St Mary's East Finchley N2 8HG

I am alone in thinking that the amount we throw away seems to grow and grow? It used to be enough to take out the rubbish bags a couple of times a week. Now it’s more like three or even four times a week. Partly, of course, it is the growth of packaging. Some purchases, even simple groceries, are so securely packed that you have to hack your way into them. But I also wonder at the bottles, papers and date-expired food that (to my dismay) I find myself putting in the bin. It's

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS Sat 28th July 6 pm Vigil Mass Seán Conlon, intentions Sun 29th July 8.30 am Kate Broadfoot, RIP 10 am People of the Parish 12 noon Pat Gleeson, RIP Mon 30th July 10 am Mossy King, RIP Tue 31st July St Ignatius Loyola 10 am William O’Boy, RIP

Every society has strengths and weaknesses. Across the world, millions of people live in peasant societies. They grow their own food, they live in small communities, they probably barter rather than spend cash, of which they have little. Societies like this are closely-knit. That is their strength. However, in a peasant society, time is circular. The rhythm of the year is unchanging. Peasants do not expect things to be different for their children or their grandchildre

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS Sat 21st July 6 pm Vigil Mass John Harrington, RIP Sun 22nd July 8.30 am Kate Bradfoot, RIP 10 am Len Willcox, RIP 12 noon Comfort Clement, RIP Mon 23rd July St Bridget of Sweden, Patron of Europe 10 am Michael Horan, RIP Tue 24th July 10 am William

No one likes to be vulnerable. We build careful systems to ensure that we are not vulnerable. We take out insurance. As nations, we devise social security schemes. Or we invest in security for our homes and offices; nations recruit and train armies and police forces. Vulnerability is bad. Part of the effect of the economic downturn of our times is the fear it brings, fear especially of unemployment. Suddenly we all feel vulnerable. In the gospel today (Mark 6.7-13) Jesus gi

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 £ 1,120.19. Many thanks. Funeral The funeral of Dennis O’Sullivan of Leicester Road will be held on Tuesday 17th July at 12 noon. Afterwards

We live in an age of false news and scams. I have read in the last month that children at school are being taught to distinguish between true and false news. Since most of them get their news from the internet and not from newspapers or television, it is indeed imperative that they can discern what is true and what is false or at the very least misleading. Mind you, once or twice I myself have read something in the newspapers and said to myself, ‘That’s outrageous’ or ‘That’s

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 £ 1215.40. Many thanks. Baptism Ask God’s blessing on Harvey Donal Lyons-Sheehy, baptised here yesterday (7th July). Food Bank Response Fr T

Dear Parishioners I write this on Saturday of this weekend, 30th June. A plea for help for the Food Bank The cupboard is nearly empty! I made an appeal to you for contributions of food two or three weeks ago, but alas it was a meagre haul. I realise that shopping in this heat is exhausting. And we always seem to have one appeal or another on the go. But still: here are the statistics. Today at the food bank, we gave food aid to help support: 47 adults and 22 children We have

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 £ 1160.09.Many thanks. This Sunday there is a second collection for Peter’s Pence. Sandra Lipner Sandra will be stepping down from her post