St Mary's East Finchley N2 8HG

John the Baptist belongs to the long tradition of prophets stretching back to Elijah and the great prophets of the 8th century BC. Prophets were not like fairground fortune-tellers. Actually, prophets spoke the truth about the situation of the world. They were blunt about the social, political and religious realities of their society. They were the very opposite of the gilding work of spin doctors today. Our first reading from Isaiah (49.1-6) invites us in retrospect to

Confession: Saturday 10.30 am and 5.30 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction: Thursday 10.30 am, Saturday at 5.30 pm Pray for the sick esp. Eddie Caddle, Carmel Bates, Cathy Walker, Finola Hickey, Bridget O’Donnell, Kelly-Marie O’Donnell, Simon O’Donnell, and Mary Myles. Parish Collection: Last week’s collection came to £ 1014.23.Many thanks. Next Sunday there is a second collection for Peter’s Pence. Friday: Saints Peter and Paul: Holy day of obligation The

In the gospel today (Mark 4.26-34) the farmer sows the seed, but night and day, in a way that he cannot explain, growth takes place, at first hidden in the soil, then pushing up into the light, day after day. At one level we can explain everything. Farming these days has become a very scientific business agriculture being big business. Scientists can even manipulate the genes of rice or wheat. Everything is known. Or is it? We are talking, after all, about life. Within

Confession: Saturday 10.30 am and 5.30 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction: Thursday 10.30 am, Saturday at 5.30 pm Pray for the sick esp. Eddie Caddle, Carmel Bates, Cathy Walker, Finola Hickey, Bridget O’Donnell, Kelly-Marie O’Donnell, Simon O’Donnell, and Mary Myles. Parish Collection: Last week’s collection came to £1001.57. Many thanks. Second collection this week for Day for Life which will focus on all those who are suffering or have survived human

I once heard our personalities compared to a house. In a typical home there is a welcome space, perhaps a sitting room. Here we greet people, we are hospitable and put on our best face. Then there is the kitchen, or, if you are very grand, a dining room. Here we let the mask slip a bit, as over meals we share thoughts and feelings. There are even occasional rows and reconciliations. Elsewhere in the house is the bedroom. This is a place of passion, dreams and sleep. It is a p

Confession: Saturday 10.30 am and 5.30 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction: Thursday 10.30 am, Saturday at 5.30 pm Pray for the sick esp. Eddie Caddle, Carmel Bates, Cathy Walker, Finola Hickey, Bridget O’Donnell, Kelly-Marie O’Donnell, Simon O’Donnell, and Mary Myles. Parish Collection: Last week’s collection came to £1312.47. Many thanks. Second collection next week for Day for Life which will focus on all those who are suffering or have survived human

In the Solemnity of Corpus Christi we celebrate the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the eucharist, under the forms of bread and wine. This means so much to us as Catholics. It tells us that in a special way Christ is to be found among his people when they gather at the altar. The presence of someone that we know and love can make a huge difference. We have all had that experience of arriving at a foreign airport or railway station, looking anxiously across the sea of face

Confession: Saturday 10.30 am and 5.30 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction: Thursday 10.30 am, Saturday at 5.30 pm Pray for the sick esp. Eddie Caddle, Carmel Bates, Cathy Walker, Finola Hickey, Bridget O’Donnell, Kelly-Marie O’Donnell, Simon O’Donnell, Pat Gleeson and Mary Myles. Baptism: Ask God’s blessing ton Verity Christina Murphy, baptised here yesterday (Saturday 9th June). Parish Collection: Last week’s collection came to £1174.79. Many thanks. AP