INVITATION
The Lord has invited us to the wedding feast of the Lamb in the kingdom. The invitation has been refused by many but we must not. At this banquet we will all be gathered as one people. As with any invitation we have to RSVP. Our response is by putting on the wedding garment of Christ and show his love active in our lives.
Every weekend we have four Masses. At each of these celebrations there is a coming together of all kinds of people: different ages, different nationalities and many different backgrounds. It is our shared faith in Jesus Christ that brings us together around the altar the fore taste of the great banquet of heaven.
The masses all have a different feel – the Saturday evening and Sunday 8am are quiet unsung Masses. The 10am Mass with a full church, wonderful singing with the young voices and drums! The 12 noon Mass with organ and older voices.
Many people come with great faithfulness Sunday by Sunday. Thank you to all in our parish that help so faithfully at all our Masses. Take some time today to reflect on what you appreciate about coming to Mass at St Paul’s. Share it on the way home with your family or friends in the parish. Jesus is always asking us ‘Will you come to the banquet?’ Is there someone you could bring to the Mass? Jesus’ love always awaits us when we come.
CHURCH CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK
Tuesday 17th October St Ignatius of Antioch
Wednesday 18th October St Luke
MASS INTENTIONS – We are booking Masses for November. Please note that if you asked for an intention on a specific date and a funeral is subsequently arranged on that day, the intention will be moved to the next available date.
BAPTISMS – Please ring the Parish Office on 0208 888 2390 to arrange a time to come and meet with Fr Perry.
WEDDINGS – If you are planning to get married either in St Paul’s church or elsewhere, the Diocese requires the minimum of 6 months in order for preparation and paperwork to be completed. We will be running our pre-marriage course in the new year. Please register with Fr Perry as soon as possible.
HOLY COMMUNION & ANOINTING OF THE SICK – If you become seriously ill and unable to come to Mass, please contact Fr Perry if you want to be visited at home.
CONTACTING FR PERRY – The best time to ring is between 8am – 9am Monday to Thursday. At other times, if he isn’t available you can leave a message.
Please ring the Parish Office for times to see Fr Perry. The best times to ring are
Monday to Friday between 10am – 2pm
MEDITATION – our St Paul’s meditation group meets each Wednesday evening at the Parish Centre from 7pm – 8pm. Everyone is welcome. If you would like to find out more, please contact Joan on 07956 641 685
PRAYERS
Preaching at the Church of the Holy Rosary, Marylebone, Cardinal Vincent Nichols asked the faithful to pray for peace in the aftermath of a surprise attack by fighters from Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel from Gaza on 7th October.
The incursion has resulted in hundreds of deaths and reports of over 100 hostages captured. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country is ‘at war’. Retaliatory strikes have killed hundreds in Gaza.
Cardinal Vincent said: ‘Today I also ask your prayers that, at the intercession of Mary, the Holy Spirit may be a bringer of peace in the conflicts spreading at this time in Israel and Gaza. Having visited Gaza on two occasions, my heart goes out to its people who will now bear the consequences of the attack on Israel by Hamas militants.
‘Violence is never a solution. Retribution is never a contribution to peace. Please pray today for that peace. Pray for all who have lost their lives and for the immediate release of those taken hostage.
‘Pray especially for the small but active Catholic community in Gaza City who at this moment will be reaching out courageously to their neighbours, trying to offer shelter and support.
‘Today please pray the great prayer of the Rosary that this conflict, in the homeland of Mary herself, will quickly come to an end.’
THANK YOU FOR THE COLLECTION OF – Sunday 8th October – Total £1596.93 (Loose £1085.84; Envelopes £511.09). Contactless £274.50.
CAFOD – Thank you for the donations made to the CAFOD Fast Day last Sunday. We have collected £989.66 so far.
GIFT AID – Thank you to all those who Gift Aid their contributions to the church. In the last Financial year, we received £19,561.07 from the Government. If you pay income tax, and have not signed up for Gift Aid, please consider doing so as we are able to claim back from the government 25p for every £1 that you give. Contact the Parish Office for information or Gift Aid Forms. If you are not sure if you are on Gift Aid, please call the Parish Office.
FEDERATION OF ST PAUL AND ST MARTIN OF PORRES – After 7 years of working at our schools our Headteacher, Mrs Fleming, has decided to move on and will be taking up her new post as Headteacher in a school in Hertfordshire in January 2024. This is wonderful news for her but, of course, our school communities will be very sorry to lose her energy, warmth and leadership. Over the years she has worked closely with us all to develop provision across our schools and she will be greatly missed. As I write this, the governors have begun to engage with the Diocese and other local schools to discuss the future leadership structure of the Federation. Once we have more news on this I will write to you to share our plans. Please rest assured that our schools will continue to offer the high quality of provision which they are known for and your children, and their wellbeing and learning, will continue to be at the centre of all the decisions we make. In the meantime, everyone in the Federation of St. Paul and St Martin of Porres Catholic Primary schools wishes Mrs Fleming many congratulations. We look forward to continuing to work with her over the next few months and to building on the work which she and her team have carried out since 2016.
Susan Bartlett Chair of Governors
ROSARY – During October the month of the Holy Rosary we encourage you to say the Rosary at home or join the group after Mass.
NOVEMBER DEAD – During the month of November we pray for the Holy Souls. If you wish to write a November list, please take one of the sheets and return them in the envelops provided. Holy Mass will be offered each day during November for all those whose names are written on the November Lists.
Our annual Mass for all those whose funerals took place here at St Paul’s will be on Sunday 12th November at the 12 noon Mass.
DAD’S GROUP – Before the Pandemic we had a regular meeting for Dad’s in our parish. It would be good to resume these gatherings. Any Dad’s who are interested, please have a word with Fr Perry.
NOTE TO ALL PARISHIONERS – The climbing frame in the playground of St Paul’s School is OUT OF ORDER and awaiting repair (extremely dangerous). NO children are allowed to use the climbing frame. The school cannot be liable for any accidents or injuries that occur outside of school hours. Thanking you for your co-operation.
| PARISH DIARY Sunday 15th Oct Refreshments after 10am Mass Monday 16th Oct SVP Meeting Tuesday 17th Oct Refreshments after 9:30am Mass + Church Cleaning 7pm ALPHA Wednesday 18th Oct 7pm Meditation Group Friday 20th Oct 10am ASCENT Group | Sunday 22nd Oct Refreshments after 10am Mass NEXT SUNDAY 22nd OCTOBER IS THE 29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 1st Reading Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; 2nd Reading 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5; Gospel Matthew 22:15-21 |