|
Thank you for your offerings last week of £1,582. Mass attendance 778. |
|
|
13th January (Saturday Vigil) |
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 6pm Neil Morgan RIP (Morgan Family) |
|
Sunday 14th January |
9.15am Francesca Sio RIP (Sio
Family) 11am Cathleen Benson RIP (Benson family) |
|
Monday 15th January |
Feria 9.30am James McNamel RIP (S Durkin) |
|
Tuesday 16th January |
Feria 9.30am Pio & Felicity
Camilleri (V Terry) |
|
Wednesday 17th January |
Saint Anthony 9.30am Mary Shelton (T Shelton) |
|
|
10.45am Eucharistic Adoration |
|
Thursday 18th January |
Feria |
|
|
9.30am David Kelly RIP (M Kelly) |
|
Friday 19th January |
Feria 9.30am Joan Hansford RIP (A Hansford) |
|
20th January (Saturday Vigil) |
Third Sunday 6pm Frances Hill RIP (M Farrell) |
|
Sunday 21st January |
9.15am Francesca Sio RIP (Sio
Family) 11am People of the Parish |
|
|
|
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
is served after the 9.15am and 11am Masses. Please join us for a while and get to know
each other over a cuppa!
Second collections
The second
collection on 13-14th January will be the White Flower appeal for SPUC (Society
for the Protection of Unborn Children). This
cannot be gift-aided.
Next week’s collection will be for the Maintenance
Fund.
Fr David writes…
Networking is key in a
lot of professions. Networking helps you
to mingle with like-minded people and get yourself known. It is amazing what happens in these big
conferences where after a whole day of listening to
sometimes interesting presentations, and others not so much, one has the time,
during and after a good meal, to meet new people and that is when the real work
starts. People get interested in each
other for diverse reasons. And it is
difficult to gauge what the interest is most of the time. Is the interest genuine in what I am, and
what I am doing, or are there hidden agendas? Are these people here interested in who I am,
or are they interested in getting the best price or product out of me? The question arises around trust and integrity. Sometimes one has to
be realistic enough to say that you are not always going to find deep and
meaningful relationships in big gatherings.
This is not to say that sometimes it does not happen. However professional conferences and seminars
are there to network in order that you have the opportunity
to make yourself known and one’s product whatever it is, can be marketed. Within this ambience, it would be very
difficult to find a wise person who has no ulterior motive but to give you the
best advice about where you would be best satisfied. There would always be some reward for him or
her. Wise and unconditional people are
very hard to find in life. These are the
people we meet in life who have only our own interest in what they do say or do. Even parents sometimes because of their
brokenness do not fall in this category.
A wise person is
someone who has worked on himself or herself first of all. They have a clear idea of their issues and
their triggers. They are highly
intuitive and have a deep connection with their soul. I find these kinds of people very spiritual
and sometimes not necessarily religious.
They have a very good sense of their own identity apart from yours. When you are in the company of such a person,
one feels safe. They are people who
listen more than speak. They are not
there to give you advice or provide solutions to what you need at the time. They are there holding and containing what
you are experiencing. They are humble
enough to realise that they need to hear your cry and be curious in knowing
that they do not know all the answers for you.
They see their role as people who signpost for you, facilitating change
and new beginnings through just being with you.
Their gentle curiosities stir in you new ways of seeing and of being. They know that the wisdom lies in you and
their role is to facilitate that dynamic.
Encouraging you in the process to take the plunge and to empower you to
take the risk to explore new ways, new beginnings.
The readings in today’s liturgy invite us to encounter
such wise people. Especially in the
first reading and the gospel. The Book
of Samuel introduces us to Eli and in the Gospel with John the Baptist and then
Andrew. When Samuel hears a voice in the
night he assumes the old priest Eli is calling him. Samuel has no knowledge of the word of God,
but the old man has grown to recognise its strangeness and it power. As he introduced Samuel’s mother Hannah to
the promise of God – that from her barrenness she was to become a mother -- he
now introduces the young boy to the word of the Lord. So, Samuel learns to respond to God’s
calling: “Speak Lord, your servant is listening”. Eli’s place in the scheme of things is to
introduce others to the Lord and to their new vocations. It was never about himself. Eli is remembered and honoured as the one who
was there when new beginnings took place.
