Newsletter 15th February 2015

Quiz Evening at St Anne’s School Upper Site, Palmers Green, on Friday 27 February 2015 at
7.30pm. Tables must be booked in advance through the school office but you will be able to
pay for your ticket on the night. Contact the school if you are interested, 020 8886 2165’
St Thomas More Catholic School, Glendale Ave, N22 5HN A Level results 85% A*-C. Sixth
Form ‘drop in’ morning for external students Thursday 26th February, 9am-12.30pm. Contact 8888.7122 or www.stthomasmoreschool.org.uk for information pack.
Amazing Grace Saltmine Theatre's production telling the inspiring strory of John Newton,
slave-ship captain to church Leader. Slavery, freedom and the remarkable power of love
and grace to transform a life. London premiere at Notre Dame de France, Leicester Square
on Tuesday 10th March 2015 at 7.30 pm. A powerfully moving performance .
Book online: www.bit.ly/agtickets or T: 020 7440 2663, email: [email protected]
Tickets: £10.00-£12.00
FROM THE DIARY
Sun 15 February
Mon 16 February
Tues 17 February
10.00am Bible Studies Group, Newman Room
10.00am Church cleaning, Eleanor’s team
2.00pm Mass at Beaumont Care Home, Cannon Hill
7.30pm - 9pm RCIA, Newman Room
7.30pm - 9pm Lent Course, ‘Anointed’ , Large Hall
10.30am Team Meeting
Weds 18 February 7.00am Mass with Ashes
ASH WEDNESDAY 9.35am Mass with Ashes followed by Reconciliation
11.00am Mass with Children’s Liturgy & Ashes
6.30—7.15pm Sacrament of Reconciliation
7.30pm Mass with Ashes
Thurs 19 February 12.30pm Funeral Mass for Kaivon Ohadi RIP
5.30pm Legion of Mary, Newman Room
Fri 20 February
12.30pm Christian Meditation, Newman Room
1pm Bread & Soup Lunch for Addo, Newman Room
Sat 21 February
11.15am Baptism of Joseph Newron, Thomas Fitzgerald &
Niamh Baptista
4.30pm - 5.45pm Altar Servers’ training, Newman Room
Sun 22 February
3.00pm Rite of Election at Westminster Cathedral
MASS TIMES
Sunday (Sat 6pm), 7.45am, 9am, 10.30am, 12noon, 3.30pm (Polish) & 5.30pm
Daily 9.35am Morning Prayer 9.10am
Confessions: Sat 10 - 11am, 5.15 - 5.45pm (Signed for Deaf by appointment)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Mon 4-5pm, Fri 4-5pm, Sat 10 - 11am
Weekday 7pm Service: Weds, Holy Hour, Thurs, Rosary Hour Fri Stations of the Cross
Church open for private prayer: Sunday 7am - 6.30pm, Mon - Sat 8am - dusk
St Monica’s Church, Palmers Green
A parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster
Newsletter
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
15 February 2015
Meditations For Lent
St. Francis De Sales offers a helpful way of meditating which touches every aspect of our life.
The First Meditation is about Creation, and St. Francis asks to look at our own birth and
consider where we come from: hopefully we will be able to discover God as a creator and a
Father who brings us into being.
The Second Meditation is about our Purpose in Life: God did not need us, and yet He brought
us to be in order to love us and for us to discover how good He wants to be towards us. He
gave us a memory to remember Him and a tongue to praise Him. Have we done so? How
much of our lives have we spent on trifling matters, never discovering the real good and
happiness that is God Himself.
The Third Meditation is about God’s Blessings: God has blessed us with a body and a capacity
for good: He has given us graces and gifts: what have done with them? Have we used them
properly for our good and the good of others? We will discover God’s goodness and mercy
towards us, but also a sense of responsibility towards His goodness and gifts to us.
The Fourth Meditation is on Sin: This is a difficult one, for it calls us to make a good
examination of conscience, remembering all our faults, the times we turned our backs to God,
our unfaithfulness, fantasies and words, spoken or not. As we think of it, we should let it hurt
us, but then remember God’s mercy and grace towards us. As the Father in the story of the
Prodigal Son, God is always waiting, full of love and mercy, for us to go back to Him and He
offers us the means to do it, especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The Fifth Meditation is about Death: This time will come to all of us; the problem is that we do
not know when or how. Will we be ready? Our soul will take the same path we chose in life.
