29th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME ( C )
Our readings today are encouraging us to persevere in prayer. In the first reading, we have the occasion when Moses holds his arms raised to ensure the Israelites have the advantage over the Amalehites. When his arms dropped through weariness, support for his arms was found so the Israelites could maintain their advantage. In the Gospel, a woman went to a judge seeking justice but he refused. She persisted in pestering the judge and eventually he gave the woman her just rights.
Sometimes our prayers are not answered immediately. The message here is not to give up but to persevere. The Lord will respond at the time that is best for one and all, but sometimes our prayer is answered in a different way from what we might expect.
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY
Next Sunday is World Mission Sunday, when the Holy Father invites all Catholics to contribute to a special collection for MISSIO, his charity for world mission. Please support MISSIO in helping missionaries to work alongside communities throughout the world that are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief. Join in on this special day, that unites Catholics all over the world in prayer and celebration of our Church’s mission to share God’s love with all people. There will be a second collection next weekend for MISSIO. Envelopes are available at the back of the church in which you can Gift Aid your donation.
Many of you support MISSIO through the red boxes. If you have one, please do not return it until next January. If you would like a Red Box, please take an empty one from the brown box underneath the table at the back of the church. Thank you.
THE JOURNEY WE SHARE
This autumn’s faith-sharing resource is entitled ‘The Journey We Share’. It takes up the theme of the worldwide ‘synod’ process which we started last year. Pope Francis has invited us to listen deeply to one another and to discern and discover what God is saying to the Church about how we journey, who share the journey with us, how we listen, how we learn. The fruits of our listening process have been passed on to the Diocese, who have produced a report on all the findings. This in turn is being sent to Rome ready for next year’s Synod. It is exciting to imagine where the wind of the Holy Spirit is blowing our worldwide Church.
Synod simply means ‘journeying together’ so this resource takes us deeper into the emerging themes and priorities for mission of our own Synodal Pathway. Copies of the booklet are available on the table in the porch, price £2. They can be used individually or in groups.
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2023
Application forms for parents who wish their child to receive 1st Holy Communion next year are available at the back of the church. Children should be in Year 3 or above. Please return the form to the presbytery by 4th December 2022. Sessions for parents and the children will start in January.
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME 2023
Application forms for those in Year 10 or above who would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation next year are available at the back of the church. Please return the form to the presbytery by 4th December. Sessions will start in January.
FIERY LEARNING FROM THE PASTORAL FRONT LINE
FR Darline Joseph Marianathan from St Boniface Church in Okehampton has written a book entitled “Fiery Learning from the Pastoral Frontline”. The book was written as COVID 19 was taking hold and it includes some very moving and spiritual experiences he has had as a parish priest in Okehampton over the past ten years. The book reflects deep and meaningful encounters he has shared with his parishioners often in the final hours of their lives. The book is available to purchase from Amazon at the cost of £9.99 in kindle as well as hard copy formats.
Some of you may remember Father Darline when he was here for a short time in 2019 doing a course at Edgware Hospital. Leaflets that have the first few pages of the book are available free on the table in the porch.
MONTH OF THE HOLY SOULS
November, the month of the Holy Souls is approaching. The Memorial Book for you to enter names of those you wish to be remembered is on a table near the statues on the left side of the church. There is no need to enter names you have already entered in previous years. Alternatively, you can put the names on a piece of paper and put it in one of the envelopes at the back of the church. They will be placed in a box in front of the altar during November together with the Memorial Book. Several Masses will be offered during the month of November for the Holy Souls. All Souls Day is on Wednesday 2nd November and there will be an additional Mass at 7.30pm as well as the usual 9am Mass. There will be a Bereavement Mass on Saturday 19th November at 3pm to which everybody is invited. The date for the blessing of graves at Hendon Cemetery will be announced in due course.
BAPTISM PREPARATION
The next preparation session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised will be on Sunday 20th November at 4pm in the Church.
Mass count
The number of people at Mass last Sunday was 446. This gives an average of 439 per week over the last four weeks. This compares with an average of 375 in the corresponding weeks of 2021.
WALK TO CHURCH SUNDAY
We are having another ‘Walk to Church Sunday’ on Sunday 30th October. This is the day that the clocks go back so there will be more time to get to church. The purpose is to save the environment by using less fuel. I know that many of us walk to church any way but it is a day when all of us can think about what we can do to preserve the earth for future generations, however small it might be.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET SESSIONS FOR BEGINNERS
Burnt Oak Library is holding sessions on Computer and Internet for beginners on Saturday afternoon between 2.30 and 3.30.
If you would like to enrol, speak to a member of staff or email burnt.oak.library@barnet.gov.uk or phone 0208 359 3882.
THE CATHOLIC POST
We have been sent free copies of this new Catholic newspaper which is available in the porch. Please take a copy and if you would like to subscribe to future editions, please see the advert on Page 8 of the paper.
ANNE CALVEY RIP
The funeral Mass for ANNE CALVEY will be on Friday at 10am. This is in addition to the 9am Mass that day. Her body will be brought to the church on Thursday at 6pm. May she rest in peace.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA)
These sessions for adults who are seeking baptism or reception into the Catholic Church and for baptised adults who have not received the other Sacraments continue on Tuesday from 8pm to 9pm in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. Any parishioner who is interested in discovering more about their faith is welcome to join these sessions.
SATURDAY 15 October
10.00 am PAUL CAREY INTS
6.30PM: NED ROWAN RIP 1ST ANNIV
SUNDAY 16 October
9.00 am: ROB MORRIS RIP
10.30 am: PRO POP
12.00 Noon: ANTONIO GUMABUN RIP
MONDAY 17 October
7.30am: JACK FLANAGAN RIP ANNIV
12.00noon: MICHAEL MCDONAGH RIP
TUESDAY 18 October
9.00am: MARIA NAKANWAGI RIP
WEDNESDAY 19 October
9.00am: NANCY’S INTENTIONS
THURSDAY 20 October
9.00 am: CELERINA TABIQUE THANKSGIVING BIRTHDAY
6PM: RECEPTION OF ANNE CALVEY’S BODY FRIDAY 21 October
9.00 am: RAYMOND SCOTT RIP ANNIV
10.00AM: REQUIEM MASS FOR ANNE CALVEY
SATURDAY 22 October
10.00 am ROSE MCLAUGHLIN RIP 3RD ANNIV
6.30PM: GERRY KEOGH RIP ANNIV
SUNDAY 23 October
9.00 am: SEAN NANCY/LYNNE JOHN/JENNIE PATRICIA/MOOR FAMILY
10.30 am: MANUAL RODRIGUES RIP
12.00 Noon: PRO POP
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