St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Second Sunday of Easter

Mass Readings: Pages 255 – 258
Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60

Throughout the Easter season, the first reading of the liturgy is taken from the Acts of the Apostles in order to illuminate the mystery of the church as it developed from its beginnings at Pentecost. Today’s passage is a summary of the early Christian community’s growth and success in the exercise of its gifts of healing, and the faith with which the apostles are met as they go about their mission.

The gospel for today is constant in all three years of the Lectionary. It is a story of mission, forgiveness, and faith. The risen Lord appears to his followers on the evening of the resurrection, when they are gathered in fear behind locked doors. He speaks a greeting of peace and at once commissions them to continue his saving work: As the Father has sent me, so I send you. As God breathed on the waters at creation, so Jesus now breathes on the disciples in this scene and gives them the Spirit, with immediate creative effect. In the giving of the Spirit, Jesus imparts a particular power for reconciliation: If you forgive sins they are forgiven; if you hold them bound they are held bound. Just as earthly Jesus exercised a power to forgive sins, now his followers are given that same power in the Spirit.

Second Sunday of Easter, the story unfolds of the apostle Thomas, who obdurately insists that he will never believe that the Lord is risen unless he sees and touches his wounds, is confronted by the resurrected Jesus and comes to a profound articulation of faith: He calls Jesus My Lord and my God. At the end of the passage, the words of Jesus seem to speak directly to us. We have not seen as Thomas did, but are called upon to believe.

The focus of today’s readings may therefore be upon faith: the faith of the early Christian community described in Acts, the faith of John whose vision reveals to him the full scope of the risen Christ’s reign, the faith of doubting Thomas who finally sees and believes, and the faith of generations of believers who have not seen the risen Lord but who rely on the words of the original witnesses to the resurrection.

Sunday Teas:

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

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

A Big Thank You: Your generous Easter Offerings were much appreciated. Also, the Good Friday collections for The Holy Places raised £586.54p. Thank you for your generosity. The 2nd collection today will be for Parish Funds.

Note for Gift-Aiders: To be a scheme member you must be paying UK Income Tax. If your circumstances have changed and/or you no longer wish to be in the scheme, please let us know. Thank you. Noel Maloney (Scheme organiser).

In Your Prayers: Please remember to pray for the Holy Communion Group (the names are on the notice board at the back of the Church).

UCM: The UCM meeting will be this coming Monday (24th April) at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre.  Please note the change of date due to the Easter holidays.  Please bring £15 for the coach trip to Aylesford.

Quiz Night:  The Knights of St Columba will be hosting the annual Parish quiz competition on Friday 28^th April at the Royston Club, Royston Road Penge SE20 7QW.Entrance fee is £2.50 per person or £12.00 for the maximum number of 6 in a team. Winning team receives a trophy . Individuals welcomed to come along to make up a team on the night. Entry time from 7.30pm onwards for a 8.00pm start. Proceeds will go to the Missio Charity.

Celebrating your 1st/10th/25th/40th/50th/60th+ wedding anniversary?: If so, there will be a Mass in Celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage at St George’s Cathedral on Saturday 17th June.  If you would like to attend, please give Father Sunith your names (both), your address, telephone number and which year’s anniversary you are celebrating.

Knights of St Columba Food Bank Collection: The Knights are collecting for the Penge Food Bank.  They will collect regularly on the last weekend of each month.  The next collection will be next weekend (29th/30th April).

CAP Bromley Volunteer Briefing: Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK based charity operating through local churches.  They are committed to seeing individuals who have been trapped in debt released from debt, poverty and their causes.  If you are interested in finding out how you can volunteer then please attend their briefing at BCC, 2 Mason Hill, Bromley, BR2 9HA on Sunday 23rd April (this weekend) at 3.30pm.  Please contact Martin (martinpointing@capuk.org or Derek (derek@jubileechurch.co.uk if you are interested in finding out more and attending this briefing.  Please also see the notice board for further information.

Catholic History Walks: Please see the notice board for information on 3 Catholic History Walks (A Tour of St George’s Cathedral; The King’s Good Servant and the Annual Martyrs’ Walk).  Cost: £5.  Please see: catholichistorywalks.com

Coloma School May Ball: In honour of Mrs Maureen Martin – after 22 years as head teacher of Coloma Convent School Mrs Maureen Martin OBE is retiring at the end of the academic year.  The Coloma Parents’ Association are holding a May Ball on 6th May in honour of Mrs Martin in recognition of her hard work, commitment to the school and the difference her leadership has made to our daughters’ lives. It would be lovely if as many past and present parents and friends of Coloma attended this event. It will be held at Hilton Hotel, 101 Waddon Way, Purley Way, Croydon, CR9 4HH.  Tickets are priced at £50 which includes a welcome drink, a 3 course meal, half a bottle of wine per person, live entertainment from Aloma Music.  The Ball commences at 7pm and ends at 1am. If you would like to attend please send an email to coloma.pa@hotmail.co.uk confirming the number of tickets you require.

Cockney Night: Please see the notice board for details of a Cockney Night at Melvin Hall on the 13th May.

Penge Festival Poetry Competition 2017: Write poetry? Why not enter the Penge Festival Poetry Competition?  Entry fee only £3.00 for up to three poems. Prizes: £75, £50 and £25 with a Young Poet’s Prize of £50. In addition, all winners receive books of Walter de la Mare’s poetry. Closing date is 31st May. Entry Guideline flyers are on a table at the back of the church. Copies may also be picked up from Penge Library or download from the Facebook Penge Poets page:  https://www.facebook.com/pengepoets/   Good luck and inspired writing!

Penge Heritage Trail Appeal: The Penge Town Centre Team has a project: the Penge Heritage Trail. A crowd-funding site has been set up to raise funds for a heritage website and a free explanatory pamphlet guide. Everyone in Penge will benefit from this initiative to raise awareness of Penge’s fascinating history and heritage. Why not make a donation?  Every little helps. The crowd-funding link is: https://www.spacehive.com/penge-heritage-trail  or just google ‘Penge Heritage Trail – Spacehive’ for full details. Thank you for your interest. Chris O’Shaughnessy, Penge Town Centre Team

Divine Mercy Pilgrimage: Poland from 7th to 14th June 2017, following the footsteps of St Faustina and St John Paul II.  Organised by the Divine Mercy Apostolate of Marian Fathers.  Cost £849.  More info and booking – 020 8998 0925, email: info@divinemercy.org.uk.  Please see the notice board.

Job Vacancies: Bishop Challoner are seeking a KS1/KS2 teacher.  Please visit www.bishopchallerschool.com/266/teaching-vacancies or call Sue Long on 020 8460 3546.  Laleham Lea Catholic Independent School are seeking a Primary Teacher for September 2017.  Please contact Mrs Carly Edwards on 020 8660 3351 for further details.

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

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS (23rd April—30th April 2017) (Year: A)