Third Sunday of Lent Year B
God’s house is a house of prayer.
In today’s first reading (Exodus 20:1-17), God’s people are given the Ten Commandments which reflect the two-fold character of God’s Law: the love of God and our neighbour. However, it is Jesus, who enables us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to understand that keeping God’s law is a powerful witness that must involve our whole self.
“Stop turning my Father’s house into a market”, said Jesus, as he chased away those who had forgotten the purpose of God’s temple. When asked to justify his actions, he replied “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it.” Thus, he referred to his body, death, and his rising on the third day. With this, Jesus substitutes the physical temple with his body. In Christ, our bodies too have become the living temples and spiritual house of worship (1 Peter 2:5, 1 Cor 3:16). For neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father, but in truth and spirit (John 4:1-42).
Dear brothers and sisters, we are called to an interior life of prayer that ensures that God’s temple, our bodies remain a house of prayer and worship (Lk 17:46). O Lord, teach us your ways that we may be true temples of worship for you. Happy Sunday
CAFOD’s Family Fast Day
Thank you for giving to CAFOD’s Family Fast Day Appeal this Lent. Your generous donations, given in love, will support families around the world and help them with the resources to feed their families for good. You can still give online at cafod.org.uk
WHITE FLOWER APPEAL
The Society for the Protection of Unborn children (SPUC) will be holding their annual appeal today.
BAPTISM PREPARATION
The next preparation session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised will be today Sunday 3rd March 2024 at 4pm in the church.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross takes place here at the Annunciation every Friday at 7pm.
Parish Lenten Day of Recollection
There will be a Day of Recollection for our parish on Saturday 9th March in the Parish Hall. It will run from 2-5 pm. This will be followed by the sacrament of reconciliation in the Church at 5:30 pm and then the Vigil Mass at 6:30 pm. All are welcome.
Join us and our partners, the Mill Hill Missionaries
for the annual Novena to St Joseph 10 – 18 March 2024
St Joseph’s Missionary Society (the Mill Hill Missionaries) is Britain’s own missionary society, founded by Cardinal Herbert Vaughan in 1866. Each year the Mill Hill community prepares for the feast day of St Joseph – their patron – with a special Novena of Masses and prayers.
Prayer is the foundation of all mission work, both in this country and abroad. The Novena is a wonderful way for the faithful to pray for each other, and build links of prayer across the world for missionaries and the people they serve. Visit the Mill Hill Missionaries website for all resources and details of the Novena. https://millhillmissionaries.com/novena/
Young Adults LENT RETREAT DAY
The Assumption Sisters & Fathers on Saturday 16th March 2024 11am – 7pm. Venue. The Assumption Priory, Victoria Park Square, London E2 9PB (closest tube station: Bethnal Green). Programme: including talks • prayer, adoration and confessions • Stations of the Cross • faith sharing • mass and social time. Donations only. Register by emailing to: tramy@assumptionreligious.org
Annual Mass of Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of Matrimony
Westminster Cathedral, Saturday 25th May 2024 at 2:30pm.
The Cardinal is inviting to this Mass all couples in the Diocese, who are celebrating their 5th 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th (and every year over 60) wedding anniversary of Catholic marriage in 2024. If you are celebrating an anniversary, please give your parish office the following details: husband and wife’s names, wedding date, full postal address and email (or telephone number, if no email). Please advise the office before Tuesday 9th April 2024.
RECENTLY DECEASED
Please remember in your prayers Elizabeth Wall. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Her Funeral Mass will take place here at 12.30pm on Thursday 14th March.
MY DAY BY DAY Lent and Easter Booklet
Lent in this year of preparation for the Holy Year -2025. As some of you will know, it is based on the theme of the 'Our Father' and can be used as a personal reflection for a few moments each day. Also available at the back of the church cost £1.00 each
Foodbank for the Community
Non – perishable food is required for the foodbank, please leave your donations in one of the marked boxes in the church porch. Thank you.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
The Lourdes Pilgrimage takes place from 19th to 26th July. Join the pilgrimage as a pilgrim. Serve the pilgrimage by coming as a praying assisted pilgrim. Support assisted pilgrims by sponsoring the sick to join the pilgrimage and praying for them. For more information please go to https://rcdow.org.uk/pilgrimages/lourdes/ or contact the Pilgrimage Office on 020 7798 9173.