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St John’s Wood
A parish of the Archdiocese of Westminster,
dedicated to Our Lady, Mother of God,
Mother of the Church.
Website www.rcsjw.org.uk Blog stjohnswoodblog.wordpress.com
Email stjohnswood@rcdow.org.uk Telephone 020 7286 3214
Twitter @FrAllenMorris
Being remade in Christ
Jesus’ call to conversion and penance, like that of the
prophets before him, does not aim first at outward
works, “sackcloth and ashes,” fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. Without this, such penances remain sterile
and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance.
Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our
whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our
heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with
repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life, with hope in God’s mercy
and trust in the help of his grace. This conversion of
heart is accompanied by a salutary pain and sadness
which the Fathers called animi cruciatus (affliction of
spirit) and compunctio cordis (repentance of heart).
The human heart is heavy and hardened. God must
give man a new heart. Conversion is first of all a work
of the grace of God who makes our hearts return to
him: “Restore us to thyself, O LORD, that we may be
restored!”God gives us the strength to begin anew.
It is in discovering the greatness of God’s love that
our heart is shaken by the horror and weight of sin
and begins to fear offending God by sin and being
separated from him. the human heart is converted
by looking upon him whom our sins have pierced:
Let us fix our eyes on Christ’s blood and understand
how precious it is to his Father, for, poured out for
our salvation it has brought to the whole world the
grace of repentance.
Since Easter, the Holy Spirit has proved “the world
wrong about sin,”i.e., proved that the world has not
believed in him whom the Father has sent. But this
same Spirit who brings sin to light is also the Consoler
who gives the human heart grace for repentance and
conversion.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 1430-1433
Confession: the forgiveness
and healing of sin
Confessions are heard during Lent on
Saturdays from 9.30 to 10am and from
5.15 to 5.45pm. If you prefer another time
please contact Fr Allen to arrange this.
There is a parish Penitential Service on
the Monday of Holy Week, March 30 at
7.30pm, with visiting priests,
Make the most of Lent by celebrating
the Sacrament of Penance.
It is a precious gift: our fault, met and
made good by God’s love.
Pope Francis speaks...
Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord never ceases to have mercy on us, and desires to offer us His forgiveness yet again,
inviting us to return to Him with a new heart, purified from
evil, to take part in His joy. How to accept this invitation?
St. Paul says “We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Cor 5:20)” This work of conversion is not just
a human endeavour. Reconciliation between us and God is
possible thanks to the mercy of the Father who, out of love
for us, did not hesitate to sacrifice his only Son. In fact, the
Christ, who was righteous and without sin was made sin for
us when on the cross He was burdened with our sins, and so
redeemed us and justified before God. In Him we can become
righteous, in him we can change, if we accept the grace of
God and do not let the “acceptable time (6:2)” pass in vain.
With this awareness, trusting and joyful, let us begin our Lenten journey. May Mary Immaculate sustain our spiritual battle
against sin, accompany us in this acceptable time, so that we
might together sing the exultation of victory in Easter.
Dates and times for the Diary
SundayS of Lent:
Stations of the
Cross at 5pm
30th March: Monday of Holy Week,
Penitential Service,
7.30pm
2nd April: Maundy Thursday:
8pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
3rd April: Good Friday: 3pm, Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
4th April: Holy Saturday:
8.30pm Easter Vigil
Scripture readings for Sunday Mass
This Sunday 22nd February (1st Sunday of Lent)
Genesis 9:8-15 / Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
1 Peter 3:18-22 / Mark 1:12-15
Next Sunday 1st March (2nd Sunday of Lent)
Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 / Psalm 116:10, 15-19
Romans 8:31b-34 / Mark 9:2-10
Parish Church of Our Lady
54 Lodge Road, NW8 8LA
Church open 7am - 7pm each weekday
Parish Office open: Mon-Fri 10.30-1.30pm
Regular Mass Times: Sundays: (1800 Sat.); 0900; 1030; 12noon;
1800. Weekdays: 10am (Sat 9am), also Thurs 7pm
Exposition & Benediction: Sat:9.30 to 10am
Confession: Sat 9.30-10am; 1715-1745, or by appointment
Parish Team: Fr. Allen Morris (Rector);
Sr. Brigid Collins; Fr Paul Richardson.
