8th Sunday of Year C
Today’s Gospel can help us as we plan our Lent which begins on Wednesday. We need firstly to remove the plank that is in our own eye. In other words, we should examine our consciences and seek forgiveness for what we have done wrong. Lent is a time to fill our heart with love through our closeness to Christ and our imitation of Christ. If we are Christ-like, then all our dealings with others, by word or action, will be centred around God’s love.
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday when we start the season of Lent, a time to get closer to Almighty God through prayer and action. Ash Wednesday is a Day of Fasting and Abstinence, meaning that we can have just one meal during the day and should refrain from eating meat. The Gospel is telling us not to parade the good deeds we do, to do them for the glory of God and the help of others, not for our own glory in this life. The message is not to be gloomy but to be happy as we carry our God’s will. Masses on Ash Wednesday are at 9am and 7.30pm. There is also a service in the Infants School at 11am and a Mass in the Junior School at 2pm.
Stations of the Cross
We are encouraged to make the Stations of the Cross during Lent either individually or together. This Friday we will have Stations of the Cross here at the
Annunciation at 7pm.
Lenten Resources
Copies of the booklets ‘My Day By Day’ and ‘Walk With Me’ are available in the porch. Also available is the publication ‘Rejoice and be Glad’ with material for reflection individually or in groups. I will be using these 6 weeks of reflection during the Novena on Tuesdays at 7pm throughout Lent.
Parish Annual General Meeting
Today we have our Parish Annual General Meeting at 2.pm in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. Everyone is invited. We will review what has happened in the past year, plan ahead for this year and elect a new Parish Council.
The meeting will be preceded at 1.15 by a bring and share lunch, to which we invite you to bring along a dish of food. We will provide the drink. Everyone is invited.
A Day with the Lord
We will be having a day of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Friday 5th April from 9.30am until 6.30pm.
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Baptism Preparation
The next session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised will be on Sunday 24th March at 4pm in the Dominic Room.
Lately Dead
Please pray for the family of BABY NELLY BELL-JENKINS whose burial takes place this Friday and NORAH (PHYLLIS) HOGAN whose funeral Mass is on Friday 15th March at 10.am, replacing the 9am Mass that morning.
90th Anniversary Booklet
The 90th anniversary booklet is now available in the Repository. Donations are welcome and money will be used to purchase two new chalices for the parish. We are very grateful to Alice O’Neill who compiled the booklet, to all those who contributed in any way and to Putnam’s for arranging the printing.
Rite of Signing
During the 12 Noon Mass today, those in our RCIA group will be taking part in the Rite of Signing. Then on Saturday they will go to Westminster Cathedral for the Rite of Election. Please pray for our group as they journey towards receiving the Sacraments at Easter.
First Communion Programme
The children have a session this morning at 9.15 and next Sunday take part in a Celebration Mass at 10.30.
Need for Accommodation
1 or 2 bedroom flat, please call this number 07984433263 or see Father Colin.
Lenten Alms
A Lenten Alms box will be placed near Our Lady’s altar during Lent for contributions to be sent to a Diocesan Charity.
Cardinal’s Mass of Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Matrimony, Westminster Cathedral, Saturday 8 June 2019 at 3pm
The Cardinal will be inviting to this Mass all couples in the Diocese who are celebrating their 5th, 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th (and every year over 60) wedding anniversary of Catholic marriage in 2019. If you are celebrating an anniversary, please give your parish clergy the following details: husband and wife’s names, wedding date, full postal address and email (or telephone number, if no email).
National Novena to St Joseph – 10th-18th March
The National Novena to St Joseph takes place from 10th – 18th March at St Joseph’s Church Maidenhead and at Herbert House, Freshfield, Liverpool.
Each year the Mill Hill Missionaries prepare for the Feast of St Joseph, their patron, with a special novena of Masses and prayers to ask for God’s blessing on their Society and the missionary outreach of the church, as well as for all those who support their work. You are invited to send in your petitions and /or request a novena booklet to enable you to join in from home by praying the daily novena prayer. Please write to Fr. Brian Oswald MHM, St Joseph’s Missionary Society, 58 Cookham Road, Maidenhead SL6 7HT, or Email: novenamhm@gmail.com.
The Good Neighbour Scheme for Mill Hill and Burnt Oak
Film Afternoon
.“When Harry Met Sally” Wednesday 27th March 2019, doors open 2pm, film commences 2.15pmTrinity Church, Mill Hill Broadway. Donations welcome.
Catholic History Walks
Anglo-Saxon Christianity in London, Monday 4th March, 6.30pm. For this event only, please book with me at the email address below.
Richmond, Sunday 10th March at 3.30pm and Monday 18th March, 7pm: A walk around the riverside town with its Tudor history.
Contact: chwalkslondon@gmail.com or find us on Facebook or see catholichistorywalks.com
Cost: £5, concessions available. Please wear suitable footwear and plan for the weather.
Walks may take up to 2 hours. Many more walks in April and May.
Thank You
Peter & Joyce Maclean wish to thank all those who sent cards and well wishes for Peter’s 100th birthday last month.