Scripture notes – 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A – 27th September 2020

Looking for a theme for the various readings this week, one might choose ‘responsibility’ – what we do with our free will when God is calling us to live as Christ did. It is not only saying ‘Yes, I will’ – doing is what counts. Continue reading Scripture notes – 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A – 27th September 2020

Parish News – 20th September

A £32,000 thank you to our Gift Aiders

In the past couple of months the parish has received Gift Aid payments for the tax years 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. The 2018/2019 payment of £7,993.50 was principally for donations to the building fund and added £7,877.50 to the fund. The 2019/2020 payments of £22,078.12 and £2,000 represent our main claim for parishioners’ weekly and monthly giving but also included £4,447.50 for the Building Fund. So a huge thank you to all who Gift Aid what they give. If you are a tax payer and you don’t already Gift Aid  what you give, please give it serious thought – it does make a real difference! Find out more here.

Opening and times of Services

Everyone attending Mass is asked to wear a face covering while in church and must complete the signing in sheet so we have ‘track and trace’ records. Thank you. Continue reading Parish News – 20th September

Scripture notes – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A – 20th September 2020

‘It’s never too late’ is a common saying that fits the gospel we hear. But a rather different saying may found in the first reading – ‘carpe diem’ – grab the opportunity today, for you do not know how long it will be available. Continue reading Scripture notes – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A – 20th September 2020

Parish news – 13th September

Welcome back after the Summer!

September is a month when we are used to life resuming it’s regular rhythm – people back to work after the holidays, children back to school or starting a new school, meetings beginning, starting to think about Confirmation and First Holy Communion programmes…. Not this year – work is different – are we able to work, where do we work, fears about jobs or keeping our home; school is different; meetings happening by Zoom if they happen at all; changing rules about who we can meet and where and how. People talk about a new normal but does anyone know what it looks like? As if to emphasise the disruption, we just spotted that the Chrism Mass, normally celebrated during Holy Week will take place on Monday, 14th September, at the Cathedral!

Despite the uncertainty and anxiety around us, we are trying to get back to a routine in Parish life and that is reflected in this week’s Parish News. From this weekend we will resume streaming a Sunday Mass with the 9:45am Mass; we are also bringing back the 7pm Mass on Sunday evening;  Holy Hour in church and online on Zoom will recommence this coming Friday, 18th September. See details below. Weekday Masses will not be livestreamed at present.

As more families return to Sunday Masses we have decided to revise the seating arrangements in the church. we ask family groups of 3 or more to sit in the left hand block of pews facing the altar and to keep an empty pew between each family. Thank you for your co-operation.

Plans are now in place to conclude our First Holy Communion programme and parents have been emailed details. Priests have been told that they can confer the Sacrament of Confirmation. We hope shortly to be able to begin to celebrate these precious sacraments of initiation in the parish.

Jennifer, our dedicated and faithful Parish Secretary has bid us farewell after 17 years and sent us this message. Many of you have got to know her as a good friend over the years. If you would like to send her good wishes, cards etc. please drop them off to the presbytery and we will ensure she gets them. (Alternatively you can ‘Leave a Reply’ at the end of Jennifer’s message).

Fr Sean will resume his weekly surgeries at the presbytery on Tuesdays from 5pm – 7pm. You can see Fr Sean without an appointment while of course maintaining social distancing and wearing a mask.

In the new online reality you will also find details below of secondary school open evenings, a CAFOD update, events run by the London Jesuit Centre and, last but not least, The Family Room re-opens. Welcome back! Continue reading Parish news – 13th September

School Transfers & Admissions

Signing School Forms – Fr Sean will be available to sign school transfer forms on Tuesdays from 5pm-7pm at the Presbytery. No appointment is needed.

Please bring your child’s baptismal certificate along with your certificate of Catholic practice.

St Peter’s & St Gildas’ Infant & Junior Schools

Parents interested in sending children to either school are invited to contact the school to arrange a visit. The schools’ website is https://stpetersandstgildas.co.uk/

St Peter’s:
Telephone: 020 8340 6789; Email: admin@st-peter-in-chains-rc.haringey.sch.uk.

St Gildas’:
Telephone: 020 8348 1902; Email: admin@st-gildas.haringey.sch.uk.

Secondary Schools Open Days/Evenings

St Ignatius College
The school will be holding a virtual open evening on Tuesday 13th October with live headteacher Q&A at 7pm. For details see the school website.

Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
In the interests of safety, the Year 7 Open Evening, held remotely from 4:30 pm on Tuesday 15 September. The same will apply for Year 12, from 5:00 pm Tuesday 13 October. Please see the school website admissions page for details.

Bishop Douglass Catholic School
Our Virtual Open Evening is on Wednesday 16th September 2020 at 7:00pm. To book a place email schooladmin@bishopdouglass.barnet.sch.uk or phone 020 8444 5211 Visit the school website or contact the school for more information

Our Lady’s Catholic High School
For details of online events visit this site. The school website at  www.ourladys.hackney.sch.uk provides more information.

St Thomas More Catholic School
We intend to hold a virtual Open Evening on Tuesday 29th September 2020. If you are interested in attending, please complete the details on the website and a member of the team will contact you with further details.

There may also be the possibility of personal tours during the week commencing Monday 28th September. This depends on government guidelines re Covid-19 and may be subject to last-minute change. If interested in a tour, please also complete the details below and someone will contact you with more details.

There is no requirement to book a place to attend our Open Morning or Evening – all are welcome to attend. School website.

St Anne’s Catholic High School
We suggest you contact the school to request details. School website.

Scripture notes – 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A – 13th September 2020

In the Lord’s Prayer, said at every mass and often repeated by Christians everywhere, we say ‘forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us’, and this familiar use may mask the challenge this can be. Today’s readings give us opportunity to reflect on how seriously Jesus takes this obligation. Continue reading Scripture notes – 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A – 13th September 2020

Scripture notes – 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A – 30th August 2020

Today the liturgy’s focus is on the suffering that is often the result of bearing God’s word to the world. It was the fate of the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah, whose complaint we hear first, and expected by Jesus himself in the Gospel reading. Continue reading Scripture notes – 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A – 30th August 2020