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Tel: 020 8778 9460
email: stphilipneri@btinternet.com
208 Sydenham Road London. SE26 5SE
www.rcchurch.org.uk/sydenham
Parish Priest: Fr. Peter Mansfield
Assistant Priest (Sydenham & Catford): Fr. Regis Rubaya
Deanery website: lewishamdeanery.com
Third Sunday of Lent
Year B; EP 2
8 March 2015
Parish Mass Book … Readings: P158 Mass Prayers P8.
THIS WEEK 2nd Collection - Parish Development Fund
NEXT WEEK 2nd Collection - Parish Development Fund
Mass Intentions for the coming week
Vigil Mass
Sunday 8th
Monday 9th
Tuesday 10th
Wednesday 11th
Thursday 12th
Friday 13th
6.30pm
9.30am
11.00am
9.30am
9.30am
People of the Parish
Betty & Paddy Conaty RIP
Maureen Thornton RIP
Coffee in the Hall
after 11am Mass
Paddy O’Neil RIP
Kathleen Brennan RIP
9.30am
Nuala Hyde RIP
Light of Christ Prayer Group—8pm Mass in the Hall
Mass at Church of The Resurrection 165 Kirkdale 9.30am
9.30am
Intentions of Mary Lambeth
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction until 10.30am
Third Sunday of Lent
Vigil Mass
6.30pm
Derick Alexis RIP
A big ‘thank you’ for the wonderful collection for the CAFOD Lenten Fast
Day. You raised £1,270.
Some praise is also due to the Government for their policy of matching your contribution to
effectively double the gift to the poor and needy of our world
Parent/ Carer and Toddler Group.
All are welcome to come along to the Church Hall
on Tuesday and Friday mornings,
9.30 ‘til 11.30 am (term time only).
Call Paula: 07761 530739 to find out more.
The Legion of Mary meets Sundays in the Hall
after 11am Mass
New members are always welcome.
SYDENHAM CATHOLIC CLUB
(Watlington Grove) …
Sky sports, darts, pool table and BIG screen showing
Premiership and GAA games.
Families and new members always welcome.
Club available for all private functions and funeral
receptions.
Thursday night Quiz in aid of St. Christopher’s
SVP
Next meeting
Thursday 8.00pm.
Collections last weekend:
Offertory: £839 Standing Orders £272;
2nd Collection:
Family Fast Day for CAFOD: £1270
Thank you.
Sacrament of Reconciliation - Confession
Every Saturday - 7.20pm (after evening Mass);
First Saturday of the month at 12.30pm.
The sacrament can also be arranged at other times
by making an appointment with the Priest.
Please join us for Stations of the Cross
at our Church during Lent - SUNDAYS 4.00pm
We remember those who are sick: Kate Beaven, Sr. Agnes, James McKenna, Canon John Naughton,
Jimmy Hartigan, Jeanne & Joe Williams, Howard Byers, Maeve Laverty, Myra Donnellan, David Camp,
Mercy Aerifa, Anne Mackie, Trudi Foster, Steven Murray, Victor Walker, Hugh Garvey, Declan Daly,
Sonny Caldinez, Bernard Loughran, Antoni Kowal, Dusty Miller, Patricia Edwards, Yvonne Knight,
Patrick Freeney, Elaine Felix, Edward Garas, Christine Flannagan, Ellen & Alexander Sweeney.
Also those housebound or in our Residential Homes: Muriel Felix, Kathleen Keeffe, Antoinette Remice,
Jan Wilson, Adrienne Hyde, Violet Miller, Elizabeth Turner, Ann Sheehan, Vera Curren, Margie George,
Noleen Armstrong, Giovanna Ghezzi, Margo Stafford, Margaret Rivers, Joseph & Charlotte Hadji,
Genevieve Stanislaus, Madeline Edwards & Winifred Powell.
Please pray for those recently deceased:
and for those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Charlie Doyle, Joe Quinn, Alice Meegan,
Betty Conaty. Gertrude Davy, Joan Leete & Carmela Emanuelli.
Anniversaries
Please pray for…………………………………
my…………………………
who died on ………………….. My Name: …………………. …..
Telephone:………………….
Please note that our Lenten RECONCILIATION SERVICE with opportunity for
individual Confession will be on MONDAY 16th March at 7.30pm
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Preparing to vote in the General Election.
The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have written a letter which encourages us to
cast our vote at the General Election in May. It helps to highlight the issues for Catholics
while at the same time refraining from being partisan. The letter will be distributed in
Church this weekend.
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The preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation has begun.
I am grateful to all the people who are helping with the catechetical and
administrative tasks. The team consists of Katy De’Ath, Helen Hector, Andrea Dyer,
Maria Simpson, Nick Gray and myself .
On Saturday 14th March there will be a RETREAT afternoon in the Hall for the candidates.
It will start at 12noon and will end with the 6.30pm evening Mass.
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“The Joy of the Gospel” - Pope Francis’ vision for the Catholic Church,
- locally and universally.
This week there is another page attached to the Newsletter which helps us to focus on the
vision for the Church as set our by Pope Francis in his document ‘The Gospel of Joy’. This
is week the second of four. Our Deanery in Lewisham have decided to take the opportunity
to allow all our people to read and discuss some of the highlights of the Holy Father’s
document. Last year the Diocese had a conference day in each of the three diocesan areas.
Archbishop Peter summarised the main teaching points of the document that he saw were
relevant to our part of the world. The Newsletter content is based on Archbishop Peter’s
presentation to the people and clergy of the Diocese .
