28th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME ( C )
Leprosy is a terrible disease. It affects the skin and many people can be deformed as a result. Fortunately, nowadays there is a medical cure and St Francis Leprosy Guild and other organisations give support to those seeking medical care. But in the time of Jesus, those suffering from Leprosy had to live in separate communities. They were outcasts, cut off from everybody else. In today’s Gospel, Jesus cures 10 lepers who stood some way off pleading with Jesus to take pity on them. Of the 10 lepers, only one of them thanked Jesus and he was a Samaritan. The points that this episode teach us are:-
1. To always thank God for the blessings that he gives us.
2. To help, support and pray for those who are the outcasts of today for whatever reason.
3. That our faith, often tested, is our means to salvation.
CAFOD
FAMILY FAST DAY
Millions of our global family are facing a truly terrible crisis. It’s a crisis that’s been created by other disasters. Climate change, the covid pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine are causing food prices to skyrocket. All around the world, including here in the U.K, ordinary families are finding it harder than ever to put food on the table. But in Northern Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan, four years of unbearable drought mean that up to 20 million people are fighting for their very survival. It’s so severe that schools are closed and people are forced to keep moving to find places where food is available. CAFOD works with local experts in East Africa and across the world who know how best to respond. Our donations mean that they can help this crisis getting even worse. There will be a collection as you leave Mass today in which you can put in the special CAFOD envelope. Alternatively, you can take an envelope from the back of the church and return it next weekend, or send it straight to CAFOD in the pre-paid envelope. You can use the envelope to Gift Aid your donation and to make a regular monthly gift to CAFOD. Thank you.
HARVEST PRAYER
WE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF EAST AFRICA
AND ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
MAY GOD GRANT US THE GIFT OF COMPASSION,
THAT WE MIGHT BE MOVED
TO SHARE OUR BREAD
WITH THE HUNGRY AND WORK
WITH ALL OUR STRENGTH
TO END FOOD POVERTY.
WE MAKE OUR PRAYER THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD.
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.
PRISONERS’ SUNDAY
Today is Prisoners’ Sunday. It is a day when the Catholic Church encourages us to bring prisoners and their families into the hearts and minds of our parish communities and remember in our prayers those who among us affected by the criminal justice system.
PACT is the national Catholic Charity supporting prisoners, people with convictions and their children and families. It provides caring and life-changing services at every stage of the criminal justice process: in court, in prison, on release and in the community.
We will not be having a second collection as we are already going to collect for CAFOD Family Fast Day today. However, if you would like to send a donation to PACT, there are envelopes on the table at the back of the church which you can send directly to PACT.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA)
On Tuesday we will be starting our sessions for adults who are seeking baptism or reception into the Catholic Church and baptised Catholics who have not received the other Sacraments. Sessions take place from 8pm to 9pm on Tuesdays in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. Any parishioner who is interested in discovering more about their faith is welcome to join these sessions.
SIGNING SCHOOL FORMS
Fr Colin will be available to sign school application forms on Saturday 15th October between 12 noon and 1pm in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre.
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.
Mass count
The number of people at Mass last Sunday was 398. We will be counting heads again at Masses this weekend.
ANNE CALVEY RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Anne Calvey of Limesdale Gardens who died on 23rd September. Her funeral Mass will be on Friday 21st October at 10am. This is in addition to the 9am Mass that morning. Her body will be brought to the church at 6pm on Thursday 20th October.
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.
MACMILLAN CAKE SALE
Dear All,
Thank you for making our Coffee morning special. Whether you joined us for the cause, the chatter or the tasty treats your generosity helped raise a healthy £286.05 to support living with cancer. For anyone who would like to donate online, feel free to visit our Fundraising page. https://thyg.uk/BQS007378897
Thank you so much again.
Kind regards Kenneth Blake.
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