3rd Sunday in Ordinary time (A)
Jesus fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah and begins his public ministry with the message ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’ He then calls his first disciples to follow him in proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom.
The Sunday of the Word of God
Today is the 1st Sunday of the Word of God. Pope Francis has put aside the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time each year as a day when we focus on God’s word. As a parish, this year the Gospel Book will be carried in the opening procession at each Mass. Parish Readers will be commissioned. We invite you to hold up your bibles which will be blessed. As part of these celebrations, there will be a Scripture Road Show Exhibition in Westminster Cathedral on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week. The Cathedral is open from 7am to 7pm each day. ‘Tents of Meeting’ will be open through the day, there will be displays in the side chapels and special events at various times in the day. Leaflets about this are available in the porch.
Year of the Word Scripture Quote
Go and learn the meaning of the words: what I want is mercy, not sacrifice, and indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners. Matthew 9:13
The Presentation of the Lord
Next weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas Day). We recall the occasion when Jesus, 40 days after his birth, was presented in the Temple by his parents. It was there that Simeon said those famous words indicating that he had now seen the salvation of all nations, the one who would enlighten the pagans and give glory to the people of Israel. Candles will be blessed at 6.30PM. Mass on Saturday.
Our Lady of Lourdes Mass
The Annual Mass in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes takes place in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 8th February at 2.PM. The Sacrament of the Sick will be administered during Mass. All are welcome to attend. A special invitation is extended to all who are sick or infirm, doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and all who work in healthcare. If someone plans to attend in a wheelchair, please let Fr Colin know.
Confirmation Programme
There will be a meeting for parents of candidates who have applied to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday at 7.30PM in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. The candidates have their first session on Wednesday 5th February at 7PM in the Parish Centre.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee meet on Thursday at 7.30PM in the Dominic Room.
Parish Council
The Parish Council meet on Thursday 6th February at 7.45PM in the Presbytery.
Parish AGM
The Parish Annual General Meeting takes place on Sunday 23rd February at 2PM in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. As in previous years, it will be preceded by a shared lunch for which we invite you to bring along a dish and we will provide the drink. At the A.G.M. we will have an election for the new Parish Council. If you would like to nominate somebody, please let Fr Colin know by 16th February.
Family Holiday Club, February Half Term – Volunteers Needed!
On Thursday 20th February, from 11am-2pm Caritas Westminster will be running the Kilburn Family Holiday Club. The club will include lots of fun activities for families to enjoy, followed by a lunch and food to take home and cook together, all for free. Caritas launched their clubs very successfully in October 2019, serving over 400 meals. However, Caritas rely on volunteers to make the clubs happen, so to make sure they can run again in February they really need your help! If you would be able to volunteer on Thursday 20th February, between 9am-3pm at St Eugene de Mazenod Primary School (NW6 4LS) to support with kids activities, admin, or cooking the lunch please email cfc@rcdow.org.uk or call 020 7931 6077 to let us know. There will be a Volunteer Information Evening on the 13th of February at Sacred Heart Quex Road from 7pm. Please do get in touch if you would like to attend the club with your children.
Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine
04th May 2020. £649.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with breakfast and dinner. All excursions included. Lunches on days out. Single supplement £100.
Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613.
Stress in Your Marriage?
Retrouvaille is a program for married couples that feel bored, disillusioned, frustrated, or angry in their marriage. Some experience coldness. Others experience conflict in their relationship. Most don’t know how to change the situation or even communicate with their spouse about it.
This programme has helped 6,000 couples who were experiencing difficulties in their marriage in the past year. There is no group therapy or group work
For confidential information about ‘Retrouvaille’ or to register for the programme commencing with a residential weekend on … 28th.29th Feb & 1st March 2020
Call or text 0788 7296983 or 0797 3380443 - or Email retrouvailleukinfo@gmail.com or visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk
First Communion Programme
There will be a meeting for parents of First Holy Communion children on Tuesday at 7.45PM in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre. The Children have a session next Sunday at 9.15AM in the Parish Centre.
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.
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
Prayer and Life Workshops
Would you like to learn praying in an orderly and progressive manner? How would you feel about discovering the plan the Lord has designed for YOU? Do you know God lives within you and is waiting to have a Personal Encounter with You? If any of the above appeals to you, then come and experience Prayer and Life Workshops, a New Evangelisation based purely in the Bible and the practice of fifteen Methods of Prayer, from the simplest to the depths of Contemplation. You will find yourself living a process of purification, healing the wounds of the past and liberating your soul from anxieties, fears and truly re-discovering THE JOY OF LIVING. This holy program will be imparted over 15 weekly, two hour sessions, starting on Friday 21 February 2020 in the Canon Smyth Parish Centre at 7.30PM. For more details please contact Vicky on 07939757920 or Esperanca on 07877388172.