First Sunday of Lent 26.02.2023
MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS
Sun 26th Feb
8.30 am People of the Parish
10 am Tom Lally, 14th anniversary
12 noon Bridie Ronan, intentions
Mon 27th Feb Lent Feria
10 am Anna and Eugene Ryan, special intns
Tues 28th Feb Lent Feria
10am Maura Rowland McNamara, anniv.
Weds 1st Mar NO MASS
Thurs 2nd Mar Lent Feria
10am Walsh family, intentions
Fri 3rd Mar Lent Feria
10 am Maria Pini, RIP
Sat 4th Mar 2nd Sunday of Lent
5pm Rita Connell, RIP
Saturday 10 am – 11am; 4.30pm – 5pm: Confessions and Exposition
Your Prayers:
Let us keep in our prayers: Christna Cahill, Eric Nicholas Darwent, Therese Kemp, John O’Shea, Rekha, Bina, Noel, Jose Luis Pérez, Alice, Lilian Murphy, Karina McKiernan and Izabela Lissowska – all unwell at this time. We also pray for:: Gino Tomei, James Meally,Peter Sartori, Noel Ryan, Donato Merola, Siobhan Lynch, Dennis Lennane, Susan Wren, Geraldine Day, Catherine Kelly, Josephine Okuyiga, Jane Ikwueke, Maureen O Sullivan, Patrick Reilly, Ann Gourdarznia, Nina Cole, Lorenzo Marcantuono, Pat McMahon, Michael Walsh Esther Ampomah Arhin, Peter McHugh, Marguerite Kyunga, Kathleen Molloy, Maria Pini, Madeleine Melling, Jenifer Danvers, Enrico Soracchi, Raymond Tissot, Sr Theresa, and Patricia Caddle whose anniversaries occur at this time or have died recently. May they Rest in Peace.
Offertory:
The offertory collection for week ending 19th February £ 682.38. Many thanks. Please do not forget, that arranging a standing order is the easiest way to support St Mary’s. Please contact the parish office for a Standing Order form.
Nursery and Primary School Application Forms:
Fr Peter writes: “If your child needs their Catholic Certificates of Practice” stamped and signed, please attend one of the Sunday Masses with your child, bringing their nursery or primary school application forms. Please make sure you have completed address and dates of birth before coming to see me.”
If you are a “flaming” young person…
Join Holly and Deacon Dom and come to “Flame”…
“Flame” is a Catholic youth mega event that takes place in one of England's iconic arenas in the shadow of Wembley Stadium. Taking place on Saturday, 4 March 2023 at the OVO Arena, Wembley, Flame is the largest Catholic gathering of young people in England and Wales. Flame is open to everyone aged school Year 9 (usually 14 years old) through to University age. If you would like to be part of this amazing event – just watch this space or contact Holly or Deacon Dom to find out more.
From Fr Peter:
This lent is likely to be different to others. Due to the present economic crises, the Lenten duty of “fasting” is probably something we are already doing and “almsgiving” is not as possible as it was before.
In the Cardinals letter to all parishes, his advice was that we should use lent to “pray”, to “encourage others to pray” and to practice our talents to build “community”.
After the various weekend Masses, it was a joy to hear your comments. One or two of you referred to re-building the St Mary’s “community” after the pandemic…. and suggested a few simple ideas. Here are three of them, and I have added a fourth.
A Choir for the Easter Celebrations:
I would love this to happen. I torture your ears every Sunday with my attempts to sing, and it would be great if a group could be formed to lead the congregation on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter weekend. Helen and Liz are wonderful exponents of singing, so we are lucky to have their expertise. If you would like to sing (or play an instrument) please email me or add your name to a list at the back of the church.
A “Men’s Group”:
A monthly gathering for Saturday brunch or a long walk would be an ideal opportunity to come together and chew over some Christian issues (or not). No agenda is needed, just a chance to see that others have the same or different needs as yourself. I ran a group in my last parish, and it was great fun. We made breakfast once a month and talked over a considerable number of topics. I am more than happy to start a group using the presbytery kitchen and dining room. Sign the list at the back of the church or email.
Hosting “Teas & Coffees” after Sunday’s 10am Mass:
A while back I asked for volunteers and only two people added their names. So, I have let you step in (and those who have volunteered have been brilliant) and host each Sunday after the 10am Mass. It would be good to have a proper rota, as the “10am Sunday Mass refreshments” is a nice community event. The more who sign, the less times your name will appear to host. If you would like to regularly help, please email me or add your name to a list at the back of the church.
Finally… my own request:
Be a Part-time Weekday Presbytery Volunteer:
I need volunteers who can answer the presbytery door and phone between 11am-2pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. I need someone unfazed by a barky dog who can multi-task if door, phone, priest and Otto create havoc at the same time. If you are happy sitting in the dining room or kitchen armed with a notebook and are calm – you are ideal. The role requires trust and confidentiality. Tea and coffee on tap. If you would like to regularly help, please email me or add your name to a list at the back of the church.
Our Lady of Lourdes Lent Prayer Group:
Every Tuesday morning during Lent at 8:15am, either Fr Peter, Deacon Dom or Holly will lead a 20-minute prayer session for parents and staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School. These sessions will include some guidance about prayer and an opportunity to pray. Come to reception at 8:10am to be told where to go. The first session is Tuesday 28th February.
Annual Mass of Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Matrimony
Westminster Cathedral, Saturday 13th May 2023 at 2:30pm.
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 2023. If you are celebrating an anniversary, please give your parish clergy, by 21st April, the following details: husband and wife’s names, wedding date, full postal address and email (or telephone number, if no email).
During Lent….why not…
During lent, why not go to a 10am week-day Mass. If you are dropping the children off from school or WFH (and can pop out for half an hour), it is an ideal way to encounter Christ in a quieter way than at a weekend Mass. Before each weekday Mass there is a half hour period of silent prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament……why not come to that or do both!
Just a thought….
Pope Francis recently said “Jesus is not a good book-keeper, no! He always leads us to the imbalance of love. We should not be surprised at this. If God had not “unbalanced” himself, we would never have been saved: It was the imbalance of the cross that saved us! Jesus would not have come to seek us out when we were lost and distant; he would not have loved us up to the end, he would not have embraced the cross for us, who did not deserve all this and could not give him anything in return. “Brothers and sisters,” the Pope said: God’s love is a love always in excess, always beyond calculation, always disproportionate. And today he also asks us to live in this way, because only in this way will we truly bear witness to him”.