St John’s Wood A parish of the Archdiocese of Westminster, dedicated to Our Lady, Mother of God, Mother of the Church. Website www.rcsjw.org.uk Blog stjohnswoodblog.wordpress.com Email [email protected] Telephone 020 7286 3214 Twitter @FrAllenMorris Being remade in Christ Jesus’ call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, “sackcloth and ashes,” fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. Without this, such penances remain sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance. Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life, with hope in God’s mercy and trust in the help of his grace. This conversion of heart is accompanied by a salutary pain and sadness which the Fathers called animi cruciatus (affliction of spirit) and compunctio cordis (repentance of heart). The human heart is heavy and hardened. God must give man a new heart. Conversion is first of all a work of the grace of God who makes our hearts return to him: “Restore us to thyself, O LORD, that we may be restored!”God gives us the strength to begin anew. It is in discovering the greatness of God’s love that our heart is shaken by the horror and weight of sin and begins to fear offending God by sin and being separated from him. the human heart is converted by looking upon him whom our sins have pierced: Let us fix our eyes on Christ’s blood and understand how precious it is to his Father, for, poured out for our salvation it has brought to the whole world the grace of repentance. Since Easter, the Holy Spirit has proved “the world wrong about sin,”i.e., proved that the world has not believed in him whom the Father has sent. But this same Spirit who brings sin to light is also the Consoler who gives the human heart grace for repentance and conversion. Catechism of the Catholic Church 1430-1433 Confession: the forgiveness and healing of sin Confessions are heard during Lent on Saturdays from 9.30 to 10am and from 5.15 to 5.45pm. If you prefer another time please contact Fr Allen to arrange this. There is a parish Penitential Service on the Monday of Holy Week, March 30 at 7.30pm, with visiting priests, Make the most of Lent by celebrating the Sacrament of Penance. It is a precious gift: our fault, met and made good by God’s love. Pope Francis speaks... Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord never ceases to have mercy on us, and desires to offer us His forgiveness yet again, inviting us to return to Him with a new heart, purified from evil, to take part in His joy. How to accept this invitation? St. Paul says “We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Cor 5:20)” This work of conversion is not just a human endeavour. Reconciliation between us and God is possible thanks to the mercy of the Father who, out of love for us, did not hesitate to sacrifice his only Son. In fact, the Christ, who was righteous and without sin was made sin for us when on the cross He was burdened with our sins, and so redeemed us and justified before God. In Him we can become righteous, in him we can change, if we accept the grace of God and do not let the “acceptable time (6:2)” pass in vain. With this awareness, trusting and joyful, let us begin our Lenten journey. May Mary Immaculate sustain our spiritual battle against sin, accompany us in this acceptable time, so that we might together sing the exultation of victory in Easter. Dates and times for the Diary SundayS of Lent: Stations of the Cross at 5pm 30th March: Monday of Holy Week, Penitential Service, 7.30pm 2nd April: Maundy Thursday: 8pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper 3rd April: Good Friday: 3pm, Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion 4th April: Holy Saturday: 8.30pm Easter Vigil Scripture readings for Sunday Mass This Sunday 22nd February (1st Sunday of Lent) Genesis 9:8-15 / Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 1 Peter 3:18-22 / Mark 1:12-15 Next Sunday 1st March (2nd Sunday of Lent) Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 / Psalm 116:10, 15-19 Romans 8:31b-34 / Mark 9:2-10 Parish Church of Our Lady 54 Lodge Road, NW8 8LA Church open 7am - 7pm each weekday Parish Office open: Mon-Fri 10.30-1.30pm Regular Mass Times: Sundays: (1800 Sat.); 0900; 1030; 12noon; 1800. Weekdays: 10am (Sat 9am), also Thurs 7pm Exposition & Benediction: Sat:9.30 to 10am