Third Sunday of Easter (Year B)
Pray for the sick esp. Eddie Caddle, Carmel Bates, Cathy Walker, Finola Hickey, Bridget O’Donnell, Kelly-Marie O’Donnell, Simon O’Donnell, Pat Gleeson and Mary Myles.
Baptism
Ask God’s blessing on William John Fernandes who was baptised here yesterday – Saturday 14th April 2018.
Parish Collection: Last week’s collection came to £1161.70. Many thanks.
Holy Week and Easter
Many thanks to all who have helped us celebrate Holy Week and Easter so worthily in the parish – our sacristans, altar servers, choir and organists, readers, Eucharistic ministers, stewards, collectors and money counters, flower arrangers, cleaners, catechists and many others. Special thanks to Sandra Lipner for the Family Stations of the Cross, and her work with the altar servers. It was a wonderful example of our working together to worship and witness to the crucified and Risen Lord. It was encouraging to all of us to see so many worshippers on Palm Sunday and at the celebrations of the Easter Triduum.
Priest Training Fund – Special Collection on 21st/22nd April 2018
Next weekend is Good Shepherd Sunday, the day we pray for priests and for vocations to the priesthood. The annual collection for the Priest Training Fund will also take place next weekend. This fund pays for the priestly formation of men for the Catholic priesthood. There are currently 45 men studying at Allen Hall seminary, 28 of whom are for our own Diocese, and last year eight men ordained to the priesthood to serve as our future priests. This fund also supports the ongoing enrichment and formation of our ordained priests. Your generous donation helps ensure we can support these men who are called to be like Christ the Good Shepherd. Donation leaflets are available at the back of the church. Please take one home, read the information and bring it back next weekend with your donation. Please continue to pray for vocations and for our priests. You can donate online anytime at www.rcdow.org.uk/donations.
St Mary’s Open Choir
Our next rehearsal with Liz is on Sunday 22nd April at 11 am to practise the hymns for 10 am Mass on 29th April. All welcome, no previous experience necessary, all ages. Please feel free to request a hymn by e mailing Sandra, finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk
INCENSED – Youth Group
Our next meeting is on 29th April after 10 m Mass. New joiners welcome, ages 10+. Contact Sandra, finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk
Supporting Local Refugees: Eggs Please!
Please help us support the local drop-in centre for destitute refugees and asylum seekers by bringing 6 or more hard-boiled eggs to church on Sunday, 6th May. Contact: Sandra, finchleyeastcat@rcdow.org.uk
Society for the Protection of Unborn Children – Petition
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children has launched a petition calling on the Prime Minister not to give any parliamentary support to moves to decriminalise abortion. At present there are term limits beyond which abortions are not allowed. Decriminalising abortion will strip from unborn children any remaining effective legal protection from abortion. So please support this petition. Legalising abortion to include all babies up to birth would cause a huge increase in the number of abortions (currently 4000 per day). The Society for Protection of Unborn Children has launched a petition to our prime minister asking that she does not allow this legislation to be passed. Spuc are not trying to change current law on abortion. They wish to stop legislation which would remove current limits and allow abortion for any baby to birth.
As you leave the church next weekend please note there will be tables with petitions for you to sign and leaflets explaining the situation more fully.
A few minutes of your time and a signed petition may mean life rather than death for millions of our children.. If abortion was legalised to allow any baby to be aborted right up to its birthday it would make an already bad law very much worse for the baby and for the mother. What can you do ? You can stop it if enough people sign. Please do sign.
CAFOD – Share the Journey Campaign
Tony Sheen, CAFOD Westminster writes: Thanks to your support, CAFOD’s campaigning tackles the causes of poverty and injustice, not just the symptoms. When the Catholic community speaks out together, we have a powerful voice. Could you become a Campaign volunteer and help enable and inspire others to take action as part in CAFOD’s campaigns? Find out more at our new volunteer day in Central London on Saturday 28th April? Contact Tony email westminster@cafod.org.uk or phone 0208 449 6970.
Slaves On Our Doorsteps – Tuesday 1st May 2018
Caritas Westminster write: Join us for an evening of practical advice on combatting human trafficking and modern slavery in your community. Speakers will include: Bishop Paul McAleenan, Mick Duthie from the Santa Marta Group, Hertfordshire Constabulary, the Shiva Foundation and Caritas Westminster. The event will be held on Tuesday 1st May, 7-9 pm, at Our Lady Immaculate and St Andrew’s Hall, Hitchin, SG5 1QS. Tea and coffee will be available from 6.30 pm. Please RSVP to caritaswestminster@rcdow.org.uk or call on 0207 931 6077.
Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead
Pilgrimage with the Consolata Fathers to the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead on Saturday 23rd June 2018. Coach leaves St Mary Magdalen’s Church, Athenaeum Road, Whetstone N20 9AE at 9 am sharp. Returns 6/6.30 pm. Cost £22 per person – includes travel by coach, teas, coffees, soft drinks. Please bring your own picnic foods. How to book: Cheques should be dated 1st May 2018 and made payable to Consolata Fathers. Post cheque with details of booking to: The Superior, Consolata Fathers, 3 Salisbury Avenue, London N3 3AJ. Please book early. Cheques will not be banked until 1st May 2018. For further details about the pilgrimage contact Stella Devlin on 0208 445 3099.
The Douglass
There are free copies of The Douglass, the magazine of our local Catholic comprehensive, giving you a picture of the life of the school. It is written by the students.
National Catholic Men’s Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Sunday 22nd April 2018, 10.30 am – 17.30 pm
Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady and Catholic Man UK write: A warm invitation to the first annual pilgrimage for Catholic men. Meet, talk and share the faith with other men, listen to speakers, celebrate confession and Mass, pray for families and for the country, process to the old Abbey grounds for Benediction. We welcome lay and religious, single and married, young and old, fathers and sons. “When England returns to Walsingham, Our Lady will return to England”. Pope Leo XIII, 1887. For more information visit www.catholicman.co.uk
Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School – Four week internship
Helen Brooks, The Vaughan Foundation writes: The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School is running a 4 week internship programme in June/July 2018 focusing on Mathematics and Physics. Participants may receive a bursary of £300 per week and will have the opportunity to explore a potential career in teaching. Participants will require an A-level in Mathematics and must be in their penultimate year of an undergraduate degree course in Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Geography or a related subject. For further information please contact teachingschool@cvms.co.uk or complete the application at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/paidinternship