Fifth Sunday of Easter 18.05.2025

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

Sun 18th May​​

8.30am​ Pietro Bardetti, RIP

​10am​​​ Marie McMorrow, RIP

12noon​ Sveta Valeri, RIP

Mon 19th May        ​Easter Feria

10am           ​Funeral Mass for Ray Bates, RIP

Tues 20th May​ Easter Feria

10am​ Jim O’Sullivan​

​Weds 21st May​​ NO MASS

Thurs 22nd May​ Easter Feria

10am​ Agnes Day, anniversary​

Fri 23rd May​ Easter Feria

10am​ Margaret Gilgan, anniversary

Sat 24th May​ Sixth Sunday of Easter

5pm​ Carmen and Gilbert Sarthal and family, intns

4.30pm – 5pm: Confessions and Exposition

YOUR PRAYERS:

Let us keep in our prayers: Julius Lipner, David Ryan, Margaret Ryan, Michael O’Boy, Christina Cahill, Eric Nicholas Darwent, Therese Kemp, Jose Luis Pérez, Karina McKiernan, Jonathan Heller and Izabela Lissowska – all unwell at this time. We also pray for: Pope Francis, Ray Bates, Canon Bernard Scholes, Sveta Valeri, James Corr, Maud Holloway, Una Murphy, Mary Drumm, Kitty Heenan, Fr Sean Carroll, Fr David Barnes, Gerry Stenson, Luis Goncalves, Arcangela Moretto, Patrick Jean Noel Louis-Auguste, Jose Barreto, Gianpiero Gallian, Mary Teresa Foran, Martin Flanagan, Noeleen Hare, Noreen McGlynn, James McCormack, Giulia Mortali, Gino Tomei and Raymond Bates whose anniversaries occur at this time or have died recently. May they Rest in Peace.

FUNERAL MASS FOR RAYMOND BATES

The Funeral Mass for Ray Bates will take place at St Mary’s on Monday at 10 am.  Let us keep Ray and his family in our prayers.  Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.  May he rest in peace.  Amen.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION

The offertory collection for week ending 11th May was £986.69 and Contactless was £165.22.

April 2025 - Standing Orders amounted to £3353.00, Online amounted to £10.00 and Stripe amounted to £44.07.  Thank you for your generosity

ST MARY’S LENT COURSE – 2025

“WHEN YOU PRAY” CONTINUES : TOMORROW - Monday 19th May and Monday 26th May.

Each session is an hour, beginning at 7:30pm and occurs in the small hall

PRIESTS’ TRAINING FUND – SECOND COLLECTION

Last weekend we had our second collection for the Priests’ Training Fund.

Your generosity has raised an incredible £1,151.49.  It is not too late to make

a donation if you wish. Envelopes are available in the back of the church, or by contacting the parish office. Please continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood. For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.rcdow.org.uk/donations

DRAINAGE WORKS BEGIN AT ST MARY’S

Please note that as from Monday, contractors will be on site at St Mary’s to work on repairs to the drains.  They will be working near the Church, the Parish centre and the Presbytery and will do so around our commitments to ensure the least disruption possible.

PARISH FINANCE COMMITTEE

There will be a meeting of the PFC on Tuesday at 7:30pm in the presbytery.

A VATICAN SIZED “THANKYOU”…

….to all those St Mary’s adventurous explorers who went to Rome onTuesday. It was a delight  (even with the biblical rainstorm and your accident prone Parish Priest)! Thank you. Fr Peter

“SAVE THE DATE”: 11am MASS on SUNDAY 29th JUNE

Please do not forget our parish “Jubilee Year celebration Mass” at 11am on Sunday 29th June. We are going to celebrate Ordination Jubilees – (Canon Robert Plourde and Fr Michael O’Boy) and Wedding Jubilees! Also “milestone birthdays” and a few more “life events” to acknowledge and give thanks for.  Please put the date and time in your diaries as this celebration will replace our parish feast day in May.

(RE-STARTING OUR) SUPPORT FOR LOCAL REFUGEES: EGGS PLEASE!

It is still Easter so with Easter Eggs in mind…. please help us support the local drop-in centre for destitute refugees and asylum seekers by bringing donations of 6 or more hard-boiled eggs to church on Sunday, 8 June. Collection boxes will be available in the porch before all Masses. Contact; finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk

POPE LEO XIV

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, one of 133 Cardinal-electors who took part in a Conclave that culminated in the proclamation of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, has spoken about the man who has succeeded Pope Francis as the 267th Supreme Pontiff.

Describing Pope Leo XIV as a “citizen of the world,” Cardinal Nichols explained why his life experience and Catholic ministry provide the necessary ingredients to lead the Catholic Church: “He was brought up on the south side of Chicago – the poorer side of Chicago. He has been the General Superior of the Augustinians twice – which basically means he’s travelled the world twice – fulfilling those responsibilities. He’s been a teacher, a diocesan bishop, and a member of the Roman Curia, and that’s a combination of talents that, once we’d reflected on the life of the Church and what was needed at this time, made it pretty clear that here was a man who was bringing the right depth and breadth of experience to the papacy.”

Speaking at a press conference at the Venerable English College in Rome, on Friday, 9 May, Cardinal Nichols elaborated further on the qualities of Pope Leo XIV:

“He has a very gentle manner. He’s very calm. He’s clear in his mind, and can be decisive. I’ve seen him resolve difficulties, both organisational and personal, in a way that didn’t leave enemies behind him, and he can hold people together. In terms of governance, he has a doctorate in Canon law, so he knows how things should be done.”

Let us keep Pope Leo in our prayers.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION MASSES

A reminder that Sunday 1st June is our First Holy Communion Sunday. This has more impact on the 12 noon Mass as more families have chosen this time for their children to make their First Communions. A much smaller number will celebrate their First Holy Communions at the 10am Mass – which means less impact on those who normally attend St Mary’s at this time.

Let us keep these children, their families and their catechists in our prayers as we near this important weekend.

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

There will be a meeting of the PC at 4pm on Sunday 25th May in the presbytery.