Dear friends,
This Sunday’s Gospel reading relates the story of the miraculous draught of fishes, following which Christ commissions Peter, James and John as, henceforward, “fishers of men“: theirs is our vocation also, for we in our day are called too to draw men and women to Jesus. Friendship with the Lord is a journey which begins with a single step: so who might you invite or encourage to join you this weekend at Mass?
Our guest preacher, both on Saturday evening and on Sunday morning, will be Fr Harri Williams, the Vicar of Walsingham (and also Clerk to the Cleaver Fund, who are generously part-supporting Ryan’s pastoral placement with us). Please do make every effort to be at one or other of our principal Masses, not least to welcome Fr Harri – who is travelling from north Norfolk to be with us.
There are just three spaces remaining on the next Youth Group outing – at 2.30pm on Saturday, 15 February, to Houdini’s Escape Room Experience at Tenpin, Acton. Those wishing to come MUST this weekend return their completed registration forms, and £10pp. This heavily-subsidised price includes refreshments; and all are welcome, ages 8-17.
The funeral Mass of the late Theresa Labastide will be celebrated in church on Friday, 7 March at 12.30pm. The committal will then take place at Breakspear Crematorium at 3pm – and all are welcome to attend.
This Saturday is the memorial of St Josephine Bakhita, the heavenly patron of Caritas Bakhita House – again to be one of our chosen charities this year, in September: do join us for Mass at 9.30am, and/or watch this webinar to learn more about their invaluable work.
Finally, a reminder that this year we will share a Lent course with All Saints’ Church, on Fridays in Lent (from 7 March) at 7pm, beginning with Stations of the Cross – and alternating venue between the churches. The course will explore – over six sessions – the meaning of the Creed we recite each Sunday. Stations of the Cross will also be celebrated each Wednesday during Lent (from 12 March), at 9.30am – leading into Mass.
In the presence of the angels may we praise you, O Lord,
Fr Richard