St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Mass Readings: Pages 176 – 189
Order of Mass: Pages 7 – 47

Palm Sunday This Weekend—Palm Sunday—we witness Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, with shouts of Hosanna and acclamation from the crowd. In the minds and hearts of the crowd this was the beginning of restoring the worldly power of the kingdom of Israel, oppressed as the kingdom was by the occupying forces of Rome. Jesus rejects this and goes off out of the city to stay with friends and then teaches daily in the Temple until the time of the Last Supper and his arrest comes. In this world, the whole thrust and push and educational drive is supposed to be towards achievement and success. As Christians there is a very real dilemma here—are we not meant to use our talents, to work for success, power?

By sharing the experience of hearing the triumphal entry and Christ’s rejection of that worldly conquest, our own worldly aims and ambitions are given a different colouring. By sharing the reading of the Passion story, the awfulness, the horror of the cruelty of those created out of God’s love is highlighted. We can ponder, also, the injustice so widely spread around the world at this time.

On Maundy Thursday, we enter into Christ’s loving service and self-giving both in the washing of the feet and in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Here we have Jesus’ two great acts of love; he washes the feet of his disciples in humility and service, urging them to follow his example, and then he anticipates his own death by giving bread and wine to his disciples saying ‘this is my body’ and ‘this is the cup of my blood’.

There is so much depth, beauty and love in this celebration, everyone should do their very best to join the community of love and receive his gift of himself in Holy Communion. Please respond to his call. Good Friday provides  the opportunity for us to centre on the Cross.  The solemnity and sadness should be as tangible to us as it is when we are bereaved—it should go really deep into our consciousness and our unconscious. This should be truly a day of prayer, fasting, and giving alms in communion with the sorrowfully beautiful celebration. There are many ways of meditating on the meaning of Good Friday for  us. I want this time to meditate on the Cross, for it is the Cross which we acknowledge and venerate in a central way during the afternoon liturgy. On this day of all days and at this time, it takes little imagination to picture the sense of abandonment, horror, pain, fear and almost despair in the minds, hearts and whole being of Mary, John, Mary Magdalene and all those who witnessed Jesus’ death. Although Jesus had told them what was going to happen, it did not seem to give them the consolation of being able to say to each other ‘Yes, but it is only to be three days and he will rise again.’ I expect each of us has experienced some kind of desolation in our lives when we say that the bottom has dropped out of our world. I believe, then, that it is really vital for us to experience desolation on Good Friday—feeling that emptiness of life without Jesus Christ. On Holy Saturday we go into the darkness to emerge in the light of Christ in a most lovely and moving celebration. You must not miss this. It is a wonderful occasion for our personal and collective renewal in Christ. On this night, also we shall have the joy of welcoming new members to our parish community. I would like to highlight two parts of this wonderful liturgy, that of Baptism and the Eucharist.

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 Flower Arrangers (if they are available for Easter day).

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

Last Sunday’s Collections:  The 1st collection was £458.12p + £495.80p in Gift Aid Envelopes giving us a parish total of £ 953.92p. The 2nd collection for Parish Funds was £59.49p. Thank you for your generosity. Today’s retiring collection is for Easter Altar Flowers.

On Good Friday there will be a collection for The Holy Places.

Wednesday 28th March: There will be no morning mass.

Father Stuart’s Lent Series on the ‘Pivotal Players’: The Pivotal Players is a multi-part film that illumines a handful of saints, artists, mystics and scholars who not only shaped the life of the Church, but changed the course of civilization. The last film will be on Wednesday 28th March and it will be about G.K. Chesterton. All are welcome.

Maundy Thursday: After evening mass on Maundy Thursday the Church will be left open for parishioners to ‘watch and pray’ until 9pm on Good Friday. For safeguarding, there will be parishioners in the Church throughout these hours – a rota will be in the Narthex this weekend for volunteers to sign up for an hour slot. Thank you.

Mass in Celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage: If you are celebrating your 1st/10th/25th/40th/50th/60th+ wedding anniversary this year, please give your names as soon as possible. Please use the form provided (at the back of the church) and write very clearly so you can receive an invitation from the Archbishop. The Mass will be on Saturday 16th June at St George’s Cathedral.

Quiet Area: Please note that the Narthex will be sound proofed very shortly so it can be used as a quiet area for parents and babies.

Advance Notice: The church will be re-painted very soon. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Congratulations: Congratulations and prayers for Nathan Bankole-Jones, Quiannah Coates; Sarah Colaj, Daryl Dias, Keith Dias, Nathan Eagles, Elizabeth Ferreira-Goff, Roshan Frost, Odelia Lamto, Erin Prior and Monique Ojikutu who all received the Sacrament of Confirmation last weekend.

The Passage: The Passage, a Christian Charity working with homeless people in London is raising funds through the Big Give from 12pm (midday) Thurs 22 March – 12pm Thurs 29 March to support its work with homeless people this winter. Double your Donation, Double your impact. This is a matched giving scheme for online donations. If someone (can be company, individual or trust) gave £10 online matched giving of £10 would bring the Gift up to £20 (and for individuals to £22.50 with Gift Aid with higher rate tax relief it may cost the donor less than £10). For more information ring Andrew Hollingsworth 020 75921856 andrew.h@passage.org.uk.  www.thebiggive.org.uk/thepassage.

The maximum is £10,000 from any one person/body. It is not a limit per household but per person.

Top of the Pew Competition: St Anthony’s Parish has been drawn to play Hayes Free Church at home in the annual Top of the Pew Competition. The match will be played on Sunday 15th April at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre. Please come along and support St Anthony’s Parish team.

Life in the Spirit Seminars: Starts on Wednesday 18th April for 8 consecutive Wednesdays at SS Joseph and Swithun Parish, Plaistow Lane, Bromley, BR1 2PR.  7pm Registration and refreshments, 7.30pm Welcome and gathering followed by the Seminar at 8 until 9.30pm. If you are interested in attending please email admin@stjosephsbromley.org or call 020 8402 0459.  The poster is on the noticeboard.

Volunteer required: The Apostleship of the Sea provides the Catholic Church’s outreach to seafarers and is looking for a volunteer to support the Finance Department with administrative tasks. The role is based in their office in Victoria for 1 or 2 days a week on a voluntary basis. If you are interested in this role, please send your CV to  info@apostleshipofthesea.org.uk For more information visit  www.apostleshipofthesea.org.uk/work-us

Life Coach: Thinking of making changes to your life? Have lots of ideas but can’t seem to get going? Local resident and trainee Life Coach is looking for local residents and parishioners to coach to complete her studies by Jun 18. If interested, please contact Natasha on 07711 929005.

Please pray for the sick of the Parish: John Barry, Mercie Ihekweme-Hill, Kieran Quinn, and Michael Creech.

Please note: We no longer collect used printer cartridges or mobile phones. Thank you.   

And, kindly remember to switch off your mobile phones.                                                                                                                                                                                                 

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS (25th Mar—1st April 2018) (Year: B)