St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Twenty-third Sunday

 First Reading: Isaiah portrays the glorious fulfilment of God’s saving purpose at the end of time.  This end-time – we believe – begins with Jesus (see the Gospel reading).

Psalm:  this carries on the same idea as the First Reading: the Lord who comes to save those in need.

Second Reading:  James draws out a practical implication of our faith: discrimination against different classes, especially the poor, is wrong.

Gospel:  Jesus heals the deaf-mute of the Decapolis.  The word use used to describe his infirmity is used only twice in the Bible, here and in Isaiah 35 (today’s First Reading).  As the Isaiah prophecy is describing the end-time, this is clearly meant to be understood in this Gospel passage: Mark is suggesting that Jesus is not merely a good man and a healer, but is the Messiah who ushers in the kingdom of God.

 Ephphatha is Aramaic for ‘Be opened’.  As well as being a testing word for a spelling bee (it can be spelled in English either with an ‘a’ or an ‘e’ in the middle), it forms the basis of the Ephphetha ceremony in the Baptism of Infants, in which the celebrant touches the ears and mouth of the child, and reminds us that once Baptised everyone has the duty to receive Christ’s word and to proclaim His faith.

By Fr David Gibbons, Centre for Catholic Formation

 Sunday Teas:

Sunday 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 £927.35p (including Gift Aided  £410.67p).  The 2nd collection for Parish Funds was £65.26p. Thank you for your generosity. Today’s 2nd collection is for Parish Funds. The 2nd collection next week will be for Racial Justice Day.

Blessed Sacrament: Please note that Silent Adoration will be on Sundays at 4pm followed by Benediction at 4.45pm.

RCIA: The classes for those who wish to become catholics will begin soon.  So if you are an adult who would like to become a Catholic or are a  baptised Catholic who has not received First Holy Communion or Confirmation or if you are baptised in another church and would like to become a Catholic then please fill in an RCIA application form (forms available in the narthex) and give it to one of the clergy.

Holy Communion: We have received a large number of application forms for First Confessions and First Holy Communions.  If you would like your child to be enrolled on the next programme then please do make an appointment to see Father Sunith as soon as possible.
Please note that you should not attend the classes or parents meetings without having first completed an application form or meeting with Father Sunith.

Missio/APF (Red Boxes): There are emptied red boxes awaiting collection on a table in the narthex.  Thank you for your continuing support.

Parish Barn Dance: Following last year’s highly successful barn dance, the Knights of St Columba are repeating the event this year on Friday 23rd October at the Royston Club.  Please keep the evening free on your calendar.  More details to follow nearer the date.

Parish Pilgrimage – next Saturday: The Parish is organising a day pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Our Lady and St Philip Howard in Arundel  in Sussex on Saturday 12th September (next week) . We will be leaving St Anthony’s at 8.30 am. We should arrive in time to attend Benediction at 11.15 am. which will be followed by a guided tour of the Cathedral in the Morning. Afterwards teas and coffees will be provided by the Cathedral in their centre, and you can consume your own packed lunch there if you require. After lunch there will be free time to explore the picturesque town and nearby castle. The website www.arundel.org.uk  highlights the attractions. Returning to St Anthony’s around 7.00pm. Cost is £15 per head. Please pay on booking on a first come-first served basis. Parish Council members will be available to take bookings and payment after the end of each mass until the 49 person coach is filled. For any further information or to make bookings in advance of these dates please contact Ed Green on 07753 814949 or at edward-green@hotmail.com.

The Rosary Crusade of Reparation: On 10th October the Rosary Crusade will process following a route from Westminster Cathedral to the Brompton Oratory which is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Please see the noticeboard for further information.

Virgo Fidelis: The Open Evenings and Morning for Year 7 entrants for September 2016 will be on Wednesday 16th September, Thursday 1st October from 5.30 to 8.30pm and also Saturday 3rd October from 10am until 12noon (Post 16s are also invited to visit on the Saturday morning).

Bishop Thomas Grant School: The Open Mornings will be from 9.30am until 12 noon on Tuesday 15th September, Wednesday 23rd September and Thursday 1st October.  Please arrive promptly at 9.30am.  The Open Evenings will begin at 6.30pm until 9pm on Wednesday 16th September and Thursday 8th October.  The sixth form open evening will be on Monday 19th October at 6.30pm until 9pm.

Apologies: Unfortunately a recent computer glitch meant we lost a number of notices sent by email.  So if your notice is still relevant and you would like it to be inserted in next week’s newsletter then please do re-send it to us.

If you would like to see a priest 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 (06—13 Sept 2015) (Year B)