Parish News – 26th February

Lent 2023

Each year the Church gives us six weeks to take a long, loving look at our lives to see if our values and priorities are in line with God’s desires for us. Since most of us find that we’ve wandered from God’s path, Lent becomes that second chance, to “return to God with our whole heart.” The key elements of living a good Lent are to Pray, Fast and Give and you can find ideas on all three on this website page. There is also a sheet of ideas available in church.

Welcome Fr Kevin

We welcome Fr Kevin who will be celebrating Mass for us this week while Fr David is away.

Take only what is most important

As the world reflects on a year of the dreadful war against Ukraine and we all pray for peace with all our hearts, we can perhaps reflect on this poem written in 2015 by the Ukrainian poet and activist Serhiy Zhadan. It details the turmoil of war and the plight of refugees.

Lent Fast Day – Friday 3rd March:

This Lent, CAFOD is supporting families with the skills and tools they’ve asked for to fight the climate crisis. In Bangladesh, 14-year-old Dristy and her mum Rupali are building seed beds and planting palm trees to protect their crops from flooding and cyclones. On Fast Day, Friday 3rd March 2023, we are asked to eat less in solidarity with those without enough to eat and give the money we save to CAFOD’s appeal. Give today to help families grow in strength to adapt to the climate crisis. Use the envelopes that will are available or give online. Once again we will be sharing Ecumenical Stations of the Cross with members of our fellow local churches starting on Friday 3rd March, CAFOD Lent Fast Day, at 7:30pm here at St Peter’s followed by a frugal supper in aid of CAFOD.

World Day of Prayer:

The World Day of prayer will be celebrated on Friday 3rd March at 11am in Holy Innocents Church, 134 Tottenham Lane, N8 7EL. The theme is: “I have heard about your faith”. The celebration has been prepared by the Christian women of Taiwan. Please come and join us. World Day of Prayer is a women-led, global, ecumenical movement promoting prayerful living and worship for men, women and young people and helping raise awareness of the lives and concerns of others throughout the world, especially those who write the service.

Pastoral Letter

Here is Cardinal Vincent’s Pastoral Letter from last Sunday, issued before the beginning of Lent.

Services

Sunday Masses are at 6:30pm (Saturday), 9:45am, 11:15am (livestreamed) and 7pm.
Sunday Scripture readings
Notes on the Sunday Scripture readings
Find other livestreamed Masses in the diocese.
Weekday Masses are at 9am Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday after Morning Prayer at 8:45am.
Note: Church is closed and there is no Mass on Thursday.
Ecumenical Stations of the Cross Friday 3rd  March, 7:30pm here at St Peter’s followed by a frugal supper in aid of CAFOD.
Funeral Mass: of Theresa Charles, on Tuesday 7th March at 11:30am.
Rosary: Tuesday & Friday, after 9am Mass
Confession: The Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession is available on Saturday evening from 6-6:20pm.
Family Room: This week’s activity reflects on Beginning Lent.

Coming up:

First Holy Communion 2023: The next class takes place at St. Peter-in-Chains Junior School between 11am and 12:30pm for parents and children on Saturday 4th March.

Thursdays Together: Every Thursday lunchtime 11:30am – 1:30pm in the hall in Stapleton Hall Road ( next to St Aidan’s School). A chance to meet your neighbours and chat over light refreshments.

CAFOD Syria and Türkiye Earthquake Appeal

Along with the disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), Cafod has launched an appeal in response to the earthquakes which struck Syria and Türkiye where the death toll has passed 46,000, thousands more are injured and thousands of homes and buildings have been destroyed. CAFOD’s local experts are already on the ground assessing and responding to the needs of those affected by the earthquake. You can donate online or at the CAFOD wall safe at the back of church.

Flame 2023

Flame 2023 on Saturday 4 March 2023 at OVO Arena, Wembley will be the largest Catholic gathering of young people in England and Wales, the Flame Congress. The theme of Flame 2023 – which is exactly 150 days before World Youth Day in Lisbon – takes the WYD Scripture “Mary arose and went with haste” and crystallises it into the theme, “Rise Up!” Rise up after the pandemic, Rise up as young Catholics, Rise up – as Mary did – for the surprising and beautiful adventure that is our Catholic faith. Visit https://cymfed.org.uk/flame/ for more information and booking.

