Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 07.09.2025

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

Sun 7th Sept​​​

8.30am​ for all those going into hospital

10am​ All Students at School, College or University

12pm​ Lillian Murphy, RIP

Mon 8th Sept        ​The Nativity of The Blessed Virgin Mary

10am              For Peace in Gaza & the Holy Land.

Tues 9th Sept​ Feria

10am              Stan Pells, RIP 

​Weds 10th Sept​​ NO MASS

Thurs 11th Sept​ Feria

10am​ John Meally, RIP

Fri 12th Sept​ Feria – Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes School

10am             ​Andrzej Lipinski, RIP

Sat 13th Sept​ The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

5pm​ Ellen McGrath and Mick McGrath, anniv.

Every Saturday: 10am – 10:30am - 4.30pm – 5pm: Confessions and Exposition

YOUR PRAYERS:

Let us keep in our prayers: Fr Dennis, 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: Thomas Holloway, Kitty O Dowd, Nuala Clarke, David Thurlow, John Paul Bradley, Ray Bates, Sveta Valeri, James Corr, Maud Holloway, Una Murphy, Kitty Heenan,Gerry Stenson, Jose Barreto, Mary Teresa Foran, Martin Flanagan, Noeleen Hare, Noreen McGlynn, James McCormack, Giulia Mortali & Stipo Vidovic whose anniversaries occur at this time or have died recently. May they Rest in Peace.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION

The offertory collection for week ending 31st August was £597.23 and Contactless was £112.90

Standing Orders, Stripe and Online donations will be communicated one month in arrears.

Thank you for your generosity.

CONFESSION.

Confession (known also as the sacrament of reconciliation) returns to St Mary’s on Saturday mornings from next weekend. Confessions will be heard every Saturday morning from 10am – 10:30am and 4:30pm to 5pm.

BOOKING A MASS

Now is a good time to book a Mass for someone who has recently died, an anniversary or for someone who is unwell. Either visit or ring the parish office during office hours (Mon, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am to 2pm) or send an email finchleyeast@rcdow.org.uk

BARNET HOSPITAL:

Fr Peter will be “on call” for Barnet Hospital every Saturday, he joins a group of local priests who provide daily sacramental cover. If you know you are going into hospital please see Fr Peter before your admission so he can anoint you. If you are admitted into hospital unexpectedly and would like to see a priest contact the nurse in charge of the ward, ideally during the day. Night-time calls should only be for emergencies.

FR DENNIS:

Fr Peter writes: “Fr Dennis continues his stay in hospital and is grateful for everyone’s well wishes and prayers. If you have any “Get Well” cards for Fr Dennis please put them through the presbytery letterbox.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

The parish finance committee will meet at 7:30pm on Tuesday 9th September in the presbytery.

SO SORRY

Fr Peter writes “It has been quite a week (one way and another) and looking at my diary I will have to postpone the cheese and wine “thank you” for volunteers on Sunday 14th September until later in the autumn. Hopefully I will have a new date to announce next weekend.

FRIDAY’S 10AM MASS

This Friday at 10am, we will join Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School (Bow Lane) for a special school Mass to mark the beginning of their new academic year.

Please note that the Mass will take place at the school, so we kindly ask everyone to arrive in good time before the service begins.

SVP – SOCIAL EVENING – SAVE THE DATE!

The SVP are planning a social evening with a hot, home-made supper on Saturday 11th October at 6 pm.  Full details and ticket sales will take place in September so more news then.

SECONDARY SCHOOL TRANSFER SCHOOL FORMS:

Secondary School Transfer Forms which require either a Certificate of Catholic Practice or a priest’s signature need to be given to Fr Peter after one of the weekend Masses. You and your child should be regularly attending Mass so Fr Peter can sign the certificate or form.

MONDAY’s 10am MASS

Cardinal Vincent has requested that the intention for Mondays Mass (the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows) is for “Peace in the Holy Land and for all those are suffering in Gaza”.

CATECHETICAL COURSES AT ST MARY’S FOR 2025-6

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INTITATION OF ADULTS

If you are an adult who is thinking about becoming a Catholic, or you are an adult who has not made your First Holy Communion or Confirmation then you might like to consider joining the parish RCIA group. Starting in the Autumn, this group meets once a week to learn more about the Catholic faith and to prepare either for Baptism, First Holy Communion or Confirmation (or all three). If you are interested, please see Fr Peter after Mass.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2026

If your child is going to be in Year 3 in September and has received a Catholic baptism, they can apply for next year’s First Holy Communion Programme. The date for next year’s First Holy Communion Mass has been provisionally set for Sunday 7th June (although this may change if Fr Peter is required to attend a diocesan event). If you would like to register your child, please see Fr Peter after Mass, and collect an application form. CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATION IS 30thSEPTEMBER 2025.  

CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME 2026

The parish Confirmation Course for 2026 will soon be open for registration. This 8-week course is open to young adults in year 9 at secondary school who have been baptised and made their First Holy Communion. Please see Fr Peter after Mass if you are interested.

PARISH HALL BOOKINGS:

Fr Peter writes: “One wonderful way to support St Mary’s is by recommending our parish centre for events such as meetings, funeral receptions, and celebrations. While we’re unable to host children’s birthday parties unless the family are parishioners, we warmly welcome other gatherings.

Like many public institutions, we face rising energy costs—last year, electricity expenses for the St Mary’s site totalled £9,299. By promoting our halls for hire, you can help us offset these costs and ensure our parish continues to thrive.

ST MARY’s PARISH RETREAT WEEK 2025

After the success of last year's Parish Retreat Week, Fr Peter has already begun organising another, which will take place in the autumn. This year's theme will focus on the Jubilee Year, “Pilgrims of Hope”, and Fr Peter has started arranging speakers. These include (so far) Fr Terry Tastard, Fr Peter Harris and Fr Richard Nesbitt. The retreat week will once again be hosted by Our Lady and will take place from Sunday 12th October to Friday 17th October.