Dear friends,
Don’t forget that the clocks go back one hour overnight this weekend!
St Augustine explained that, [if] we receive the Eucharist worthily, we become what we receive‘: he meant that Holy Communion is – in the words of a more recent saint, St Carlo Acutis – a “highway to heaven”, filling us with the risen life of Jesus Christ. We must imitate what we receive, breaking open and sharing our lives in service of our brothers and sisters in need, and pouring out God’s love for the world, after the example of our Saviour. So, in our second reading at Mass this Sunday, St Paul could write to St Timothy that he was ‘already being poured out as a drink offering‘: like the wine in the chalice which becomes the Precious Blood of Christ, in a similar way he too gave himself for the Gospel – and we must do likewise.
Last weekend we launched our “care boxes” project, in support of St Luke’s Hospice: simply consult the posters and/or fliers in church, and select one or two items to add to your weekly shop – to be brought to church by Sunday, 23 November. These will then be included in a personalised care box made up for each patient admitted during December, with a Christmas card from our church and from All Saints, Kenton, as well as devotional items, as appropriate. We would also be interested to hear from anyone who can knit or crochet, and who would like to produce some “holding hearts”, as per the design appended to this message.
This Sunday is the final opportunity to contribute to this month’s appeal for the Sickle Cell Society. The grand total raised for Macmillan Cancer Care was £1,166.59 – well done!
This Sunday is also the final Sunday in the annual, national Statistics for Mission October count: thank you for your faithfulness at Mass – our target attendance this weekend is at least 66 persons!
Please continue to PRINT CLEARLY on the list in church the names of those departed loved ones whom you would like remembered at our All Souls Mass, on Sunday, 2 November at 6pm. A collection will be taken during this service for the work of local charity Bereavement Care (for whom we will be collecting throughout November), and refreshments will be served after Mass: all welcome.
Our Christmas Market is fast approaching, on Saturday, 22 November: there will be a short planning meeting for this, after Mass on Sunday, 9 November – and donations of nearly-new items for sale are also requested. Please speak to Johnette to reserve a table (£15ea).
Please also find attached an invitation to a Solemn Requiem Mass at St Andrew, Holborn, during the month of the Holy Souls.
May the holy angels of God watch over you and guard you,
Fr Richard