Trinity Sunday
Today we celebrate the Most Holy Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. We are taught about love, gratitude and hope. On Trinity Sunday we celebrate our own common divine origin — children of God with one shared life in the Holy Spirit. All the readings highlight God’s presence in the world from the beginning. The Trinity holds all things together. The parts are all aspects of the same God — God as the maker of all things, God before us and over us; God incarnate as Jesus Christ, fully human, fully divine, God beside us; and the mutual love and wisdom that is God the Holy Spirit, breathed into our very lives and into all creation.
Missionary Appeal
Today we welcome Fr. John Gerrard who will be making an appeal on behalf of the White Fathers, the Missionaries of Africa. The Missionaries of Africa, come from may different countries in Africa and around the world, and great importance has always been attached to the international nature of the society, with French and English being the official languages. Thanks to the heroic efforts of missionaries working in Africa since 1968, the increase in the number of African Christians is vastly outpacing the supply of African priests, brothers and co—operators required to attend to the spiritual needs of these peoples. Many parishes in Africa are understaffed, simply because there is nobody to send there. At the same time, within the Dioceses in Africa, there are vast areas where the fulfilment of the Church’s commission to the world has still to be initiated or consolidated, it is especially here that the Missionaries of Africa find their task today.
International Mass
Our Annual International Mass will take place at 12 Noon on Sunday 14th July. Those who would like to do a reading or a Bidding Prayer in a different language are asked please to contact Fr. Colin. If there is a group who would like to lead a hymn or song also please let Fr. Colin know. The Mass will be followed by a barbecue and other foods for which we invite you to bring along an international dish. We will provide the drink.
New Stained Glass Window
We thank MADONNA THOMAS for the new stained glass window now installed at the back of the church. It will be blessed after the 10am Mass on Saturday, 29th June, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Meeting for Eucharistic Ministers
There will be a meeting for Eucharistic Ministers on Tuesday 25th June at 8pm in the church.
Baptism Preparation
The next session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised will be on Sunday 7th July at 4pm in the Dominic Room. Application forms can be collected from the sacristy.
New Altar Servers
We are blessed with excellent servers in our parish who give faithful service throughout the year, but we are always on the lookout for other parishioners who would like to join our ‘team’. The ministry of Altar Server is open to all – without limit of age or gender – who have received their First Holy Communion and demonstrate a wish to uphold the aims and objectives of the Guild of St Stephen.
If anyone, child or adult, male or female – in particular, those who have been part of this year’s First Holy Communion and Confirmation programmes – would be interested in becoming an Altar Server, they are invited to speak to Fr Colin or a Senior server to find out more and collect an application pack. Further information about the parish branch of the Guild can also be found on our website – www.groupspaces.com/annunciationservers – or by emailing annunciationserversteam@gmail.com. Application forms must be returned to the sacristy by Sunday 23rd June at the latest. Training sessions will be scheduled once the application deadline has passed.
Jewish Harvard Professor to Catholic Evangelist
What would cause a successful young Jewish Harvard Business School professor, the son of German Jewish Holocaust refugees, to leave a promising career to become a Catholic evangelist? Roy Schoeman did just that and will share his Witness Testimony when he gives a talk on “Why be Catholic” in the Parish Hall of St Edward the Confessor Church, Golders Green on Wednesday, 26 June at 8pm.
Refreshments served from 7.30 pm. Due to the limited availability of seats, early registration is strongly recommended. To register, search “Roy Schoeman London talks” on Eventbrite
Four:12 Lourdes Group
This summer, members of Four:12 will once again be giving up a week of their time to travel to Lourdes and volunteer as ‘Redcaps’ – the group of teenagers/young adults which supports the sick and elderly on the annual Westminster Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage. To subsidize the costs – which run into several hundreds of pounds per volunteer – the group will be holding some fundraising events and have also set up a Crowdfunding page. To sponsor the group, please visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/four12lourdes2019. Details of fundraising events will be advertised in the TakeHomeNews in the coming weeks. Thank you for your support.
Four:12 Quiz Night
The summer edition of Four:12’s Quiz Night will be on Friday 21st June. Doors open at 7pm in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. Fish and chips will be served. For more information or to reserve a place, please speak to Arinze/Kenneth/Melvin or email four12.oak@gmail.com
Bingo
An interest has been expressed in having a Bingo session in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. If there is anybody prepared to organise such an event, please let Fr. Colin know.
Walk to Church Weekend 22nd and 23rd June 2019
We would like to invite our Parishioners to join us in our annual Walk to Church Weekend on 22nd and 23rd of June. This year, aside from answering the call of our Holy Father Pope Francis Laudato Si by cutting down our carbon emission, we are organising a Health and Wellbeing campaign for our parishioners. We are working in partnership with the British Heart Foundation and the Stroke Association UK and we will provide FREE blood pressure and weight checks after each Mass service during this event. Free Information leaflets and fruits to take home will be available from our stand. outside the main entrance and children will receive reward stickers for walking to church.
Christus Vivit: Echoes From The Youth Synod Rreflections For Young Adults
The last in the current series of meeting for young adults at Archbishop's House will take place on Tuesday 25th June, 6.30pm. These meetings are an opportunity for young adults to come together following the Synod of Bishops meeting on youth last October, pray, have input from one of our diocesan bishops, reflect, and discuss the place of faith in the life of young people. Bishop Paul McAleenan will be leading our reflections, this time focusing on the second half of the recently published exhortation from Pope Francis addressed to young people. This half contains Pope Francis' reflections on vocation and advice on how to discern one's calling in life. All young adults are invited to attend. Please let us know your intention to attend by emailing youth@rcdow.org.uk. For more details, go to dowym.com/events
Day of Exposition
On Friday we are having a Day of Exposition from 9.30am to 6.30pm when there will be Benediction. Periods of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament exposed have been encouraged, particularly after last year’s Eucharistic Congress. With the Feast of Corpus Christi, being celebrated next Sunday, it is appropriate for us to have this opportunity in the coming week. Please sign up for a half— hour slot on the table at the back of the church.
Confirmation Photographs
Confirmation photographs will be available in the Dominic Room after the 12 Noon Mass today.