Parish News – 20 October

Why World Mission Sunday Matters

World Mission Sunday, observed on October 20th this year, is not just another Sunday; it is a powerful reminder of our call to be missionaries. The collection taken up on this day is unique as it is mandated by the Code of Canon Law and is essential for the survival and growth of the Church in mission territories. These funds support the pastoral and evangelizing work of the Church, including building churches, providing healthcare and education, and training future priests and religious. In places where resources are scarce, your generosity makes a profound difference. As we reflect on the theme “Go and invite everyone to the banquet,” let us remember that our participation and support help invite countless souls to the feast of God’s love. There are donation envelopes available so you can Gift Aid what you give or you can give online. If you have a Missio Red Box at home please bring it (labelled with your name) to the Sacristy to be emptied and added to the collection.

Parliamentary Bill on Assisted Dying

A bill has been introduced to Parliament proposing a change in the law to permit assisted dying. The next parliamentary debate and vote on the Bill will be on 29 November and debate will continue thereafter. This puts in the spotlight crucial questions about the dignity of human life and the care and protection afforded by our society to every human being. We hope that you will take part in the debate whenever and wherever you can, and that you will write to your Member of Parliament. And pray. Please read the Cardinal’s letter from last weekend, discuss and pray about it. The charity ‘Right to Life’ has a simple online mechanism to write to your MP. It takes little more than a few minutes to input your postcode, make sure the suggested text suits your viewpoint and submit your message to ask your MP to stop assisted dying being rushed into law. Visit https:// righttolife.org.uk/ASthreat. Copies of the Cardinal’s letter are available in church and here on the website.

A Synod progress report

At the half-way point of the Second Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome that is exploring ‘Synodality’ – how the Catholic Church can be a missionary synodal Church in our times, Bishop Nicholas Hudson, who was chosen by Pope Francis to be a Synod member, has sent a fascinating insight on proceedings as the Synod enters its latter stages – see the Bishops’ website.

Services

Sunday Masses are at 6:30pm (Saturday), 9:45am,  11:15am and 7pm.
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.
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.

Coming up

Life Ascending Group: meets Tuesday 22 October at 10am in the parish rooms.
Thursdays Together: Thursday lunchtimes 11:30am – 1:30pm in the Groves Room, Holy Trinity Church Granville Road N4 4EL. Meet your neighbours and chat over light refreshments.
Community Soup Café: Enjoy a free bowl of homemade soup with bread every Monday, during term, From 11am – 2:30pm at Hornsey Vale Community Centre, Mayfield Road. Soup is served from 12 – 2pm.

Fundraising and Stewardship Campaign

We need to increase the number of volunteers who are able to give of their time and talents to help in the day-to-day running of the parish as a number of key people who have served the parish for many years in critical roles will retire in the coming months and it is urgent and critical that we find new volunteers to replace them! Fr David will speak about this in the coming weeks, please listen and be generous in responding to this appeal.

Pope’s October Prayer Intention – For a shared mission

‘We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people’. See the Pope’s message here.

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.

Sixth Form Open Evening – St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School, North Finchley – Thursday 7 November 6-8pm. The Sixth Form at St Michael’s is a place where the pursuit of academic excellence and academic curiosity are at the heart of all we do. We look forward to welcoming you to our Open Evening when you will have the opportunity to listen to subject specific talks and a talk by the Headteacher, Mr Stimpson. The evening will start promptly at 6pm. Teachers and current students will be available and happy to discuss subject content and life in the sixth form.

2024-2025 Parish Sacramental Programmes

Confirmation: Young people in Year 9 wishing to be confirmed should give Fr David their names and contact details, so that he can assess 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.

Other News:

October – Month of the Holy Rosary: By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates the month of October to the Rosary, one of the best known of all Catholic devotions. October includes the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7). The best way to celebrate the month is, of course, to pray the Rosary. At St Peter’s, the Rosary is prayed after morning Mass on Tuesday and Friday and everyone is welcome.

Scrapping the two-child benefit cap The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has renewed its call for the government to scrap the two-child benefit cap on Universal Credit payments and is asking Catholics to contact their local MPs to make their feelings known. The policy is currently under review by the Government’s Child Poverty Taskforce and the Bishops’ Conference has set up an e-Action online at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/contact-mp-two-child-cap/ – a simple form to help Catholics contact their MPs.

Looking forward to the Jubilee Year 2025: For the forthcoming Jubilee Year a series of model Holy Hours have been produced in PDF downloadable format to provide guided prayer and reflection, with moments of silence in the presence of the Lord. The themes are: Creation, Eucharist, Forgiveness, Jubilee, Justice, Marriage and Family, the Risen Jesus, and Vocation. These can be found at: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/category/cbcew/liturgy/mass/eucharist/holy-hour/

Soup Run: 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. For more info contact Kit Greveson on 07507 138582 or kit.greveson@gmail.com.

Divine Mercy Retreat The Divine Mercy Apostolate, London is holding a Divine Mercy Retreat at St Georges RC Church, 970 Harrow Road, Sudbury, Wembley, Middlesex, HA0 2QE on Saturday 26 October from 1 – 4:30pm. The Retreat will include teachings on the Holy Rosary, Message of Divine Mercy, Holy Mass, Hour of Mercy with Stations of the Cross, Adoration and Benediction and Veneration of the Image of Merciful Jesus. Call Millie on 07957594646 for more information.

Young Catholic Adults and the Traditional English Association of Catholic History is organising a pilgrimage to Catholic York, on 26th and 27th October. It will be themed around St. Margaret Clitherow with visits to her Shrine, her relics at the Bar Convent and the place of her execution. There will also be other social and devotional activities/talks. Please come to as much or as little of the pilgrimage as you want. To book onto this FREE pilgrimage please visit:- https://bookwhen.com/youngcatholicadults-yorkpilgrimage2024

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 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.

Those who have recently died: Sister Pia Müller, Mariia Karp RIP.