Third Sunday of Lent (Year B)
Today: INCENSED Youth Group Coffee Morning
Our youth group are serving teas and coffees in the parish centre after 10 am Mass today. Please come along and help them raise money for the Catholic young people’s charity MillionMinutes which works in Catholic parishes and local communities to empower them to support young people at risk of falling through the gaps. Contact: Sandra, finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk
First Communion Parents
Please remember to come to the meeting tomorrow evening (Monday 5th March) at 8 pm in the parish centre.
First Communion First Reconciliation
And please remember also that first communion children will be making their first confession this coming Saturday 10th March at 11 am. Fr Carlo Bonelli will be assisting Fr Terry.
St Patrick’s Day
On Saturday 17th March we will have Mass at 10 am to remember St Patrick, with blessing and distribution of shamrock after the Mass.
Special opportunities for confession before Easter
1. On Saturday 24th March, Fr Tony Convery from Golders Green will be in the confessional from 4.30-5.50 pm. He will also celebrate the Vigil Mass at 6 pm.
2. On Monday 26th March we will have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 8 pm until at least 9 pm. During this period Fr Leo Edgar of the Dominicans will be available in the confessional, and Fr Terry will be available by the Sacred Heart statue. A chance for confession in the quiet and prayerfulness that come to us always when we are aware of the Lord’s special presence.
LENT
Lenten Film Series: The Bible
Join us this Lent and watch the epic miniseries The Bible (2013) with us. The series follows offers the stories of the Old and New Testaments and carries a film classification of 12 (as you can imagine, it includes violent scenes and some sexual content). Watch the next episode Hope on Friday 9th March, 7.45 pm – 9 pm, in the parish centre. Sandra and Kristy, finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk
Soup and scripture
Each Saturday in Lent, beginning Saturday 17th February, there will be ‘Soup and Scripture’ in the presbytery. Delicious vegetarian soup and discussion of Sunday scriptures 12.30 pm.
Stations of the Cross
Each Friday in Lent immediately after Mass
SINGERS WANTED to sing at the GOOD FRIDAY PASSION SERVICE (Fri 30th March 3pm ) and EASTER VIGIL (Sat 31st March 8pm)
Helen writes: All welcome - just make as many of the following rehearsals as you can: Thursday 8th March 8pm-8.45pm, Thursday 15th March 8pm-8.45pm
Thursday 22nd March 8pm-8.45pm, rehearsal in Holy Week to be arranged.
Skateboarding Workshop and Easter Trail
We have a few spaces left on our skateboarding workshop on Easter Monday, 2nd April 3-5 pm. Ages 6 – 18. Led by Skates and Ladders (http://skatesandladders.com) and suitable for beginners, improvers and advanced skaters. Boards and helmets provided. Rollerskaters are welcome to bring their skates. Please book asap by e mailing Sandra, finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk
St Mary’s Open Choir
Our choir will be singing at 10 am Mass today. The next rehearsal with Liz is on Sunday, 18th March at 11 am to practise the hymns for 10 am Mass, Palm Sunday, 25th March. All welcome, no previous experience necessary, all ages. Sandra – finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk .
Cardinal’s Appeal
In his most recent pastoral letter, Cardinal Vincent Nichols commended to us his own Cardinal’s appeal for a share in our Lenten alms. He wrote:
The Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal enables me to offer funding to new programmes of outreach across the diocese that address some of today’s more pressing problems here at home. In the last year, the generosity of many people to the Cardinal’s Appeal has enabled us to create a new programme of support for prisoners, especially young prisoners; it is helping us to establish a social enterprise initiative to create employment and training opportunities for some of the most marginalised people in our community; it is helping to expand Catholic marriage counselling programmes, as there is nowhere quite as lonely as a deeply unhappy marriage. These are some examples of the work that the Appeal supports in its key areas of social outreach, young people and marriage and family life.
There are leaflets and envelopes available by the door in support of this appeal, or you can give via the wall box dedicated for this purpose.
Mission Appeal
On the weekend of 17th-18th March the annual mission appeal will be made by Sister Anne of the Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph
Quiz Night at Our Lady of Lourdes School, Bow Lane N12 0JP
Bernadette Durkin, OLOL PSA writes: Our Lady of Lourdes PSA are holding a Quiz Night on Friday 9th March from 7 pm at the School in Bow Lane. Tickets cost £12 to include dinner and dessert (to be pre ordered). To book or for more information, please contact ololfinchleyparents@gmail.com or 07957 943467.