Daniel Antonio and Thomas Treherne
Also resident: Fr. Clement Mukuka
Chapel of Ease: Our Lady, Queen of the World
25 St Edmund’s Terrace, NW8 7PY
Mass: Mon, Weds & Fri: 0800; Exposition daily.
Parish
Rector’s Open Surgery
This weekly slot provides parishioners
with the opportunity to meet Fr Allen
without the need to make a separate
appointment. The next open surgery is
6-7pm on Fri 27 Feb or Weds 4 March.
Journey in Faith
Weds 25 Feb, 7.30pm.
Glad to be Dads
Next meeting: Mon 9
March, 8pm in the parish
house (with talk by Andre
Camara about his work - inspiration for the film ‘City
Commissioning Ministers
of God. Bishop Nicholas
There will be rites of commissioning Hudson will join the group
for all ministers of Holy Communion on on 13 April to speak on ‘Fa21/22 March.
therhood and the Bishop’.
All dads welcome.
Youth Cafe
meets in the lower hall immediately Union of Catholic
after the Sunday 6pm Mass - for chat Mothers
and refreshments.
23 Feb: Discussion of new
Synod Consultation on
Ministry during Holy Week
Marriage and Family Life; 9
and Easter Weekend
Parish ministers of the Word and of Holy March: International WomCommunion, who are present for this en’s Day. Meet in the parish
key period in the life of the Church are hall at 8.30pm. New meminvited to sign up on the Rota outside the bers are always welcome.
sacristy as soon as possible.
Parents & Toddlers Tuesday,
Diocese
Wednesday & Thursday 9.30-11.30am Growing in Faith
Over 50s group Tuesday at 2pm; If you did not collect a
Growing in Faith newsletter last week,
Youth Mercy Tuesday at 4pm.
please do collect one from the enBaptism Preparation
trance to the church, or go on line to
Next course for parents of infants be- http://rcdow.org.uk/growing-in-faith/
gins Sat March 7th. Details at www. introduction/
rcsjw.org.uk/join/infantbaptism.html
Faith Matters: Lent 2015.
24 Feb.
Richard Ounsworth, OP:
Jesus.
3rd Mar. John Farrell, OP: The
Church & Christian Life
10 Mar. Aidan Nichols OP: How
to write theology
17 Mar. Timothy Radcliffe OP:
Tolerant & Free despite
being Catholic?
7.00pm to 8.30pm, Vaughan House,
46 Francis St , SW1P 1QN. Places are
limited. Register at livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk or call at 020 7931 6078.
Beginning Experience
is a healing weekend for people who
find themselves single again following
divorce, separation or the death of a
partner from 20-22 March at the Emmaus Centre, West Wickham, Kent.
More information from Freda on
01322-401243.
Vocation Discernment Group
for adults (18-30’s) meets on Friday
27 February, 7-9pm in the Hinsley
Room next to Westminster Cathedral.
Fr Lawrence Lew, OP, will speak on St
Dominic. More details: Fr Richard at
richardnesbitt@rcdow.org.uk
Praying for the dead and those who are sick
Please pray for those who have died recently, esepcially Sr Catherine Hanley of
the Handmaids, Sr M. John Baptist of Tyburn Convent, Mr Stapleton and Margaret Malzone. Please pray also for those who are sick including Scott Cornfoot, and those who take care of them.
Apostleship of Prayer:
Pope Francis’ FEBRUARY intentions
Universal: That prisoners, especially the
young, may be able to rebuild lives of dignity.
For Evangelization: That married people
who are separated may find welcome and
support in the Christian community.
Daily Prayer: Each morning pray ‘Jesus I offer my day to you’ - then live
your prayer as best you can. In the evening review your day, to give thanks
and say sorry.
Come And See Days
For The Permanent Diaconate. Three
‘days’ for men interested in the Permanent Diaconate. 7 March at St Edward
the Confessor, Golders Green; 18 April
at Ealing Abbey, Ealing; 16 May at Sacred Heart and St Joseph, Ware. All begin at 10am and last till noon. No regis-
MUSICIANS NEEDED!