Confession: Sat 9.30-10am; 1715-1745, or by appointment Parish Team: Fr. Allen Morris (Rector); Sr. Brigid Collins; Fr Paul Richardson. Daniel Antonio and Thomas Treherne Also resident: Fr. Clement Mukuka Chapel of Ease: Our Lady, Queen of the World 25 St Edmund’s Terrace, NW8 7PY Mass: Mon, Weds & Fri: 0800; Exposition daily. Parish Rector’s Open Surgery This weekly slot provides parishioners with the opportunity to meet Fr Allen without the need to make a separate appointment. The next open surgery is 6-7pm on Fri 27 Feb or Weds 4 March. Journey in Faith Weds 25 Feb, 7.30pm. Glad to be Dads Next meeting: Mon 9 March, 8pm in the parish house (with talk by Andre Camara about his work - inspiration for the film ‘City Commissioning Ministers of God. Bishop Nicholas There will be rites of commissioning Hudson will join the group for all ministers of Holy Communion on on 13 April to speak on ‘Fa21/22 March. therhood and the Bishop’. All dads welcome. Youth Cafe meets in the lower hall immediately Union of Catholic after the Sunday 6pm Mass - for chat Mothers and refreshments. 23 Feb: Discussion of new Synod Consultation on Ministry during Holy Week Marriage and Family Life; 9 and Easter Weekend Parish ministers of the Word and of Holy March: International WomCommunion, who are present for this en’s Day. Meet in the parish key period in the life of the Church are hall at 8.30pm. New meminvited to sign up on the Rota outside the bers are always welcome. sacristy as soon as possible. Parents & Toddlers Tuesday, Diocese Wednesday & Thursday 9.30-11.30am Growing in Faith Over 50s group Tuesday at 2pm; If you did not collect a Growing in Faith newsletter last week, Youth Mercy Tuesday at 4pm. please do collect one from the enBaptism Preparation trance to the church, or go on line to Next course for parents of infants be- http://rcdow.org.uk/growing-in-faith/ gins Sat March 7th. Details at www. introduction/ rcsjw.org.uk/join/infantbaptism.html Faith Matters: Lent 2015. 24 Feb. Richard Ounsworth, OP: Jesus. 3rd Mar. John Farrell, OP: The Church & Christian Life 10 Mar. Aidan Nichols OP: How to write theology 17 Mar. Timothy Radcliffe OP: Tolerant & Free despite being Catholic? 7.00pm to 8.30pm, Vaughan House, 46 Francis St , SW1P 1QN. Places are limited. Register at [email protected] or call at 020 7931 6078. Beginning Experience is a healing weekend for people who find themselves single again following divorce, separation or the death of a partner from 20-22 March at the Emmaus Centre, West Wickham, Kent. More information from Freda on 01322-401243. Vocation Discernment Group for adults (18-30’s) meets on Friday 27 February, 7-9pm in the Hinsley Room next to Westminster Cathedral. Fr Lawrence Lew, OP, will speak on St Dominic. More details: Fr Richard at [email protected] Praying for the dead and those who are sick Please pray for those who have died recently, esepcially Sr Catherine Hanley of the Handmaids, Sr M. John Baptist of Tyburn Convent, Mr Stapleton and Margaret Malzone. Please pray also for those who are sick including Scott Cornfoot, and those who take care of them. Apostleship of Prayer: Pope Francis’ FEBRUARY intentions Universal: That prisoners, especially the young, may be able to rebuild lives of dignity. For Evangelization: That married people who are separated may find welcome and support in the Christian community. Daily Prayer: Each morning pray ‘Jesus I offer my day to you’ - then live your prayer as best you can. In the evening review your day, to give thanks and say sorry. Come And See Days For The Permanent Diaconate. Three ‘days’ for men interested in the Permanent Diaconate. 7 March at St Edward the Confessor, Golders Green; 18 April at Ealing Abbey, Ealing; 16 May at Sacred Heart and St Joseph, Ware. All begin at 10am and last till noon. No regis- MUSICIANS NEEDED! Dan is appealing for musicians to help animate the main liturgies over Easter, particularly the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night (4th April at 8:30pm), and Easter Sunday morning (5th April at 9am and 12noon). Singers are ALWAYS welcome, but so too are violinists, flautists, brass players, guitarists, percussionists... Being part of such the music group offers really valuable experience especially to young musicians, building their confidence and overall musicianship, as well as