The Epiphany of the Lord
The three Wise Men follow the star to Bethlehem to find the new-born King. There they worship Jesus and present their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh: gold for a king, frankincense for God, myrrh for his burial. Jesus was both God and Man. This act of the three wise men represents the manifestation of Jesus to the world. This feast of the Epiphany is the time for us to worship the new-born King, and to bring him our own gifts because Jesus has given his whole self to us.
Empowering Vulnerable Children in Uganda
This Charity will be making an appeal at Masses today.
White Flower Appeal
The Society for the Protection of Unborn children (SPUC) will be holding its annual appeal next weekend.
SPUC is currently campaigning to stop the decriminalisation of abortion, which means taking abortion outside the law. This is the most dangerous threat to unborn children and their mothers in decades.
Please be generous as you can help to us defeat the latest attack on unborn babies and their mothers, and to stop abortion getting even worse in this country by decriminalisation.
Thank you
Fr Colin would like to thank everybody for their most generous gifts and offerings that he received at Christmas as well as all the cards. I wish you every blessing for the New Year.
Lately Dead
Please pray for the repose of the souls of:
MICHAEL SCANLON OF Colchester Road whose funeral Mass will be on Tuesday at 11.00am, which is in addition to the 9.00am Mass that morning. NORA KENNY whose Funeral Mass will be on Thursday 17th January at 10.00am Mass, replacing the 9.00am that morning; and ANNE NOLAN whose Funeral Mass will be on Friday 25 January at 10.00am, replacing the 9.00am Mass that morning.
Reports that Miles Harper had died were untrue. Please continue to pray for his health.
Black and Cook Watling Avenue Branch
Black and Cook Watling Avenue branch has now closed after trading at this address for 80 years. They are still trading from The Studio based in Borehamwood and can be contacted through their existing telephone number 020 8952 3953 and also via their email address blackandcookflowers@gmail.com
Novena and Holy Hour
The Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help resumes this Tuesday at 7pm. There will be a Holy Hour after the 9.00am Mass on Wednesday.
Baptism Preparation
The next session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised will be on Sunday 20th January at 4pm in the Dominic Room.
First Communion Programme
There will be a meeting for parents of First Communion children on Tuesday at 7.45pm in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. The children have a session next Sunday at 9.15am.
Confirmation Programme
Applications for the 2019 Confirmation Programme have now closed. There are 30 Candidates. There will be a session for their parents on Wednesday 30th January at 7.30pm in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. The first of seven sessions for candidates will be on Wednesday 6th February at 7.00pm. The Confirmations will take place on Friday 07th June at 7.00pm.
Good Council Network
On Saturday 12th January, please pray and fast for the end of abortion and euthanasia in this Country. Your prayer and fasting is urgently needed, and it really does save lives. This is the day before the 22nd anniversary of the founding of the Good Counsel Network. See details of our work at www.GoodCounselNetwork.com
Good Neighbour Scheme
The Annual General Meeting of the Good Neighbour Scheme for Mill Hill and Burnt Oak will take place in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre on Monday 14th January at 7.30pm. Everybody Welcome.
Collections from the carol singing around the streets on 23rd December amounted to £160.64, which has been sent to the Good Neighbour Scheme.
Crib Appeal
This year our Crib Offerings will be donated to the Catholic Children's Society to support their work with disadvantaged children and families. This will provide mental health services, family support and emergency grants for vulnerable children in our diocese.
Our Lady of Lourdes Mass
The annual Mass in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes will take place in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 9th February at 2pm. The Sacrament of the Sick will be administered during Mass. All are welcome to attend. A special invitation is extended to all who are sick or infirm. All hospital chaplains, doctors, nurses healthcare assistants and all who work in healthcare. If you or someone you know plan to attend in a wheelchair, please let (Fr Colin) know by Sunday 27th January.
CAFOD
I would like to thank you for your prayers and support over the last year. Without you, the work of CAFOD would not be possible.
Dates for 2019
It is customary on the Feast of the Epiphany to announce the important dates in the liturgical calendar for the coming year:
Ash Wednesday 06th March Annunciation Monday 25th March
Palm Sunday 14th April Good Friday 19th April
Easter Sunday 21st April The Ascension Thursday 30th May
Pentecost Sunday 09th June Corpus Christi Sunday 23rd June
St Peter & St Paul Sunday 30th June
Assumption of Our Lady Thursday 15th August
All Saints Friday 01st November
Christmas Day Wednesday 25th December