17th Sunday of Year B
Today and on the four Sundays of August, we turn to Chapter 6 of St John’s Gospel which is all about Christ’s teaching on the Eucharist. This is very apt with the Eucharistic Congress taking place at the beginning of September. Today’s extract is the account of the feeding of the multitudes. It is interesting that the one who was the least significant in the crowd, a small boy, was the one who provided the food (five barley loaves and two fish) which Jesus would miraculously multiply to provide enough food for the thousands. This is not the only time that Jesus provided plenty out of little. Yet Jesus continues to do so, for us. We make a start and he provides the rest. At Mass, we bring our offerings of bread and wine and it becomes the Body and Blood of Christ. At Mass, we are witnesses to another miracle.
Eucharistic Congress
The Eucharistic Congress takes place in Liverpool between 7th and 9th September. Representatives from all over the country will be going, including five from our own parish. Focus will be on adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Our own school has been discovering more about adoration. Delegates will return with ideas on how best we can promote adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Please pray for the success of the Congress. In the meantime, a ‘Walk with Me’ booklet has been produced on ‘Eucharistic Reflections’. Copies are available in the porch. You can use it at home but if possible, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the church.
First Communions in 2019
If your child is starting in Year 3 or above in September and would like to receive First Holy Communion next year, please take an application form from the porch and return it to the presbytery by 16th September at the latest. Application forms cannot be accepted after this date.
There will be an Introductory Meeting for Parents on Tuesday 25th September at 7.45pm in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre and they will have a further 7 sessions over the subsequent months. The first session for the children will be on Sunday 7th October at 9.15am, the first of 7 sessions. The First Communions will take place over three Sundays in May 2019.
Monday Communion Service
The 9am Communion Service on Mondays will cease from the beginning of September.
Victor Braglia RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Victor Braglia of Orchard Grove whose funeral has already taken place.
RCIA Sessions
Sessions for those adults who are considering baptism, reception, into the church or confirmation start on Tuesday 9th October at 8pm, upstairs in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process whereby adults journey in the faith towards 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.
Feast of the Assumption
We celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady on Wednesday 15th August. It is a Holy Day of Obligation when every Catholic is expected to attend Mass. Masses here will be at 9am and 7.30pm. On that day we celebrate the fact that Mary was assumed into heaven where she is the beginning and the pattern of the Church in its perfection. This is a sign of hope and comfort for us as we journey on our pilgrim way through life. Many people are away at this time so it presents us with an opportunity to experience Mass in a different setting.
Mission Appeal
There will be a Mission Appeal on the weekend of 1st and 2nd September, given by Sister Maria of the Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph. The community has missions in Kenya, Uganda and Ecuador.
At Weekend Masses in August & First Week of September communion will distributed under one kind only.
Your Clergy
We welcome again Fr Jozef Urbanic who will be with us again in August while Fr Colin is away.
Deacon Ronnie will be here until the end of August when he moves to Enfield Parish. We thank him for his ministry in this parish over the last year and wish him well as he journeys towards the priesthood.
We also welcome in August Fr Raphael Gyapong Frempong from Ghana who will be staying with family members in the parish.
Baptism Preparation
The next session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised will be on Sunday 16th September at 4pm in the Dominic Room. Application forms can be collected from the sacristy.
Older Children For Baptism
Classes will be starting in the autumn for children aged 7 or over who wish to be baptised. They will take place on Saturday mornings at 11am. The start date will be announced. Please let Fr Colin know if you have an older child for baptism.
Susan Whelan Administrator
We thank Loretta for all her hard work and dedication to the Parish for the last 26 years, who is now reducing her hours to one day a week.
We are happy to say that Susan will be starting on Tuesday 4th Sept. She will be working the following times: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9.30-4.30pm, Wednesdays & Fridays 1-4pm in the Parish Office.
Appletree Court Volunteers
A request has been made for volunteers to help at Appletree Court, the care home in Burnt Oak Broadway. They are looking in particular for help with the plants and flowers to make the entrance area more attractive than it is already. If you would like to help please ring Judith at Appletree Court on 0208381 3843.
90th Anniversary of Parish
On 15th December 1928, the Annunciation was completed and was solemnly blessed by Fr Goggin, the Area Dean. It was used for the first time the next day.
To commemorate this anniversary, we are having a special Mass on Sunday 25th November at 12 Noon. This will be followed by a reception in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. We hope to produce a slide show with photographs from the past. If you have any yourself and are prepared to lend them to us, please let Fr Colin know. We also intend to produce a 90th anniversary booklet, with memories of parishioners. If you would like to write a small piece for this booklet, please let Fr Colin know. They can be memories of the distant past or more recent memories. Thank you.
Novena & Holy Hour
The Tuesday Novena resumes on 11th September at 7pm and the Wednesday Holy Hour resumes on 12th September at 9.30am.
Finance Committee
The next meeting of the Finance Committee will be on Thursday 6th September at 7.30pm in the Dominic Room.
Parish Council
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Thursday 13th September at 7.45pm in the presbytery.
Art Exhibition
There is an art exhibition in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre today (Sunday 29th July) from 9.30am to 6pm. The paintings are by local artist, Jean Boulton, and her late sister, Ingrid Fernando. Some of the paintings are for sale at affordable prices. There will also be a raffle as there are five paintings to be won, 10% of profits will be sent to the Westminster Sick and Retired Priests Fund. You are invited to go in and have a look, including before and after Masses today.
Takehomenews
This newsletter covers the whole of August and the first week of September. The next Takehomenews will be on 9th September.
World Meeting of Families
It takes place in Dublin between 21st & 26th August. Pope Francis will be attending this special occasion. Following on from this, the next faith-sharing resource will be entitled ‘Holy Families’ and will be available in the autumn.