First Sunday of Lent (A)
We battle with temptation constantly—temptations to do wrong, but also temptations not to bother to do some good act. The more we reflect on the way that Jesus overcame his temptations, as laid out in today’s Gospel, the stronger we will be to resist the devil leading us to do wrong and leading us away from doing what is right and good. Lent is a good time to perform acts of kindness and generosity, our response to all that the Lord does for us.
Lenten Alms
This year the Cardinal has asked that the Lenten Alms collection be directed to the Cardinal’s Appeal fund. The funds raised will go to support parishes or groups in their work to further the mission of the Church: to serve the evangelisation of youth, to develop marriage and family life projects, and to provide service in society, especially to those on the margins. Please take a leaflet, read and pray about this. The second collection on the weekend of 18th/19th March will be for the Cardinal’s Appeal Lenten Alms. Envelopes are available at the back of church today – you can make a Lenten Gift by placing the envelope in the designated box near Our Lady’s Altar. Thank you.
Lenten Discussion Groups
This Lent’s discussion leaflets are entitled ‘Meeting Mercy’. They will help to take us deeper into the Sunday Gospels of five weeks of Lent. The text of the Gospel is not contained within the leaflet so you will need to use it in conjunction with a Bible or the Sunday Mass leaflet. The leaflets are free and can be found in the porch. There will be three groups meeting in the parish:-
Wednesdays 11am in Dominic Room
Sheelagh Benson’s Group
0208 952 0016
Vince Randall’s Group
0208 952 6994
CAFOD Lent Fast Day
Friday is CAFOD Lent Fast Day when we are encouraged to give up a meal or luxury and give what we save to the needy in the Third World. Please take an envelope from the pew or at the back of the Church and return it with your contribution next weekend.
“Florence is a hard-working mother who is devoted to her family. A few years ago, she was only just making enough to feed her family.
However, CAFOD’s partner, the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, recognised how determined Florence was to stand on her own two feet and so they gave her 500 tiny fish, tools and training to build a pond and farm fish. By selling some of the fish at market, Florence was able to give her children a future –she was able to send them to school.”
Please support this Lent Fast Day, to ensure more people like Florence can turn tiny fish into something amazing.”
First Communion Programme
There is a session for the First Communion children this morning (Sunday) at 9.15am. Next Sunday they will be taking part in a Celebration Mass at 10.30am.
Confirmation
Confirmation candidates meet this Wednesday at 7pm in the Parish Centre.
Baptism Preparation
There will be a preparation session next Sunday, 12th March, for parents who wish to have their baby baptised. It takes place at 4pm in the Dominic Room and application forms can be collected from the sacristy.
Parish Council
The new Parish Council meets on Thursday 16th March at 7.45pm in the presbytery.
New Offertory Envelopes
These will be available on the weekend of 18th/19th March.
Guests For Ordination
In light of his upcoming ordination, Deacon Carlos would like to ask if parishioners would be willing to offer accommodation for his guests coming from overseas for a few days. If anyone is willing to offer any space or room, please let Carlos know. If anyone is willing to offer assistance in order to collect guests from the airport, please give your details to Deacon Carlos. On behalf of his guests, Deacon Carlos appreciates you for this act of charity.
His ordination is at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 24th June and his first Mass will be here at the Annunciation on Sunday 25th June.
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross this Friday will be at St Alphage Church, Montrose Ave at 7pm.
Mass for Bereaved Parents
This takes place on 11th March, next Saturday, in Westminster Cathedral at 2.30pm when a Mass will be celebrated for all bereaved parents. At the end of the homily parents will be invited to write the name of their deceased child, which will be collected and taken to the sanctuary.
Lately Dead
The funeral Mass for Eileen Moxham will be on Wednesday at 11am. This will be in addition to the 9am Mass that day. Holy hour will take place at the Lady Altar. Eileen’s body will be brought to the Church at 6pm on Tuesday.
Also please pray for the repose of Michael Cummins whose cremation takes place tomorrow (Monday) and for Robert Fergusson whose funeral Mass will be on Thursday 16th March at 11.30am.
A Day With The Lord
We are having a Day of Exposition on Friday 31st March starting after the 9am Mass and concluding with Benediction at 6.30pm. Please sign up for one or more half-hour slots on the sheet at the back of the Church. After Benediction, Stations of the Cross will follow at 7pm.
A Talk On Lent & Holy Week
Fr Francesca Donega will be giving a talk on Lent & Holy Week on Wednesday 8th March at 7.30pm at the Church of St William of York, Stanmore. Everyone is welcome.
Feast Of The Annunciation
The Feast of the Annunciation falls on a Saturday this year, but we have decided to have our main celebration on Friday 24th March with a Mass at 7.30pm followed by a get-together in the Parish Centre. For this we invite you to bring along a dish of food (including meat dishes—we are dispensed from abstaining from meat that Friday as we are celebrating a Solemnity). We will provide the drink. There will also be a Mass of the Annunciation at 10am on Saturday 25th March.
Rosary Priory
We are currently seeking Female Care and Support Workers who will make a real difference to the lives of the Dominican Sisters based at Rosary Priory Convent. We require females who are conscientious and committed to delivering a high quality care service. A flexible approach to work is required as you may be asked to work evening and weekend shifts, as well as during times of absence and sickness. To apply/further assistance please contact Recruitment on 0845 543 6377; or e-mail Sanctuaryathome.recruitment@sanctuary-housing.co.uk and quote Ref: 26162.
WATCH THIS SPACE - J.D.S
Waking up on the eve of her birthday, a woman said to her husband, “I just had a dream that you gave me the most beautiful diamond necklace. What do you think it means? “You’ll know tomorrow” he said with a smile. The woman could hardly think of anything else all day, and couldn’t wait for the following morning to arrive. As she sat up in bed on her birthday, her husband handed her a beautiful wrapped small package. She opened it excitedly to find a book entitled ‘The Meaning of Dreams.’