3rd Sunday of Lent 03.03.2024
MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS
Sun 3rd Mar
8.30am Holy Souls
10 am Francis Rodrigues, intentions
12 noon Margaret Holleran, RIP
Mon 4th Mar Lent Feria
10 am May Brennan, intentions
Tues 5th Mar Lent Feria
10am Funeral Mass for Mercedes Bahillo
Weds 6th Mar. NO MASS
Thurs 7th Mar Lent Feria
10am Mary and Mario Fassani, intentions
Fri 8th Mar Lent Feria
1 pm Daniel Cronin, intentions
Mary Cronin, 4th anniversary
John Cronin, 13th anniversary
Sat 9th Mar Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)
5pm Julia and Michael Baylon, intentions
Saturday 10 am – 11am; 4.30pm – 5pm: Confessions and Exposition
Your Prayers:
Let us keep in our prayers: King Charles III and all those suffering from Cancer, Michael O’Boy, Christina Cahill, Eric Nicholas Darwent, Therese Kemp, Bina, Noel, Jose Luis Pérez, Alice, Karina McKiernan, Jonathan Heller and Izabela Lissowska – all unwell at this time. We also pray for: Marjorie Reid, Luis Goncalves, Sean Duffy, Iride Villa, John O Shea, Raffaella Di Trolio, Mercedes Bahillo, Amber Wood, Eileen Sweeney and Arcangela Moretto whose anniversaries occur at this time or have died recently. May they Rest in Peace.
Eileen Sweeney, RIP
Eileen Sweeney, a long standing and well-known parishioner of St Mary’s, has sadly died. Her funeral will be held on Friday 15th March at 10 am here at St Mary’s. Let us keep her and her family in our prayers. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.
Offertory Collections
The offertory collection for the week ending 25th February it was £ 702.54.
Contactless Offertory Collection for December 2023 was £ 248.78 and January £ 312.65. Many thanks for your generosity.
CAFOD – Second Collection
The second collection last Sunday raised £ 716.55. Many thanks for your generosity. You can still donateby using the envelopes at the back of the church or pop your donation into an envelope marked ‘CAFOD’ and post it through the presbytery door.
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Lent Prayer Group:
Every Tuesday morning during Lent, Fr Peter will lead a 20-minute prayer workshop for staff and parents of Our Lady of Lourdes School, and for parishioners of St Mary’s. The prayer group will begin at 8:15am at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Bow Lane. If you want a lift with Fr Peter please be in the parish car park by 8:00am
St Mary’s Lent Course 2024 – every Monday during Lent.
Will You Follow Jesus to Calvary?
Filmed on location in the Holy Land, No Greater Love is a biblical pilgrimage that reveals Christ’s amazing love for us. Best-selling author Edward Sri guides you through the last hours of Christ’s life.
You will walk step-by-step with Jesus from the garden of Gethsemane to Mount Calvary. Every step of the way, Old Testament prophecies, messianic expectations, biblical symbolism, and historical context shed light on the mystery of Christ’s suffering and death. Experience a deeper understanding and appreciation of God’s immeasurable and unconditional love for you—grow closer to Jesus than you ever have before.
We will walk with Jesus every Monday evening at 7:30pm during Lent in the Parish
Do you want to walk with Jesus?
St John’s Passion: Westminster Cathedral Thursday 14th March 2024 at 7.30pm
J.S. Bach's setting of the Passion story was first performed in 1724 and has since become a popular staple of the season of Lent. The Cathedral is delighted to invite you to join them for this devotional performance by theirworld-famous Choir directed by Master of Music, Simon Johnson, accompanied by a period Baroque Orchestra and joined by outstanding soloists: James Gilchrist and William Thomas. This is a wonderful chance to hear the Cathedral’s superb choir performing one of the greatest pieces of Easter music ever written. Tickets are £40 - £20. Please let Fr Peter know by Tuesday if you would like to attend (so he can reserve you a seat) or book your ticket via the Westminster Cathedral Webpage. Due to parish commitments Fr Peter will not be attending.
