|
Thank you for your offerings last week of £1,166 Mass attendance was 566 |
|
|
Sunday 31/7/16 |
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
6.00pm Alexander Canning RIP Anniversary (Canning Family)
9.15am People of the Parish
11.00am Ned Finn RIP (Leish O’Sullivan)
|
|
Monday 1/8//16
|
St Peter Apostle in Chains
9.30am John & Irene Toomey RIP (Irene Webb & Family)
|
|
Tuesday 2/8/16 |
St Mary of the Angels
9.30am Ann Prifti RIP (Chris & Doreen Hairs)
|
|
Wednesday 3/8/16 |
Feria
9.30am Maurice Cantopher RIP (P Cantopher & Family)
|
|
Thursday 4/8/16 |
St John Vianney
9.30am Fr David Camilleri
|
|
Friday 5/8/16 |
Feria
9.30am Jayden Chittilappily (Birthday) & Health of all Family
|
|
Saturday 6/8/16 |
Vigil Mass
6.00pm Kay Livingston RIP (M Clark)
|
|
Sunday 7/8/16 |
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
9.15am Edward & Margaret Cushman RIP
11.00am People of the Parish
|
|
Confessions heard Saturday 5.00pm-5.45pm or by appointment. |
|
Pondering the Word (Lectio Divina)
A quiet reflective look at the following Sunday’s Gospel. Mondays 11-12 noon here in the church. All welcome.
Fr David writes…
Like me, I am sure you have been shocked to hear about the atrocious murder of the 86 year old French priest – Fr Jacques Hamel. This terror attack has affected me personally on a lot of levels. On reflection, I know that I feel both sadness and anger. Sadness in regard to my conviction that a church should be an oasis of peace and safety. Now that conviction has been violated. I feel that I am mourning this fact. If the church is not a safe and sacred place – where is? That’s the question which has been left hanging for me now. On account of this attack in a church in Normandy, I have been awakened once more to the fact of how vulnerable we are as a community who gather to worship together. I have been already asked by some parishioners about thinking of strategies to prevent or minimize the possibility, God forbid, of a similar attack to occur. Even the government is now encouraging us to do so and be vigilant. Part of me is saying, that we need to be wise and have strategies in place. Another part of me is saying that we cannot achieve anything if we give in to paranoia and panic. I feel that we need to find a healthy balance between both.
I cannot stop thinking that this priest woke up on Tuesday morning to celebrate Mass with his congregation as usual, as I did on that Tuesday morning. He had no clue that it would be his last. And the congregation had to experience such a traumatic experience that it is for sure to affect them for the rest of their lives. I cannot stop thinking of them. They need now to learn to live with that horrific memory. Fr Hamel is at peace but what a horrible ending to a life of service to God and his church. It is so sad. It is now being said that the church of Fr Hamel had donated some of its land so that a mosque could be built next door so that both faiths could have a place of worship. Residents are saying that the town is a very peaceful community. Formed mainly of retirees and a large immigrant community. They said that they live well together. Fr Hamel himself was an activist for interfaith relations. Actually 18 months ago he was instrumental so that an interfaith committee would be formed. The Imam himself has said that he is mourning the death of his friend. And yet Fr Hamel has been targeted by two members who had given their allegiance to the so called Isil State.
It is very hard to try to understand the minds behind these atrocities. They are targeting not only Christians and Jews but Muslims too. As the Pope has said this week, “we are experiencing War. The word we hear a lot is insecurity, but the real word is war. We must not be afraid to say the truth, the world is at war because it has lost peace. However it is not a war of religions – it is a conflict over interests, money, resources. All religions want peace. It’s the others who want war”. Somehow these events are affecting and creating an anxious consciousness in most of us. We need to wake up now and not be in denial any longer. Somehow the reality that we are not completely safe, not completely in control will somehow help us to keep alert. Not to be paralysed but to realise that we are not immune to pain or death.
The scriptures today speak of death which happens to people who are still alive. It is creeping death which comes on those whose lives are empty of any human relationship. Being dead is something that people can learn to live with. The rich man in the parable is dead already. His world is unrelated to the fortune or fate of any other human being. He decorates his grave with his own possessions which give him a loveless advantage; he thinks that they will ensure his future when in fact they will go to anyone but him. His whole life was surrounded by his own personal interests and wealth. God who rarely appears in parables, calls him “Idiot” – the one who is alone. He does not share any of his goods with others or any part of himself with others. In contrast to the rich fool, Jesus spends himself. He spends his whole life sharing his talent for forgiveness, his insight, his love, his pathos, his energy, his imagination, his prayer, his stories. The list is endless. All these qualities create new life for others. The inheritance that we have received is one that we are pledged to give away. I feel that Fr Hamel from what is being said about him was a “rich” man. He had shared all his life with others – touched so many lives by being who he was. When death called him on Tuesday, God must have embraced him home with joy! I wish to let you know that I will be going on my home leave to Malta on Monday 1st August and I will return on the 19th August. If you are going away – have a well deserved break and make the best of this quality time with family and friends! We all need re-creation. Stay safe! See you when I come back.