Will it be a path of life or a path of death? These are the two choices that God puts before us
every day. There is nothing in between. The aim of this meditation is not to make us sad or
miserable, but to open our eyes to realities that await each one of us, but to which many times
we are blind. It will help us to see that life is too short for us to waste on resentment, anger,
fights, arguments; not allowing God to heal all this and bringing back communion and peace.
May God help us in this time of Lent to bring us closer to Him and to each other and already
make us experience in this life the joys and beauty of the rewards to come. When our journey
in this life is over, may we then, with God’s help, experience them for all eternity.
1, Stonard Road, London N13 4DJ  (020) 8886 9568 Fax: (020) 8886 5143
Email: [email protected] Website: www.stmonica.co.uk
Parish Priest: Canon Shaun Lennard Assistant Priest: Fr. Paulo Bagini
Parish Sister: Sr Joyce Dionne 07940 500908 Youth Work Co-ordinator: Anna McMullan 07532 374291
Parish Office hours - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri , 10am - 12noon
Polish Chaplain (resident in Enfield) Fr. Krzysztof Chaim 07902 432343
PARISH NOTICES
Please pray for those who have died
Kaivon Ohadi, Margaret Weston and for those whose anniversaries occur about now ,Pamela Glencross,
Grania Gray, Baby Oife Cahill, Sandra Whiteside, Annie Clarke, Columbus Balfe, Margaret Caden, Giorgio
Biollo, Renata Miszkiel
Please Pray for Sick and Housebound Parishioners
Maureen Hall, Therese Edirimanasinghe, Ann McFadden, Moira Bullen, Luciano Cerini, Vittorio
Marchini, Margaret Allen, Irene Samonte, Joan Marie, Anna Cattini, Graham Oatham, David
Pinckney, Lucy Warner, Joe Browne and Christina Browne.
FINANCE thank you for your generosity
8 Feb Envelopes £1,727 Loose £ 1640
Crib Offerings for Catholic Children’s Society
this year £918.58
Mondays, commencing tomorrow 16th
February from 7.30 - 9pm in the Large Hall.
People in faith-sharing groups should not
come to these evenings.
Sleep-in congratulations to the young
people who raised £670 for the Passage and
De Paul Trust with their sponsored sleep-in.
Ash Wednesday Mass with Ashes is at 7am,
9.35am, 11am & 7.30pm. As it is half term
the 11am Mass will be especially for
families with young children.
NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS
Gen 9: 8-15; Psalm 24; Peter 3: 18-22; Mark 1:
12-15.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday Mass there is an additional Mass at
2pm on Monday at The Beaumont Care
Home, 15, Cannon Hill, N14. All parishioners
are very welcome.
Faith Sharing Group Leaders should collect
their packs for from the porch today. Faith
Sharing Group Members please DO NOT
buy the ‘Anointed’ booklet, as your Group
Leader already has a copy for you. New
Members if you have not heard from your
Group Leader by today please contact Mary
on 020 8360 3974.
R.C.I.A. Come and See Meets every Monday
at 7.30pm in the Newman Room. This week
we will look at the season of Lent. All are
welcome-but Catholics only if they bring a
non-Catholic!
Anointed people who signed up to join a
faith-sharing group last week will be starting
to meet this week. For those NOT in a faithsharing group, you can reflect on the
material in a larger group situation on
Meditation & Soup every Friday in Lent
there will be Christian Meditation at
12.30pm followed by a simple bread and
soup lunch. Donations for the lunch will go
towards the Sisters of mercy’s project in
Addo, South Africa. ALL are welcome. We
need volunteers to make soup. Fr Shaun &
Fr Paulo will do this week - can you provide
vegetarian soup for around 20 people?
Please sign up on the board at the back of
church if you can. If you are working you
can deliver the soup chilled in the morning.
YOUTH NEWS
No Youth Club this week as it’s half term.
