CORPUS CHRISTI
Popularly known as Corpus Christi, today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. It is a celebration of God’s greatest gift to us, his own Body and Blood which we receive in the Eucharist. Until recent times, there were two separate Feast Days, One for the Body of Christ celebrated on the Thursday or Sunday after Trinity Sunday, and the other for the Most Precious Blood of Jesus on 1st July. Today’s Gospel is St Luke’s account of the feeding of the five thousand. We are reminded of how Christ provides in abundance from the little we have to offer. Our greatest gift, the Eucharist, is something we should always value. It gives us nourishment to our lives and enables us to live like Christ, full of love and always ready to give.
Walk to Church Weekend
Many congratulations to those who have walked to church today. We thank the Filipino community who have organised a stall to promote the Health and Wellbeing campaign for our parishioners. Working in partnership with the British Heart Foundation and the Stroke Association UK, they are providing FREE blood pressure and weight checks after each Mass. Free information leaflets and fruit to take home are available from the stall and children will receive reward stickers for walking to church.
St Peter and St Paul
Next weekend we celebrate the Feast of St Peter and St Paul and there will be a second collection for Peter’s Pence.
Message from Bishop John
Bishop John Sherrington has written to thank us for the warm welcome he received at the recent confirmations. He was encouraged by the enthusiasm of the young people and thanks the catechists, the musicians and all who helped to prepare the church for this important celebration. He encourages the young to read sections of CHRISTUS VIVIT as they think about there vocation and mission.
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.
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.
Meeting for Eucharistic Ministers
There will be a meeting for Eucharistic Ministers in the church at 8pm on Tuesday.
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/annunciation servers – 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.
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.
New Stained Glass Window
The new stained glass window at the back of the church will be blessed after the 10am Mass on Saturday. We thank Madonna Thomas for this new addition to our church.
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.
TAKEHOMENEWS
Next week’s newsletter will cover two weeks.
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
Welcome to Mgr Turner
We welcome Mgr Canon Harry Turner to the parish on Sunday 30th June. He will be staying here for a few days while Fr. Colin is away
Missionary Appeal
Many thanks for your contributions to the Appeal for the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) last weekend. A total of £653.40 was collected.
Lately Dead
Please pray for the repose of the soul of PAULA O'BRIEN, whose funeral Mass will take place on Friday 5th July 10.30am.
First Communions in 2020
If your child is starting Year 3 or above in September and would like to receive First Holy Communion next year, please take an application form from the porch and return it to the presbytery by 16th September at the latest. Application forms cannot be accepted after this date.
The Annunciation Catholic Infants School
There are Nursery and School places still available for September 2019. If you would like to know more please visit our website at www.annunciationinf.org.uk, or call for an appointment to visit and see for yourself on 020 8959 2325. We look forward to welcoming you to the school.