In today’s gospel, we see John the Baptist introducing two of his own
disciples to Jesus. In doing so he
introduces them to their new future. The
disciples follow Jesus and stay with him.
John points away from himself to Christ.
That is his role. Andrew is one
of the two disciples. He leaves his
master John to follow in the footstep of his new master Jesus. He needs John the Baptist to point him in the
right direction, to make a new start. And what John the Baptist did to Andrew,
Andrew does for his brother Simon. He
shares his experience of Jesus with his brother, and he introduces him to Jesus. After experiencing for himself, by going and
staying with Jesus for a day, he wanted his brother to experience what he had
experienced himself too.
In our lives too, especially in our times of
transitions and thresholds, we need people who are wise, who are not afraid to
sit with us in our feelings of being lost and stuck. Not every call that we hear comes from God. Not every person we meet is wise. Wisdom has nothing to do with age, gender or
colour. Sometimes unfortunately we
listen to the wrong people to give us advice and then we regret it. It takes an experienced person – someone who
has gone and seen where the Lord lives, who can help discern the voice of God
amidst the pressures and demands of everyday life. Do you have such a third person in your life
who can help you discern God’s little whispers? If yes, you are blessed. If no, do not wait any longer. Go and find one. And, if you have gone and seen, be one to
someone else.
“Drop-In”
Evening Surgeries
The
next surgery will be on Wednesday the 24th January 2018. There will be no surgery on Wednesday 17th
January.
Liturgy Pillar
Eucharist Adoration - 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.
Evangelisation Pillar
Readers Meeting
On Monday 22nd January at
8pm in the church there will be a meeting for all existing Readers and anyone
interested in becoming a Reader.
Pilgrimage to
The Holy Land
On
Thursday 25nd January at 8pm, a meeting will be held in the
community centre for all who have expressed interest for the pilgrimage to the
Holy Land.
Eucharistic Ministers
On Monday 12th February at 8pm in the church there
will be a meeting for all existing Eucharistic Ministers and anyone interested
in becoming a Eucharistic minister.
Pre-Lenten
Preparation
Is the Word of God Alive and Active in us?
How can the Bible help us towards a Joyful and
Fulfilling Life?
In a series of 3 stand-alone
talks in Beckenham, Petts Wood and Bromley, Fr Fio Mascarenhas SJ, an
international speaker, will help us explore this theme between 6th
to 8th February. St James’
will host on Wednesday 7th
February 8pm in the Community Hall. You
are warmly invited to come to this talk and to any of the other evenings. For more details, see poster around the
Church or contact Ken Chan on ken.chan@stjamespettswood.org
Healing service
Fr Fio Mascarenhas will
be presiding at a special service to celebrate World Day of the Sick / Feast of
Our Lady of Lourdes, in church, on 11th February at 6.00pm. There will be more details next week.
Alpha at St Theresa’s, Biggin Hill before and during
Lent
A chance to explore
life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment. Introductory session on Friday 19 January,
from 7.15pm to 8.15pm. Then nine further
weekly sessions, starting Friday 26 January from 7.15pm to 9.15pm. All at St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Haig
Road, Biggin Hill. Contact Stephen Walsh
on 07778 612050 or sjwalsh123@btinternet.com. Visit alpha.org/catholic-context/home
Pastoral Pillar
St James The Great 'Memory Café'
On Tuesday 6th February we will be starting a Dementia
Café here at St James’ and it will be taking place on the first two Tuesdays of
each month from 2pm to 3.30pm in the Community Centre. This will be a time for guests with dementia
and their carers to come for refreshments and a chat in a comfortable and safe
environment and if they wish, join in with activities such as quizzes, games
and music. If you would like to know more,
please contact: pastoral.care@stjamespettswood.org
or telephone the Parish Office: 01689 827100.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Communication Pillar
We
are looking for someone to help with updating the Parish website and advise on
the best way to use the Facebook page. If
you are able to help please contact the parish office – parish.office@stjamespettswood.org
Thank
You.
