Newsletter
Mon: Ss Paul Miki & Comps.
Fri: St Scholastica
Sat: Our Lady of Lourdes
Today Jesus is called to cure Simon Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever. The news of the cure travels fast, and as a result Jesus is swamped by dozens more people all plagued by emotional, psychological and physical problems, and all anxious for a cure. Jesus cures many people, and then in the early hours of the following morning he retires to a solitary place to pray. What happens next is surprising. Simon Peter tracks Jesus down and tells him that more people are searching for him. We expect that Jesus will return with Simon Peter to work more miracle cures. Instead Jesus replies, “Let us go on to the neighbouring towns so that I may proclaim the message there are also … for that is what I came out to do.” In moving on to the next town, is Jesus turning his back on the people that held such high hopes of being healed?
Our perception of God is often flawed. We know that God can do anything and so we are puzzled and hurt if our prayers aren’t answered. We find part of the answer in today’s gospel. Although he shows compassion for the sick and the dying, Jesus didn’t come primarily to promote physical health and fitness, that isn’t what he is about. Nor did Jesus work miracles because he had something to prove …that’s not what he is about either. For Jesus, healing was only part of a much bigger picture. Jesus is interested in us as whole beings not just in our physical wellbeing. Do miracle cures still exist? Undoubtedly they do, but perhaps it isn’t a question we should ask? We see people in robust health wasting their lives on the frivolous and the superficial. Others have less time on the planet but leave their mark. Naturally our health is of high priority to us, but Jesus encourages us to look beyond suffering to the bigger picture.
As Christians we are called to work for a fairer world – to ensure that everyone has access to education, that our schools include those on the margins of society, and to tackle the root causes of poverty. Last year’s student protests and the debate around Higher Education funding highlight a fundamental question – what is education for? Our time in education is not simply about preparing us for the workplace; it is primarily about the development of the whole person and finding ways to use our newly acquired skills and knowledge in the service of others.
A Concelebrated Mass with Archbishop Nichols will be held at the Cathedral next Saturday (11th Feb.) at 2.00pm. The Sacrament of the Sick will be available to all who wish to receive. Please see notice boards.
See notices in the porch for all details for the Diocesan Pilgrimage to the International Congress to be held n Dublin 13th-18th June. Archbishop Nichols will lead the pilgrimage. Booking forms are available from the Sacristy or contact: Gerald Daly 0207 798 9173
or www.tangney-tours.com
The Archbishop once again would like to invite couples celebrating a 10th / 25th / 40th / 50th or 60th Wedding Anniversary during 2012 to come to a Celebratory Mass on Saturday 26th May at 3.00pm. Please take a card from the table at the back of the Church at return to me a.s.a.p. (deadline – 25th February) so that Archbishops House can issue invitations in good time.
Fr. Bernard
Bishop Alan Hopes invites all young adults ages 16-35 to join him at St Lawrence's Church, 9 The Green, Feltham, TW13 4AF on Sunday 12th February for Mass at 6pm followed by food, faith-sharing and a chance to put him in the hot-seat. This will be a great opportunity to look back on World Youth Day in Madrid last summer and to look forward to Brazil 2013. For more information or to offer help contact St Lawrence's at feltham@rcdow.org.uk
Tel. 020 8890 2367 or see www.saintlawrences.org.uk.
When planning for the Celebration Mass with the Bishop on 22nd March we thought that something that may be appreciated would be a pictorial review of the event of the opening by Cardinal Hume.
(NB. Pictures would be loaned to be digitally remastered for disc and would make a very fine & permanent record!)
Please contact the Presbytery or Mr Pietro Tozzi a.s.a.p. (Tel. 01932 880638)
The Prayer Group will meet at St Frances de Sales Church, Hampton Hill, on Tuesday (7th Feb.) at 2.45pm.
A box has now been placed in the porch for jam jars complete with lids in a clean condition with labels removed please! Also any wool, material, zips, buttons, trimmings etc which the craft group can make good use of, would be appreciated.
“He went to her and he helped her up...” Mark 1:30
If you have such, please please will you consider joining the very small group of ladies who arrange the church flowers each week?
Telephone me Kathleen Wren on 020 8941 0444 if you would like to join the rota of Flower Arrangers
Each Sunday morning during 10.30 Mass, there is a catechetical programme for children of 3 years of age and older in the Parish Centre
The Catholc Theatre Company are looking for more professional actors to join them.
If you are an actor/actress and interested in learning more about the company , please visit www.tententheatre.co.uk
See the notice board for advertisements for Mid-day Supervisor and for Play Leader vacancies. Application packs from: info@st-james.richmond.sch.uk
This year Pope Benedict focuses on the sacraments of healing; the Sacrament of Penance - the "medicine of confession" - and the Anointing of the Sick.
What is the ‘Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick’?
In the past this sacrament became incorrectly known as the "Last Rites" and many of us grew up with images of the priest anointing the dying person, even anointing someone who had already died.
There is a common misconception that accompanies this sacrament. Many Catholics believe that the sacrament is intended for those who are on the verge of death. The beginning of serious illness is the best time to request the sacrament. It may be repeated during a long illness or as the elderly struggle with the infirmities of age