Dan is appealing for musicians to
help animate the main liturgies
over Easter, particularly the Easter
Vigil on Holy Saturday night (4th
April at 8:30pm), and Easter Sunday morning (5th April at 9am and
12noon).
Singers are ALWAYS welcome, but
so too are violinists, flautists, brass
players, guitarists, percussionists...
Being part of such the music group
offers really valuable experience
especially to young musicians,
building their confidence and
overall musicianship, as well as
seeing church ‘from the inside’!
The parish Music Ministry Team rehearse on TUESDAY evenings from
7-8:30pm in the Jubilee Room, and
gather shortly before Mass on
Sunday. Newcomers are welcome
at any time!
Interested? Contact Dan for more
information: daniel.antonio@hotmail.co.uk OR 07808895458 OR
just turn up on Tuesday evening!
tration is needed and wives are welcome
to attend. Further information? Contact
Deacon Anthony Clark 020 8455 9822.
Celebrating Marriage
2015 Lent Appeal
Our parish Lent appeal is for the De Paul UK
which supports young homeless people.
Last year, with cuts in housing benefit so
marked, 3500 young people needed to look www.depauluk.org/
for help. DePaul led them on a journey from
homelessness to independence through their emergency and long-term housing, education programmes and mediation services.
Westminster Cathedral, Sat 23 May at
3pm. The Archbishop will invite to this
Mass all couples in the Diocese who celebrate their 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th
and 60th (and every year over 60) wedding anniversary of Catholic marriage in
the local employment training week
2015. If you are celebrating an anniver23rd -27th March. Contact commusary, please give Fr Allen the following Jobs at Lords
nity@mcc.org.uk if you want to take
details: husband and wife’s names, wed- Seasonal jobs are available at Lord’s part on this course. For all other curding date, full postal address and email from April until Sept. The jobs are in rent vacancies at Lords Cricket ground
(or phone number, if no email).
the catering department and include please visit http://www.lords.org/ourchef roles, waiting staff and porters. organisation/jobs/
Paid jobs in the Diocese
SPEC Retreat Leader and Formation Co- Applications for these particular jobs
ordinator at SPEC, closing date extend- can be made at www.justjobs.co.uk/ To be a Christian
ed to 26 Feb; CARITAS (x 4 vacancies) lords Recruitment begins in March and is to be missionary...
Assistant Director, Office Administra- jobs are open to anyone who is com- APF-Mill Hill’s Red Boxes fund the vital
tor Development Worker and Qual- mitted and enthusiastic. Interviews are work of the Catholic Church abroad,
ity Monitoring and Evaluation Worker guaranteed to those who take part in by bringing God’s love and hope to
the poorest and most in need.
for CARITAS, closing 27 Feb; HR dept
(x 2 vacancies) HR Administrative As- Mary’s Meals
It is easy to become a Red Box holdsistant, closing 2 March and Pensions Thank you to all who supported the
er – just collect one from the parish
Administrator closing 6 March; Edu- Mary’s Meals collection last weekend.
repository before or after Mass.
cation dept (x 2 vacancies) Chief In- The parish gave 600kg of unwanted
By taking a Red Box into your home,
spector and Adviser, closing 13 March clothes; there were also donations of
you automatically become a memMost vacancies are advertised in this £770.52 making a total contribution
ber of the APF; a worldwide communewsletter, but all are at www.rcdow. of £1070.52 which is a great result.
nity of generous givers whose faithorg.uk/diocese/jobs/ ALSO Cleaner for
ful prayers
Presbytery at Our Lady of the Rosary, The money raised
and support
Marylebone. 12 hrs pw, £9.15 per hour will provide 87
over
the
children with one
Closing date: 6 March
years
have
good, nutritious
Diocesan Pilgrimages
helped fund
meal every school
Pilgrimage to Lourdes, 26 July - 1 day for a year, as
1,069 misAug, led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols they get a good
sionary dioprice by coach from £505, and by air education too.
ceses.
from £767. Pilgrimage to the Holy
Land, 3-11 Nov, led by Bishop Nicholas
Hudson, and John Farrell OP. Cost from
Is a new initiative being launched in 2015 by
£1,495. For more details contact the
the
Catholic
Bishops
of
England
and
Wales to support, enthuse and equip parDiocesan Pilgrimage Office. geraldish
evangelisation.
daly@rcdow.org.uk or 020 7798 9173.
