Last Sunday Mass Attendance – 647

Mass Intentions

This Sunday

(Sat)	6.00pm	Martha Kane RIP (C Gardner)
	10.00am	Gwyn & Mary Owen RIP (Owen Family)
	11.30am	Daphne Fisk RIP (B Bridle)

Daily Morning Prayer:          Monday – Saturday at 9.10am

Weekday Masses:                9.30am unless otherwise stated

Mon	Feria	Deceased members of Fenner Family (Foundation)
Tue	Feria	Richard Nelligan RIP (M Ardron)
Wed	Feria	Sidney & Dorothy O’Leary RIP (H O’Leary)
Thu	Feria	Edith Mary George RIP (Family)
Fri	Feria	Delia Clancy RIP (M Kelly)
Sat	Feria	Service of the Word & Holy Communion

NEXT SUNDAY 15^th MARCH – THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

(Sat)	6.00pm	Philip Logan RIP (O’Reilly Fam.)
	10.00am	Mary Scott welfare (M Kelly)
	11.30am	People of the Parish

Confessions: Saturday at 6.50pm after the 6.00pm Mass and Monday 10.00am after the 9.30am Mass also by prior appointment or at call. Exposition: Monday 10.00-11.00am.

Welcome to Mass today

The readings today prefigure Jesus’ death (the sacrifice of Abraham) and resurrection (Jesus’ transfiguration).  Both strange stories, but theologically rich…..Both stories hint at sacrifice (a gift made over to God).

We, too, are invited to make a sacrifice to God and the Bible guides us: ‘My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God; you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.’ (Psalm 51).  This is an invitation to make our confession if ever there was one!

And then St Paul in his great letter to the Romans (chapter 12): ’I appeal to you......offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service...Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind....then you will know what is good and pleasing to him and is perfect’.  I think these texts get to the heart of what Lent is about.  Do you?

TODAY we welcome Linnette Anderson who will speaking at all Masses about Traidcraft and Fairtrade goods.  As you know we have been a Fairtrade parish for some months.  Linnette will also be displaying and selling goods after Mass.

Second collection today for CAFOD Family Fast Day (last Friday).  Please hand in your CAFOD envelopes, completed with your Gift Aid details (if appropriate).

We welcome also our uniformed organisations to the PARADE Mass (11.30am).

This afternoon: Handel’s Messiah rehearsal (3.30pm).  Tickets priced £5 are on sale today after Mass and also from the Rainbow Bookshop in Petts Wood.  Do not delay as both performances look to sell out!!  It is in aid of Harris Hospicecare with St.Christopher’s.

This evening:  Stations of the Cross at 5.30pm

Monday (9th)  Faith, Hope and Love – 2nd week of Lent course.  1.30pm in the Social Centre.  The facilitator will be Margaret Gough.  Do come along to one of the venues this week (grid in porch).  77 people came last week which is most encouraging!

Tuesday (10th)  Parish Forum – 8.00pm in the Social Centre.  There will be refreshments from 7.30pm.  A really important (and hopefully informative) evening for everyone...to receive the accounts for 2008 (please take your summary today), a brief review of the past year and a vision and hopes for the future, news from the Justice and Peace Group, and also discussion of some far reaching issues that will affect our parish in the years to come......plus maybe a video.  It is important that you are there!  If you would like to raise an issue please signal this by noon on Tuesday (to Presbytery or by email).

The finance committee (Mick Shea, Geoff Ford, Chris Hairs and myself) together with the new pastoral teams (PAT and MaP) will be pleased to answer questions and receive new ideas.  It will also be a chance for many of you to meet Clare Stone, our parish administrator, for the first time.  Hope to see you there!

Wednesday (11th) Handel’s Messiah – extra rehearsal (8.00pm).

Saturday (14th)  Journey to the Light  Catholic singer/songwriter/poet Gerry Coates gives a one-man show (rock/country/reggae/folk) in the Social Centre at 7.15pm.  Refreshments from 7.00pm.  This event is free but there will be a collection for CAFOD.

Please support what will be a great evening!

Calling All Parish Groups – Welcoming Booklet  We do want to ensure that the Welcoming Booklet, referred to in last week’s Briefly, mentions all parish groups.  We need to finalise copy this week, so if your group has not yet been spoken to by the Welcoming Team, please can someone from your group get in touch with Chris Hairs by not later than this coming Friday 13th March, and we will ensure that your group is not missed out in the booklet.  Thank you.

The Welcoming Team would really like some new members (forms in porch).  The next meeting will be on Wednesday 18th March at 8.00pm in the Social Centre.

Just a few reminders

Holy Communion – please keep the procession moving; do not hesitate to come out of your row.  NB back people please come up on right, and Lady chapel on left – AFTER the main body of the church has received.

Also please be on time for Mass – try and arrive at least 10 minutes early, to pray and prepare.

Also, those on rotas (readers, ministers, servers, welcomers, etc.) please anticipate your ministry and always find a substitute if you cannot be there.  Many thanks.

Penitential Service with individual confession here on Tuesday 31st March at 7.30pm, with a team of priests.  Please book now!

Every blessing.Fr.B.

Church and Social Centre Rotas

Wednesday Coffee		Church Cleaning 11^th March
L Mages	E Cushman	C Price	M Thompson	T Forde

Next Sunday 15^th March

Bar	Tellers	Coffee 10.00am	Coffee 11.30am
O Clutton J Cornish	M Clark J Clark	K Charlesworth H Rogers S Prifti	B Bridle T Troy J Cosgrave

Readers

6.00pm Sat.	10.00am	11.30am
L Piggott P Kenny	K Salter A Dalgleish	P Keen R Scott

Ministers of Holy Communion

6.00pm Sat.	10.00am	11.30am
B Bajorek J Bajorek P Driscoll C Cahill M Cahill	C Price C Wakefield T Wells R Wright P Crosland B D’Arcy	M Travers T Troy M Akpata-Adesida B Bridle A Bunnage O Clutton

Welcomers

6.00pm Sat.	10.00am	11.30am
J Callinan	D Hairs C Hairs	F Simon S Simon