Today is the solemnity of Corpus Christi – note solemnity – a very important celebration in the church’s calendar.  We are reminded of the presence of Jesus Christ, uniquely present in the Blessed Sacrament (the consecrated Bread and Wine).  This is why we genuflect each time we enter a Catholic church, to show our respect for that divine presence, reserved in the tabernacle.  We should be still, silent and prayerful when we are in church.

But Corpus Christi also means us and today’s very short reading from 1 Corinthians reminds us: “though there are many of us, we form a single body because we all have a share in this one loaf.”  And the body we form is, of course, the Body of Christ – Corpus Christi.

So today I ask of you two things (which I hope you will do TODAY):

First, please fill in your Time, Talents and Skills sheet and hand it in to the porch – and many thanks to those who have already done so.

Secondly, please give generously to our Refurbishment and Maintenance Fund.  Last Monday some 60 people attended the forum and we decided to set ourselves until July 2012 to raise funds to re-roof the Social Centre.  The cost will be in the region of £120,000.  It would be really good if you could pledge a set amount each month (by Standing Order).  We must re-roof before doing other refurbishment (for obvious reasons) and this really is urgent.

Please contact Geoff Ford who deals with our Gift Aid Scheme.  Geoff is also usually around between the Sunday Masses.  If everyone could pledge a moderate amount we should soon raise the total, or you may prefer a larger, one-off donation.   Whatever you give please make sure it is Gift Aided which gives us 25p for every pound you give!

We must all pull together (as the parish did in the early 60’s to build the church).  We are Corpus Christi and we all, collectively, and personally, have a responsibility to our parish community.

Mass attendances last Sunday were 627. .
Sunday 26/6/11	Corpus Christi 6pm – Jim & Nora Dee (Mary O’Leary) 9.15am – Teresa & John Lynch RIP (Jackson Family) 11am – People of the Parish Second Collection for Maintenance and Refurbishment Fund Taizé service-7.0.pm
Monday 27/6/11	Feria 9.30am – Martha Brown RIP (CWL)
Tuesday 28/6/11	St Irenaeus 9.30am– Gloria Calnan  RIP  (Howell Family) 8pm – Vigil Mass – Frances Spiller (Pat Pini) Collection for Peter’s Pence
Wednesday 29/6/11	Ss Peter and Paul 9.30am – Dorothy Robson  (Found.) Mass with St James’ school.
Thursday 30/6/11	The First Martyrs of Church of Rome 9.30am- Fausto Suzzara RIP (Denise Delf)
Friday 1/7/11	The Sacred Heart of Jesus 9.30am – Kenneth & Dora Price (50^th Wedding Anniversary) (Graham Price)
Sunday 3/7/11	14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) 6pm – People of the Parish 9.15am – Joshua Canning  (Canning Family) 11am–  Elena Lams RIP (Ted Lams) Mass of Inscription for children preparing for First Communion in 2012.
Monday 27/6/11		CWL Meeting at 8.30pm.  Paul Lehane (magistrate) will give a talk on local justice.  ALL Welcome.
Tuesday 28/6/11			Vigil Mass of Ss Peter and Paul at 8.00pm.
Wednesday 29/6/11			Mass of Ss Peter and Paul at 9.30am (with St James’ School.  This is a holy day of obligation and all Catholics should be at Mass.
Wednesday 29/6/11			10.30am Requiem Mass for Gloria Calnan, RIP.  Our Prayers are with husband Keith, and with Belinda, Mark and all the family.  (Followed by burial at Grove Park cemetery).
Thursday 30/6/11			8.15pm  Baptismal preparation evening (for those who have been invited).
Saturday 2/7/11			St James’ School Summer Fair  12pm to 3pm.  Please support!

The Southwark Brethren is a long standing charity which helps sick and retired Priests who are in need.  We thank you for your continuous generosity in the past and ask for your help again this year.  Please send donations to: Reverend Paul Hough, St Elpheges Presbytery, 120 Stafford Rd, Wallington, Surrey SM6 9AY.  Last year we were able to give £1050 each to 36 Priests in the Diocese of Southwark and Arundel and Brighton, and also help 7 working Priests who had serious sickness, to make their situation a little easier.  In addition, we have a Gift Aid Scheme for those who pay tax and we thank the lay people who have joined by applying for a Gift Aid form

NEXT weekend we have the mission appeal by the Columban Fathers and Fr. Patrick Beirne, SSC will be preaching at all Masses.

At the 11am Mass, the children for First Communion in 2012 will be officially presented to the parish and we look forward to welcoming them.  (Miriam Travers)

Do come in for coffee and chat etc after 9.15am and 11am Masses – it’s a great way to get to know each other….

Finally – if you are on a rota and cannot manage a particular day, please find a substitute.  There have been some difficult situations recently.  We shall only function effectively as a community if we all play our full part.  And many thanks to those who already do so!

And don’t forget to take your copy of the new Parish Handbook!

Every blessing for this coming week.

Fr Bryan