Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Love is all that matters. But Love is very demanding.
To live in love and for love, we are called to go beyond simple affection. We are to love God with all our hearts, with all our being and our neighbour with concrete actions. Thus, in today’s first reading from Exodus, God told his people that their love for Him must be concretely expressed in truthfulness and caring for and loving strangers, the weak, the lonely, orphans, and the poor. Also, in today’s Gospel, Jesus affirms that our love of God expressed in obedience to his law must hold in balance its two wings, namely, the love of God and the love of our neighbour. To love this way though, we need the Holy Spirit and to have experienced his love in our hearts. Lord, fill our hearts with your love that we may love you and our neighbour with the love with which you have loved us first. Amen
Happy Sunday, Fr Chinedu
ALL SAINTS DAY
On Wednesday we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. It is a Holy Day of Obligation which means that as Catholics we are expected to attend Mass on that day. Masses will be at 9.am and 7.30pm in the Annunciation Church and there will be a Mass in the Annunciation Junior School at 2pm. The Infants School will be attending the 9am Mass in the church.
ALL SOULS DAY
Masses at 9am and 7.30pm
Installation of Fr Eugene Curran as Parish Priest, annunciation church burnt oak
Bishop John Sherrington will be celebrating Mass here at 7pm on Friday, 3rd November. All are welcome. This will be followed by drinks and light refreshments in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre.
FUNERALS THIS WEEK
The funeral Mass for Conciecao Piedade Fernandes will be on Thursday, 2nd November at 1pm.
BEREAVEMENT MASS
The Bereavement Mass, at which we remember in particular those who have died in the last year, takes place on Saturday, 18th November at 3pm. Everyone is welcome.
PARISH COUNCIL
The Parish Council meet on Tuesday 7th November at 7.30pm in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre.
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2024
Application forms for parents who wish their child to receive First Holy Communion next year are available in the porch. Children should be in Year 3 or above. Please return the form to the presbytery by 3rd December 2023. Sessions for parents will start in January 2024.
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME 2024
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 17th December 2023. Sessions will start in January.
MESSAGE FROM FR COLIN AND FR DAVID
We would like to thank everyone for their generosity and heartfelt words in the numerous cards and gifts which you have so kindly given us. Thank you too to all who came to the celebration Mass. It was overwhelming to see so many of you there. Then the reception afterwards was a great time to meet you all. Thank you to everyone who prepared and was involved in the liturgy of the Mass and all those who worked so hard for and at the reception. Our continued prayers for a blessed and growing mission in the Annunciation parish. With thanks to Fr Eugene and the team and every blessing, Fr Colin & Fr David.
Meeting for new altar servers
We are blessed with excellent servers in our parish who give faithful service throughout the year, but we are always on the lookout for other parishioners who would like to join our ‘team’. The ministry of Altar Server is open to all who have received their First Holy Communion and demonstrate a wish to uphold the aims and objectives of the Guild of St Stephen.
Anyone who meets the requirements, and is interested in becoming an Altar Server, is asked to give their name to one of the priests or an adult server and attend an initial meeting in the church on Monday 13th November at 5.30pm. All under 16s must be accompanied to the meeting by a parent/carer.
SECOND COLLECTIONS
Next weekend's second collection is the Annual Collection for Sick and Retired Priests. Envelopes are available at the back of the church. You can donate online at www.rcdow.org.uk/donations
Thank you for celebrating World Mission Sunday
Thank you very much for your donations to World Mission Sunday last week. Your prayers and support of World Mission Sunday will help missionaries work alongside communities throughout the world that are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief. Please pray for the work of Missio and all those working to offer the love of Jesus, that we may remain strong in our witness to Christ’s love for all peoples. To continue supporting mission throughout the year, please go to missio.org.uk or call 020 7821 9755 (office hours).
MISSION BOXES
If anyone has a red box please can you bring it when you come to Mass and leave it in the sacristy . We will be counting on the 7th November so please can you bring them before that date and put your name and address on the box. Thank you.
Foodbank for the Community
Non – perishable food is required for the foodbank, please leave your donations in one of the marked boxes in the church porch. Thank you.
Sharing Faith in the Diocese of Westminster in Autumn 2023.
“The Year of the Council”
This resource is our contribution to the first worldwide preparatory year for ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, the Jubilee Year 2025. Next year, 2024, has been designated as a Year of Prayer, with the ‘Our Father’ at its heart, and our resource for next Lent will take us deeper into that theme. But we begin here. Books are available in the porch £4.00 each. Please put money in box marked papers on the wall in the porch.
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