Dear Parishioners,
We all enjoy stories: mysteries, romance, fact, fiction, science fiction. Jesus uses stories or parables to illustrate a point or to describe his Father’s Kingdom. In the case of parables, and especially that of the seed and the sower, Jesus wants the listener to not just hear the story but to think about it’s deeper meaning. Once the parable is understood we then may need to act upon it. In today’s Gospel parable we should ask ourselves how receptive are we to God’s word? If the answer is “not very” then what can we do to change this?
We may be over familiar with the scripture reading “I’ve heard this one before!” and may miss something important by not paying full attention. We need to ask the Lord to help us to open our hearts and minds in order that we may listen as if it is the first time of hearing and then to make our lives the fertile soil in which the Word of God may take root and bear fruit.
We have very fertile soil outside our church and my thanks to all who are helping to cultivate it, producing all sorts of crops not just flowers, but peas and potatoes. If you would like to get involved — children or adults — see Michael, after todays 10.30 Mass in Word and Sign.
Again our Mass times vary slightly this week with end of term Masses etc. Apologies for any inconvenience.
With Prayers and Blessings.
Fr. Keith.
FATHER CRESCENT Would like to thank everyone for their prayers, greetings and participation in the celebration of his 10th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination on Friday evening. Ad Multos Annos.
SON ET LUMINARE From 1st July this year until late January 2027, Westminster Cathedral will become the setting, four evenings per week, for this ground-breaking 360-degree sound and light production. For further details visit
COUNTERS REQUIRED At present we have four teams of two to count the weekly collection. Recently one or two have “Retired” and a number of team members have been away, so others have been called in to help. If you feel you would be able to help with this important task — usually on a Sunday morning—please speak to Fr. Keith or email the parish with “counting” in the subject line.
READERS ROTA Copies are available in the Sacristy. If you have a clear voice and are interested in joining our merry band please email your contact details, with “Reader” in the subject line and the Mass you normally attend to:
commercialroad@rcdow.org.uk
ALTAR SERVERS Any young person who has received their First Holy Communion and would like to become an Altar Server, please speak to Fr. Keith and collect an application form. Training will begin hopefully before the summer holidays.
MASS IN WORD AND SIGN Last one before the Summer Holidays takes place this Sunday 12th July at our 10.30am Mass. Anyone interested in learning some sign language please speak to Fr. Keith. Help with refreshments after the Mass will be gratefully received.
BAPTISMAL PREPARATION COURSE The last one before the summer took place this weekend (Saturday morning). Next course in September.
BI ANNUAL REQUIEM MASS at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Langthorne Road, Leytonstone, takes place tomorrow Monday 13th July at 11.30am for all who are buried there and for all our departed loved ones.
Mass Books our readings for this Sunday can be found on page 364 and will be noted each week on the back of the Newsletter. The prayers of the Mass are on the red edged pages in the centre of the book.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2027 Application forms (green) are now available at the back of the church and can be returned via the Presbytery letterbox or handed to Fr. Keith by Sunday 26th July. Children should be in Year 3 or above in September. Please note that forms are only available from the church as the course is run by the parish and not the school.
CONFIRMATION 2026 For any young person who has been baptised and will be starting in Year 9 or above in September and would like to receive this Sacrament here at St. Mary and St. Michael (late 2026) please collect a form from Fr. Keith and return it by Sunday 26th July. Archbishop Richard has granted permission for Parish Priests to confer the Sacrament for this year.
URGENT ACTION REQUIRED The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which aims to legalise assisted suicide has returned to the House of Commons, and Members of Parliament will vote on its Second Reading on 11th September. This bill is wrong in principle. It is also deeply flawed and, if passed, could lead to vulnerable people feeling pressured into ending their lives. Archbishop Richard writes: “The Bill has a serious lack of protection for health and social care staff and risks putting many wonderful hospices and care homes in the position of no longer being able to operate. I urge you to write to your Members of Parliament to petition them to vote against the Bill.”
PRAYERS PLEASE FOR: Those of our parish who are sick: at Home or in Hospital, remembering especially: Fr. Victor; Peace in our troubled world: in Israel, the Middle East, Lebanon and Ukraine; Our Deanery: Limehouse Parish; Our Young People: As schools break up and many prepare to move on to Secondary School; await exam results and prepare for University or the world of work; For All who have died recently and for: Tony Falzon, Ambrose Farrell, Christie Doran, Maud Simpson, Ann Connolly and all whose anniversaries occur about this time.
| OFFERTORY COLLECTION | |||
| LOOSE | ENVELOPES | TOTAL | |
| SUNDAY 28th June | £432-35 | £146-20 | £578.55 |
| SUNDAY 5th July | £429-00 | £176-00 | £605.00 |
| Figures do not include Direct Debits or Donations via Dona. COUNTERS: TEAM A (12/07);TEAM B (19/07); TEAM C (26/07);TEAM D (2/08). | |||
| MASS AND SERVICE TIMES FOR THIS WEEK (Weekday Masses take place in the Sacristy) | |||
| Day | Date | Time | Intention |
| 15th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. | |||
| Saturday | 11thJuly | 6.00pm | Frank Sweeney. RIP. |
| Sunday | 12thJuly | 8.00am | Pro Pop. |
| 10.30am | John Donovan. RIP. | ||
| 1.00pm Congolese Community Mass. | |||
| Monday | 13thJuly | 9.30am | Ecaterina Zarvanschiy. Anniv. |
| Tuesday | 14thJuly | 10.00am | Fr. William Rose. Anniv. |
| Wednesday | 15thJuly | 9.15am | Robbie Jituboh. Anniv. |
| Thursday | 16thJuly | 9.00am | Private Int. |
| Friday | 17thJuly | 10.00am | David Jones. RIP. |
| 16th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. | |||
| Saturday | 18thJuly | 6.00pm | Flavienne. Int. |
| Sunday | 19thJuly | 8.00am | Pro Pop. |
| 10.30am | Simon Kavanagh. RIP. | ||
| 1.00pm Congolese Community Mass. | |||
| Sacrament of Reconciliation: Sat 5.15pm – 5.40pm or on request. | |||
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
“There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.”