St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Third Sunday of Lent

Mass Readings: Page 160 – 163

Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60

First Reading:  on Mt Horeb (also known as Mt Sinai) Moses encounters God (‘I Am’) in the burning bush who promises, in his compassion for his people, to deliver them from slavery in Egypt.

Psalm:  a psalm of praise and thanksgiving to God, who ‘is compassion and love’.

Second Reading: during the Offertory the priest takes the chalice and says the wine ‘will become our spiritual drink’, a phrase taken from this passage.

Gospel:  the parable of the fig tree is one of the many ‘parables of mercy’ to be found in Luke.  If we understand the vine dresser to be God, then the parable speaks of how God will give the sinner more time to repent and start doing good works.  If the vine dresser stands for the Christian disciple, it encourages us to give offenders a second chance and to expend effort (‘time to dig round it and manure it’) in helping them rehabilitate.

Fr David Gibbons,

Centre for Catholic Formation

Sunday Teas:

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

Next Sunday’s (Mothering Sunday) teas will be served by the Knights of St Columba.

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

Gift Aided  £458.50p). The 2nd collection for CAFOD (Annual Lenten Fast Day) was £108.53p. Thank you for your generosity.  Today’s 2nd  collection is for Parish Funds.

Stations of the Cross: The Stations of the Cross will be said after 9.30am mass on Wednesdays and on Fridays at 7.30pm and Sundays at 4.15pm.

SVP: Inside this newsletter you will find a leaflet describing what the Saint Vincent De Paul volunteers do when they visit someone. We now have a SVP group set up in the Parish. Our purpose is to visit and help people who may be lonely or in need.  If you or anyone you know would like a visit could you please give your name to one of the Priests or contact us by email at svpstanthonys@gmail.com. Our next meeting is on Monday 29th February at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre. All are welcome.

Lent Study Course: Following last year’s popular ‘Catholicism’ Course (based on Bishop Robert Barron’s Series) this year’s course entitled Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues will be held in the Parish Centre on Wednesdays at 7.30pm.  If you would like more information then please see Father Stuart.

Year of Mercy at St Anthony’s: There will be a series of presentations from Father Saju (from St Josephs Parish, Bromley) for the Year of Mercy.  The dates for next two (of three) talks are Thursdays 3rd March and 10th March at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre.  Please put these dates in your diary and come along.  All are welcome to attend.

Liam Kelly (RIP) – Thank you: John and Liam’s brothers Paul, David and Anthony would like to thank everyone for all the masses offered in his remembrance.  A mass has been offered for all your intentions this weekend (9.30am on Sunday 28th February 2016).

Lenten Masses: There will be masses in the Chapel at Croydon University Hospital every Monday at 12 noon during Lent.  All are welcome.

Jubilee Year of Mercy – 24 hours for the Lord on 4th/5th March 2016: When Pope Francis announced the Jubilee Year of Mercy last April he said “The season of Lent during this year should be lived more intensely as a privileged moment to celebrate and experience God’s mercy”.  He invited the whole Church to take part in 24 hours for the Lord on the 4th – 5th March.  This is an opportunity for us to spend time individually and as a community with the Lord in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and to reflect particularly on the Sacrament of God’s mercy – Reconciliation.  Please sign the time-slot at the back of the church if you can give an hour or more.Year of Mercy at St Josephs: Father Saju will present 3 sessions in the Upper Room at St Josephs Church, Bromley.  The dates of the next two sessions are Mondays 29th February and 7th March from 8 until 9.30pm.

London Evenings of Faith:  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 and last date is on the 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.

The Women’s World Day of Prayer: The Women’s World Day of Prayer Service for Penge and Anerley will be held at Salvation Army, Maple Road, Penge on Friday 4th March at 7.30pm.  The service has been prepared by the Christian Women of Cuba and the theme for the service is ‘Receive children – receive me’ using the reading from Mark 10 v13 – 16.  We look forward to being part of this World Day of Prayer as a great wave of prayer encircles the earth as an estimated 3 million men, women and young people, in 170 countries and islands, join together in a day of prayer.

Lenten Reflection: Teresa Keogh has prepared a Lenten Reflection on a stewardship theme for each day of Lent and Holy Week, which people can receive by email each day.  People can sign up following this link http://eepurl.com/bF0b6P and will then receive emails automatically.

Deanery Memorial Service for Bereaved Parents: This will take place on Sunday 17th April at 3pm in St James the Great Community Centre, Petts Wood followed by refreshments.  This service is for all parishioners within the Deanery.

If you celebrating a significant Wedding Anniversary this year 1, 25, 40,50,60+. If you please give  you name, address , telephone number and the anniversary. Archbishop Peter Smith will invite you to special celebration in St. George’s Cathedral on Saturday 18^th June at 3pm. Please give the details  to one of the priests.

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

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS (06—13 Mar 2016) (Year: C)