Palm Sunday (Year A)
HOLY WEEK SERVICES
These are all on a card on the table by the church door. Please do take one home with you and take others if a friend or neighbour might welcome the information.
PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES If you have signed up for a weekly envelope the new season’s boxes are now available. Do take yours home.
Easter Envelopes
It has come to our attention that some of the boxes have two envelopes for Easter. Normally we just have one in the box. Use just one of the envelopes and discard the other. It doesn't matter which one. Fr Terry says: thank you, you are always generous.
WE NEED READERS for the THREE HOLY DAYS
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil
The sign up sheets are available on the table by the font. Feel free to sign up if you want to give reading a trial run.
WE NEED FEET for the footwashing on Maundy Thursday
Don’t be shy! Help us to deepen our understanding of what Jesus did at the last supper by signing up to allow a foot to be washed.
Good Friday Ecumenical Walk of Witness
Assemble for 10 am at St Margaret’s Church, Victoria Avenue N3. United service at approximately 10.30 am in the Methodist Church, Ballards Lane.
Christian Meditation Group
There is a Christian Meditation Group in Nazareth House, 162 East End Road, every Tuesday morning at 10.30 am – after the 10 am Mass.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School N12 0JP – Class Teacher Vacancy
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School (Bow Lane, Finchley) is looking for a Class Teacher to start September 2017. If interested, please contact the school office (Joanne Whitby) on 0208 346 1681 or office@olol.barnetmail.net
Lenten Quiz
Our Lenten challenge this year is an Old Testament quiz open to young parishioners, as well as adults. We’re looking forward to receiving your answers by Easter Monday, 17th April, please give them to Sandra, Kristy or post them through the presbytery letterbox (Fr Terry’s house). Winners will be announced on 23rd April.
Funerals
Tuesday 11th April we have the funeral Mass at 10 am of the late Elizabeth O’Shea.
Hearing Aid Clinic
If you wear NHS hearing aids you might like to know that there is a free walk-in hearing aid clinic at the Ann Owens Centre, Oak Lane (next to the Grange Estate) N2 8LT. It is available on the last Thursday of every month 1-3 pm and can help with new batteries, new earmould tubing, advice and information.
Defence of life
Our friends at LIFE charity have been under serious attack by the abortion lobby because the government has wisely decided to give them £250,000 of money raised by the ‘Tampon Tax’ (5% VAT on women’s sanitary products) to LIFE. It will be used for housing and practical help for young homeless pregnant women who are homeless in west London. Pressure is being bought to bear on Rob Wilson, the Minister for Civil Society, to have the funding for LIFE withdrawn. If they succeed, this would withdraw money that would go directly to support vulnerable pregnant women. LIFE have set up an e-mail facility that will enable anyone to write to their MPs and support LIFE and the decision to fund them. Please use this facility as soon as you can, and encourage other as many others to do so as possible. You can do this via: https://lifecharity.org.uk/act-now/
Marriage Care volunteers needed
Marriage Care is a Catholic organisation providing marriage preparation and relationship counselling services through 50 centres across England and Wales.
Our centre for Barnet and Enfield is in need of Marriage Preparation Course Facilitators to present and facilitate marriage preparation courses to small groups of engaged couples (training is provided) and an Administrator to help with the smooth running of the centres services. We are also in need of qualified Relationship Counsellors to deliver relationship counselling. For more information or to apply, please visit: www.marriagecare.org.uk or emailvolunteer@marriagecare.org.uk
AT LAST: Work on parish centre lawn and path
We have been advised by the contractors that they will begin work on Tuesday 18th April. The present path to the hall will be replaced by a step-free ramp, the wall will be extended (removing and filling in the semi-circular steps in the middle) and a low railing will go on top of the wall, to prevent children falling over it.
Kristy asks you to give your pounds for her pounds
At the start of Lent, Cardinal Vincent Nichols asked us to focus on caring for the sick and those whose lives are coming to an end. North London Hospice does just that and Kristy Bradnum is raising money for them through the £s for Lbs challenge. Find out more and donate via http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Kristy
SVP Quiz Night – Saturday 6th May at 7.30 pm
The SVP will be holding a Quiz Night with a sausage and mash dinner (vegetarian option available) in the parish centre. Please put your name on the list in the porch. £10.00 on the door. Bring your own alcoholic beverages.
Volunteering with Caritas
Caritas, an official agency of the diocese, has been encouraging more people to become involved in social action. As part of this it has developed an online volunteer service which makes it easy for people to find the right volunteer role for them. They say: 'By sharing your gifts and talents you are making a difference to your community and to the individuals you work with.' Register at:
Search for Volunteering Opportunities : Caritas Westminster There are also some cards and leaflets about this on the table by the door.
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. Develop skills to help you with your future career, and grow in your Catholic faith. to find out more, visit www.dowym.com/spec
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
Our Lady of Muswell School – Nursery Applications
Our Lady of Muswell School is now accepting applications for September 2017. They offer 15 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8.50 am – 11.50 am for children born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014. Contact Mrs Heath at the School Office of Our Lady of Muswell Catholic Primary School on 0208 444 6894 or email office@ourladymuswell.haringey.sch.uk .
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.