“Drop-In” – Evening Surgery
The next Surgery will take place on Tuesday 6th September 5pm – 8pm. Please call at 281a Crescent Drive – no appointments necessary.
Using the LiveSimply Garden behind the Community Centre
I would like to invite any parishioners over the age of 18 to use the LiveSimply Garden behind the Community Centre for prayer and quiet contemplation when this might be helpful for you.
The gate into the garden from the upper car park will be unlocked between 10am and 6pm Monday to Sunday and you would be very welcome to come and use the garden for prayer and rest during these times.
Please very kindly remember that the small part of the garden that is fenced around the presbytery is private; and that the play areas used by the St James’ Pre-School is absolutely restricted for their sole use during preschool hours. When using the garden, please always keep safeguarding issues in mind, and ensure that children are never left in the garden, or invited to use it, without a responsible adult being present.
Parish Groups
Bromley Foodbank
The most urgent needs relate to the special school holiday meal packs which are issued to certain families whose children are normally in receipt of free school meals, and who therefore find the long summer break particularly challenging. The most pressing needs are: tinned fruit, cold meat, tinned vegetables, hot meats (e.g. tinned stews), custard, rice puddings and squash. They are completely out of tinned and dried potatoes! They also still need the whole range of toiletries but food stuffs take centre stage.
Youth of the Parish
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL AND THE YOUNG CHURCH
One of the pillars of the Parish Pastoral Council is Young Church, and it is very important that the young people of the parish have input into its development; i.e. objectives going forward and milestones to reach. With this in mind, we would like some thoughts on:
Where are we now?
Where do we want to be in 18 months’ time?
How can we achieve it?
All ideas/suggestions/brainwaves are very welcome and can be emailed to Suzy Paris on suzy.paris@stjamespettswood.org. We will, of course, report back our plans to the whole parish in due course.
YOUTH CAFÉ – SUMMER ACTIVITIES
A trip to BROMLEY BOWLING is planned for the early evening of Thursday 18 August (at around 7pm). This is for the post-confirmation age group, and numbers will be limited. Email Suzy Paris on suzy.paris@stjamespettswood.org to put your name down for what is always a fun evening out!
We are also planning an afternoon of ‘games and picnic’ in the church garden (subject to the weather of course). Details to follow.
Youth Retreat 30th September-2nd October 2016 – few remaining spaces!
The Parish Youth Team are organising a retreat on the above dates at St Vincent’s Centre Whitstable. All young adults that have been confirmed are invited to attend this retreat. The cost will be £75.00.
If you could confirm your interest to the Parish Office via telephone 01689 827100 or email parish.office@stjamespettswood.org.
The youth of the Parish are encouraged to join the St James’ Catholic Youth Ministry – CYM Facebook page to find out all the up to date news on events that are happening in our church.
Christ The King Youth Day – 19th November
The Catholic Youth Ministry Christ the King Youth Day will take place on Saturday 19th November here at St James’ from 12.00pm-5.30pm and will be followed by a Youth Mass at 6.00pm. There will be activites throughout the day and refreshments will be provided. This event is open to all young people across the Bromley Deanery in school years 7 and above. If you would like to attend please inform the Parish Office.
Dad and Me
The next session of Dad and Me will take place on Saturday 20 August 10am – 11.30 am in the Community Centre
Second Collection
Next Sunday 7 August, there will be a collection for the Maintenance Fund.
Deanery Events
Deanery Pilgrimage to Cathedral
There is a home-school-parish deanery pilgrimage to St George’s Cathedral Southwark taking place on Saturday 17th September 10.30am for 11.00am. It would be great to have some parishioners at the service representing our parish. If you are able to attend please notify the Parish Office early September. There are no costs incurred but parishioners will need to cover their own transportation costs and may want to take lunch.
Mission Appeal
Fr Donato from the Comboni Missionaries and who is based in Malawi will be visiting the parish on 13th and 14th August to talk about the Mission’s work. Fr David will be away at this time, so do please give him a warm welcome and also do give generously to this important work.
Mount Street Jesuit Centre
Deepening our Awareness of God Within Us
There are some places left on this 9-month part time course, which has been running since 2004. The course uses Ignatian spirituality to foster the connection between life and prayer. It includes many different ways of praying, reflecting and listening to help “find God in all things”. The location for the course is the Mount Street Jesuit Centre, 114 Mount Street, Mayfair, London W1K 3AH.
For further inforamtion please see our website www.msjc.org.uk.
Eucharistic Ministers and Readers
Fr David would like to meet with both the Eucharist Ministers and the Readers in September as follows:
Eucharistic Ministers on Monday 12 September at 8pm in the Church
Readers on Monday 19 September at 8pm in the Church.