Newsletter- 1st March 2015 - Our Lady of Grace & St Edward Chiswick

Our Lady of Grace & St Edward Chiswick with St Dunstan Gunnersbury 020 8994 2877 www.ourladyofgracechiswick.org [email protected]
Keep up to date with parish news and activities on Twitter @ourladychiswick 8TH MARCH 2015
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT Parish Team
Canon Anthony Dwyer Fr. Andrew Chamiec Sharon Bowden Parish Priest Assistant Priest Administrator At all Masses:
SUNDAY MASS:
NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS:
1st Reading:
Chronicles 36: 14-16, 19-23
Psalm:
136 Response v 6
2nd Reading:
Ephesians 2: 4-10
Gospel:
John 3: 14-21
Canon Anthony writes:Normally when we hear about Jesus in the Gospels while he is
direct and honest, often challenging, he is nonetheless very
measured in what he says and does. In today’s Gospel we hear
that Jesus reacts in this forceful way because, as he says his
Father’s house is being turned into a market. The Temple is a
special place, it is above all a sacred place, and those there are
not showing that they have a sense of the sacred.
In today’s world it can seem, sometimes, that many things are
reduced to the lowest common denominator. We see that
sometimes where there is a lack of courtesy or respect, or the
absence of good manners. And such ways can also affect our
sense of the sacred, the fact that the ways of God need to be
treated differently to human ways – to treat God’s ways with
awe and reverence and respect.
These days of Lent are a time to reflect on ourselves, on how
we relate to others, and to consider how we relate to God in our
lives, how do we show Him the respect and honour in the one
place where he is specially to be honoured. Jesus is upset
because of the behaviour of those in the Temple, the fact that it
is not being treated as a sacred place. For us too, from time to
time, it can be good to think about how we are when we attend
Mass, how do we prepare, how do we participate, what if,
anything, in my words or actions, might be a source of
distraction to others, rather than assisting them in their prayer,
and helping them to be attentive to what is being celebrated?
As Catholics participating in the celebration of Mass is the most
important thing we do, just as it is also the most privileged.
Participating in the Eucharist is a wonderful gift, freely given,
and that’s something we should never lose sight of. We show
our appreciation by the way in which we prepare and are
present. And one way in which we do that is by arriving on time,
even a few minutes early to recollect ourselves and think about
we are going to celebrate, and equally staying right until the
end, that is until we are told: ‘Go in peace’, and waiting until the
celebrant has reached the back of the church. These may
sound like little things but they show our appreciation of the
Mass, they say something about our sense of the sacred in
God’s House.
GUNNERSBURY CHURCH
As some of you will be aware a large piece of the church
ceiling fell in last week, and which was only discovered on
Saturday, not giving us time to get repairs done for Sunday. We
regret very much that it was not possible to celebrate Mass last
Sunday, but in the interests of safety there was no alternative.
Thank you to everyone who was so understanding in this
difficult situation, some temporary repairs have now been
completed, while further work remains to be done
RESPONSES: Page 7
READINGS:
Page 154
All viewable at:
http://www.universalis.com/mass
Funeral this Week:
Sabrice David Ocquidant - RIP
Funeral Mass on Tuesday 10th March 2015 at 10:00am
May he rest in peace.
LET US PRAY
For those who are sick: Mr Casciello, Claudio Boggi, Louise
FitzGerald Burden, Marie O’Keeffe, Mrs O’Brennon, Mr. Coleman,
Maureen Blair, Cecil Pocock, Rose Murphy, Thomas O’Sullivan, Betty
O’Grady, Anne O’Farrell, James McKeefry
For those recently deceased: Sabrice David Ocquidant
For those whose anniversaries are at this time: Maureen and
Michael Devine and Kate McGale
THIS WEEK –
Sat 7/3
6.30pm
Sun 8/3
8.30am
9.45am
10am
11am
12.15pm
6.30pm
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
Vigil Mass
3RD SUNDAY
OF LENT
Eily O’Leary
ANN
Thanksgiving
INT
(Gunnersbury)
Ray Cresswell
Philip Barr
People of the Parish
Shelia Hay
ANN
ANN
The Coyle Family
NO MASS
RIP
RIP
Mon 9/3
10.00am
12.30pm
LENT FERIA
Tues 10/3
10.00am
LENT FERIA
12.30pm
Wed 11/3
10.00am
12.30pm
Thur 12/3
10.00am
12.30pm
ANN
Funeral of Sabrice David
Ocquidant RIP
NO MASS
LENT FERIA
Pessy Forrest
NO MASS
RD
Eileen McSweeney
NO MASS
ANN
Winnifred Carney
Ann Badger
RIP
RD
Danny Courtney
Martin Healy
ANN
ANN
LENT FERIA
Fri 13/3
10.00am
12.30pm
LENT FERIA
Sat 14/3
10.00am
6.30pm
LENT FERIA
Vigil Mass
CONFESSIONS: Saturday 11am – 12 noon & 5pm – 6pm (or by appt)
MORNING PRAYER: Friday 9.40am
EXPOSITION: Monday – Friday 1pm – 5pm,
Saturday Holy Hour 5pm-6pm
BENEDICTION: Saturday 6pm.
