknell P Marshall P Kukula	L Delamain A Lynch	V Marcolina F Ikenye P Kukula

Tellers

C Delf, M Troy