Clothing appeal Following on from the
sponsored sleep-in, our young people will
be collecting new socks, hats & gloves
(preferably black) after Masses next
weekend (22nd Feb). These will be given to
our soup run & The Passage to distribute.
OTHER NEWS
Lent starts on Wednesday! There is a
large selection of reasonably priced books
for Lent on sale from the CTS rack in the
repository. Copies of the ‘Walk with me’
booklet with a meditation for each day of
Lent are available priced £1 each. The
booklet ‘Anointed’ is also available for those
who are not in faith-sharing groups. Priced
£2 available in the porch.
Active Kids Vouchers are now available
from Sainsbury’s.
The Brownies are
collecting them for equipment and
activities.
Please leave them at the
Repostory (slide them under the door if it is
closed.)
Repository now has cards for Mother’s Day,
St Patrick’s Day and Easter on sale.
Marriage Preparation our next course is on
6th & 7th March. Couples intending to
marry in 2015 must attend this course and 6
months notice must be given. See one of
the priests for further information.
Mass of Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of
Matrimony,
Westminster
Cathedral,
Saturday 23rd May 2015 at 3pm.The Cardinal
invites all couples in the Diocese who are
celebrating their 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th
and 60th (and every year over 60)
anniversary of marriage in 2015. If you are
celebrating an anniversary, please give your
names and contact details to the Parish
Office by this evening.
St Martin de Porres Nursery, N11.
Applications close 27 Feb for children with
DoB 1/9/11 - 31/8/12. See poster for details.
URGENT Premier Christian Radio need
signatures to support renewal of their
licence. Please sign TODAY after Mass.
St Patrick’s Day Tues 17 March. We
would like to have a gathering after
9.35am Mass. Could you bring some
soda bread or barn brack? Please speak
to one of the team if you can help. There
is also a party at the Parish Centre on 21st
March (see below) If you can help please
contact Laura or Natasha on the number
given below.
Diocean Pilgrimage to Lourdes 26 July 1 August. We would like to go as a parish
group. Price £635 by train, £788 by air.
Details are at the back of the church.
Speak to Fr Shaun if you are interested.
Archbishop Oscar Romero last week
Pope Francis declared Oscar Romero a
martyr.
This is an important step
towards his beatification There is a great
clip on https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=AR76lKQGO0Y
Respect for Life Ann Widdecombe and
David Burrowes MP will be discussing
beginning and end of life issues on
Tuesday 24th Feb at 6pm in the Large
Hall. All welcome
Church Cleaning Once a month for about
an hour. Teams clean at different times.
We urgently need more volunteers .
Contact Siobhan on 020 8807 5583
Parish Centre News
ST PATRICK’S DAY PARTY: Saturday 21 March 8pm to 11.30pm with live music. Tickets (£8
for adults and £4 for children and seniors) will be on sale after Mass from 1 March as well as
from the Parish Office. Price includes free complementary drink, a bowl of Irish stew or
vegetarian option, entry into prize draw and children’s entertainment.
BOOKINGS: If you wish to hold a party or other event at the Parish Centre please contact
Laura or Natasha on 07955 037251 or at [email protected]
The Parish Centre is located at Cannon House, 6 Cannon Hill and is open to all parishioners. We
have a bar Thursday –Saturday from 8pm to 11pm and on Sunday from 1pm to 4pm and 8pm to
11pm. See our notice board next to the Repository.
Soup Run As winter comes we can never have enough socks, gloves and hats! Black,
warm ones are best. As the need arises again, we will keep you posted.
Church Cleaning the church gets a lot of use and so regular cleaning is essential. It is YOUR
church and it is being left to a small number of people to keep it clean. All that is needed is
90mins of your time, once a month. Contact Siobhan on 020 8807 5583.
Parking please park only in marked bays in the car park, NEVER on yellow hatched areas
and please do not block neighbours’ driveways and entrances.
Irish Dancing Classes for children aged 4+ every Monday @ 3.50pm in Small Hall. Details
contact Margaret on 07932 056163 or [email protected]
St. Monica's Baby and Toddler Group - If you have a child below school age why don't you
try out our group? We run during term time every Mon and Weds morning 9.30am to
11.30am at the parish centre on Cannon Hill. £1.50 a session. Indoor and outdoor toys
available plus singing and arts and crafts a couple of hours spare on a Monday morning to
help out. Call Katie on 07960 281068 for more information.
