St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Mass Readings: Page 264 – 266

Order of Mass: Pages 7– 47

First Reading: when Saul returned to Jerusalem after his conversion, unsurprisingly the disciples were afraid of him.  But Barnabas shows courage and forgiveness, and enables Paul (as he becomes) to begin preaching the good news of Jesus.

Psalm:  the earliest Christians understood this psalm as referring to Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

Second Reading: true love is “real and active”, that is to say practical and concrete.  True love also entails right belief, that is belief in Jesus Christ.

The Gospel for the next two Sundays is taken from the farewell discourse Jesus gave at the Last Supper, according to John.

Jesus portrays Himself as the true vine, and His disciples as branches.  If the branches are to bear fruit they must not be cut off from Him, but they must be pruned to bear fruit (as any gardener will know).

By Fr David Gibbons, Centre for Catholic Formation

Sunday Teas:

This Sunday’s teas will be served by the Knights of St Columba.

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

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

Last Sunday’s collections: The 1st collection was £908.54p (including Gift Aided  £311.12p). The 2nd collection for Ecclesiastical Education was £139.84p. Thank you for your generosity. Today’s 2nd collection will be for Parish Funds.

Recently Deceased: Please remember the souls and families of Thomas Paterson Bunyan, Josephine Colohan and also Josephine’s daughter Donna Colohan.
Thomas Paterson Bunyan’s funeral will be on Tuesday 12th May at 2pm followed by the Committal at Beckenham Crematorium.
Josephine and Donna Colohan’s funerals will take place together on Friday 8th May at 10.30 followed by the Committals at 12 noon at Beckenham Cemetery and Crematorium. Both are received into the church on Thursday 7th at 7.30pm.

Note for Gift Aiders: We are now finalising our 2015 claim for the return of Gift Aid Tax from HMRC. This refund is only allowed if you have paid sufficient tax on your income. If the income tax you have paid or will pay for the year ended 05/04/2015 does not cover the rebate being claimed by us on your donations (= 25p per pound donated), please let Fr Sunith know as soon as possible so that we can amend our records. Meanwhile, thank you for your continuing support for this worthwhile cause.

2nd Note for Gift-Aiders: Newly prepared boxed sets of envelopes for use from June 2015 are ready at the back of the church. Please collect your box. If you cannot find your box, please give your name to one of the priests and we will check into it.

Mass for Migrants: The annual Mass for Migrants, in honour of St Joseph the Worker, is being held on Bank Holiday Monday, 4^th May at St George’s Cathedral, with Archbishop Peter Smith and Cardinal Vincent Nichols con-celebrating.  There will be a banner procession of representatives from London’s diverse communities from the Amigo Hall at 10.30 and mass at 11am.  All are most welcome to attend this vibrant event.

UCM annual pilgrimage to Aylesford  Tuesday 26th May. There  are a few seats left on the coach if anyone would like to join us. Price £15/£10 Child. Please contact Kate Boyle on 020 8778 8086 / 07906 207584/ katebyl@yahoo.co.uk

Baptism Preparation sessions will be held on 11th, 18th and 25th of May at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre, 4 Genoa Road.  All three sessions are important.

Mass for New Catholics: This Mass will be on Saturday 9^th May at 11:00am in St George’s Cathedral.  The Archbishop invites all those who have been Baptized or Received into the Church in the past year to attend this Mass, along with their godparents/sponsors, friends and fellow parishioners.

The Venerable Edel Quinn Pilgrimage to Aylesford: A coach will be arranged on a first come, first serve basis and will leave St Anthony’s at approximately 9am on Saturday 9th May returning for 4pm. Cost is £11.50. The Edel Quinn pilgrimage will be attended by Bishop Hendricks and is day of Mass, benediction and rosary procession where one can be enrolled in the Brown Scapula of the Carmelite order. Please register your interest on the flyer in the Narthex or contact James on 07854823760.

Little Big Silence Weekend: Friday 8 May – Sunday 10th May, House of Prayer, 35 Seymour Road, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0PB  The House of Prayer will be running a silent residential retreat weekend for people to come and have a little taster! The retreat will be led by the House of Prayer Retreat team. Arrive on Friday in time for supper at 7.00 pm and leave on Sunday at 4.00 pm.  Cost £140 – Advance booking essential. Please contact us on: 020  8941 2313 or e-mail: houseofprayer@hotmail.co.uk to reserve a place.

Go and Announce the Gospel of the Lord: the first Evangelization Seminar in a series of seminars is on Saturday 16^th May, 10:00am – 1:00pm, at the Centre for Catholic Formation, Tooting Bec Road, SW17 8BS.  The Centre is by Tooting Bec tube station (take the Tooting Bec Road exit), and there is ample parking.  The subject of this Seminar is Spreading the Good News as an Encounter with Jesus Christ.  The speaker is John Huntriss, Scripture Advisor for the Clifton diocese.

Theology in the Liturgy of Life, Led 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.

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.

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

If you want to see a priest then please phone and make an appointment

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

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS (03—10 May 2015) (Year B)