TAKEHOMENEWS SUNDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2025

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (Feast)

Living Temples of God

The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (circa 324), which we celebrate this Sunday, points to the Church’s healing mission to the world. The first reading this Sunday, from the Book of Ezekiel (Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12), speaks of the water that flows from God’s Temple, bringing healing wherever it flows. However, physical temples built by human hands only foreshadow the heavenly temple. Since God does not live in houses made by human hands, Jesus spiritually substituted the physical temple with His own body, as we hear in this Sunday’s Gospel. He referred to His body as the temple and said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

In Christ, we have become living temples, where acceptable worship is offered. St. Paul calls us God’s building (1 Cor 3:9). However, like the sanctuary in Ezekiel, are the things occupying and flowing from the sanctuary of my heart bringing healing and consolation to others?

Jesus’ act of overturning the money-changers’ tables in this Sunday’s Gospel is an invitation to ensure that the sanctuaries of our hearts remain temples of prayer and worship, for this is what they were made to be.

May the Lord help us to appreciate what a gift we have in Christ, having been made God’s living temples, not made by human hands.

Happy Sunday.

Fr. Chinedu

MONTHLY CHILDREN'S MASS

The next Children’s Mass will take place on Sunday 23rd November at 10:30am. Children in school years 3 to 10 inclusive who would like to support the liturgy by welcoming the congregation to Mass, singing with the choir, reading, or bringing the gifts to the altar can sign-up by giving their name and their parent/carer’s contact details in at the Repository after Mass. The deadline for registering to take part in the November Children’s Mass is 12 Noon on Sunday 16th November.

ALL SOULS' ENVELOPES

Please take an envelope from the back of the church write your list of deceased relatives and friends who you wish to be remembered during the November Masses. Place the envelope in the box labelled All Souls on the altar.

BEREAVEMENT MASS

The Bereavement Mass, at which we remember in particular those who have died in the last year, takes place on Saturday 22^nd November at 3pm.  Everyone is welcome.

FIRST COMMUNION APPLICATIONS for 2026

Application forms for parents who wish their child to receive their First Holy   Communion next year are available at the back of the church. Children should be in Year 3 or above.

CONFIRMATION APPLICATION for 2026

Confirmation application forms will be available to collect from the church.  They need to be returned by 14^th December.  Payment and baptism certificate must be enclosed with the form.  Confirmation is open to students that are in  year 10.

MISSIO RED BOX

Please bring your red box back for counting before 18th November, thank you.

Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party

St James’ Catholic High School invites local senior citizens to our annual Christmas Party on Thursday, 4th December at 4pm. Admission is by ticket only. If you would like to attend, please inform the office, who will arrange for your name to be added to the guest list at St James’ and for a ticket to be prepared for collection from the office as tickets are limited, please put your name forward as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.  Closing date for tickets Thursday 20 November.

ST JAMES' CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL - CURRENT YEAR 7

St James' has a very limited number of places available in current Year 7. for a place please contact the school directly by e-mail to admin@st-james.barnet.sch.uk

 DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAIR SATURDAY 22^ND nOVEMBER

Provincial House, The Ridgeway.  11am – 1pm. Tombola arts and crafts bric-a brac, tea/coffee with mince pies.  Please come and support the Kindergarten children in Ethiopia

Annunciation church - SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2025 CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

There will be a variety of activities including tombola, raffle and much more.    Help raise funds for our Church and celebrate the greatest gift of all, the birth of Jesus Christ. Donations welcomed including Prizes for a raffle, bottles i.e. for our Bottle Tombola stall, Gift ideas i.e. gift sets, chocolates etc and Baked items (cakes, cookies etc). *** VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ***If you would like to volunteer to help before (setup from Sat 29/11 18:30), during (from 8am) or after the event, contact the Parish Priest or Office with your name and availability.

BAPTISM PREPARATION

There will be a preparation session for parents who wish to have their baby baptised on Sunday, 4 January at 4pm in the church.  There will be no baptisms in December. 

SAYING GOODBYE

Saying Goodbye, (part of Mariposa International (SG)) are coming to London this month with a very special Baby loss remembrance and support service (part of an international chain of events).  Please see the notice board for more information.

SICK AND RETIRED PRIESTS

Next week there will be a second collection.