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RCDOW Burnt Oak

Takehomenews


The Baptism of the Lord

Jesus’ baptism marked the moment when he left his early life behind and began his public ministry as God’s beloved Son. John the Baptist was at first reluctant to baptise Jesus, but Jesus insisted that it was what righteousness demands. The scene on the banks of the River Jordan was spectacular. The Spirit of God descended on Jesus in the form of a dove and a voice came from heaven with the Father saying ‘this is my Son, the Beloved, my favour rests on him’.

White Flower Appeal

Today we have the annual White Flower Appeal from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC). On 21st October 2019 the most extreme abortion regime in Europe was imposed on the people of Northern Ireland by the government at Westminster. Abortion will now be permitted for any reason up until at least 24 weeks, and even beyond that. The abortion lobby now wants to introduce this in England and Wales.

Postcards are available today for us to ask the Prime Minister not to give parliamentary time to decriminalise abortion. You can either fill in the postcard today and hand it in at the end of Mass or post it on to SPUC.

Our donations at the end of Mass will help SPUC in their work of saving babies’ lives.

Peace Sunday

Next weekend we celebrate Peace Sunday. The Bishops of England and Wales invite us to keep this Sunday as a day of prayer for world peace. Recent events have made this even more urgent. We are invited to examine the roots of violence in our culture today, and especially in our own hearts. We are called to conversion, to a rejection of the logic of violence and to a commitment to rebuild what has broken in ways which lead to peace.

Loving God of peace, strengthen my determination to work for a world of peace and justice; My conviction that, whatever our nationality or race, we are all global citizens, on in Christ; My courage to challenge the powerful with the values of the gospel; My commitment to find nonviolent ways of resolving conflict-personal, local, national and international; My efforts to forgive injuries and to love those I find it hard to love. AMEN.

GNS Trustee

The Good Neighbour Scheme for Mill Hill and Burnt Oak require a trustee to represent our church, Each church in Mill Hill and Burnt Oak has a representative and our current rep wishes to hand over the role after doing it for several years. The GNS provide services such as gardening, driving to the shops visiting the elderly, lonely and needy. They also provide a weekly lunch in Mill Hill and here in our hall. The trustee would not be required to do all these things but attend a meeting about four times a year to assess and plan, and report back any details to the parish.

Year of the Word Scripture Quote

“And a voice spoke form heaven– This is my Son, the Beloved, my favour rests on him”. (Matthew 3:17)

The Year of the Word

On 26th January we will celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God. On this day we invite our parish readers to be commissioned at whichever Mass they attend, including the Saturday 6.30PM Mass. There will be a meeting for parish readers and anyone who would like to become a reader on Thursday 23rd January at 8.00PM in the church.

Christian Unity Week

On Saturday we start the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity. It concludes with the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul on Saturday 25th January,

Tender-hearted God. Your Son Jesus prayed that we may be one. As we journey together in openness and truth, may we draw closer to each other. May our love embrace people of all faiths, Send your Spirit to empower us to promote dignity and compassion in societies, nations and world. God of life, lead us to justice and peace, AMEN.

First Communion Programme

There will be a session today for the children at the 9.15AM in the Canon Smyth

Parish Centre. Next Sunday they will take part in a celebration Mass at 10.30. I am starting to visit all the First Communion families over the next few months. If you wish, you can arrange a convenient time by contacting me.

Westminster Year Book 2020

The 2020 edition of the Westminster Year Book is available in the porch price £4.50. It gives useful information about priests, parishes, schools and organisations in the Westminster Diocese together with a liturgical calendar for the year.

Caritas Westminster

Caritas Westminster is recruiting at least one Representative for Social Outreach from each parish to help communication between the Parish and Caritas to support and grow charitable activities. They will help to display posters, flyers, speak in Masses, learn about new tools and models for social action and share best practice between parishes. If you would like to become a Caritas Representative, please first obtain consent from your Parish Priest, then contact us on

020 7931 6077 or email caritasreps@rcdow.org.uk

Confirmation Programme

Applications are now closed for those joining the confirmation programme. We have a healthy number of 44 candidates. There will be a session for parents of candidates on Wednesday 29th January at 7.30PM in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. There will be 7 sessions for the candidates, starting on Wednesday 5th February at 7PM.

Baptism Preparation

There will be a session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised next Sunday, 19th January at 4.PM in the Dominic Room. Application forms are available in the sacristy.

Weddings in 2020

Couples who wish to be married in this church next year or require us to prepare them for their marriage elsewhere, please get in touch with Fr Colin.

School Admissions - September 2020

We welcome applications to our school Reception Class starting in September 2020. This is for children who were born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016. All applications need to be completed and returned to the school office by 15 January 2020. All forms can be found on our website www.annunciationinf.org.uk. You must also apply online at www.eadmissions.org.uk. The Head Teacher is happy to show prospective parents around the school. Please contact the school on 020 8959 2325 to arrange a convenient date.

CAFOD Westminster

Is currently looking for schools volunteers to help us deliver our busy schools programme across the diocese. “Use your free time to inspire young people to build a fairer world - CAFOD is looking for volunteers who have a passion for, and experience of, working with young people. We need people who have a commitment to CAFOD’s aims and values and an interest in sharing our work in primary and secondary schools through delivering assemblies or workshops. CAFOD will provide training and support, and expenses will be paid.

Volunteering assignments will be in local Catholic schools and you can either work on your own or as part of a team. None of our work is possible without you, so join us an put your faith into action.

If you are interested please email Chris Driscoll at wschools@cafod.org.uk or call 07776 493162”

Gift Aid Have you signed a gift aid Declaration for the Annunciation Church, if you are a UK taxpayer and wish to do so you will find the forms on the table at the back of the Church.

If you have signed a form previously and you no longer pay tax, please inform the office on 0208 959 1971, so that we don’t ask for the tax if you haven’t paid it.


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