School Chaplaincy Team

St Peter’s and St Gildas School has recently formed a Chaplaincy Team of pupils from across Key Stage 3. Guided by a governor, the headteacher and Fr David, they will help develop and lead worship in the school. The team led and read at last week’s morning Mass on Ash Wednesday at St Peter’s; the children selected the readings and hymns and wrote the bidding prayers and prayers for the offertory procession when symbolic gifts – Lenten Promises, Prayer Stones for Reflective Prayer, a Crown of Thorns and the gifts of Bread and Wine – were carried to the altar. Future projects include helping to organise Lenten fund-raising events and improving spaces for outdoor worship and reflection, including the area around the beautiful statue in the grounds of St Gildas’ School. We congratulate and thank Toby, Isabella, Victoria, Dione, Abigail, Liam, Levi, Christopher, Marysia, Georgia, Ngaio and Florence for volunteering for this special role. Please keep the team in your prayers.

Soup Run Appeal

From Kit: We really need more drivers to help us deliver on Saturday evenings. Also, at present we are short of Coffee, but donations of Mayonnaise and tinned Tuna and Sweetcorn are always welcome. There is a labelled box by the church door for donations. If you can help drive, please contact Kit – kit.greveson@gmail.com or call 07507 138582.

Other News:

The Caritas Westminster Volunteer Service “One of the golden threads that runs through our Christian faith is that of loving service.”  Cardinal Vincent Nichols.

Take a moment to imagine parish life in your parish without volunteers. No flowers, no choir, no altar servers. No catechists, musicians or readers. What would you miss most? Parish life without volunteers? Unimaginable! Do you feel called to join the community of volunteers who generously give of their time and share their skills in our parish? There are many opportunities to get involved. Why not take the first step and contact your parish office, or fill in this form or go to our website  to find the perfect opportunity for you.

Food Bank donations: As more and more people need to access food banks, we would ask anyone who is able to donate, when they can, to one of our local food banks. Contributions can be made to Holy Trinity Foodbank on Sundays between 1pm and 3:30pm. Please come to the Church Hall on Stapleton Hall Road, next to St Aidan’s School, N4 4RR, near the Albany Road junction.

Tottenham Refugee Alliance is looking to secure rented accommodation suitable to house a refugee family under the Community Sponsorship Programme. We will support the landlord with upgrading suitable housing and settling the family, supporting them in all their needs to take their place in this local community. Interested landlords should contact us at housing@tottenhamrefugees.org.uk

Westminster Diocese Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2023: The pilgrimage dates for 2023 are the 21st – 28th July. For more information and to make an ‘Expression of interest’ ahead of booking being open: tel. 020 7798 9173; email lourdes@rcdow.org.uk; web www.rcdow.org.uk/pilgrimages/lourdes.

Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 15th May 2023. £699.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full board. All entertainment and excursions included. Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Fr. Peyton Centre & National Museum. Single supplement £150.00. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.

The Universe Catholic Weekly is true to its mission of keeping Catholics informed about their faith, and bringing them ever closer to God. In order to keep our high standard going and maintain a strong weekly Catholic voice at a time when it is much needed in the world, please consider taking out a subscription (a 3-month subscription costs just £20). We have an excellent website full of trustworthy articles. To order your Digital 4 weeks FREE introductory offer call Michelle on 0743 661 7650 or email: michelle.jones@universecatholicweekly.co.uk. Have a look at a recent edition.

Please pray for:

Those who are ill: Christian Overal, Antonio Neto, Zintra Sansom, Brenda Buzec, Amy Gordon, Annette Donivar, Caroline Hilton, Karin Summers, Graham Summers, Joan Summers, Helen Kozlowski, Don Brewis, Roman Cholij, Adeline Oyekoya, Mary Wallace, Sister Pia, Margaret Whelan, Kitty Madden, Clare Bruce, Brendan Whelan, Claire Marchand, Mike Coombes, Mira Lidstone, Gemma Francis, Richard Simon, Noah Purcell–Chandler, Nathalie Renford, Jackie Loivette, Michael Reid, Wendy Fairhurst, Ann Elizabeth Bennett, Joseph Lunn, Tom Shiels, John O’Shea, Michael Hurley, Enid Samaru, Emilie Alcaraz, Ann Kozlowski-Hunt.

Those who have recently died: Margaret O’Callaghan, Theresa Charles RIP.