I encourage all parish groups that meet during Lent to spend a few minutes discussing the
Newsletter synopsis. I ask that group leaders to bring copies of the Newsletter attachments
to their groups. At the end of the four weeks there will be an evening where I will invite all
parishioners to join me in the Hall for a discussion on what we have read. That will be on
Thursday evening 26th March from 8.00pm - 9.30pm in the Hall.
The full document by Pope Francis is available from CTS. We can order copies for anyone
wishing to read the entire document known by its Latin title “Evangelii Gaudium”. Please
24 HOURS FOR THE LORD.
A call to prayer from Pope Francis to all Catholics around the world for Lent.
Theme: God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4).
During Friday 13th and Saturday 14th March, Catholics all over the world are asked to join
in prayer at their Church at designated times.
In consultation with our parish Liturgy Committee I am proposing that here at
Our Lady & St. Philip Neri, Sydenham we will have two periods of adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament.
Period 1) Friday 13th March, 6.00pm to 9.00pm
Period 2) Saturday 14th March, 7.00am (morning) to 9.30am MASS.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The following are committed to ‘watching’ in
Church.
Friday 13th March
6-7pm Robert Hero, Colette McSharry, Isabelle Samuel, Jean Edmonds.
7-8pm Joe Apicella, Helen Hector, Pauline McGill, Christine Masters.
8-9pm Barbara Richardson-Bryson, Christine Masters.
Saturday 14th March
7-8pm Maria & David Simpson, Sinora Barboza
8-9pm Avril Vaz, Sinora Barboza, Imelda Lynch, Sr Agnes.
9-9.30pm Robert Hero, Marlene Durkan.
The prayer time will be mainly silent but there will be short readings at various intervals
during both periods. There will be a 9.30am Mass on the Saturday morning to complete the
special period of prayer.
Healing Ministry: On Friday 13th March during period 1, from 8pm to 9pm I will be
available in the Lady chapel in Church to pray with anyone on a one-to-one basis who
wants a prayer and blessing for healing in Body, Mind, Emotions or Spirit. I will
administer the sacrament of anointing as and when I judge it appropriate. During Period 2,
I will be available for the same ministry between 8.30am and 9.00am
Please note that our Lenten Reconciliation Service with the opportunity for Confession
Parish property maintenance programme.
We are fortunate in this Parish to have property that is adequate for the service of our
Community. We have a Church, a Hall and a House which provides Office space and
meeting areas as well as a being a residence for two Priests. The Catholic Club premises is
also owned by the Parish but it is managed by the Club Committee.
Regular and ongoing maintenance of property is expensive but the consequence of
neglecting buildings is always more costly in the long term. The Parish Finance Committee
is responsible for property maintenance. Following a discussion at a recent Finance
Committee meeting it was decided to seek the help of professional people in the Parish who
have some knowledge about building maintenance. The committee would value the help
of architects, surveyors, builders, etc. who could assist with identifying priorities for a
programme of ongoing maintenance. Please let Fr. Peter know if you can assist with this
Young Adults 18-35
Youth Group 11-14
We invite all young adults in the parish and
surrounding churches to our upcoming
events:
Tuesday 10th March 7:30-9:00pm –
Stations of the Cross + Socializing
**SOCIAL MOVIE NIGHT on Friday 13th
March 8:30-10:30ish in church hall**
Tuesday 24th March 7:30-9:00pm –
Regular Meeting – Topic TBD
Any questions or for more information,
please contact Katy De’Ath
07725847814, katyde_ath@live.com
Calling all youth ages 11-14! Join us for
another Friday session on 13th March in the
church hall from 7:00-8:30pm. We’ll gather
for fellowship and fun as we explore
relevant topics through music, art, drama,
games, discussion, and more. We’ll have
snacks, table tennis, and board games and
look forward to hearing your ideas. We’ve
loved seeing the group grow and always
welcome new faces!
Week 2
The Gospel of Joy — by Pope Francis
Summary of the main points presented in Archbishop Peter’s talk to parish representatives where
he highlighted the main points that Pope Francis made in his document which is entitled:
“Evangelii Gaudium” - “Go and Announce the Gospel of Joy”.
Pope Francis insists that the Gospel has no place for a Church or a disciple’s spirituality which
closes itself off and is reluctant to go out into the world. He says that at all levels of the Church he
wants to abolish the heavy-handedness, intransigence and hypocrisy that undermine the true
expression of authority.
Archbishop Peter applauds the Pope’s invitation to individuals and to Parishes to have a good
spring clean. Pope Francis puts it thus: “ . . . if the parish proves capable of self-renewal and
constant adaptivity, it continues to be ‘the Church living in the midst of the homes of her sons and
daughters’. This presumes that it really is in contact with the homes and the lives of its people,
and does not become a useless structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed group made
up of a chosen few. The parish is the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment
for hearing God’s word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable
outreach, worship and celebration. In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its
members to be evangelizers. It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty
come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a centre of constant missionary outreach.” (EG
n.28) Evangelization is at the heart of the Church’s mission because it is the missionary mandate
given by Christ to the Church, as recorded in Matthew’s gospel: “Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations”.
The Mission undertaken with JOY.
Pope Francis, says that “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.
Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and
loneliness. “I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of
evangelization marked by this joy. The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by
consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish
pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes
caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the
poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to
do good fades. This is a very real danger for believers too. Many fall prey to it, and end up
resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God’s
will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ.” (n.2)
And he adds “There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter.” (n. 6)
Being a Christian is an encounter with an event, a person. For if we have received the love which
restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others? (EG nn.7,8) We
must be convinced that God loves us and that through the gift of the Holy Spirit we really are in a
personal relationship with God our Father, though, with and in our relationship with the person of
Christ who gives us his gifts of joy and peace. I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark
upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy.
Questions for reflection.