Newsletter
THE NINTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
1st June 2008
CALENDAR
Tuesday - St. Charles Lwanga & Comps.
Thursday - St Boniface
Friday - Saint Norbert
Gospel Reflection: Rock Solid
Does it matter what our motivation is as long as the end result is the same? If we give a thousand pounds to our favourite Catholic charity does it really matter whether we have donated out of a genuine desire to help the poor, or out of a personal need to impress? If the end result of our donation is that hungry people are fed, does it really matter what our initial motivation was? Some of us are in for a shock. We might have spent the whole of our lives doing good works, but to some of us Jesus will say, "I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers."
It is very worrying to think that we might spend our whole lives doing good works only to meet with Jesus' disapproval at the end of it all. Could Jesus really be this harsh? Perhaps however, this worry is no bad thing. Perhaps this worry is just what is needed to take us back to the drawing board and re-examine our foundations.
Today Jesus compares the wise builder to the foolish builder. The imagery of houses built on foundations of rock and of sand are used to question our relationship with God. If we make our spiritual foundations Jesus' word we are wise. If the foundations of our faith are built on love for our neighbour and a commitment to the poor the sick the meek and the righteous, our faith will be as unshakeable as a house built on solid rock. If on the other hand our lives are built on the desire for status, power, fame and keeping up appearances, the cracks will soon begin to show.
We all at some stage act in ways that are misguided or foolish, but if we make sure that our actions match our motivation, and that we always do our best to act out of love for God and neighbour, our sincerity will shine through and Jesus will recognise our efforts.
FUTURE TRAINING FOR OUR PRIESTS
Very many thanks for your donations to the annual Diocesan collection taken up at St. Theodore's last week. The total stands at - £1,157.87p.
Pope Benedict's Prayer Intention for June
Being an "adult" means having a faith which does not follow the waves of today's fashions or the latest novelties. A faith which is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ is adult and mature. It is this friendship which opens us up to all that is good and gives us the knowledge to judge true from false and deceit from truth. We must become mature in this adult faith. We are asked to join Pope Benedict's prayer intention for June, "That Christians may cultivate a deep and personal friendship with Christ so they are able to communicate the strength of His love to those they encounter."
THE MONTH OF JUNE
The Cardinal has asked that sometime during this month there should be set aside a time of prayer in every parish - for priests and for the welfare of priests temporal and spiritual.
Vocations are always of concern for the Church and particularly in our own day. Prayer cards for your use are available in the Church. Next week I will announce a day when there will be special prayers offered for this intention. Fr. Bernard
TABLE-TOP SALE
Saturday 21st June 10am-1pm in the Parish Centre. Please make a note in your diary. Further details will be published next week. KW
Yoga, Pilates and Art Classes...
....are held weekly during term time in the parish centre. Pilates on Tuesday and Wednesday Evenings 6.45-9.00pm for all levels with Sue Kotze (Tel:8979 7070) Yoga on a Wednesday morning 9.45-11.15 with Linty Wright (Tel:8979 7070). There will be a new Art class starting on Tuesday Afternoons after half-term with Jill Patterson (Tel:07903 909291)
For further information please see the notice board in the Parish Centre. K. Wren
World Youth Day Sponsorship
Thank you to everyone who has paid their sponsorship money to date. If you have not paid please put the money in an envelope and hand to Fr. Bernard. Thank you all for your generosity and continued support.
Siobhan, Natasha, Emily, Pippa & Joe
International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel / 4-10 June 2008
The tragic events in Israel and Palestine call people of faith and goodwill to act on their shared hopes that justice will be done so that both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace. The World Council of Churches asks all of us to join a week of advocacy and action for a just peace in Palestine and Israel.
As in 2006 and 2007, the June action week will include prayer vigils, special services and meeting with Muslim and Jewish people on the urgent need for peace. Please - join your prayers with ours!
THE MARTYRS WALK - Saturday 21st June
A walk through London remembering the witness once given in its streets by those we call the English Martyrs will begin at Tower Hill (EC3N 4DJ) at 11.00am and soon progress to Greyfriars and St. Patrick's, Soho and then to Tyburn Convent by Marble Arch for mass at 5.30pm. See notice board for further details.
RAISING MONEY FOR THE PASSAGE.
Westminster Cathedral Hall - Thurs June 5th - 7.30pm
The Solstice String Quartet. All tickets - £5.00
See the notice boards for all details
CAFOD and the Burmese Appeal
The Organization's appeal in the time of International Emergencies is currently directed towards Burma and China. Donations placed in the CAFOD Box in the porch will be earmarked specifically for that cause and forwarded at the end of this month. Many thanks for your generosity.
NEWCOMERS TO THE PARISH
You are most welcome and are invited to take a form from the church porch asking for your details.
(Details of yourself, your family and household are used only for the church record and registration with the parish.)
Please note that the Sacrament of Baptism is normally celebrated on a Sunday afternoon. You should contact the parish priest at least one month in advance of the desired date for the celebration that you wish to arrange.
Marriages are solemnised at the approved times. Preparations are commenced after a meeting with the parish priest. A course of preparation will be conducted according to diocesan instructions as can be arranged here or elsewhere.
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