Youth Pillar
Are you a young person aged between 9-18yrs?
Read on to find out how you
can take up the ‘Faith in Action’ challenge today!
‘Faith in Action’ is a
national award scheme from CYMFED which challenges young people of faith to
make a difference in the world through service and ongoing spiritual reflection. There are four levels of the award - Pin,
Bronze, Silver, Gold and each one recognises and celebrates the good work and positive contribution made by young people in
their parishes, schools and communities.
In November 2017, we were delighted to celebrate the hard work and
achievements of all young people who participated in Faith in Action last year
and the 25 who received awards from Archbishop Peter Smith at the Faith in
Action ceremony.
All young people in
Bromley Deanery aged 9-18 years are invited to take part in the Faith in Action
Award Scheme, which will launch for its’ second year on 27th
January 2018 at 10.30am, St Joseph’s Church, Plaistow Lane, Bromley. So, if you are a young person who reads at
Mass, sings or plays an instrument in the choir, an altar server, helps or
volunteers in your school or community in any way, then come along to register!
Alternatively, you may want to become involved but are
not sure how to begin – come along to meet the team and learn more about the
range of exciting opportunities open to you.
Take a look at our ‘Faith in Action Bromley Deanery’ videos on YouTube,
Facebook @bromleydeanery, see our website: http://www.bromleydeanery.org/faith-in-action-award-scheme-2018/
or email susan.longhurst@bromleydeanery.org.
Justice & Peace Group
The
Justice and Peace group will meet on Wednesday 24th January
at 7.45pm in the Parish Office meeting room (281A Crescent Drive). All parishioners are assured of a warm
welcome.
Foodbank requests
The current requirements
have changed a lot since Christmas and now centre on: long life milk, biscuits,
tinned potatoes, rice, jellies, instant whips, and household cleaning products. Thanks to all our generous donors. J&P Group
Parish Project fund raising
event
We are planning a special
event which will take place on Sunday 4th March in aid of St
Catherine’s parish. There will be food,
music, dancing, a quiz and other attractions, all with the theme of the
Philippines. It will be timed for late
afternoon, and suitable for families. What
better way to entertain and feed the family on a winter’s Sunday afternoon, and
support our Parish Project. Please put
this in your diary now! J&P Group.
Petts Wood Churches
Together
Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity
Shared Breakfast
& Prayers on Sunday 21st January Petts Wood Methodist Church 8.30am.
Come and join
the Petts Wood Churches Together for an early breakfast of bacon rolls with
prayers and updates of needs, before attending your local services. Please let the parish office know as soon as
possible if you wish to attend.
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 20th January 2018 |
|
|
Cleaning the Church |
Altar Servers, O Clutton,
M Mathews, R Blanco, R Mwansa, D Delf |
|
Wednesday Coffee 17th January |
M Gyi, S Barradell, B D’Arcy |
|
21st January 2018 |
|||
|
Mass |
Saturday 6pm (Vigil) |
Sunday 9.15am |
Sunday 11am |
|
Welcomers |
M
Gallagher |
L
& J Samuels |
S
& J Ingle |
|
Readers |
J
Bajorek M
O’Mahony |
B
Cotta C
Hairs |
N
D’Silva R
Morrison |
|
Ministers of Holy Communion |
J
Gribben M
Cahill C
Cahill J
Callinan P
Crosland |
M
Howell S
Cotta A
ward D
Hairs B
Cotta |
N
Longhrst R
Mwansa K
Chan K
Evans A Evans |
|
Bar |
|
|
A
Barradell M
Horner |
|
Coffee |
|
L
Lynch S
Barradell |
M
Harrington S
paris R
Scott |
|
Altar Servers |
J
Macfadyen A&D
Poulton R&F
Norman-Brown J
Monaghan P
Marshall |
L
Delamain |
F
Ikenye Z&E
Teare Paulina |
|
Tellers |
P
Benson, N Longhurst |