2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 15.01.2023

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

Sun 15th Jan

8.30 am Angela and Eamon Doherty, intentions

10 am Osvaldo Antoniazzi, RIP

12 noon Jane Ikwueke, RIP

Mon 16th Jan Feria

10 am People of the Parish

Tues 17th Jan St Anthony, Abbot

10am Larry Hughes, RIP

Weds 18th Jan NO MASS

Thurs 19th Jan Feria

10am Funeral Mass of Patricia Caddle

Fri 20th Jan Feria

10 am Michael Walsh, RIP

Sat 21st Jan 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

5pm Monica Fitzsimons, RIP

Saturday 10am – 11am; 4:30pm – 5pm: Confessions and Exposition.

“The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort.

You were made for greatness.

Men and women were created for something great, for infinity.

Nothing else will ever be enough.”

Pope Benedict XVI

Your Prayers:

Let us keep in our prayers: Agnes Day, Christna Cahill, Eric Nicholas Darwent, Therese Kemp, John O’Shea, Rekha, Bina, Jose Luis Pérez, Alice, Lilian Murphy, Karina McKiernan, Izabela Lissowska and Florida Regina Karawgodage – all unwell at this time. We also pray for:: Gino Tomei, James Meally, Peter Sartori, Noel Ryan, Donato Merola, Aurora Lobo–Buckland, Christine Pavlou, Tom Lohan, Geraldine Day, Catherine Kelly, Jane Ikwueke, Gail Yates,Ronald Kinsella, Maureen O Sullivan, Patrick Reilly, Ann Gourdarznia, Nina Cole, Lorenzo Marcantuono, Pat McMahon, Michael Walsh Esther Ampomah Arhin, Peter McHugh, Marguerite Kyunga, Kathleen Molloy, Maria Pini, Madeleine Melling and Patricia Caddle whose anniversaries occur at this time or have died recently. May they Rest in Peace.

Offertory:

The offertory collection for week ending 1st January £753.13 and for week ending 8th January £1,003.28. Many thanks. Please do not forget, that arranging a standing order is the easiest way to support St Mary’s.

A St Mary’s Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2023

Fr Peter writes: “I am looking into planning a 5-day, 4-night weekday full board pilgrimage to Lourdes departing 24th April, returning 28th April for approximately £609 per parishioner and I need a minimum of 20 parishioners! The hotel on offer is 3 star and flights are from Stansted to Lourdes airport (making your own way to Stansted). I know Lourdes very well, can arrange Masses and tours to suit a 4-day trip. I have put a sign-up sheet at the back of the church for those who would like to come.

St Mary’s Special Commemorative Calendars

The special St Mary’s colanders celebrating 125 years of the parish are available to collect or buy (we printed some extra copies). Cost per calendar is £7:50.

Holocaust Memorial Day – Sunday 29 January 2023

This will take place at the Rickett Quadrangle, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, Hendon NW4 4BT at 2 pm. Please be seated by 1.45 pm. This is a commemorative service to remember the victims of genocide. Entry is free – Tube: Hendon Central, Buses – 143, 113, 83, 183, 186 and 326. Disabled parking facilities and access. For more information call: 0208 359 2652 or email mayor@barnet.gov.uk or visit www.barnet.gov.uk/holocaust

Nursery and Primary School Application Forms:

Fr Peter writes: “If your child needs their Catholic Certificates of Practice” stamped and signed, please attend one of the Sunday Masses with your child, bringing their nursery or primary school application forms. Please make sure you have completed address and dates of birth before coming to see me.”

Attention all Readers and Eucharistic Ministers

The present rotas end on Sunday 22nd January. The new rotas will run from Sunday 29th January to Sunday 28th May, excluding Easter Sunday (9th April) , Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. If you cannot serve on a particular Sunday between Sunday 29th January to Sunday 28th May, or wish to change the Mass at which you serve, please let Yvonne Tomei, Parish Administrator know by Wednesday 18th January at the latest.

E. mail finchleyeast@rcdow.org.uk

SVP Senior Citizen’s Lunch – Sunday 5th February

The senior citizens' lunch will be on Sunday 5th February, starting at 1pm in the parish centre. Music will be provided by Billy Faughnan & Michael O' Hare. Please put your name down on the list in the church porch.

Calling all prospective Altar Servers – and those who would like to learn.

For those who would like to be an altar server (you need to have made your First Holy Communion) please sign the alternative list and Deacon Dom will teach you. Adult parishioners can also sign up to be servers. An adult server for weekday Mass would be wonderful – particularly helpful when Fr Peter is presiding at funerals.

Home Visits:

Fr Peter writes: “I keep promising and never get round to it, but this month I am going to do some ordinary home visits, beginning with First Holy Communion families and then those preparing for Confirmation. My intention is to visit on a Monday evening. I will require no food, just some hot water and I will bring a herbal tea bag. I am also very happy, while visiting to bless houses and apartments.”

Last Week:

Fr Peter writes: “Last week I was stricken with Covid and couldn’t pull together a newsletter. Thankfully I am much better and out of isolation. Grateful thanks to Fr Terry, Fr Enrico and Fr Declan for stepping in at the last minute and covering Masses.”

“Everybody can be great….because anybody can serve

You don’t need a degree to serve.

You don’t have to make your ‘subject and verb’ agree to serve.

You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Martin Luther King Jnr.

The Big Lent Walk Challenge:

This Lent, CAFOD, the official aid agency of the Catholic Church, is setting an inspiring challenge to help raise money to fight global poverty.

The challenge is simple - walk 200km over 40 days, while raising money for families impacted by the climate crisis.

How and when people walk the 5km a day is up to them, but it can be done alone, with friends, family or with a school.

Every £1 raised for the Big Lent Walk will help CAFOD support families in their efforts to respond to the impact that the crisis is having in their communities and across the world.

Signing up couldn't be easier, just head search Big Lent Walk in google or head to https://walk.cafod.org.uk/ and get going.

Supporting the Big Lent Walk, will help families to protect their livelihoods and to support their community.

Any money raised can make a huge difference to people's lives:

- £10 can provide four palm trees to protect land from extreme weather caused by the climate crisis. - £26 can provide tools and training to build raised beds to protect vegetables from floods. - £185 can provide a place on a two-week course: growing food, adapting to extreme weather and new ways of earning a living.

While the challenge starts on Ash Wednesday (22 February), people, parishes and schools are already fundraising.

Those taking part are encouraged to share on social media, using the #TheBigLentWalk hashtag. Anyone who raises £200 through their Big Lent Walk page will receive a special free gift as a special thank you.

For those who want to clock the activity with something other than walking, they can do a 15-minute cycle or 35-minute exercise class.

The Big Lent Walk page: https://walk.cafod.org.uk/ has all the details for sign-up, as well as handy guides on how to track your walks.

If you are interested and would like to help organise a “St Mary’s Big Lent Walk”, please see Fr Peter or Deacon Dom.