Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 18.01.2026
- Parish Website Team
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS
Sun 18th Jan
8.30 am People of the Parish
10 am Sarah and Christopher McCarthy, RIP
12 noon Massimo Valeri, RIP
Mon 19th Jan Feria
10 am Peter Murphy, intentions
Tues 20th JanFeria
10 am Joao (John) Colaço, RIP
Weds 21st Jan NO MASS
Thurs 22nd Jan Feria
10 am John Leonard, RIP
Fri 23rd Jan Feria
10 am Geraldine McManamon
Sat 24th Jan Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
5pm Christine Malone, RIP
Every Saturday: 10am – 10:30am - 4.30pm – 5pm: Confessions and Exposition
YOUR PRAYERS:
Let us keep in our prayers: Joan Gordon, Sanjuna Madonandi Kuniyil, Ben Galligan, 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: Rosa Paily, Edward Doran Jnr, Deceased members of the Mortali family, Lillian Murphy, Sean Duffy, Martin Flanagan, Massimo Valeri, Sarah and Christopher McCarthy, Joao Colaco, John Leonard, Christine Malone and Beatriz Tarragona Turu whose anniversaries occur at this time or have died recently. May they Rest in Peace.
THE OFFERTORY
The offertory collection for week ending 11th January was £617.60 and Contactless was
£105.72. December 2025: Standing Orders were £4,590.00; Online Donations were £100 and Stripe donations were £57.12. Thank you for your generosity.
ALTAR SERVERS MEETING
To help us prepare well for Lent, there will be an Altar Servers’ meeting on Saturday 24th January at 11am in the church. All servers — both new and experienced — are warmly encouraged to attend. If you would like to become an altar server, you are most welcome. You must have made your First Holy Communion and have the permission of your parents. Please speak to Fr Peter if you would like to join the team.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES
The FHC classes for children will be at 3:45pm on Tuesdays in the small hall.
MARRIAGE CARE
Join Marriage Care for a Growing Together Marriage Enrichment Day. The workshop style event, for couples at any stage of marriage, is on Saturday 21st February, from 10 am to 5 pm in Finchley. The day offers a meaningful opportunity to strengthen and deepen your bond alongside developing some practical tools. The cost is £75 per couple, but please speak to Marriage Care if this is more than you can afford to pay. For more details or to book, contact Marriage Care on 0800 389 3801 (Monday–Thursday, 9 am–6 pm) or email: appointments@marriagecare.org.uk
10 AM WEEKDAY MASSES
To help us save on heating costs during the colder months the 10am weekday Mass will be celebrated in the meeting room of the presbytery. Thank you for your understanding and for helping us care for both our parish resources and our environment.
CARDINAL VINCENT NICHOLS
A special Mass in thanksgiving for the Cardinal’s ministry over his sixteen and more years as Archbishop of Westminster will take place on Thursday 5 February 2026 at 5.30pm in the Cathedral. You are all invited!
“A Christian is a person
who makes God’s love present in the world.”
St Oscar Romero
CATHEDRAL MASS IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
The Annual Mass in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes and for the World Day of Prayer for the Sick will take place on Saturday 7 February at 2pm at Westminster Cathedral. More details to follow.
SOME CATHOLIC RESOURCES ONLINE
Parishioners looking to deepen their faith online may enjoy exploring a few trusted Catholic resources. Fr Mike Schmitz continues to inspire many through his work with Ascension (https://ascensionpress.com) and through his homilies at Bulldog Catholic (https://bulldogcatholic.org/about-us/about-father-mike-schmitz/ (bulldogcatholic.org in Bing)). The Sycamore programme (https://www.sycamore.fm) offers an inviting, discussionbased way to explore the Christian faith in community. And for something fresh, “the new kid on the block” is Fr Apricot, whose reflective and goodhumoured writing can be found at https://fatherapricot.com.
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
18-25 January 2026 marks the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which this year has the theme “One Body, One Spirit”. The Diocesan Ecumenical Coordinator is running an Ecumenical Pilgrimage on Friday 23 January, leaving from Westminster Cathedral at 1pm and visiting Temple Church & a Catholic Church, before finishing at St Paul’s in time for Evensong. Clergy, parishioners and Christians from all 5 denominations are most welcome to join this pilgrimage. Please email ecumenism@rcdow.org.uk to let them know that you’re coming.
Fr Peter writes: “With the demands of parish life and our two schools, I have not been able to devote the time I would like to strengthening our links with the local Christian churches. If someone feels called to represent St Mary’s and take on this responsibility, I would be most grateful.”
PLANNED GIVING APPEAL UPDATE
First of all, thank you to everyone who agreed to donate to the parish through a standing order or by enrolling in the offertory envelope scheme during last autumn’s Planned Giving Appeal. As many of you noticed, the application forms for both schemes were quite detailed, and we are still in the process of completing the administration. This may take a little while longer, and we are grateful for your patience.
The new offertory envelope boxes are now available in the porch. There are still some that have not yet been collected, so please take yours home when you can. Blessings, Fr Peter.
DON’T FORGET -ST MARY’S NEW FAITH GROUP – BEGINS MONDAY - 7:30pm
Or use the “Sign Up Sheet” at the back of the church to register
SVP ANNUAL SENIORS LUNCH
This popular event will be held for all retirees of all ages [including their carers or friends] in the parish hall on SUNDAY 1st February at 1pm. A delicious home cooked 3 course meal will be served then followed by entertainment from a lively group of young musicians playing their instruments and leading a sing-a-long.
To attend please sign the signup sheets in the porch and do indicate if you have special dietary requirements.
If you know of some who would like to attend but has mobility issues that will stop them from attending do let us know in advance so that we can try to arrange transport.
INCLUSIVE MASS AT ST MARY’S
St Mary’s warmly invites you to an Inclusive Mass for Children and Adults with Special Needs.
Who is it for?
Everyone is welcome — especially children and adults with learning disabilities, together with their families, friends, and carers.
When?
Saturday 28th February 2026 at 5pm
After Mass, refreshments will be served and there will be a relaxed opportunity to socialise and spend time together as a parish community.
We look forward to welcoming you.
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