Second Sunday of Advent 5th December 2021

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

Sun 5th Dec

​8.30 am​ - Michael Carr, RIP

10 am​ - Larry Molloy, RIP and Kathleen Molloy, 2nd Ann.

12 noon​ - Kathleen Connelly, anniversary

Mon 6th Dec​ - Advent Feria

10 am​ - Christine Pavlou, RIP

Tues 7th Dec​ - St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor

10 am​ - Sylvia Barnachea and family, thanksgiving

Weds 8th Dec​ - Feast of the Immaculate Conception

10am​ - People of the Parish

Thurs 9th Dec ​

NO MASS

​Fri 10th Dec Advent Feria

10 am​ - Martin Brennan and departed members of the Brennan family

​Sat 11th Dec​​ - 3rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)

10am – 11am; 4:30pm – 5pm: Confessions and Exposition

5 pm - ​​​Patrick Giblin, anniversary

Please pray for the sick and those who care for them, today especially for the frail elderly and for those who work as carers

Your Prayers:

Let us keep in our prayers: Frank Kilbride, Kathleen Lancaster, John O’Shea, Rekha, Bina, Gale Yates, Jose Luis Pérez, Alice, Michael O Boy, Lilian Murphy, Karina McKiernan and Izabela Lissowska – all unwell at this time. We also pray for Sr. Angela, Peter Sartori, Arthur Palmer, Noel Ryan, Donato Merola, Aurora Lobo–Buckland, Larry Tuohy, Elizabeth O’Sullivan, Monica Thomson, Christine Pavlou, Owen Gallagher, Tom Lohan, Dennis Lennane and Vincenzo Gagliardi who have all died recently. May they Rest in Peace.

St Mary’s Christmas Fair

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of our Christmas Fair which was held last Sunday – to those who organised, helped, donated and attended or all of the above! It was wonderful to see everyone there enjoying the Christmas atmosphere, taking part in the activities and supporting our wall campaign! Approximately £3,000 was raised but this total will go up when we include our raffle ticket sales and other related activities. Watch this space!

Raffle Tickets Draw:

The raffle draw takes place today, after the 10 am Mass. The lucky winners will receive: 1st prize - £100, 2ndprize - £75, 3rd prize - £50, 4th prize – Hamper 1, 5th prize – Hamper 2, 6th prize – Bottle A, 7th prize – Bottle B, 8th prize – Bottle C, 9th prize – Bottle D, 10th prize – Bottle E, 11th prize – Bottle F, 12th prize – a Dolce Napoli Café Gift Voucher worth £20 and lastly, 13th prize another Dolce Napoli Café Gift Voucher worth £20. Good luck everyone and thank you to all those who donated prizes, helped sell the tickets and of course, bought them!

Offertory Collection

Fr Peter writes: “The offertory collection in church for week ending 28th November 2021 - £616.85. Allcontributions, every penny, is greatly received and I am very grateful for your continued support at this difficult time. Please do not forget, that arranging a standing order is the easiest way to support St Mary’s.

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Applications for Reception and Nursery

Applications are invited for the Reception Class for September 2022 - this is for children born between 1st September 2017 and 31st August 2018. The deadline to return this to the school office is 15th January 2022. The forms are available to download on the school website. Please also be advised that you must also complete a CAF (Common Application Form) from Barnet - the on-line system is already open.

Applications are invited for the Nursery for the Academic Year starting September 2022. This is for children born between 1st April 2019 and 31st March 2020. The deadline to return this to the school office is 31st January 2022. Please contact the office or visit the school website for an application pack.

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.”

Advent Lectio Divina

Fr Peter writes: “On Monday at 7:30pm I will host another Advent Lectio Divina Zoom.. Lectio Divina includes a short period of prayer followed by discussion about a Gospel reading. Our Gospels will be those for each Sunday of Advent (Year C – in the lectionary). Please email peterscott@rcdow.org.uk if you would be interested.

Calling all Altar Servers – Existing and Those who wish to learn.:

So we can get ourselves ready for Christmas, there will be an altar servers practice after the 10am Mass on Sunday. To be an alter server, either you have served at St Mary’s or you have made your first Holy Communion. There were will be another practice after the 10am Mass on Sunday 12th December. If you would like to come along, please e mail Holly at finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception:

Fr Peter writes: The 8th December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Normally I would take my day off on a Wednesday, but as the feast is so important, I will celebrate a 10am Mass. However, there will be no mass on Thursday.

Some Christmas Planning:

Fr Peter writes: “Christmas decorations have been ordered and trees are on their way! Planning and organising have started. This year I am going to move the nativity scene to the Sacred Heart alcove and temporarily move the beautiful Sacred Heart statue to the chapel opposite the side exit. This change will provide both images of devotion more space and room for candles. Next weekend I will publish our timetable of Christmas Masses. As we are tight for space, I may have to re-introduce the booking system for the Christmas Eve Masses. I will let you know next weekend.”

Keep the Date Free!

On Sunday 15th May 2022, Cardinal Vincent Nichols is coming to St Mary’s to celebrate a special Mass in commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the blessing of the church foundation stone. Please reserve the date in your diary.

Booking Masses 2023

It is a good idea to book anniversary Masses for next year as early as possible. Either see Yvonne in office hours or drop your request with contact details through the presbytery letterbox.

The Synodal Pathway

The Synodal Process is Pope Francis requesting that the Church listens to the body of Christ. We are Christ’s body and we have been asked to answer a number of questions (along with the rest of the Catholic world) before the end of January. Our answers will be sent to the diocese and collated with every other parish in Westminster and directed to Rome. As the “pathway” and process is so huge (it is the entire Catholic world of the baptised) the Pope and Cardinals will get their first chance of responding in 2023.

That seems a long way off!

However, for us, at St Mary’s, the questions and answers gives us a chance to set our parish mission goals for 2022.

The exciting aspect of the process is that it involves reaching out to those who no longer attend church and giving them a chance to say “why”.

“Synod” more or less comes from the word “caravan” which means journeying together. Pope Francis wants us to appreciate that the Church never sits still or stagnates. It is on a pilgrimage, and we are the pilgrims. With the idea of “Caravan”, we have decided to use the Feast of the Epiphany (the arrival of the three wise men) on 6thJanuary to focus our response to the Synodal questions. However, it is good to be prepared!

Over Advent, I am going to release, some of the questions giving you a chance to think of your answers. After 6th January, you will have a chance to submit your answers by completing a straightforward questionnaire, by attending a discussion group, or using a “post it” note system which will be available in the porch. Or….you might like to answer each question as they appear in the newsletter and send your response to me….either via the presbytery letterbox or by email.

Last weekend, I released the first question. Now…..

Question 2 & 3..

What gives you joy in belonging to your Parish or community?

When we say “our Church”, who is part of it – and who is missing? What areas of mission might we need to develop?