St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Ascension of the Lord

The First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (which begins with the Ascension of the Lord), the Psalm (which Christian tradition has always taken to refer to the Ascension, for obvious reasons), and the first option for the Second Reading (from Ephesians 1) are the same in all three Years.  The alternative Second Reading from Ephesians 4 relates Christ’s Ascension to the gifts He has given His Church.

 Gospel:  the somewhat brief Marcan account of the Lord’s Ascension, to take His place at the right hand of God.  The third form of the Penitential Act invokes Jesus, “seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us”.

The Ascension was a necessity.  First, the post-resurrection appearances could not continue on; there had to be a moment when Christ returned to the glory that was His.  Secondly, it means that Christ is not restricted to one place and one time, but can be as it were everywhere at once.

By Fr David Gibbons, Centre for Catholic Formation

Sunday Teas:

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

Next Sunday’s teas will be served by the volunteers.

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

Last Sunday’s collections: The 1st collection was £1153.75p (including Gift Aided  £562.30p). The 2nd collection for Parish Funds was £79.30p. Thank you for your generosity. Today’s 2nd collection will be for Parish Funds.

Recently Deceased: Please remember the souls and families of Alfred Lawless, John Philbin and Noreen Lawrence in your prayers.  Alfred’s funeral will be on Tuesday 19th May at 11.15am at Beckenham Chapel followed by the Committal at 12 noon at Elmer’s End Cemetery.
John’s funeral service will be at St Anthony’s on Friday 22nd May at 12 noon followed by the Committal at 1pm at Elmer’s End Cemetery.
Noreen’s Requiem mass will be at St Anthony’s on Thursday 28th May at 10.30am.

UCM: The next meeting is on Monday 18th May in the Parish Centre at 7.30pm.  The theme is May is the month of Mary.  Please bring the coach fare for Aylesford.  The coach is now full.
Thank you to all those who supported the UCM Cake Sale last Sunday.  We raised £140 which has been sent to the CAFOD Nepal Fund.  The cake raffle was won by Mrs Teresa Murray.

Bridge Club: The Bridge Club welcomes new members. If you are interested please come along at 1pm on Mondays in the Parish Centre (4 Genoa Road). If you have never played still you can join. It will be an opportunity for you  to learn how to play Bridge.

Penge Festival Concert: As part of our engagement with our wider community we will be hosting a free concert during the Penge Festival.  The concert will be given by the Norwood Wind Ensemble and will feature a programme of music from the shows, classical pieces and some other well known tunes.  During the interval there will be tea and cakes in the Parish garden (in the Parish Centre if the weather is bad).  The theme for this year’s festival is ‘heritage’ and the Festival Committee is raising money to go towards renovating our local heritage in Penge.  There will therefore be a collection outside Church at the end of the event for voluntary contributions.  The concert will be at 2pm on Sunday 14th June.  Please put this date in your diaries and we look forward to seeing you in the audience for what will be an entertaining and worthwhile event.

Can you help?  We need volunteers to help with the church cleaning on Saturday mornings.  If you can spare half an hour from 10 to 10.30am on Saturday mornings it would be a great help.  The more volunteers we have the quicker the church can be cleaned.  Thank you.

Theology in the Liturgy of Life, Lead by Dr Anthony Towey: Saturday 23 May: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm – House of Prayer, 35 Seymour Road, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0PB  Exploring Divine Wisdom through Exegesis, Experience and Eucharist.  Cost: £20.  Please bring a packed lunch.  Please contact us on: 020  8941 2313 or e-mail: houseofprayer@hotmail.co.uk to reserve a place.

Training Day – How to lead a Quiet Day: At the Emmaus Centre on Tuesday 26th May there will be a training day in partnership with the Retreat Association. Facilitated by Susanne Carlsson. Arrival 10am (tea and coffee) for 10.30 start finishing 4pm.  Suggested donation of £20 with cooked lunch or £10 if you are bringing a packed lunch.  To book please contact Emmaus Centre Layhams Road, West Wickham, Kent BR4 9HH Tel: 020 8777 2000   Fax: 020 8776 2022 Email: enquiries@emmauscentre.org.uk

Youth Festival: The Youth Festival is taking place on Saturday 20th June and will focus on some of the themes around Oscar Romero in light of his beatification this year.

Calling all Married Couples: Have you heard of Marriage Encounter?  Marriage Encounter is a weekend away to explore where you are going and to enliven your relationship, bringing you closer and deepening your commitment to your lifetime together. The whole focus of the weekend is on you as a couple and your relationship – it’s not relationship counselling or a retreat and you will not have to spill out personal details to others.

Marriage Encounter is for anybody who knows there’s always more to learn about each other, and that it’s the weekends away that spice things up at home.  Most of all, Marriage Encounter is for anyone who believes they made the right choice on their wedding day and every day after. The weekend is presented from a Catholic Christian perspective but any married couple is welcome to attend.

There are spaces available on the weekend at Park Place (Wickham, near Fareham, Hampshire) from 19- 21 June. For information and online booking visit www.wwme.org or contact Chris & Mary Farrall – 02380 275401.
Recycling:  Please do keep donating your old mobile phones and printer ink cartridges (except Epson) but please no printer toner cartridges.  Thank you.

 MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS (17—24 May 2015) (Year B)