Home » This Week's Newsletter | SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER | 13 MAY 2012 | Year B
Love one another as I have loved you
The centre of all living is love, according to today’s second reading, and in the Gospel Jesus gives us just one commandment: ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ I read somewhere that, ‘to be a Christian is terribly simple. I do not need to study in a university or an institute of theology. If I really love people as Jesus loves me, I will definitely graduate - with honours!’
In practice, of course, it is not always easy. We need to learn slowly how to love people unconditionally. Love is not a question of keeping rules and commandments. It is a way of life. It is an internal attitude which influences every single thing we do and say and think.
The love Jesus speaks about is very different from what we see on TV or in films. Sometimes we’re very happy when we love, sometimes loving the poor, the sick, the criminal, will not be easy. Looking after a relative who is close to dying can be a very painful experience, especially if that person is difficult or unresponsive. But that is love. Also, when I genuinely love others, there will always be some who will not love me back, but there will always be others who will. To be able to reach out in love and to experience being loved is God’s greatest gift.
Thanks for the love shown to me when my great niece Amy died last year. Please remember the family this weekend, on her first anniversary.
Fr. Joe
Cleaning Rota
Team B: Mrs HazellWeekly Draw:
£5: Andy BebingtonOffertory:
| Loose Cash | £ | 535.49 | ||
| Gift Aid Envelopes | £ | 687.51 | ||
| Gift Aid Standing Orders | £ | 2323.50 | ||
| Total | £ | 3546.50 |
Gift Aid Organiser David Warner
8654 5918
Collections: Next Sunday is World Communications Day. There will be a second collection after Communion to support the work of the Catholic Communications Network, which promotes the Gospel through the media on current issues. Please pick up an information postcard from the porch
Recent Deaths: : .
We pray for the sick in our Parish: : Sheila Minus, Kim Fowley, David Fowley, Rose-Marie Cummins, Elizabeth Damsel, Peter Enahoro, Gerry Gallivan, Louise Kennedy, Aniela Malec, Skye Murray, Fr David Peck .
We pray for parishioners whose anniversaries occur this week: Edward Lee, Edith Crowhurst, Anne Fowler, Owen O’Hara, Fay Earl, Kit Bradley, John Daly, Jerzy Klos, Marie Savy, Ruth Peazold, Kathleen McNaghten, Dominic Rowe, Gerald Maguire, John Foley, Josephine Sweeney, John Flanagan, Anna Tsakalis, Jim Orbell, Eunice Bambery, Teresa Flanagan, Bartholomew ("Battie") McGuane, Michelle Berry, Margaret McSorley .
We pray for those baptised in : .
Meetings:
RCIA
Wednesday, 8pm, PRC
First Communion Prayer Morning
Saturday 19th May, 10am, Large Hall
Social Club:
Sunday, 13th May: Mary Darcy
Sunday, 20th May: Mustang Showband
The Social Club recently sent a cheque for £2,000 to support the
NEW RCIA PROGRAMME: Our RCIA programme concluded with a celebration last Wednesday. The new programme begins this Wednesday at 8pm in the PRC. If you would like to explore the Catholic faith a little further, do come along.
SPECIAL MASS AND BLESSING: for all sick and housebound parishioners and their families on Saturday 26th May at 2pm followed by light refreshments in the hall. Transport can be arranged. Please ring 8656 0007 for details.
PARISH AGM: Tuesday, 29th May, 8pm in the Large Hall, preceded by Mass at 7.30pm. Questions may be submitted in writing in advance, and placed in the box at the back of the church. All questions must be named.
GIFT AID: I recently issued a box of gift aid envelopes with the serial number 79, to a parishioner. I am having difficulty locating this number in my records. Could I please ask the holder of
SOCIAL CLUB NEWS: The Social Club plays an important part in the parish community, supporting the church directly by the rent it pays, supporting the Gospel message by its various charitable events (see box above), and supporting the life of the community by its entertainment evenings. The present committee members are ageing and need more help. Our AGM is at 8.30pm on 8th June in the Large Hall. Do consider attending and putting your name forward to join the committee. The commitment will not be onerous - meetings are once a month, but any offer of help would be very welcome. To find out more, ring Pat Winston on 07734 250375.
28th CROYDON SCOUT GROUP – HELP NEEDED: We are an extremely successful and expanding Group within Our Lady’s parish and as a result we have a log jam of boys and girls waiting to join Scouts which is having a knock on effect through our Cub packs and Beaver colonies. Our only practical solution is to open a third Scout Troop which will hold its weekly meetings on Tuesday evenings at our HQ in
RAINBOW HELP: We urgently need a Leader for 1st Addiscombe Rainbows on Thursdays 4.30 to 5.30pm. If no one comes forward the unit will be forced to close in July 2012. Please contact Nikki Duggan, 07910 183082 or email nikki.duggan@blueyonder.co.uk.
MASS FOR NEW CATHOLICS: This is a Mass of thanksgiving to celebrate and welcome all those baptised and received into the church at Easter, at 11am on Saturday May 19th,
PARISH BIKE RIDE: on Sunday 1 July. We will be having two rides: one to
DAY CONFERENCE ON THE EUCHARIST: Thursday 24th May, 9.30 am to 4 pm, cost: £20, light lunch included, at the Centre for Catholic Formation, Tooting Bec. To book, please phone 8767 4445 or email rebekah@eps-uk.org.uk.
WHAT’S THE HARM? A seminar on the impact of pornography on adolescent brain development takes place at the House of Commons from 10 – 11.30am on Wednesday 23rd May. The event is organised jointly by Premier Radio and Safer Media. If you can’t attend the seminar, please consider signing Safer Media’s campaign to block internet pornography at www.safermedia.org.uk/safetynet.htm. See poster in porch.
WALLET CARDS: In the porch are some small prayer cards, suitable for a purse or wallet, with some brief reminders about how to live one’s life as a Catholic. Please take one each - they are suitable for both adults and children.
JOB VACANCY: The Diocesan Centre for Catholic Formation in Tooting Bec requires an Advisor for Disability & Adult Formation. Further details are available from Fr David Gibbons, dgibbons@ccftootingbec.org.uk or 8672 7684. See notice above newspapers.
CROYDON ECOLOGY CENTRE PLANT, SEED AND SEEDLING SALE: Today from 12 noon until 4pm. These wonderful gardens at the top of Gravel Hill are open with a café in the house serving soup and afternoon tea. Free entrance and parking.