Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 20.09.2026
MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS
Sun 20th Sept
8.30 am Annunziata ‘Nancy’ Gauci, 30th Anniversary
10 am Sister Avis, Baldwin Memorial Mass
12 noon Francisco Joao, intentions
Mon 21st Sept Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
10 am Holy Souls
Tues 22nd Sept Feria
10 am People of the Parish
Weds 23rd Sept NO MASS
Thurs 24th Sept Our Lady of Walsingham
10 am Cornelius McGlynn, 7th Anniversary
Fri 25th Sept Feria
10 am Mary Curran-Funeral
Sat 26th Sept Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5pm Nellie & Mick McGrath Anniversary
Every Saturday: 10am – 11am - 4.30pm – 5pm: Confessions and Exposition
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
Let us keep in our prayers: May Brennan, Mike O’Brien, Freya Askew, Joan Gordon, Sanjuna Madonandi Kuniyil, Ben Galligan, 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: Mary Curren, Winston Delandro, Sean Howley, Gildo Fernandes, Dante Bardetti, the Holy Souls and all those whose anniversaries occur at this time or have died recently. May they Rest in Peace.
OFFERTORY COLLECTIONS
The Offertory Collection for week ending 13th September was £663.20. Contactless was £117:53. Thank you for your generosity.
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM – TUESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER
Each year on 24 September, the Church in England celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham, honouring Mary under the title that has become so dear to English Catholics. Walsingham, often called England's Nazareth, has been a place of pilgrimage for nearly a thousand years.
According to tradition, in 1061 Our Lady appeared to a noblewoman, Richeldis de Faverches, and asked her to build a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth, where the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would become the Mother of God. For centuries, pilgrims travelled from across England and beyond to pray at this great shrine. Although the shrine was destroyed during the Reformation, devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham endured, and Walsingham has once again become one of the country's most important places of prayer and pilgrimage.
The feast reminds us of Mary's constant care for the people of this land. She always leads us to her Son, encouraging us to say "yes" to God's will as she did. As we celebrate this special day, let us ask Our Lady of Walsingham to pray for our parish, our families, and our nation, that we may grow in faith, hope and charity.
BARNET DEANERY SYNODAL STUDY GROUP
The next step in our Barnet Deanery Synodal journey is to discern how we can start to work together? We will begin a “Big Conversation” Saturday 3rd October 2026 – 2.00-4.00pm
St. Anthony’s Church, 5 Garratt Rd, Edgware, HA8 9AN
Our question will be: “How can we make our Catholic Parish communities, more meaningful, better connected and grow together through a shared project between our parishes”
Recently Confirmed? School Yr9 of above? Please join us to offer a fresh and youthful perspective. For more information, please contact Chris Rosser: chrisrosser@btinternet.com
ST MARY’S ONE DAY PILGRIMAGE TO NOTRE DAME, PARIS – 18th NOVEMBER
Join Fr Peter for a one-day pilgrimage to Notre-Dame, Paris on Wednesday 18th November.
We will leave Finchley at 4:00am and expect to return at approximately 10:00pm. The estimated cost is £120 per person, excluding meals and local transport (including taxis).
Fr Peter is hoping to gather a group of around 20 pilgrims who are prepared for a full day of sightseeing, prayer, and a fair amount of walking. Participants should also be willing to place themselves in the capable, if linguistically challenged, hands of our erstwhile parish priest, whose knowledge of French extends only to bonjour!
If you are interested in joining the pilgrimage, please sign the list at the back of the church.
OUR LADY OF LOURDES NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL
(Bow Lane, Finchley, London, N12 0JP) warmly invites all prospective parents to our upcoming school tours on:
• Wednesday 23rd September 2026 at 9.30am and 6pm
• Wednesday 14th October 2026 at 9.30am and 6pm
• Wednesday 4th Nov at 9.30am
If these dates are not convenient, please do contact the school office to arrange a tour for another time (tel: 02083461681 email: office@olol.barnetmail.net). We look forward to welcoming you all.