LENT ACTIVITIES
During Lent there are a number of activities
taking place, all of which provide us with
opportunities to make this a fruitful, and
positive, season.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Each Friday at 6.30pm
PRAYING THROUGH LENT
“Come to the Water” is the title of our
Lenten talks reflecting on different aspects of
prayer. Last Tuesday Fr Javier Ruiz spoke on
‘Praying through the scriptures”. This
coming Tuesday Sr Felicity Young, an
Ursuline Sister, will be talking about how to
pray with poetry. Once again this promises to
be a helpful talk, everyone is welcome, and
the talk takes place in church, and begins at
7.30pm.
LENTEN PROJECT
The Lenten Project this year will be
supporting CAFOD in its work for refugees
from Syria, now living in camps in
neighbouring countries such as Lebanon and
Turkey. Contributions can be placed in the
‘World Hungry’ box, or if you wish to ‘GiftAid’ your contribution please use one of the
Lenten Project envelopes and return it, with
your contribution, to the Parish Office.
HAVE A FAVOURITE SAINT?
Why not come along to our Lenten Course
called 'Saints Helping Us Today'. It runs on
Tuesday mornings in Lent from 11.30-12.30
in the Parish Centre. A six session DVD
course exploring the lives of the Saints,
including, St Therese of Lisieux, St Benedict,
St Francis of Assisi, St Patrick and St
Catherine of Sienna.
LENT LUNCHES
Lent Lunches are being served in the Parish
Centre, on the Fridays of Lent, from 1.00pm,
with the proceeds going to the Lent Project.
Volunteers are needed to make soup and to
help with serving; if you can help in this way
please contact Jo Hodgson on 8995-6154 or
email: [email protected]
MASS IN LENT
A good way of observing Lent is to attend
Mass during the week, as and when time
permits. It is good to see some extra
parishioners attending, but would be
heartening to see more making an effort, and
showing an appreciation of the Mass.
Monday to Saturday Mass is celebrated at
10am and on some days at 12.30pm
SYNOD & THE FAMILY
Many of you will be aware of the Synod on
the Family which took place in Rome last
October, a further synod will take place this
Autumn. In the meantime Catholics
throughout the world are being consulted on
their thoughts about the gift of marriage, and
the
challenges
facing
families
in
contemporary society. A number of small
groups will be meeting to reflect on the
questions suggested by the Bishops. One of
the groups will be meeting in ??????????????
on ???? at ?????. If you don’t wish to, or
can’t, join a group you can still share your
thoughts. The questions will be found at the
back of the church, and you can either send
your responses to the parish office, to be
included with the parish, or directly to the
Marriage and Family Life co-ordinator at
Westminster
DO SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR LENT
Give up an hour of your time on a Monday
evening to attend a Small Faith Group
meeting. For more details contact David
Richardson tel: 0208994-4696 or email:
[email protected]
‘ANOINTED’ is the title of the Diocesan
Programme taking place in parishes this lent.
Booklets for those who may not wish, or be
able, to join a group are on sale price £2.
LENT LEAFLET
For further details of what is taking place
during Lent please take a copy of the Lent
leaflet.
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES
The new Offertory envelopes are available
for collection today. They are arranged
alphabetically on tables around the church.