seeing church ‘from the inside’! The parish Music Ministry Team rehearse on TUESDAY evenings from 7-8:30pm in the Jubilee Room, and gather shortly before Mass on Sunday. Newcomers are welcome at any time! Interested? Contact Dan for more information: [email protected] OR 07808895458 OR just turn up on Tuesday evening! tration is needed and wives are welcome to attend. Further information? Contact Deacon Anthony Clark 020 8455 9822. Celebrating Marriage 2015 Lent Appeal Our parish Lent appeal is for the De Paul UK which supports young homeless people. Last year, with cuts in housing benefit so marked, 3500 young people needed to look www.depauluk.org/ for help. DePaul led them on a journey from homelessness to independence through their emergency and long-term housing, education programmes and mediation services. Westminster Cathedral, Sat 23 May at 3pm. The Archbishop will invite to this Mass all couples in the Diocese who celebrate their 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th (and every year over 60) wedding anniversary of Catholic marriage in the local employment training week 2015. If you are celebrating an anniver23rd -27th March. Contact commusary, please give Fr Allen the following Jobs at Lords [email protected] if you want to take details: husband and wife’s names, wed- Seasonal jobs are available at Lord’s part on this course. For all other curding date, full postal address and email from April until Sept. The jobs are in rent vacancies at Lords Cricket ground (or phone number, if no email). the catering department and include please visit http://www.lords.org/ourchef roles, waiting staff and porters. organisation/jobs/ Paid jobs in the Diocese SPEC Retreat Leader and Formation Co- Applications for these particular jobs ordinator at SPEC, closing date extend- can be made at www.justjobs.co.uk/ To be a Christian ed to 26 Feb; CARITAS (x 4 vacancies) lords Recruitment begins in March and is to be missionary... Assistant Director, Office Administra- jobs are open to anyone who is com- APF-Mill Hill’s Red Boxes fund the vital tor Development Worker and Qual- mitted and enthusiastic. Interviews are work of the Catholic Church abroad, ity Monitoring and Evaluation Worker guaranteed to those who take part in by bringing God’s love and hope to the poorest and most in need. for CARITAS, closing 27 Feb; HR dept (x 2 vacancies) HR Administrative As- Mary’s Meals It is easy to become a Red Box holdsistant, closing 2 March and Pensions Thank you to all who supported the er – just collect one from the parish Administrator closing 6 March; Edu- Mary’s Meals collection last weekend. repository before or after Mass. cation dept (x 2 vacancies) Chief In- The parish gave 600kg of unwanted By taking a Red Box into your home, spector and Adviser, closing 13 March clothes; there were also donations of you automatically become a memMost vacancies are advertised in this £770.52 making a total contribution ber of the APF; a worldwide communewsletter, but all are at www.rcdow. of £1070.52 which is a great result. nity of generous givers whose faithorg.uk/diocese/jobs/ ALSO Cleaner for ful prayers Presbytery at Our Lady of the Rosary, The money raised and support Marylebone. 12 hrs pw, £9.15 per hour will provide 87 over the children with one Closing date: 6 March years have good, nutritious Diocesan Pilgrimages helped fund meal every school Pilgrimage to Lourdes, 26 July - 1 day for a year, as 1,069 misAug, led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols they get a good sionary dioprice by coach from £505, and by air education too. ceses. from £767. Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, 3-11 Nov, led by Bishop Nicholas Hudson, and John Farrell OP. Cost from Is a new initiative being launched in 2015 by £1,495. For more details contact the the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales to support, enthuse and equip parDiocesan Pilgrimage Office. geraldish evangelisation. [email protected] or 020 7798 9173. The inspiration comes from Pope Francis and his Apostolic Exhortation, EvanRetrouvaille is a lifeline for married couples facing gelii Gaudium, in which he writes: ‘I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to difficulties or crises in their married embark upon a new chapter of evangelisation marked by this joy, while pointlife. It has offered hope and help to ing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.’ Join us in confihundreds of couples looking to renew dently communicating this joy and discovering new paths for evangelisation! and heal their marriages. The next pro- A first step is an invitation to each person to spend some time this Lent with othgramme will run from March 20th-22nd er Catholic Christians reflecting on our faith and how we try to live and share it. in Hatfield, North London. For more in- How – and indeed whether – this is done is down to you. It could be with formation please call 0788 729 6983 in others who come to the same Mass as you, meeting in the hall afterwards. It confidence or email info@retrouvaille. could be your family meeting with another family or two – adults and chilorg.uk. www.retrouville.co.uk. dren are invited to take part. It could be a lunch time meeting at work – perhaps inviting Christian colleagues of other denominations to join you. Lenten Talks at Our Lady of Victories. Wednesdays There are three worksheets available. They are available to download from after 6.30pm Mass. 25th Feb Noah: the the parish website now, and if you would like a printed copy (or a full set true story. 4th March Abraham: our for your group) please e-mail Fr Allen and they will be ready to collect next father in faith? 11th March Exodus: weekend. The idea is to use one a week for three weeks. The suggestion is out of the house of slavery 18th March we start the week beginning Jeremiah and Cyrus: the prophet and 8th March, but groups and the king. 25th March Time for renewal: individuals are free to do celebrating Reconciliation. The talks choose what suits them. will be given by Rev Dr Javier Ruiz Other Proclaim ’15 Make a Difference Flame2 is the largest National Catholic Youth event of 2015, taking place in the SSE Arena Wembley on Saturday 7th March 2015. Doors open at 11am, and Flame2 starts at 12noon, finishing at 5.30pm. The SSE Arena Wembley will be filled with 10,000 young people from across the country, receiving faith-filled inspiration from world class speakers include Cardinal Luis Tagle from Manila, Philippines; Baroness Sheila Hollins; Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP; and David Wells. Throughout the day speakers will give bursts of input, interspersed with world class music and drama, in an atmosphere full of joy. Music will be provided by double Grammy award-winning Matt Redman and his band. The day ends with a time of Adoration led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols. Flame2 is open to anyone in school year ten and above, up to young adult (i.e. aged approx. 14-21). SPEC is part of Westminster Youth Ministry. Each year a number of young adults (aged 18-25) join the resident community for a year as volunteer missionaries helping the community in its primary mission of retreat ministry for children and young people in the parishes and schools of the Diocese of Westminster. Perhaps this is the ideal opportunity for you – or someone you know – to combine a year of service with a year of formation in faith in a supportive Catholic community. More details are available at Web: http://dowym.com/spec/ Email: [email protected] Phone: 020 3757 2500 Facebook: speccentre Twitter: @SPEC_Community World Youth Day: Krakow 2016 The theme of WYD 2016 is ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall see mercy. The Westminister Diocesan Pilgrimage to WYD 2016 (for over 18s) will take place from 18-31 July 2016. The group will travel overland by coach, and be based in Lodz, Hopefully a large group will be able to go from our parish and deanery. If you are interested please let Fr Allen know as soon as possible so we can start thinking together about how parish and pilgrims can work to raise funds to cover the costs of those young people who would like to go... The cost per pilgrim is £750. Flower Rota Would you like to be on the flower rota for Easter through to the summer? If so please sign up on the noticeboard outside the sacristy. It would be good to have four pairs of people for preparing the flowers for the Easter Vigil, and for the Sundays which follow which see so many of our young people being confirmed and celebrating their holy communion for the first time.
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