St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mass Readings: Page 127 – 129

Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60

First Reading:  the prophet Isaiah compares God’s relationship with his people to that of a husband with his wife.  The Old Testament frequently uses Marriage to explain God’s covenant with his people.

Psalm:  like Isaiah in the First Reading the psalmist cannot be silent about the wonders God performs for us.  Let us too sing heartily ‘a new song to the Lord’.

The Second Reading today begins a series of passages from St Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.  Reading between the lines, it seems that the possession of different spiritual gifts led to pride and rivalry in the church at Corinth.  Paul stresses that all forms of work and service are the work of the one Holy Spirit, the humbler forms of service no less than the more impressive.

Gospel:  the first miracle (or ‘sign’ as John calls it) contains a depth of meaning.  ‘My hour has not come yet’ shows that Jesus always acted in accordance with the Father’s plan, not his own.  This miracle is a sign of God’s overflowing generosity; it is a prefiguration of the Eucharist; it validates our intercessory prayer to Mary, His mother; the replacement of water with wine in the Jewish ritual stone jars symbolises the replacement of the Old Covenant with the New; and it firmly endorses the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

Today is a Day of Prayer for Peace on Earth.

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 £1013.71p (including Gift Aided  £574.00p). The 2nd collection for Parish Funds was £44.36p. Thank you for your generosity.  The 2nd collection next week will be in support of Racial Justice.

Recently Deceased: Please pray for the soul and family of Elizabeth Chatfield.  The funeral will be on Friday 22nd January at 12.30pm followed by the committal at Elmer’s End Cemetery at 2pm.

Baptism Preparation:  The next two (of three) Baptism Preparation sessions will be held on the on Monday the 18th and 25th January at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre.  It is important to attend all three sessions.

Justice and Peace news: Homeless Sunday: On the 24th January – Connect, Challenge and Commit.  Please see the Housing Justice website (www.housingjustice.org.uk) for more details.

Jubilee Year of Mercy: Prayer and Study Day – On Saturday 30th January at 10.30am until 4pm at the Centre for Catholic Formation, 21 Tooting Bec Road, London  SW17 8BS.  Cost is £5 including a light lunch.  Please register at the CCF (office@ccftootingbec.org.uk or 020 8672 7684).  Nearest tube: Tooting Bec.  Ample parking available.

Knights of St Columba Food Bank Collection: The Knights of St Columba collect for the Penge Food Bank on the last weekend of the month.  The next collection will be on 30th/31st January.  Thank you for your kind donations.

Stations of the Cross Donation Envelopes: Please give these envelopes to the priest.  If you are a gift aider then please put your gift number or name on the envelope.  Do not put them in the Parish collection bags.

London Evenings of Faith- January 2016:  All are welcome to a series of talks on ‘Jesus Christ the key to life’ which will take place on alternate Tuesdays at 7:30pm.  The next dates are: 26th January, 9th February, 23rd February and 8th 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.

New Year’s Resolution – Volunteer with CAFOD:

Are you a people person who can reach out to others in your parish and get them involved in CAFOD activities? Are you a confident public speaker who would enjoy raising awareness of our faith and global social justice in churches or schools? Or are you organised and would relish helping to coordinate CAFOD activities across an area?

We are looking for volunteers to be ambassadors for CAFOD in the Archdiocese of Southwark in a variety of roles. If you are interested please get in touch with Eileen, Nalini or Marine for more details or book a place on the next CAFOD energiser day on Saturday 23 January 2016, 10am – 3:30pm in Amigo Hall, St George’s Cathedral, Waterloo: Phone 020 8466 9901, email southwark@cafod.org.uk or online http://cafodenergiser.eventbrite.co.uk

Turn your passion for social justice into action by volunteering with CAFOD in 2016.

Job Vacancies: Ten Ten Theatre Company are looking for 4 actors aged between 18 and 45 to join the company throughout 2016.  Following a three-week rehearsal period in North London you will embark on a 9 month tour throughout the UK performing 3 very different but challenging plays.  You will be paid a professional actors rate.  Please email your cv, photo and covering note to Ten Ten Theatre explaining why you would like to be considered for this role.  Email: office@tententheatre.co.uk.

Please visit the Bishop Challoner school website (www.bishopchallonerschool.com) or contact 020 8460 3546 for information on several current vacancies at the school.

Cold Weather: Please close the doors behind you when you are entering or leaving the church.  The weather is getting colder and we want to conserve the heat inside the church.  Thank you.

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

 MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS (17—24 Jan 2016) (Year: C)