25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

​Please pray for the sick esp. Sister Sheila, John & Carmel Bates, Annetta Pellegrinelli, Finola Hickey and Kelly-Marie O’Donnell.

Wedding: Ask God’s blessing on Christopher Elms and Lauren Merlow who were married here yesterday (Saturday 17th Sept).

First Holy Communion 2017

We are now enrolling children of families attending Mass at St Mary’s regularly for preparation for First Holy Communion in 2017. Children must be at least 8 or in Year 3 at school. Sessions will be held in the parish centre on Sundays from 9-10 am and the children go on to attend the 10 am Mass immediately afterwards. The programme will be under the direction of Sandra Lipner – finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk Forms are available from her or from Father Terry.

The key dates are:

Monday 9th January Meeting for parents – 8 pm Parish Centre

Sunday 15th January First session with children – 9 am Parish Centre

Sunday 14th May First Communion at either 10 am or 12 noon Mass

Next INCENSED Youth Group (ages 12 - 18)

Welcome back to the new academic year. I hope you’ve had a good start to the autumn term, especially if you are at a new school this year. Our next meeting is on Sunday, 25th September, at 11 am in the community room (Fr Terry’s house). Come along and join us for an hour of chat, games and fellowship, new people always welcome. Sandra, finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk.

Reception into the Catholic Church

If you are a Catholic but were not confirmed or you are not a Catholic but have been thinking about being received into the Catholic Church, please speak to Father Terry or Sandra Lipner – e mail finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk .

SVP & Proclaim 2015: Bring a Tin for the Homeless

This autumn join us and support the work of our SVP team as part of the diocesan initiative Proclaim. Please could you bring a tin of soup, baked beans or garden peas (tins only!) to church any time until Sunday, 9th October to help the SVP’s work with the homeless at the local soup kitchen in Muswell Hill.

Grange Big Local Community Festival Sunday 25th September 2016 12-4 pm

Everyone is welcome at Bishop Douglass School. There are plenty of activities, live music and stalls. There are two sports competitions – children’s aged 6-16 five a side football and a tug of war competition for adults, arts and crafts and a free bouncy castle. Explore a fire engine or a police van and tennis.

Friends of Nazareth House - Fun Quiz Evening Friday 30th September 7 pm

A fun quiz evening organized by the Friends of Nazareth House to raise funds for the benefit of the elderly residents at Nazareth House Finchley. It will be held at Nazareth House Meeting Hall. Tickets £10 per head includes a luxury ploughman’s platter and wine. Join a team or bring your own team of 8. Prizes for the winning team. Booking forms can be obtained from Reception at Nazareth House.

Torchlit Procession – Our Lady of Willesden

This is on Sunday 2nd October from 7 – 8.30 pm. Cardinal Vincent Nichols will lead the Procession at the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, Nicoll Road, NW10 9AX. Information, e mail Willesden@rcdow.org.uk or call 0208 965 4935.

Altar Server Social

Our altar servers are going out for an afternoon of fun and food to Hollywood Bowl Finchley on Friday 30th September. We look forward to spending time together and enjoying a round of bowling and food with Father Terry, Kristy and Sandra. Details have gone out via e mail, hope to see all our servers there!

Inclusive Mass – Sunday 16th October at 10 am

Together with Caritas St Joseph’s Centre, Hendon, we will be celebrating a Mass for children and people of all abilities at 10 am on Sunday, 16th October. A children’s choir will prepare hymns during Children’s Liturgy in the next few weeks and the Gospel will be acted out. If your children or someone you care for would like to help in preparing for this Mass, please join us from 4-5 pm on Saturday 15th October in our parish centre. For more information, contact Sandra, finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk

Jubilee of Mercy – Pilgrimage to St Albans

The Diocesan Pilgrimage Office have organised a Pilgrimage to St Albans on Saturday 8th October 2016. At 2.30 pm there is a reenactment of the life of St Albans, a procession to the Cathedral and Ecumenical Evensong with a sermon by Bishop John Sherrington. There will be an opportunity to venerate the relics of St Alban. For more information please contact the Diocesan Pilgrimage Office on 0207 798 9173 or e mail elizabethuwalaka@rcdow.org.uk .

Caritas – National Prisons Week – 11th October 2016

On 11th October, Caritas Westminster will be holding an event to mark National Prisons week – a week dedicated to praying for prisoners, ex-offenders and their families. The event will take place at Westminster Cathedral Hall, 42 Francis Street, London SW1P 1QW on Tuesday 11th October from 6-8 pm. It will be an opportunity for people to meet prison chaplains and hear about the work within prisons and also to sign up for volunteering opportunity. Everyone is welcome.

Awayday afternoon for ministers and readers

Ahoy there all ministers of communion and readers! Please put in your diaries now the date for an afternoon of reflection, prayer, and fellowship: Saturday 12th November in the large hall at Nazareth House, 1-4.30 pm. More details later.

Parish Collection

Last week the collection came to £ 942.75. Many thanks

Special Collections

Today there is a collection for Home Missions.

Next weekend there will be a collection for the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, Norfolk, national Marian Shrine after all Masses. This is to enable the shrine to develop its buildings and spiritual, pastoral and evangelistic work. To find out more, google ‘Walsingham’ and select the website of the Walsingham Roman Catholic Shrine.

Laudato Si Workshops – Care for Creation – Where Next?

Justice and Peace, Caritas Westminster and CAFOD are holding a series of join ‘Laudato Si’ workshops. These will explore the effects of climate change, how our faith motivates us to respond and actions that you can undertake in your parish or individually. Everyone is welcome. Venues as follows:

Chiswick – 1st October 10 am – 1 pm, Our Lady of Grace and St Edward

Kensington – 15th October 10.30 am – 1.30 pm – Our Lady of Victories.

Please RSVP with your preferred location to barbarakentish@rcdow.org.uk or go to www.cafod.org.uk/Events for more information.

Columban ‘Sharing Gospel Joy’ Sat. 22nd October 2016 – 11.00 am – 4.30 pm

In 2016, the Columban Appeals Team have been visiting parishes in Westminster diocese for the Annual Mission Appeal. In thanksgiving for the generous welcome and support they have received, this event is being held especially for the people and parishes of the dioceses and it is hoped to have many of the parishes that have been visited represented on the day. All are welcome to join them at Maria Fidelis RC School, Phoenix Road, London NW1 1TA. Fr Tom O Reilly will give the keynote address. Lunch will be followed by workshops on ‘care of creation’, ‘outreach to migrants’, ‘building missionary parishes and ‘perspectives on mission’. To book places, please e-mail sharinggospeljoy@columbans.co.uk or call 01564 772096. The event is free but a small donation (suggested amount £5 per person) is invited. All those attending will receive a welcome pack and lunch.