14TH JANUARY 2024 SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINAY TIME
Parish Mass Book: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Order of Mass Page 7; Prayers and Readings Page 127
ORDINARY TIME: Readings for Sundays: Year B
Readings for Weekday: Year 2
| MASS TIMES Monday to Friday – Morning Prayer 9:10am – Daily Mass 9:30am Saturday – Vigil Mass 5:30pm Sunday Masses – 8am, 10am & 12noon Rosary: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday after 9:30am Mass. | Confessions Saturday: 11am – 12 noon 4:30pm – 5:15pm Church opens at 7:30am Monday to Friday Church closes 2pm on Monday – Friday from Monday 8th January to Friday 19th January On Saturday church opens at 9:30am and closes at 6:30pm. |
‘SPEAK, LORD, YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING!’
Like the people in today’s readings, we, too, are called by Christ: called to spend time with him; to work with him; to offer our bodies, hearts and minds in loving service of God’s will.
The First Reading tells the delightful story of God’s initiative in the life of the boy Samuel, who is open to the call of the Lord despite his youth, signalling the beginnings of a close relationship with God.
The Psalmist invites us to a personal knowledge of and intimate relationship with God. God desires ‘an open ear’, bidding us to make Samuel’s prayer our own: ‘Speak Lord, your servant is listening’.
Writing to those in Corinth, a city notorious for its vice, Paul emphasises that both our bodies and our souls are meant for the glory of God. The physical body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we come together in unity as the cosmic body of Christ (Second Reading).
John the Evangelist describes the call of the first disciples, where Jesus asks the searching question addressed to every reader of the Gospel: ‘What do you want?’ Here begins the journey of getting to know Jesus, as the disciples (and we ourselves) follow on the path of deepening faith towards an understanding of who Jesus Christ is.
This week, we, too, may ask for the grace of an open ear and an open-hearted response to Jesus’s invitation to ‘Come and see’. We also remember those of our sisters and brothers who, like Samuel, as yet have ‘no knowledge of the Lord’, and ask that they may come to know the safety and peace such knowledge can bring in an uncertain world.
(From Prego)
CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK
Friday 19th Jan St Wulstan
MASS INTENTIONS – We are booking Masses for February. 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.
THANK YOU FOR – the retiring collection for the Holy Land last Sunday. We collected £2110.37. We will keep the fund open for one more week.
CRIB – The crib offerings this year will be applied, as is our custom, to the Catholic Children’s Society for the relief of poverty at home. So far, we have collected £449.23.
THANK YOU FOR THE COLLECTION OF – Sunday 7th January – Total £886.05 (Loose £544.63; Envelopes £341.42). Contactless £335.
BENNY FEELEY RIP – Please pray for Benny, a parishioner for many years, who died on Christmas Day. We remember his family and friends at this time. No funeral arrangements have been made at present.
STEVE MANN RIP – We pray for the repose of the soul of Steve. He was received into the communion of the Catholic Church here at St Paul’s in June. His Requiem Mass is at 11am on Monday 15th January at St-Peter-In-Chains, Stroud Green. May he rest in peace.
MICHAEL HOSFORD RIP – Please pray for Michael Hosford who passed away recently. Michael was a parishioner here at St Paul’s until he moved to Our Lady of Lourdes. We remember his family at this time.
ABOUT BEING A CATHOLIC (ABC) – This course is for adults who have not been baptised, for Christians and other denominations who would like to be received into the Roman Catholic Church and for adults who would like to be prepared for Confirmation. Please call the Parish Office to arrange a time to come and see Fr Perry. The sessions will start the beginning of February.
PARISH FEAST DAY – Thursday 25th January 2024. Mass at 9:30am
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from after the 9:30am Mass concluding with Benediction at 4pm.
Please sign up if you can watch and pray before the Blessed Sacrament.
We will celebrate our Feast Day with an International Mass on Sunday 28th January at 12 noon.
Please sign up to bring food for the celebration after the Mass and helping with different tasks.
Setting up the hall on Saturday 27th January at 4pm.
HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE – I have asked Northern Star for an update with regard to the pilgrimage in May. We will let everyone know the situation once we hear from the Company. Fr Perry.
FOOD BANK – Thank you to those who donate to the food bank. Please do not leave perishable foods in the trolley.
SCHOOL STREET – On Tuesday 9th January 2024, Bradley Road will become a School Street. This will operate during Term Time only, Monday to Friday from 8:15am – 9am and 2:45pm to 3:30pm. Motor vehicles (cars, vans, motorcycles etc) will not be allowed to enter the School Street during the above times except if they have been issued an exemption.
LOOKING AHEAD – The Mass is nothing short of amazing. Through it, we encounter God in the most intimate way possible as we hear him speak to us in the Liturgy of the Word and as we receive him Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist. In his video-based study A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, Dr. Edward Sri explores the roots of the words and gestures we experience at Mass and explains their profound significance. This fascinating tour of the Mass will renew your faith and deepen your love for and devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Join us for A Biblical Walk Through the Mass for 6 weeksbeginning Tuesday 6th February 2024 @ 7.30pm in the Parish Centre. If you wish to join the course you need to purchase a copy of the book A Biblical Walk Through the Mass by Dr Edward Sri from St Paul’s bookshop by Westminster Cathedral or look online for other sellers. If you wish to join the course, please register with the Parish Office by 28th January 2024.
POPE’S INTENTION FOR JANUARY – For the gift of diversity in the Church -During the month of January, Pope Francis has asked the faithful to pray for the gift of diversity in the Church. He emphasized recognizing “the gift of different charisms within the Christian community.”
| PARISH DIARY Sunday 14th Jan Refreshments after 10am Mass Tuesday 16th Jan Refreshments after 9:30am Mass Church Cleaning after Mass Wednesday 17th Jan 12 noon to 3pm Welcome Space Friday 19th Jan ASCENT Saturday 20th Jan 3pm Confirmation Session Sunday 21st Jan Refreshments after 10am Mass | NEXT SUNDAY 21ST JANUARY – 3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 1st Reading 1 Jonah 3: 1-5, 10 2nd Reading Corinthians 7:29-31 Gospel Mark 1:14-20 |