Apologies that in the bad weather the SVP quiz had to be cancelled, also the Film evening on Friday 2nd. Thanks to Peter Murphy for helping to keep paths cleared in the snow.
Cardinal’s Mass of Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Matrimony
Westminster Cathedral, Saturday 19th May 2018 at 3 pm
The Cardinal invites all couples in the Diocese who are celebrating their 5th, 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th (and every year over 60) wedding anniversary of Catholic marriage in 2018. If interested please give Yvonne Merola, Parish Secretary by Friday 16th March 2018 the following details: husband and wife’s names, wedding date, full postal address and e mail (or telephone number).
Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead
Pilgrimage with the Consolata Fathers to the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead on Saturday 23rd June 2018. Coach leaves St Mary Magdalen’s Church, Athenaeum Road, Whetstone N20 9AE at 9 am sharp. Returns 6/6.30 pm. Cost £22 per person – includes travel by coach, teas, coffees, soft drinks. Please bring your own picnic foods. How to book: Cheques should be dated 1st May 2018 and made payable to Consolata Fathers. Post cheque with details of booking to: The Superior, Consolata Fathers, 3 Salisbury Avenue, London N3 3AJ. Please book early. Cheques will not be banked until 1st May 2018. For further details about the pilgrimage contact Stella Devlin on 0208 445 3099.
Eucharistic Congress in Liverpool
The Bishops of England and Wales invite delegates from all parishes to attend a Eucharistic Congress in Liverpool the weekend of 7-9 September 2018. The focus is on deepening our appreciation of Christ in the Eucharist. Our parish is looking for 2 – 4 delegates to attend this Congress, financial support will be available.
Supporting Local Refugees – Eggs Please!
Many thanks for your support for the local drop-in centre for destitute refugees and asylum seekers. One of our volunteers will take your donations of hard-boiled eggs to the centre this Sunday, 4th March. Contact: finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk . The next collection will be on 6th May.
The National Novena to St Joseph – 10-18th March 2018
This will take place at St Joseph’s Church in Maidenhead and at Herbert House, Freshfield, Liverpool. Each year the Mill Hill Missionaries prepare for the Feast of St Joseph, their patron, with a special Novena of Masses and prayers to ask for God’s blessing on their Society and the missionary outreach of the Church, as well as for the intentions of all those who support their work. You are invited to send in your petitions and/or to request a Novena booklet to enable you to join in from home by praying the daily Novena prayer. Please write to Fr Liam Cummins MHM, St Joseph’s Missionary Society, 58 Cookham Road, Maidenhead, SL6 7HT, or email novenamhm@gmail.com
Volunteers for Children’s Liturgy
Helen Doran writes: We are looking for volunteers to join the rotation Children’s Liturgy of the Word during the 10am mass. Teaching is not a requirement, just the desire to help children to be formed in the Catholic faith. Training and instruction are provided. If you are interested in becoming a facilitator or need more information please contact Sandra Lipner at finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk or Helen Doran at h.doran@virgin.net or see me
National Catholic Men’s Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Sunday 22nd April 2018, 10.30 am – 17.30 pm
Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady and Catholic Man UK write: A warm invitation to the first annual pilgrimage for Catholic men. Meet, talk and share the faith with other men, listen to speakers, celebrate confession and Mass, pray for families and for the country, process to the old Abbey grounds for Benediction. We welcome lay and religious, single and married, young and old, fathers and sons. “When England returns to Walsingham, Our Lady will return to England”. Pope Leo XIII, 1887. For more information visit www.catholicman.co.uk
Agency for Evangelisation – Adult Faith Formation
Ausra Cane from The Agency for Evangelisation writes:
Prayer with Sr Anne Walsh OP and Sr Martina OP
Dates: 7th March, 11th April, 2nd May, 6th June 2018
Time: 7.30-9 pm
Venue: Niland Conference Centre, 93 Elstree Road, Bushey WD23 4EE. Suggested donation: £5.00. Registration is required. Email livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk . Alternatively, please leave a message at 0207 931 6078.
Pray for the sick esp. Eddie Caddle, John & Carmel Bates, Cathy Walker, Finola Hickey, Bridget O’Donnell, Kelly-Marie O’Donnell, Simon O’Donnell, Pat Gleeson and Mary Myles.
Parish Collection: Last week’s collection was £ 1049.56. Many thanks.
We will give the total for the Cafod collection in next week’s newsletter.