Parish News – 10th September

Today is Education Sunday, a national day to celebrate the achievements of the past and to ask Our Lord to bless the work of the year ahead. Yet, this year’s Education Sunday takes place at a time when the world around us looks very dark and cold. Families of many children and young adults in education more than ever need real support to cover basic needs like food, heating and accommodation. In addition, many young people are experiencing mental health problems, including anxiety caused by the war in Ukraine and the impacts of climate change. As schools recover from the difficulties caused by Covid, many now face new disruption to their students’ education as we have been hearing all this week in the news. The theme for this Sunday is ‘The Armour of Light’. Despite all of these challenges, as Christians we have hope – because of Jesus, and the salvation that He brings for all of us. We put on armour (literally, protection), but instead of it being made of metal, it is made of light – of the hope and faith that Jesus gives to us. And in turn, we consider how we can bring this light and hope to children and young adults in education. However long it takes to resolve the problems we are facing now, let us make a start on this Education Sunday to think about ways in which we can journey together with the children and young adults in education, so they can find hope, light and a place in which they can flourish. Let us pray especially for our own children studying at St Peter’s and St Gildas’ Schools as we welcome our new Headteacher, Peter O’Shannessy, to lead them, together with our wonderful school staff, on this journey.

Season of Creation

This September marks a year since the Bishops of England and Wales republished The Call of Creation, a document that encourages us to repair our relationship with God’s creation. It urges each of us to ask ourselves how we can protect our common home. Tune in to a panel discussion on the ‘Call of creation’, a Webinar event hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, CAFOD and St. Mary’s University on Tuesday, 12 September, 7-8pm, Register: bigmarker.com/cafod/signsoftimes

2023-2024 Sacramental Programs

First Communion: Parents of children in Year 3 or above wishing to make their first Holy Communion next year please collect a First Communion Form and return it to Fr David by October 1st. Confirmation: Young people who are in Year 9 or above who wish to be confirmed should collect an application form from Fr David and return it by 1st October. Adult Faith Formation: Coming to Mass but not a Catholic? Thinking of becoming a Catholic? Catholic but not made your confirmation? Looking to know more about your faith? On TUESDAY 3rd OCTOBER AT 8PM IN THE PRESBYTERY Fr David and the RCIA Team will be hosting an informal enquiry evening, an opportunity to chat and enjoy some snacks. This first gathering is for information and enquiry, there is no obligation to make any commitment to become Catholic.

Services

Sunday Masses are at 6:30pm (Saturday), 9:45am,  11:15am (Livestreamed) and 7pm.
Sunday Scripture readings
Notes on the Scripture readings
Weekday Masses are normally at 9am Monday, Tuesday Wednesday and Friday after Morning Prayer at 8:45am. Note: Church is closed and there is no Mass on Thursday. If there is a Funeral Mass, there will be no 9am Mass.
Rosary: Tuesday and 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 Praying for teachers and learners on Education Sunday.

Coming up

Legion of Mary: Will meet in in the Parish Rooms this Sunday 10th September at 3:30pm
Life Ascending Group: resumes Tuesday 12th September at 10am in the Parish Rooms.
Thursdays Together: Every Thursday lunchtime 11:30am – 1:30pm in the hall in Stapleton Hall Road (next to St Aidan’s School). Meet your neighbours and chat over light refreshments.
Holy Trinity Book Sale: Saturday 16th September 11am – 1:30pm, Book and Jigsaw puzzle sale, Holy Trinity Church, Granville Road, N4 4EL. Refreshments available.

Secondary School Transfer Forms: Please see Fr David after mass for an appointment, bring along your school transfer forms, and any other forms you wish signed by the parish priest.

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for September

The Pope invites everyone to pray and assist people who live on the margins of society. “Let us pray for those people on the margins of society in subhuman living conditions, that they may not be neglected by institutions and never be cast out.” In his video, the Pope urges everyone to pay attention to people who face marginalisation, even if it results from “poverty, addictions, mental illness, or disability”. In response to people’s indifference, he holds up a “culture of welcoming, of providing shelter, of giving a home, of offering love, of giving human warmth.”

Other News:

Soup Run If you are able to help drive and/or distribute to the homeless in Central London, please contact Kit Greveson on 020 8340 0557, 07507 138 582 or email kit.greveson@gmail.com. We meet every Saturday at 6pm to drive/distribute for approx. 3 hours. Many thanks. P.S. Our supplies of tinned sweetcorn and sugar are running short.

Ecumenical Lectio Divina prayer meeting: – slow, prayerful, meditative reflection and discussion of a passage of Scripture – at 7:30pm and taking about an hour on Thursday evenings in The London Catholic Worker chapel, the former Church of St Augustine of Canterbury on Mattison Road, Green Lanes. No experience with Lectio Divina is necessary, and refreshments will be provided afterwards.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham: Saturday 23rd September with the theme ‘Mary, Mother of the Home’. We suggest any parishioner interested in going contact local parishes. Westminster Youth Ministry is taking a group of 45 young people (16-25) by coach. The cost is £35, which includes the pilgrimage contribution. Sign up at https://youth.rcdow.org.uk/events/pilgrimage-to-walsingham/ Bookings are open until 16th September.

The Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies: The Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS) provides parish leaders with knowledge and understanding of theology and the Catholic faith. 88% participants recommend the course to others. Learn in person, by distance learning or online. For more information visit brs-ccrs.org.uk

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.

Home urgently needed to rent: 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

Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land – Sunday 19th to Monday 27th November. Route: Galilee – Jerusalem – Bethlehem. Flying from Heathrow on BA, cost for full board is £2265 per person sharing a room. Book online or call Gill at Tangney Tours 01732 886666 or Elizabeth at the Pilgrimage office 0207 798 9173

Ecumenical Holy Land Pilgrimage – 11th – 18th March 2024: Price £1,975 pp based on two people sharing (Single Supplement £550). Limited places available, booking deadline is 30th September 2023 so please book promptly to ensure your place. This Pilgrimage is unsuitable for those with limited or significantly challenged mobility. For full information visit: https://www.jcjourneys.com/london/westminster/ecumenical

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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, 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, Michael Hurley, Enid Samaru, Emilie Alcaraz, Ann Kozlowski-Hunt, Gabriel Brimacombe-Rand, Marie-Christine Polak, Frank Farrell, Peter Leung, Sr Ann Heaney.

Those who have recently died: Tom Shiels, Joan Griffith, Ernesta Christodoulou, John Quinn, Nancy Rattigan (a former parishioner who moved to Palmers Green a few years ago) RIP.