25th Sunday Of Year C
The parable of the dishonest steward may seem somewhat confusing when the steward was praised for his astuteness. How can it be right to reduce the debts of his master’s debtors? We live in a world where money is at the centre of everything. Even the Church spends time and energy raising funds for various projects. However Jesus is teaching us through this parable that such values as integrity, compassion and trust have greater weight. We should ask ourselves what and who do we trust and what can we be trusted with.
Home Mission Sunday
Home Mission Sunday is celebrated today and is themed: PROCLAIM the joy of love. On this day we are encouraged to pray for the work of evangelisation in England and Wales, remembering in our prayers especially those whom we know are distant from the life of faith. Please support the second collection which funds the bishops’ national work of evangelisation. The collection also ensures that the Catholic Faith Centre is resourced to respond to those who have questions about the Catholic Faith. It is possible to donate online at: http/www.catholicnews.org.uk/Home/Donate. Commemorative prayer cards are available to take away. Please support the work of Home Mission through your prayers and generosity. For more information see: www.catholicnews.org.uk/hms16. God bless you and thank you.
Growing in Faith
If you have been in the Parish Centre recently, you would have noticed that the main hall, the corridors and the area upstairs has been redecorated. This has been funded by our Growing in Faith contributions, which has already provided the funds for our television screens in the church and for the electrics in the Parish Centre. Many thanks to all who are contributing to Growing in Faith regularly, which also supports the Training of Priests, Sick and Retired Priests and Caritas. The Growing in Faith project is due to be complete in our parish in 2018, so we should be able to get funding for one or two more parish projects.
Walk to Church Sunday
Many thanks to all who took part in the Walk to Church Sunday on 10th July. A total of 103 adults and 50 children took part. Walking times ranged from 2 to 30 minutes. This event was arranged in response to Pope Francis Encyclical ‘Laudate Si’ which encourages us to cut down Carbon Footprint emissions from vehicles.
Lately Dead
Please pray for the repose of the soul of GIOVANNA MASSARO of Watling Ave whose funeral has already taken place and for SALVATORE PAOLI, father of Maria Binelli, whose funeral will be on Monday 26th September at 1.30pm. The funeral of Baby Layla-Rae Cottol will be this Friday at 10.15am. May they rest in peace.
Meeting for Catechists
There will be a meeting for First Holy Communion Catechists this Tuesday at 7.45pm in the Parish Centre.
Mercy Masses
The Year of Mercy continues until the Feast of Christ the King. The September Mercy Mass will be on Friday 30th at 7.30pm. At this Mass, we will consider how the theme of Mercy is included in every Mass we celebrate. The October Mercy Mass will be on Friday 28th, the Feast of St Simon & Jude. Our new statue of St Jude will be blessed.
Fr David will celebrate this Mass which will be followed by a reception in the Parish Centre. The November Mercy Mass will be on Friday 25th November and will double up as our Annual Bereavement Mass, in which we commend those who have died in the past year to God’s mercy.
Farewell to Fr David
Fr David has now left for the Parish of St Francis de Sales in Tottenham. The Parish Finance Committee has suggested that we have a collection to thank Fr David for his great work in the Parish. Envelopes will be available at the back of the church. Fr David will return to celebrate the Mercy Mass on Friday 28th October at 7.30pm. This will be followed by a reception in the Parish Centre at which the presentation will be made.
Holy Hour
Holy Hour resumes this Wednesday at 9.30am, following the 9am Mass.
Evangelisation Team
The Evangelisation Team meets on Thursday 29th September at 7.30 in the Dominic Room.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee meets on Thursday at 7.30pm in the Dominic Room.
Baptism Preparation
This afternoon there will be a preparation session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised at 4pm in the Dominic Room in the Parish Centre.
RCIA Sessions
Sessions for those adults who are considering baptism, reception into the church or confirmation start on Tuesday 11th October at 8pm, upstairs in the Parish Centre. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process whereby adults journey in the faith toward receiving the Sacraments and become full members of the Catholic Church. Please let those interested know about this, or you may like to introduce them to Fr Colin.
First Communion 2017
The application process is now complete. We cannot accept any more applications. There will be an introductory meeting for parents who have applied for their child to receive Holy Communion on Tuesday 27th September at 7.45pm in the Parish Centre.
New Altar Servers
Children who have already received their First Holy Communion are invited to become altar servers. There will be an introductory session in the church on Saturday 15th October at 11am.
Secondary School Transfer
Fr Colin will be available to sign school forms for those who attend Mass each Sunday on Wednesday between 4-5pm in the Parish Centre. Future signing sessions will be:
Tuesday 27th September 4-5pm:
Saturday 8th October 12-1pm: Wednesday 19th October 4-5pm
Walsingham
Next weekend we will have a second collection to support the National Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham. 24th September is the feast of Our Lady of Walsingham, and on this weekend the Bishops have asked all parishes to have a second collection to help in the developments of England’s National Shrine to Our Lady. They are looking to upgrade existing buildings and build new facilities, to help serve the increasing numbers of pilgrims, who continue to walk in the Walsingham Way, since the shrine was established in 1061. Their aims are to update the facilities, and to make provision for sick and disabled pilgrims and to have facilities for young people to come on pilgrimage. Full details are given on our website www.walsingham.org.uk.
Missio Red Boxes
Many thanks to those who returned their Red Boxes recently. A total of £462.40 has been sent to Missio.
Cheeky Chums
The mother and toddler group is now back every Wednesday at 9.30am. Enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and chat while your child is playing. The weekly subs is £2.
WATCH THIS SPACE—J.D.S
Before going to Europe on business, a man drove his Rolls Royce to a downtown New York City bank and went in to ask for an immediate loan of $5,000. The loan officer, taken aback, requested collateral and so the man said, “Well then, here are the keys to my Rolls Royce.” The loan officer promptly had the car driven into the bank’s underground parking for safe keeping, and gave him $5,000. Two weeks later the man walked into the bank to settle up his loan and get his car back. “That will be $5,000 in principal and $15.40 in interest” the loan officer said. The man wrote a cheque and started to walk away. “Wait sir” the officer said “I found out that you were a millionaire, why would you want $5,000?” The man smiled “Where else could I park my Rolls Royce Manhattan for two weeks and pay only $15.40.”