BISHOP DOUGLASS SCHOOL OPEN EVENTS
There will be an Open Evening on Wednesday 16th September from 5 – 7.30 pm. Headteacher’s presentation will take place at 5.15 pm – 6.45 pm. Curriculum Showcase will be on Thursday 15th October 4.15 – 5.45 pm and if you would like a Guided Tour, sign up on the school website to see the school in action during the day. For further information, please visit the school website www.bishopdouglass.barnet.sch.uk or call 0208 444 5211.
FINCHLEY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL OPEN EVENING
Finchley Catholic High School are holding their annual Open Evening for prospective parents on Tuesday 29th September from 5 pm to 7.30 pm. For further information, please visit the school website www.finchleycatholic.org.uk or call 0208 445 0105.
LA SAINTE UNION CATHOLIC SCHOOL
La Sainte Union Catholic School for Girls is holding its Open Evening on Tuesday 29th September. Open Mornings are on Tuesday 13th and Thursday 15th October. Coffee mornings will be held on Wednesday 21stand Thursday 22nd October. For further information, please visit the school website www.lasainteunion.org.uk or call 0207 428 4600.
NEW ANNUAL DIOCESAN PARISH COUNT
Beginning this weekend and continuing for the following three weekends, the Diocese will conduct its annual count of Mass attendance. Everyone attending Mass will be included in the count.
These figures are important because they help the Diocese understand patterns of worship, plan future pastoral provision, and inform decisions regarding clergy appointments and numbers across the Diocese.
With a new Archbishop now leading the Diocese, and with the possibility that parishes may be paired together in the future, it is especially important that St Mary's provides figures that accurately reflect the true vitality and size of our parish community. At this time of year, some families find that Sunday sports fixtures, drama clubs, and other activities can compete with Mass attendance. If you are able, please make every effort to attend Mass during the counting period so that our parish is represented as accurately as possible.
Thank you for helping ensure that the Diocese receives a true picture of the life of St Mary's Parish.
ST MARY’S SVP FILM & SOCIAL EVENING SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER AT 6PM
The SVP are once again hosting a social evening to help to raise funds for its activities helping individuals and families in need especially this year at Christmas time. A hot home-made supper [meat and vegetarian options available with prior booking] will be served at 6pm followed by a film. Tickets available from SVP members before and after masses for weekends 12th, 19th and 26th September. Price £15 per person includes supper, soft drinks and ice creams. Bring your own alcohol.
REGISTRATION FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2027
Registration for the First Holy Communion Programme is now open for children in Year 3.
Please note: At least one parent must be a Catholic.
For further information and registration, please see Fr Peter after one of the weekend Masses.
REGISTRATION FOR RCIA
Registration for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is now open.
RCIA is for:
• Adults who wish to be baptised into the Catholic Church;
• Baptised Catholics who have not yet received First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation;
• Baptised Christians from other traditions who are interested in becoming Catholic.
For further information and registration, please see Fr Peter after one of the weekend Masses.
PASSPORT APPLICATIONS & REFERENCES
To help reduce Fr Peter’s workload while Yvonne, our Parish Administrator, is away, Fr Peter will not be signing passport applications or writing references for the foreseeable future.
SECONDARY SCHOOL TRANSFER FORMS
Fr Peter will sign all secondary school transfer forms and Catholic Certificates of Attendance only after weekend Masses. Thank you.
“BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER”
……is a journey we will embark on together as a parish Faith Group - an invitation to come closer to Mary and, through her, closer to Jesus. In our faith group, we’ll step beyond the familiar statues and prayers and meet the woman who trusted God enough to say “yes” without knowing where that yes would lead; the mother who carried Jesus, rejoiced with Him, suffered with Him, and never left His side. We’ll explore her faith, her courage, her sorrows, her role as the New Eve and Mother of the Church, and what it means to place our own lives into her hands. Whether Mary has always held a special place in your heart, or you’ve never really understood why she matters so much to our church, come with your curiosity and an open heart. Perhaps, as we draw closer to the Mother, we’ll discover that she has been quietly leading us all along - straight to the heart of her Son. All are very welcome to join us. We’ll be meeting every Monday in the small hall at 7:30 PM starting on September 21st.
“Mary’s ‘yes’ to the Lord changed the world;
may our ‘yes’ change our lives.”
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