Season of Creation
Each year from September 1 to October 4, the Christian family unites for this worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home. It is a special season where we celebrate God as Creator and acknowledge Creation as the divine continuing act that summons us as collaborators to love and care for the gift of all that is created. As followers of Christ from around the globe, we share a common call to care for Creation. We are co-creatures and part of all that God has made. Our well-being is interwoven with the well-being of the Earth. We rejoice in this opportunity to safeguard our common home and all beings who share it. This year, the theme for the season is “To hope and act with Creation”. Amid the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, many are beginning to despair and suffer from eco-anxiety. As people of faith we are called to lift the hope inspired by our faith, the hope of the resurrection. This is not a hope without action but one embodied in concrete actions of prayer and preaching, service and solidarity. This season, we are also uniting our Christian voices through a joint advocacy initiative to support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty which calls for a halt to new fossil fuel projects. Visit https://seasonofcreation.org/ to find out more. This is also the theme this week in the Family Room.
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.
2024-2025 Parish Sacramental Programmes
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 could they give Fr David their names and contact details after mass, so that he can make an initial assessment of the numbers who want to be confirmed this year.
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? Please see Fr David after mass, or email him at the parish e mail, to learn about the upcoming program of faith formation for this year.
Services
Sunday Masses are at 6:30pm (Saturday), 9:45am, 11:15am and 7pm. (Note: 7pm Mass on Sundays resumes 8 September)
Sunday Scripture readings
Notes on the Scripture readings
Normal Weekday Mass times (unless there is a funeral) are 9am Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday after Morning Prayer at 8:45am.
7pm Mass Tuesday: will resume September 3.
Funeral Masses: Changes to Mass times e.g. for a funeral will be announced in church.
Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday and Friday after 9am Mass until 10:30am.
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 Joining the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation with God.
Rest in Peace
Sister Pia Müller, Sister of Sion, died peacefully at her care home on 17th August. May she rest in peace.
Coming up
Padre Pio Group: meets Sunday 1st September at 7pm in church.
Life Ascending Group: resumes Tuesday 10th September at 10am in the Parish Rooms.
Thursdays Together: resumes on 12th September in the Groves Room, Holy Trinity Church Granville Road N4 4EL. Please note changed venue. Meet your neighbours and chat over light refreshments.
Eucharistic Festival at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday, 14 September. Commencing at the 12:30pm Mass of the Day, with Adoration, Relic of Bl Carlo Acutis and concluding around 4pm with a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Pontifical Benediction.
Pilgrimage to Walsingham: The annual diocesan pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham will take place on Saturday, 21st September. The chosen theme for this year’s pilgrimage is “Be it done unto me according to thy word” – Mary’s reply to Gabriel and our daily Angelus prayer. We will, as always, be bringing the needs of our diocesan family to Our Lady’s Shrine, with a particular prayer that we may be open and attentive to God’s call on our lives, the unique vocation God has for each one of us, and respond with faith and trust, just like Mary.
Soup Run Update
Grateful thanks to those who have come forward as drivers/distributors after our last appeal. It has helped to ease the pressure off our current volunteers. We would still always welcome help and also for our sandwich teams. Donations of instant coffee, tuna (no catering sizes please), sweetcorn and mayo always appreciated. Contact Kit Greveson on 07507 138582 or email kit.greveson@gmail.com.
Paralympic Games
Pope Francis has expressed his hope that the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games provide the opportunity for warring nations to respect an ancient Greek tradition and establish a truce for the duration of the Games. (Vatican News)
Gift Aid – £18,000 Thank you
We have now received our Gift Aid payments for the 2023/2024 Tax Year. This totals almost £18,000 and we thank all our parishioners who have signed Gift Aid Declarations adding 25p for the parish to every £1 they give at no cost to themselves. If you need a Gift Aid Statement for your 23/24 Tax return, please contact plannedgiving@stpeterinchains.com.
Pope Francis’ September prayer intention
We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and of victims of natural disasters and climactic change, and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.
Other News:
Bringing Faith to Life – The London Jesuit Centre at 114 Mount Street, London, W1K 3AH, offers short courses for parishioners including courses for non-specialists on Social & Environmental Justice, Spirituality, Philosophy, Theology and Catholic Social Teaching. For a copy of the 2024/2025 programme visit https://www.londonjesuitcentre.org/
March for Life – Saturday 7th September: Pro-Life Summit 10:30-12:30 at The Emmanuel Centre, Marsham St SW1P 3DW on the theme for the day “Abortion isn’t Healthcare”. Also Mass at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark at 11am. March starting at the Emmanuel Centre at 1:30 and finishing at Parliament Square at 4:30.
School Open Days: Finchley Catholic High School open evening is Tuesday 10th September from 5–7.30pm with Headteacher talks at 5pm and 7pm. Parking available on site. La Sante Union: Open Evening, Tuesday 17th September, 4pm-7pm (last entry 6.30pm). Open Mornings Tuesday 8th & Thursday 17th October, 9am-11am.
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.
The National Guild of St Stephen Altar Servers’ Dinner will be held at the Liner Hotel, Lord Nelson Street, Liverpool, L3 5QB on Friday 6th September at 7.30pm. This is a great opportunity to meet other server’s and families from all over the UK. For more details: https://www.guildofststephen.org/events/dinner2024.
Marriage Encounter (England & Wales) will be holding a non-residential retreat from 21-22 September 2024 at Church of the Annunciation, Burnt Oak, London, HA8 0HQ. Focused on couples who want to enrich their relationship and gain a deeper understanding of the Sacrament of Marriage, it’s a chance to explore your relationship at a deeper, more intimate level, regardless of how long you have been together. Find out more at wwme.org.uk
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, Margaret Whelan, Kitty Madden, Brendan Whelan, Claire Marchand, Mike Coombes, 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, Elizabeth Herbert, Mr Anthony Mark Selvarajah, Elaine Benjamin, Emma Gordon, Mariia Karp.
Those who have recently died: Teresa Buckley, Mira Lidstone, Sister Pia, Stuart Reed RIP.