31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

TELEPHONE PROBLEMS FIXED

The landline is back working as usual: 0208 883 4234..

November remembrance

Each year throughout the month of November we offer Masses for the holy souls, and we bring up a book of remembrance at each Mass. Sheets for those to be remembered are now available, and envelopes. You can put them in the collection or drop them through the presbytery letterbox.

Funerals

The Funeral Mass for Neville Reinhardt, the uncle of Debbie Lissowski, will be on Thursday 9th November at 12 noon.

There will be a funeral service for Susan Ermelli on Wednesday 8th November at Marylebone Crematorium at 12 noon.

The Funeral Mass for Carmela Nicastro will be on Friday 10th November at 12 noon.

May they rest in peace.

Sick and Retired Priests – Collection Next Weekend 11th/12th November

There are currently more than 80 retired and ill priests being supported by the Sick and Retired Priests Fund. Many priests stand down from active ministry in their 70s but continue to support the church with the sacraments as long as they can. This important fund is helped by those who have contributed via the Growing in Faith scheme – but it also relies on this annual collection to ensure that all our priests are cared for in sickness and old age. Donation envelopes are available which you can use for gift aid if you wish. The collection is next weekend.

St Mary’s Open Choir

Our next rehearsal with Liz is today, 5th November, at 11 am in the large hall. We will be preparing the hymns for 10 am Mass next Sunday, 12th November, all welcome. Date for the diary: Please also join us for a festive rehearsal on Sunday, 19th November, at 11 am to practise carols for our Christmas Fair on 25th November.

Supporting Local Refugees: Eggs Please!

Many thanks for your generous support for the local drop-in centre for destitute refugees and asylum seekers. We will be taking your donations of hard-boiled eggs to the centre at 12 noon today. Contact: finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk

Our Christmas Fair Needs YOU Saturday 25 November 12 to 3pm

Come along and soak up the festive atmosphere. Home Bakes Galore * Christmas Carols * Refreshments * Kids’ Activities including Hook a Duck, Beat the Buzzer * Santa’s Grotto * Tombola Hot Food * Knits * Jewellery * Books * Toiletries * and much more.

Christmas Fair, Raffle Tickets and Donations

Thank you for all your contributions to our Christmas Fair, the proceeds of which will pay towards the cost of upgrading the large hall. We still need more bottles, filled jars, fillers for our stock of empty jars and chocolates for the Tombolas. Next Sunday we’re looking for any decorations you can donate or loan for the halls and Santa’s Grotto. Please leave donations in the large bags at the church entrance. For specific donations such as prizes for our raffle or a supply of mulled wine & mince pies - please speak to Sandra Lipner (finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk,); Helen Doran (h.doran@virgin.net) or Kristy Bradnum (kristybradnum@gmail.com).

Please come along to our 2nd planning meeting after the 10am mass today. Don’t forget to take home a flyer and place in your front window. Look out for Raffle tickets sellers before and after masses. Tickets cost £1.

First Holy Communion 2018

Deadline for First Holy Communion applications: 11th November 2017. Forms available from Father Terry and Sandra Lipner after all Masses.

Calling All Red Boxes!

If you have any Red Boxes at home, please can you put your name on the bottom of the box and bring them to either the Church or the Presbytery.

Annual Cemetery Mass – Tuesday 14th November 2017

Please note that the Annual Cemetery Mass will take place at the Islington Burial Chapel at St Pancras Cemetery at 2 pm on Tuesday 14th November 2017.

Film Evening: ‘Brooklyn’ – Saturday 11th Nov

Join us after the Vigil Mass for our autumn film evening + pizza. ‘Brooklyn’ is a romantic drama about the young Irish immigrant Ellis Lace (Saoirse Ronan) who navigates her way through 1950s Brooklyn. No entrance fee, all welcome.

St Mary's Carol Service Thursday 21st December at 2.30pm

Helen Tierney writes: This year we share a joint carol service with residents and staff at Nazareth House. The service will be an informal programme or traditional carols, solo musical items and readings and will be held in the chapel of Nazareth House, followed by refreshments. We will as usual be forming a choir from St Mary's to sing a few items in the programme and any singers ( any or no experience welcome too!) are invited to join. Rehearsals will be for 45 minutes on the following evenings in the church. If you cannot make all rehearsals that is no problem but we encourage anyone interested to come along- Thurs 30th Nov 8pm, Wed 6th Dec 8pm, Wed 13th December 8pm, Wed 20th Dec 8pm.

CAROL SINGING for CRISIS 23rd December 5pm

Helen Tierney writes: For the past few years it has been great to involve parishioners in the group of singers formed to sing carols to welcome guests at the opening of the CRISIS at CHRISTMAS North London Day Centre.This will be on SAT 23rd December at Westminster Kingsway College in Grays Inn Road from 5-6pm. Last year we had about 40 singers and it is open to anyone over 18. No choral experience essential and it is really appreciated by both Crisis organisers and the men and women who use the scheme at Christmas. If you are interested contact Helen Tierney for details as you will need to register with Crisis as security is always a priority. tierneyhelen@hotmail.com

St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School, East End Road, London N3

Open Days for prospective pupils due to start Reception Class in September 2018. Open Days are as follows: Monday 6th November 2017 at 10 am, Thursday 9th November 2017 at 2 pm, Monday 13th November 2017 at 2 pm and Thursday 16th November 2017 at 9.30 am. Please call the school office for more information on 020 8346 8826.

Our Lady of Lourdes Nursery, N12

Our Lady of Lourdes, Bow Lane, N12 0JP are inviting applications to their Reception class for September 2018 for those children born between 1st Sept 2013 and 31st Aug 2014. The deadline to return this to the school is 15th Jan 2018 and you must also complete the Barnet Online Application form.

Nursery applications are also invited for those children born between 1st April 2015 and 31st March 2016. Please contact the school office on 0208 346 1681 or look on the school website, http://www.ololbarnetschool.org.uk if you would like to apply. The school is having its open day on 22nd November at 9am, 1.30pm and 7pm (no need to book).

Mount House School (formerly St Martha’s) – Co Educational Senior Day School

Mount House School (formerly St Martha’s) is North London and Hertfordshire’s newest co-educational Senior Day School. They are now welcoming boys into Year 7 and Year 12 in September 2018. Open morning takes places from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday 18th November 2017. All are welcome to visit the school. Please visit www.mounthouse.org.uk for further details and to register.

Educare Safeguarding On Line Training

Educare training programmes can help individuals familiarise themselves with safeguarding matters. Amongst others, it also includes The Child Exploitation and Online Safety programme which helps better understand how children and young people use technology and the associated risks. It is available to all parishioners. Please see the poster on the notice board at the back of the church for further information.

Pray for the sick esp. Eddie Caddle, John & Carmel Bates, Cathy Walker, Finola Hickey, Kelly-Marie O’Donnell, Simon O’Donnell, Pat Gleeson, Annette O’Gorman and Mary Myles.

Parish Collection: Last week’s was £ 1247.43. Many thanks.

Baptism: Ask God’s blessing on Ella Wilson baptised Saturday 3rd Nov.