Please take a few minutes to collect yours. If
you are new to the parish, or do not use
Offertory envelopes, and would like
information about the scheme, please
speak to a member of the Finance team at
the tables, or contact Michael Maher 020
8995 3290. Providing you are a UK
Taxpayer, you can Gift-Aid your donations
to our parish. Signing a Gift Aid
Declaration increases the value by 25
pence for every £1 you give at no extra
cost to you. Last year through Gift-Aid our
parish received a refund of over £30,000 and
nearly £2000 for the Lenten Project. Thank
you very much for your very generous
support of our parish and to the many
financial appeals that are made throughout
the year.
COMMUNION TO THE SICK
When parishioners are unwell we are very
happy to arrange for Holy Communion to be
taken to them in their homes. If you, or
someone you know, would like to have Holy
Communion brought to you, please speak, in
the first instance to one of the priests.
ARCHDIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO
LOURDES, 26TH JULY – 1ST AUGUST
It is hoped to take a group from the parish on
the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes this year.
Please contact the Parish Office if you are
interested or speak to Fr Andrew for more
information.
CAFOD LENT FAST DAY
Thank you very much for your contributions
last weekend following the CAFOD Lent
Fast Day. It is still not too late to make a
contribution, and they can be left at the Parish Office. If you wish to ‘Gift-Aid’ your
contribution please use a CAFOD envelope,
and don’t forget that the Government will
match every contribution pound for pound –
so doubling your donation at no cost to
yourself.
LENTEN TALKS at Our
Victories, Kensington
Lady
of
Wednesdays after 6:30pm Mass
11TH March Exodus: Out of the house of
slavery
18TH March Jeremiah & Cyrus: The Prophet
and the King
25TH March Time for renewal: Celebrating
Reconciliation
The Talks will be given by Rev Dr Javier
Ruiz
Collections for Last Weekend
Chiswick:
£4,487.09
Gunnersbury:
?
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
CARDINAL’S
MASS
OF
THANKSGIVING
FOR
THE
SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
Westminster Cathedral, Saturday
23rd May 2015 at 3pm.
The Archbishop will be inviting to this Mass
all couples in the Diocese who are
celebrating their 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th
and 60th (and every year over 60) wedding
anniversary of Catholic marriage in 2015. If
you are celebrating an anniversary, please
contact the Parish Office with the following
details: husband and wife’s names, wedding
date, full postal address and email (or
telephone number, if no email).
GUNNERSBURY NOTES
WEEKDAY MASS
Tuesday and Thursday at 9.30am
Sunday Mass at 10.00am
COME AND SEE DAYS
Three “Come and See” days will take place
in the coming months for men who are
interested in the Permanent Diaconate. These
will be held on 18TH April at Ealing Abbey,
Ealing, 16TH May at Sacred Heart & St
Joseph, Ware. All the days will begin at
10am
in the respective parish hall, ending
at noon. No registration is needed and wives
are welcome to attend. For further
information contact Deacon Anthony Clark
Tel: 0208 455 9822, Deacon Adrian Cullen
Tel: 01920 462 140 or Deacon Gordon Nunn
Tel: 0208 862 2162
GENERAL ELECTION
We are already hearing much about the
forthcoming General Election. Deciding how
to vote is an important decision. To assist us
in this the Bishops of England and Wales
have written a letter in which they suggest a
number of questions that we might wish to
put to the candidates. Copies of the letter are
available at the back of the church
THE REPOSITORY
On sale this week St Patrick’s Day cards,
badges, rosettes, Easter cards and also other
religious items. The Repository is open after
all Sunday morning Masses and after the
10am Mass
ANNUAL THEOLOGY OF THE BODY
LECTURE
The 12th Annual Theology of the Body
lecture, entitled ‘Facing Difficulties in
Christian Family Life: Insights from
Theology of the Body’ will be given by Dr
Peter Kahn, Director of Studies of the
Liverpool University Higher Education
Programme. It will take place on the 20TH
March 2015 at 6:45pm, Vaughan House, 46
Francis St, London, SW1P 1QN. Please
register
your
interest
at
[email protected] Tickets, to be sold on
the door, will be £!0 or £5 concessions
(OAP, students/unemployed)
Chiswick Liturgy Info
9.45am Mass
Responsorial Psalm 980
Gospel Acclamation 184
CHURCH CLEANING ROTA
This week the Wednesday Cleaning Group
will be cleaning the Church.