Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
LENT
A yearly season of spiritual renewal
Ash Wednesday, 1st March: Mass with imposition of ashes at 10 am and 7.30 pm
Monday soup and scripture Each Monday from 6th March to 3rd April inclusive, a soup lunch will be provided by Fr Terry in the presbytery and we will discuss the following Sunday readings.
Thursday Group Join us every Thursday in Lent after 10 am Mass for a time of reflection and prayer using The Little Book of Lent (materials provided). All welcome, especially parents/carers with babies, toddlers and young children. Meet in the community room (Father Terry's house) after Mass. Contact: Sandra.
Friday stations of the cross, after the 10 am Mass
There is also a Lenten Quiz (see parish website) and a Film Evening (see below).
Lenten Film Evening – Letters from Mother Teresa
Join us for our Lenten film evening on Friday 3rd March, at 8 pm in the parish centre and watch ‘Letters from Mother Teresa’ starring Juliet Stevenson (2014). The film explores the life of Mother Teresa through letters she wrote to her longtime friend and spiritual director, Father Celeste van Exem.
CAFOD LENT FAST DAY – Friday 10th March 2017
Please take an envelope next weekend and return your offering when coming to Mass on the weekend of 11th and 12th March. A small pond of tiny fish costing £24 to make and stock has transformed the life of Florence and her family in Zambia, so that they now have economic security, enough to eat and children can go to school. Florence is also able to share her new found skills with the rest of her community. Please help others like Florence and support CAFOD, the official aid agency of the Catholic Church, and its work for the poor and underprivileged throughout the world.
Mass for Bereaved Parents – 11th March 2017, Westminster Cathedral
On Saturday 11th March at 2.30 pm at Westminster Cathedral a Mass for bereaved parents will be celebrated by Bishop Paul McAleenan. During Mass, after the homily, parents will be invited to write the name of their deceased child on a card and the cards will be taken along with the offertory to the sanctuary. It’s a time to remember, to pray, to give thanks and to entrust deceased children to the Lord. All are welcome to attend.
Women’s World Day of Prayer
Service this Friday 3rd March, 2pm at St Alban's Church, 51 Nether Street. Creche available.
Pastoral Letter
A pastoral letter from Cardinal Nicholls will be read at all Masses today. Copies available at the back of the church as well.
Gospel Choir Rehearsal on 26th February – All Welcome
Come along and sing with us today at 11 am in the Large Hall (pancakes served by our teenagers!). All ages and abilities welcome. We’ll be preparing for 10 am Mass on Sunday 5th March. Liz and Sandra, finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk
Next INCENSED Youth Group (ages 10-18)
Pancake party! Join us today at 11 am in the Large Hall. New people always welcome. Contact Sandra – finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk
Grassy Area between the church and the parish centre
Please note that you must not let your children play on the steps or the strip of lawn immediately behind the church. If they play on the lawn above the steps please make sure that there is at least one parent present at all times.
Visit to Ismaili Mosque for Senior Citizens
Fr Terry invites senior citizens to join him for a visit to the Ismaili Mosque on Tuesday 7th March at 3.30 pm. The mosque is on East End Road on the other side of the car park from Budgens, opposite the Bobath Centre. Please let Fr Terry know as soon as possible if you will be joining him there, as the mosque needs to know names and exact numbers.
SPEC gap year opportunities
Over 18 and planning a gap year? Join us for a year at the Westminster Youth Ministry retreat centre as a volunteer missionary, supporting schools and parishes of our diocese. You can develop skills to help you with your future career, and grow in your Catholic faith. Wonderful accommodation in glorious surroundings, all meals and a monthly allowance. To see how our past volunteer missionaries have used this experience to build their future, and to find out more, visit www.dowym.com/spec/.
Cardinal’s Mass of Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Matrimony
Westminster Cathedral, Saturday 3rd June at 3pm. The Cardinal will be inviting to this Mass all couples in the Diocese who are celebrating their 10th, 25th,30th, 40th, 50th and 60th (and every year over 60) wedding anniversary of Catholic marriage in 2017. If you are celebrating an anniversary, please hand in to the parish office by 20th March these details: husband and wife’s names, wedding date, full postal address and email (or telephone number, if no email).
Free Caravan Break in Suffolk
Lucy Hammersley writes: FREE break on offer in her caravan on the Suffolk coast for 3-4 nights from Wednesday 29th March. Please contact Lucy Hammersley for more details lucyjanehammersley@gmail.com or 0795 1647883
Coach Pilgrimage to Lisieux
Deacon Anthony Clark says that there are still places on the coach pilgrimage to Lisieux from St Edward the Confessor, Golders Green. £395 single room per person, £375 twin room per person. Monday to Friday 24th-28th April. More details: anthonyc@rcdow.org.uk
Christian Meditation Group
There is a Christian Meditation Group which has already started – in Nazareth House, 162 East End Road, every Tuesday morning at 10.30 am – after the 10 am Mass.
Pilgrimage to Fatima 14th-20th September 2017
There is a special pilgrimage to Fatima being organised for the centenary year of the apparitions. The pilgrimage will include Santiago de Compostella and will be led by Fr Luis Tomas of the Consolata Mission House here in Finchley. Four nights in Fatima, two nights in Santiago de Compostella. Cost: £679. Further details: Tony O’Byrne 0208 361 1300.
Looking for Residential Care?
Nazareth House in East Finchley has just completed a full refurbishment programme and have vacancies. If you wish to go and see, please contact Christine Small – General Manager on 0208 883 1104 or Sister Celine-Marie, Sister Superior on 07778 512144.
Pray for the sick esp. Sister Sheila, John & Carmel Bates, Cathy Walker, Finola Hickey, Kelly-Marie O’Donnell, Pat Gleeson, Annette O’Gorman.
Parish Collection Last week’s collection came to £ 983.53. Many thanks.
Baptisms Ask God’s blessing on Lucy Ariana Lyons and Thomas McDonagh who were baptized here this Saturday 25th February.