Parish News – 12th November Remembrance Sunday

We have heating!

After heating engineers condemned our Church Boiler as unsafe, parishioner David Fleming (the younger one!), the proprietor of N4 Gas, came to give us an estimate for a new boiler but first asked to check the boiler which he has worked on before. Having stripped it down and serviced it, checked the flue and carried out the necessary safety checks, he declared the boiler safe for us to continue using and issued a certificate to that effect. We are hugely grateful to David and will now look at replacing our elderly boiler next year.

World Day of the Poor – Food Bank and Soup Run Appeal

Pope Francis has declared Sunday 19 November to be the seventh World Day of the Poor, with the theme of “Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor” (Tobit 4:7). So, next Sunday, we ask you, if you can, to bring a donation of suitable foodstuff for our local groups – Holy Trinity Food Bank and our Parish Soup Run.

Sick and Retired Priests Fund Collection

Many thanks to all who donated, giving almost £1,000 for the Sick and Retired Priests Fund last weekend. You can still use donation envelopes and put them– Gift Aided if possible – in the Offertory Collection and continue to pray for the wellbeing of all of our clergy: active, retired and ill. You can also donate online.

2023-2024 Sacramental Programs

First Holy Communion: our children will be enrolled into the programme next Sunday, 18th November, at the 11:15 Mass,
Catechists needed: We are looking for confirmed Catholics to become part of the Sacramental Programme here in the parish by becoming a catechist. If you are interested in getting involved please get in contact with Fr David.

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.  There is also a 7pm Mass on Tuesday where the homily is focused on teaching. 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 Commemorating Remembrance Sunday.

Coming up

The Legion of Mary: will not be meeting for the present.
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.

The conflict in Gaza

Letter from Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: Unite our feelings with those of Jesus at this tragic moment for the Holy Land – you can read the letter, dated October 24th and read at some masses last weekend, at https://tinyurl.com/3kk36435.

Bishop Declan Lang, Chair of the Bishops’ Conference’s International Affairs department, and Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Chair of the Holy Land Co-ordination have released a statement on the ongoing Israel/Hamas war which can be read on the Catholic Bishops’ website.

Holy Souls lists

Holy Souls lists and envelopes are still available at the back of the church and the form is also available here. Please hand your list with your donation in the envelope provided to the priest or parish office. The lists will be displayed before the Altar during November with Masses offered for the souls of your deceased family members and friends.

National Tribunal Service (NTS)

The National Tribunal Service (NTS) for the Catholic Church in England and Wales, was officially launched On Saturday, 4 November at a Mass in Westminster Cathedral celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols. Cardinal Nichols said: “Today is a most significant day in the life of the Church in England and Wales, and indeed for the Church more widely. This National Tribunal, established specifically for the application of penal law in the Church, is a focus of practical love and service. It is established to ensure that the rights and obligations of all the Christian faithful are upheld, robustly and impartially, and that justice and equality must prevail. This is love in action.”

Synod update

Women and the laity, diaconate, ministry and magisterium, peace and the climate, the poor and migrants, ecumenism and identity, new languages and renewed structures, old and new missions (including the “digital” mission), listening to all and probing everything more deeply, even the most ‘controversial’ issues. In the Synthesis Report approved and published by the 16th General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality, there is a renewed look at the world and the Church and their demands. After four weeks of work, the General Assembly has concluded its first session. The work of the assembly took place “while wars both old and new have raged in the world, with dramatic consequences that are impacting upon countless victims.” The report says, “The cry of the poor resounded among us, of those forced to migrate and of those suffering violence and the devastating consequences of climate change. We heard their cry not only through the media, but also through the voices of many present, who were personally involved in these tragic events whether through their families or their people”. To these many challenges, the universal Church has tried to offer a response in the Synthesis Report, which traces the path for the work to be done in the second session in 2024. Read more about the Synod report on Vatican News.

Missio red Boxes

If you left your Red Box to be emptied, please collect it from the Sacristy. Missio 2024 Calendars are now available at the back of church.

New Servers, Readers, Eucharistic Ministers needed

Do you have a child who has received their first communion and wants to be an Altar Server? Do you have the voice and the confidence to proclaim the Word of God at Mass? Interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister? Please contact Fr David.

Upper Room Leadership Programme

Aged 18-22 years old? Westminster Youth Ministry is developing a training programme for Young Catholic Leaders. Prepare to begin a life changing journey of formation, training, and prayer with 20 other young Catholics in the Diocese. Starting in the Upper Room and accompanied by Mary, Mother of God, we will set out together to prepare for a life of professional and spiritual leadership, to carry out the Great Commission, and “make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28.19).
Join us, and experience inspiring places and talks across several locations in the Diocese, build relationships with others in small groups, access unique resources to learn and grow in practical skills for leadership and mission, and discover your unique calling to build up the Church (Eph 4:12). Be quick! Applications close on the 11th November. Visit https://youth.rcdow.org.uk/programmes/upper-room-leadership-programme/ to apply or email youth@rcdow.org.uk for enquiries.

Saying Goodbye Remembrance Service

On the 26th November at 3:30pm in Methodist Central Hall, Westminster. Anyone who has either personally lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in early years, or who has been affected by family members’ or friends’ loss. Whether the loss was recent or 80 years ago, everyone is welcome to attend. We have also extended the services, and gladly welcome anyone who is grieving the fact that they haven’t had children. Whatever the reasons, all are welcome. Babies and children are also invited to come with their families, as the Saying Goodbye service is truly a family event for all.

Other News:

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.

Soup Run Appeal We are running low on tinned tuna at present. Donations (family-size tins are best please) can be left in the box by the church entrance. 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.

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.

Diocesan Pilgrimage Lourdes 2024 Next year’s Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will be from 19th to 26th July. Complete an ‘Expression of Interest’ form and you will be contacted when bookings open.

The Universe Catholic Weekly The Universe Catholic Weekly gives Catholics the chance to read about this country and the world through the lens of their religion. Digital and printed editions are available to subscribers. Visit their website for more information.

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, Elizabeth Herbert, Mr Anthony Mark Selvarajah.

Those who have recently died.