St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Sixth Sunday

Mass Readings: Pages 136-139

Order of Mass: Pages 6-60

Sirach, author of today’s first reading, had a glimpse of the ideal. About 180 years before Christ, he wanted to promote the Word of God as the basis for human wisdom. Here, he gives the strongest emphasis of all Scripture on free will. We are free to choose between virtue and sin, life and death. We have inherited a tendency to evil called Original Sin, and we need God’s grace if we are to triumph. And this reading tells us that  the fundamental choice in life is that  between fire and water, life and death.

St. Paul addresses that division in today’s second reading. For Paul, a blunt and direct man who wanted no frills, the only genuine factor in Christian life is a vital and practical faith in God’s gift of  Jesus Christ. Paul, along with St. John’s Gospel, held that Jesus      replaced the Torah;  Jesus Christ in flesh— not   the Torah —    is the eternal, ultimate, unchangeable self revelation of God.

Paul contrasts two groups: material persons who use only their natural faculties of knowledge, and  spiritual people who allow the Holy Spirit to dwell and act within them. Some spiritual people in turn are infants, beginners in the spiritual life and others more full grown in Christ: the mature. The latter are wise in the full sense.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is wisdom—not the temporary mode of fads or fashion, but the way of eternal insight. When reflected on in prayer, God in Jesus can answer our ultimate questions about life and meaning. That, of course, means we realize that most of what is really essential is visible to the eye. It also reminds us that true religion is something primarily for adults. There is nothing automatic about being a true Christian. And it entails facing our inner motivation, desires and priorities, and holding them up to Jesus’ new standard of honesty and love.

Sunday Teas:

This Sunday’s teas will be served by the Flower Arrangers.

Next Sunday’s teas will be served by the French Speaking Prayer Group.

Thank you to all those who help out with the Sunday Teas.

Last Week’s Collections: The 1st collection was £410.00p + £686.70p in Gift Aid Envelopes giving us a parish total of £1096.70p. The 2nd collection for the Xaverian Missions was £598.10p. Thank you for your generosity.  Today’s 2nd collection this Racial Sunday supports racial justice in our schools, parishes and in wider society.

Recently Deceased:  Please pray for the souls and families of Margaret Slaney (Marie Harris’ sister) and Bridget D’Souza. Margaret’s funeral will be on Tuesday 14th February at 11am followed by committal at Beckenham cemetery at 12.30pm.  Bridget’s funeral will be on 6th March at 12noon followed by the burial at 1.30pm at Beckenham Cemetery.

Divine Mercy Retreats:  Saturday 11th February 2017 from 11am to 4pm at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HR and Saturday 18th February  from 11am to 4pm at St Francis de Sales RC Church, 729 High Road, Tottenham  London N17 8AG.  (Please see the noticeboard posters for more details of both these retreats).

St Vincent de Paul Group: The next meeting of the SVP will take place on Monday 13th February at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre. Those interested in finding out more about the work of the SVP are very welcome to attend.

Invitation to service: As St Paul says, there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord. We are blessed in this parish with people who serve in many ways. If you are looking for a way to serve, how about becoming a reader at Mass. We will have an introduction meeting for anyone interested on Tuesday 14th February from 7.45pm to 8.45pm at the church.

Hospital Admissions: If you are due to be admitted to hospital or if you know of a parishioner who has been admitted to hospital then please let one of the clergy know.  Thank you.

HCPT Cake Sale: The UCM would like to thank all parishoners who generously supported this event. We raised a magnificent £140.

London Evenings of Faith – February and March 2017:  All are welcome to a series of talks on ‘Reasons for believing’ which will take place at 7:30pm on Tuesdays 21^st February, 7^th March & 21^st March. Talks are held in the basement of 24 Golden Square, London W1F 9JR (Tube: Piccadilly Circus). Full dates and details are available at www.faith.org.uk/events/evenings-of-faith.

The Womens World Day of Prayer Service for Penge and Anerley: The service will be held  at Penge Baptist Church in Maple Road on Friday 3 March at 7.30pm.  The service has been prepared by the Christian Women of the Philippines and is entitled “Am I  being unfair to you?”  Posters will be distributed to churches in the next few weeks.

Faith in Action – Last chance to register!: It was lovely to see so many young people from Bromley Deanery register for the Faith in Action award 2017 on Saturday 28^th January.  If you were unable to attend the Faith in Action launch  and would still like to participate in the award for this year, we have decided to offer a second opportunity to register on Sunday 19^th February at 1.30pm at Holy Trinity Convent (opposite St Joseph’s Church hall).  The cost for registration is £10 and we will then begin our first Reflection Session at Holy Trinity Convent from 2-5pm for all youth taking part in the Faith in Action award.    Please do look at our website for more information: http://www.bromleydeanery.org/faith-in-action-award-scheme-2017/ or email susan.longhurst@bromleydeanery.org if you have questions or would like to discuss the award in more detail.

St Patrick’s Day Dinner/Dance: Saturday 18th March at 7pm at Melvin Hall Community Centre.  Tickets are £20 which includes music, Irish dancing, food and a couple of drinks.  All proceeds will be going towards the Penge Festival 2017.  Please see the noticeboard for more details.  Please contact Maureen Kennedy on 07983 796089 or email maureenkennedy75@hotmail.com for tickets.

Top of the Pew Quiz 2017: St Anthony’s have been drawn away to Christ Church in Chislehurst in the first round of this knockout competition. The contest will held on the 19^th March starting at 8pm. If any parishioner wishes to come along to support and need directions or transport please contact a member of the Parish Council.

Please pray for the sick of the Parish: Bridget McLaughlin, Ellen Garvey, John Barry, Margaret Southwell, Mercie Ihekweme-Hill, Kieran Quinn, Marie Harris, Michael Creech and Fr. David Hutton.

Please remember to switch off your mobile phone when you enter the Church. Please don’t distract others at Mass.

Notices for the newsletter need to be emailed/posted to the presbytery by 6pm on Thursdays.

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS (12th Feb—19th Feb 2017) (Year: A)