6th Sunday in Ordinary Time 11.02.2024
MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS
Sun 11th Feb
8.30am Lillian Murphy, RIP
10am Tom Lally, 15th anniversary
12noon Una Carmody and Bridget Noone, RIP and Laura Fitzgerald, intentions
Mon 12th Feb Feria
10am Bridie Kilcommons, RIP
Tues 13th Feb Feria
10am Julie Bates, RIP
Weds 14th Feb Ash Wednesday
10am People of the Parish
7.30pm. A Private Intention
Thurs 15th Feb Lent Feria
10am Lillian Murphy, RIP
Fri 16th Feb NO MASS
Sat 3rd Feb First Sunday of Lent
5 pm Lucia Chandler, RIP
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 and Raffaella Di Trolio whose anniversaries occur at this time or have died recently. May they Rest in Peace.
Offertory Collections
The offertory collection for the week ending 28th January 2024 was £ 1,001.51 and for 4th February it was £ 731.62. . Many thanks for your generosity.
Pilgrimage to Assisi:
Fr Peter writes: “The April Pilgrimage to Assisi is now full, we have reached our quota of parishioners. I will call a meeting for those going very soon, in the meantime pilgrims should complete and return booking formswith deposit either to Northern Star or to me…..asap!”
Ash Wednesday – Mass Times
Ash Wednesday solemnises the beginning of Lent. On this day we come to church to receive ashes. The ashes, which are a symbol of repentance, are marked in the shape of a cross on the forehead. They have two meanings: firstly, they are an outward sign that we want to change our ways and turn back to God; and the ashes also remind us that when we die, our bodies will return to the earth whilst our souls return to God. All of us can go to church to be marked with these blessed ashes. At St Mary’s there will be two Ash Wednesday Masses – 10am and 7:30pm. All are welcome.
Seniors Lunch Sunday 18th February 2024 early warning
St Mary's SVP will be hosting lunch in the parish hall on Sunday 18th February at 1pm.
Sign-up sheets are in the church porch. So please keep an eye out for them and sign up. The menu will include chicken and a vegetarian option. If you have any dietary restrictions let us know in advance or when you sign up.
If know someone who would like to come but needs help please feel free to accompany them and join in or if you have a friend/someone who would like to come who has never been before then please bring them along and enjoy our lovely day.
Once again Billy and Michael will be providing live music so an opportunity to shake a leg or two or just listen!
The return of The Men’s Group!
The “Men’s Group” makes a return in Lent at 9am on Saturday 2nd March. This time, Fr Peter will provide tea, coffee and fruit juices and participants are invited to bring “breakfasts to share”. The theme will be Lent and how it has been practiced down the ages!
Stations of the Cross:
Beginning Friday 23rd of February, Stations of the Cross will be celebrated in the church every Friday after the 10am Mass.
CAFOD Family Fast Day – Friday 23rd February 2024
There will be second collections at all Masses on the weekend of 24th and 25th February 2024 for CAFOD Family Fast Day.
The Parish Council:
Fr Peter writes: “Looking at the “Time and Talent survey” and having had a chance to get to know parishionersafter the pandemic, I have re-convened the Parish Council. The new PC will meet at 4pm on Sunday.
St Mary’s Census Weekend – 24th & 25th February.
Fr Peter writes: “St Mary’s has not had a parish census for a very long time! On the second Sunday of Lent you will be asked to fill in a form detailing your contact information which can be added or help to amend the parish database. All information you provide will come under the strict protective measures of the “Diocesan Data Protection Policy”. Please make sure you attend Mass the weekend of 24th & 25th of February – a date for the diary!
St Mary’s Lent Course 2024 – beginning 19th February
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 Centre. Use the “sign-up sheet” at the back of the church if you would like to attend.
Do you want to walk with Jesus?
Our Lady of Lourdes 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.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary and Nursery School, Bow Lane N12
Applications are invited for the Nursery for the Academic Year starting September 2024. This is for children born between 1st April 2021 and 31st March 2022. The deadline to return this to the school office is 31st January 2024. Please contact the office on 0208 346 1681 or visit the school website for an application pack.
Planned Giving Envelopes.
Fr Peter writes: Thank you to everyone who uses Planned Giving Envelopes as there means of supporting the parish. If you only use these envelopes infrequently you might like to take out a standing order with St Mary’s. We need to re-order envelopes very soon, so please decide if you wish to continue or change to a standing order. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
What can I do during Lent ?
In no particular order…
1. Attend a 10am weekday Mass (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday)
2. Donate to Finchley Foodbank (All details at finchleyfoodbank.org.uk/)
3. Pray for Peace in the Middle East
4. Go to confession (every Saturday from 10am to 11am and 4:30pm to 5pm)
5. Help clean the church on a Monday morning after the 10am Mass
6. Pray the Rosary either by yourself or with the Rosary Group after the 10am Mass on Tuesdays
7. Attend the Lent Study Group, every Monday at 7:30pm in the small hall
8. Help Fr Peter with the Parish Census Weekend on 24th & 25th February
9. Pray the Stations of the Cross, either by yourself or after the Friday 10am Mass
10. Help with the Parish Allotment scheme and grow food to be sold in aid of Finchley Foodbank (see Fr Peter)
11. Pray for Peace in Ukraine.
12. Attend the Lent Prayer Group at Our Lady of Lourdes School beginning 8:15am every Tuesday
13. Become an altar server. All Catholics who have made their First Holy Communion can serve at the altar – just see Fr Peter
14. Join the choir at Sunday’s 10am Mass – See Helen, Raissa or Jen.
15. Abstain from a meal on Friday 23rd February and donate its value to CAFOD on 24th & 25th February at the CAFOD appeal
16. Pray for the housebound, the lonely and the abandoned
17. Start reading the Passion accounts, begin with the Gospel of Mark.
18. Help with Tea’s and Coffees after Sunday’s 10am Mass.
19. Forgive someone or forgive yourself…. or both.
20. Bring a friend to Mass
21. Pray for those who are going to be confirmed or received into the church at the Easter Vigil on Saturday 30th March.
22. All of the above!