14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Jesus provides us with the most comforting of messages in today’s Gospel. He invites us to come to Him with our burdens and worries and he will sort
them out for us. He will give rest to our souls. Jesus is always there for us and knows the concerns, responsibilities and sufferings we are bearing. We need to make an effort to come to him in prayer and in faith and also to remember everyone else who has burdens to carry. In fact with Christ present in us, we can be the instrument by which others are relieved of their burdens. Jesus is today also encouraging the poor and lowly by acclaiming that the Father reveals his mysteries to them and not reserve them from the learned and the clever. In doing this, Jesus explains the unique relationship between the Son and the Father. Jesus has been entrusted with everything by the Father and no one knows the Son except the Father and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
SUMMER FAYRE
Our Summer Fayre takes place on Saturday between 12 and 3pm. There will be Games, Tombola, a bottle stall, Toys, Cakes. Plants, Bric-a Brac, Face Painting and several other stalls. There will be plenty of food and drink available. Many thanks to those who have offered to assist at the stalls. Thanks too to those who are helping to set up things on Friday evening. Raffle tickets will be available after weekend Masses and on the day itself.
Donations of toys, bric a brac, bottles, baked cakes, plants etc. can be brought to the Parish Centre during Office Hours or brought to the Presbytery. Thank you.
Westminster Interfaith group
Because of a graduation the Westminster Interfaith group will not meet in July. Archbishop Kevin's talk is postponed to October 18th. The next meeting will be on Sept 20th at 2 p.m.
SECOND COLLECTIONS THIS MONTH
There will be two further second collections in July. On 22nd/23rd July there will be a collection for Harrow Mencap and on 29th /30th July the Little Sisters of the Poor will be here to make an appeal.
SEA SUNDAY
Today is Sea Sunday when we pray for those who live and work at sea. There will be a second collection for the work of Stella Maris, formerly called the Apostleship of the Sea. Gift Aid envelopes are available at the back of the church.
Seafarers and fishers play a vital role in all of our lives, but they often work in difficult and hazardous conditions. In the last year, more crews were abandoned by their employers than ever before. Many are still being denied the right to leave their ships for even a short break away from the relentless pressure onboard. Many are reporting more stress and poorer mental health.
Stella Maris provides a friend in every port to stand alongside seafarers and fishers to ensure their rights are upheld. The network of chaplains and volunteers make more than 70,000 ship visits each year.
You can donate in church, or by visiting www.stellamaris.org.uk/donate, or by texting ‘SEA’ to 70460 to donate £5. This collection is vital to enable Stella Maris to continue its important work - Thank you.
Baptism Preparation
There will be a session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised next Sunday, 16th July at 4pm in the church
SCHOOL LEAVERS MASSES
The Infants school will be leading the liturgy at the 9.0 Mass on Wednesday when we will be remembering those who are leaving for Junior School at the end of term.
The Junior School Leavers Mass will be in that school at 6pm on Thursday.
There will be no Holy Hour this Wednesday.
THE OFFERTORY PROCESSION
It has become our practice to invite those for whom the Mass is offered or those who have arranged the Mass to bring up the Offertory gifts. If you would like to do so, please speak to one of the stewards before the Mass.
Ask your MP to stop abortion up to birth
The abortion lobby is running a campaign to fully ‘decriminalise’ abortion, which would introduce abortion up to birth!
Right To Life UK has launched an easy-to-use tool on its website which makes it simple for you to send an email to your MP asking them to oppose the introduction of abortion up to birth. Please visit www.righttolife.org.uk/noabortionuptobirth to contact your MP now. It only takes 30 seconds.
CAFOD: update on the conflict in Sudan
Violent conflict continues in Sudan and thousands of people are running out of food, water and medicine. Working as part of the Caritas network, your previous donations to CAFOD are enabling our teams to provide practical help to families who have escaped to neighbouring countries, including South Sudan. Please join Pope Francis in praying for peace in Sudan. Find out more on the CAFOD website: cafod.org.uk/news/emergencies-news/sudan-conflict
Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC)
We are looking to recruit a part-time Executive Assistant (21 hours p.w.) whose role is to work with the Executive Director. Salary details are available on request. For a full job description and application form, please email us jobs@spuc.org.uk or call 020 7091 7091. The closing date for applications is 15 July 2023. Applications may close early if a suitable candidate is found.
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