St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Seventh Sunday

Mass Readings: Pages 139-142

Order of Mass: Pages 6-60

First Reading: We imitate the holiness of God when we refuse to exact vengeance or bear a grudge against another.

Second Reading: Paul gives us a profound reason why we should respect one another: we are the temples of God.

Gospel: What differentiates the disciples of Christ  from others is their willingness to love as God loves.

Since God is holy, we are to be holy. We are holy when we imitate the generosity of God by not exacting vengeance, or bearing grudge against another. In Leviticus, the commandment: ‘You must love your neighbour as yourself’ is restricted to fellow Israelites. But Jesus broadened it to include everyone, Gentiles as well as Jews, enemies as well as friends. Why? Because this is the way the heavenly Father acts. He shows equal  love towards good and bad, not because he is indifferent to morality, but because he loves without limit.

Paul gives us a profound reason why we should respect one another: we are temples of God. Individually and collectively the Holy Spirit dwells in us. This is also the basis of our   unity.

Sunday Teas:

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

Next Sunday’s teas will be served by the St Vincent de Paul Group.

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

Last Week’s Collections: The 1st collection was £568.40p + £450.50p in Gift Aid Envelopes giving us a parish total of £1018.90p. The 2nd collection for Racial Sunday £109.58p. Thank you for your generosity. Today’s 2nd collection will be for Parish Funds.

Recently Deceased:  Please pray for the soul and family of Bridget D’Souza. The funeral will be on 6th March at 12noon followed by the burial at 1.30pm at Beckenham Cemetery.

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 this Sunday (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.

UCM: The next UCM meeting will be on Monday 20th February at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre.  There will be a talk on banking fraud and how to protect yourself. All women who are interested are very welcome to attend.

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.

Mass Bookings: Please book your masses at least two months in advance.

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.

Lenten Masses in the Hospital: There will be Mass in Croydon University Hospital Chapel on Ash Wednesday (1st March) and every Monday during Lent at 12 noon.

40 Days for Life Launch Breakfast:  25^th February 11am until 1pm. Our Lady of Loreto and St Winefride’s, 1 Leyborne Park Kew Richmond TW9 3HB. How have 12,668 babies been saved from abortion, how have 83 abortion centres been closed down and why have 143 abortion workers quit their jobs? Are you in or near London, please attend this event and find out how all of this has happened and find out what is planned for this Lent. www.goodcounselnetwork.com

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 3rd 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.

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.

Recycling:  Please do keep donating your old mobile phones and printer ink cartridges (except Epson) but please no printer toner cartridges.  Thank you.

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 (19th Feb—26th Feb 2017) (Year: A)