“Cabrini” (12A) is at North Finchley's Vue cinema this Friday 8th March at 7.20pm.
“Catholic missionary Francesca Cabrini arrives in New York from Italy in 1889 and manages to convince the hostile mayor to secure housing, healthcare and schooling for the city's destitute orphans. Tickets are from just £6.99. To view the trailer and to book go to: angel.com/cabrini Take a look at this review: youtube.com/watch?v=RxVjXEhgEHU
If there are good advance bookings the cinema will probably put on extra showings - watch the cinema website.
Please Pray for those undergoing RCIA formation:
Kate, Sandra, Eleanor, Sean, Allesandro and Adriano have been in Catholic formation since September. They will all receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Easter Vigil and one of them will make their First Holy Communion. Please pray for them and their sponsors as we all prepare for Easter.
Parish Registration or Re-Registration
If you did not complete a parish registration card last weekend, they are still available at the back of the church. Please complete both sides and return to the presbytery. Thanks to everyone who filled out a registration card last weekend; it will take us a month to create our parish database.
St Mary’s Lent Reconciliation Service (confessions)
A reminder that Fr Peter will be joined by two other priests to hear confessions on Thursday 21st March at 7:30pm. If you cannot wait until then, confessions are heard every Saturday 10am – 11am or 4:30pm -5pm or you can make an appointment to see Fr Peter. Why go to confession? Because this is the method of Forgiveness that God has established. Why would you not take advantage of a grace from God?
The Parish Centre:
Fr Peter writes: “One of the assets of St Mary’s is the Parish Centre. Over the next few months, with the help of Zarela (our new care-taker) we are going to spruce it up so it can be hired at a rate which is advantageous to outside groups (and parties), and be financially independent of the parish. In the mean-time let us treat it with care. Last week I had to call out an engineer or plumber almost every day for hall repairs.
What can I do during Lent ?
Pray: Come to a daily Mass (as well as at the weekend), say the Rosary, join the Eastern Church and repeat 5 or 6 times “Lord Jesus Christ Have Mercy on me a Sinner.” Attend the Tuesday 8:15am prayer workshops at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School.
Fast: For some of us “fasting” is a necessity as we endure the cost of living crises, and for others “fasting” is seen as a health benefit. Pope Francis encourages us to fast from gossip – saying negative or spiteful things about others. When you have the temptation to gossip, just say something positive instead!
Give Alms: Some of us carry “change” in our pockets and purses. At the end of each day or week, why not set aside some of those coins and put them in an envelope, box or jar. During Holy Week bring your donation to St Mary’s and decide which charity you want to give to:
• Mary’s Meals – providing food for children in developing or debt-ridden countries.
• Finchley Foodbank – providing food for those suffering food poverty in our neighbourhood
• Bakhita House – a hostel for women trafficked in London.
• CAFOD – Catholic charity providing Aid and support to countries in crises.
Any donation, little or great is of great value.
St Mary’s Pilgrimage to Assisi:
A meeting for Registered Pilgrims will take place in the small hall on Thursday 14th March at 7:30pm. The pilgrimage is now fully booked.
Stations of the Cross:
This week, Stations of the Cross will be celebrated in the church on Thursday after the 10am Mass
.Annual Mass of Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Matrimony
Westminster Cathedral, Saturday 25th May 2024 at 2.30 pm
The Cardinal is inviting to this Mass 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 2024. If you are celebrating an anniversary, please give to Yvonne, the parish administrator, the following details: husband and wife’s names, wedding date, full postal address, email (or telephone number if no email). Details will be sent to the Diocese by the parish office and invitations will be sent out to the couples from the Diocese, on behalf of the Cardinal. PLEASE FORWARD YOUR DETAILS TO YVONNE – E MAIL: finchleyeast@rcdow.org.uk BY FRIDAY 5TH APRIL 2024.