Day for Church Musicians and singers in Potters Bar Sat 21st Feb 'Songs to build bridges
between worship and world' with Frances Novillo and Stephen Dean Sat 21st Feb 10.30 for
11am-3pm Our Lady and St Vincent's Church Potters Bar, 243 Mutton Lane, EN6 2AT for
more information and to book a place email Vicky [email protected] 07934 651491
cost £5 singers and instrumentalists welcome u16s must be accompanied, bring a packed
lunch.
Looking for something new in 2015? CAFOD needs your help in ending poverty and
injustice overseas. Find out how you can live your faith and put your skills to good use at
Understanding CAFOD Day on Saturday, 24 January, in London SE1, from 10am to
4pm. Book
online
at understandingcafod.eventbrite.co.uk, or call 0208 449
6970. Should you or any of your parishioners have any questions, please get in touch with
us here at CAFOD Westminster: 0208 449 6970 or [email protected]
Parish Library: Were you aware that the church had a crying room and the crying room
doubled as a parish library? The parish library has been revamped and will be open again
during Mass times. There are books on history, theology, spirituality and scripture, and
travel, and there will be instructions on how to go about borrowing some. Parishioners are
also invited to donate some book
Health & Safety we take the safety of everybody very seriously and the diocese provides a
company who assist us with regular checks of all our buildings. Last week a check revealed
a dangerous crack in the back wall of the Parish Centre and this has been dismantled to a
safe level. And cordoned off. Please observe any safety notices including in the car park
and let a member of the team know if you spot anything dangerous.
Palmers Green Child Contact Centre would you be interested in becoming a volunteer at
the centre? The centre enables separated parents to see and have regular contact with their
children. The centre is open every Saturday morning at the United Reformed Church, Fox
Lane. As a volunteer your commitment would be once every 6 to 8 Weeks. We are very
grateful of your continuing support. We are however look for volunteers and we would
particularly welcome men. If you are interested and would like more information please
contact Philomena on 07958 221 853.
Valentines Catholic Speed Dating. WE NEED MEN - over 20 women are registered and
waiting for you! Come along with friends and enjoy the chance to meet lots of other likeminded people. Register with [email protected] beforehand and come to Austin
Forum, Hammersmith on Friday 13th February at 7.30pm, £5 only. Cash bar. You can find
more info on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1524001144541596/?
context=create&previousaction=create&source=49&sid_create=717093477
SCRIPTURE FROM SCRATCH: A Journey through the Bible. A basic bible study
programme for everyone interested: Parish Readers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy
Communion, Adult Faith Formation & Small Communities Leaders & Members, Catechists,
Volunteers & all parishioners Where: Vaughan House, 46 Francis St , SW1P 1QN When: 7pm
-8.30pm Facilitators: Brian Purfield and Ausra Karaliute. Well known Bible scholars are
invited to talk on particular themes. No prior knowledge is required to attend the
programme. Sessions are presented in lecture style with some elements of discussion,
Q&A and some optional activities during the sessions, on-line and at home.PAULINE
THEMES with Fr John Hemer Sat 14th Mar 2015 RETREAT with Brian Purfield (10.00am –
1.00pm) Tue 20th Apr 2015 THE PSALMS, ISRAEL’S PRAYER, CHRIST PRAYER (1) with
Fr. John Hemer Tue 11th May 015 THE PSALMS, ISRAEL’S PRAYER, CHRIST PRAYER
(1) with Fr John HemerTue 8th Jun 2015 THE PSALMS, ISRAEL’S PRAYER, CHRIST
PRAYER (1) with Fr. John Hemer. All sessions are recorded and available on the diocesan
website at a later date. Please register to attend at rcdow.org.uk/events or at
[email protected] or call 020 7931 6078. Suggested donation £3 per session.
Registration is required at rcdow.org.uk/events/ or [email protected] or call at 020
7931 6078. Suggested donation is £3 per session.