The inspiration comes from Pope Francis and his Apostolic Exhortation, EvanRetrouvaille
is a lifeline for married couples facing gelii Gaudium, in which he writes: ‘I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to
difficulties or crises in their married embark upon a new chapter of evangelisation marked by this joy, while pointlife. It has offered hope and help to ing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.’ Join us in confihundreds of couples looking to renew dently communicating this joy and discovering new paths for evangelisation!
and heal their marriages. The next pro- A first step is an invitation to each person to spend some time this Lent with othgramme will run from March 20th-22nd er Catholic Christians reflecting on our faith and how we try to live and share it.
in Hatfield, North London. For more in- How – and indeed whether – this is done is down to you. It could be with
formation please call 0788 729 6983 in others who come to the same Mass as you, meeting in the hall afterwards. It
confidence or email info@retrouvaille. could be your family meeting with another family or two – adults and chilorg.uk. www.retrouville.co.uk.
dren are invited to take part. It could be a lunch time meeting at work – perhaps inviting Christian colleagues of other denominations to join you.
Lenten Talks
at Our Lady of Victories. Wednesdays There are three worksheets available. They are available to download from
after 6.30pm Mass. 25th Feb Noah: the the parish website now, and if you would like a printed copy (or a full set
true story. 4th March Abraham: our for your group) please e-mail Fr Allen and they will be ready to collect next
father in faith? 11th March Exodus: weekend. The idea is to use one a week for three weeks. The suggestion is
out of the house of slavery 18th March we start the week beginning
Jeremiah and Cyrus: the prophet and 8th March, but groups and
the king. 25th March Time for renewal: individuals are free to do
celebrating Reconciliation. The talks choose what suits them.
will be given by Rev Dr Javier Ruiz
Other
Proclaim ’15
Make a Difference
Flame2 is the largest National Catholic Youth event of 2015, taking place in
the SSE Arena Wembley on Saturday 7th
March 2015.
Doors open at 11am, and Flame2 starts at
12noon, finishing at 5.30pm.
The SSE Arena Wembley will be filled with
10,000 young people from across the
country, receiving faith-filled inspiration
from world class speakers include Cardinal
Luis Tagle from Manila, Philippines; Baroness Sheila Hollins; Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP;
and David Wells.
Throughout the day speakers will give
bursts of input, interspersed with world
class music and drama, in an atmosphere
full of joy. Music will be provided by double Grammy award-winning Matt Redman
and his band. The day ends with a time of
Adoration led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
Flame2 is open to anyone in school year
ten and above, up to young adult (i.e.
aged approx. 14-21).
SPEC is part of Westminster
Youth Ministry. Each year a
number of young adults (aged
18-25) join the resident community for a year as volunteer
missionaries helping the community in its primary mission
of retreat ministry for children
and young people in the parishes and schools of the Diocese
of Westminster. Perhaps this is
the ideal opportunity for you
– or someone you know – to
combine a year of service with
a year of formation in faith in a
supportive Catholic community.
More details are available at
Web: http://dowym.com/spec/
Email: spec@rcdow.org.uk
Phone: 020 3757 2500
Facebook: speccentre
Twitter: @SPEC_Community
World Youth Day: Krakow 2016
The theme of WYD 2016 is ‘Blessed are the merciful, for
they shall see mercy.
The Westminister Diocesan Pilgrimage to
WYD 2016 (for over 18s) will take place
from 18-31 July 2016. The group will travel
overland by coach, and be based in Lodz,
Hopefully a large group will be able to go
from our parish and deanery.
If you are interested please let Fr Allen
know as soon as possible so we can start thinking together about how parish
and pilgrims can work to raise funds to cover the costs of those young people who would like to go...
The cost per pilgrim is £750.
Flower Rota
Would you like to be on the
flower rota for Easter through
to the summer? If so please sign
up on the noticeboard outside
the sacristy. It would be good
to have four pairs of people for
preparing the flowers for the
Easter Vigil, and for the Sundays which follow which see so
many of our young people being confirmed and celebrating
their holy communion for the
first time.