St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Twenty-fifth Sunday

Mass Readings: Pages 131 – 134
Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60

   First Reading: As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are God’s way above our ways.

Second Reading: Writing from prison, Paul is thinking of his death, and longing for complete union with Christ.

Gospel: This is story about the generosity of God, which soars above human standards.

The First Reading states, God’s ways not our ways, God’s thoughts not our thoughts’ . Just how vast is the difference between God’s ways and our ways, between God’s thoughts and our thoughts, is illustrated in the Gospel. God’s generosity utterly transcends human generosity.

The parable of the workers in the vineyard was aimed at the Pharisees. These legalistically minded men were critical of Jesus because he befriended sinners and outcasts. In the parable Jesus faces up to his critics and shows them what God is like: God is generous and full of compassion for the poor and the outcast. In that respect the parable is similar to that of the prodigal son.

Sunday Teas:

This Sunday’s teas will be served by the St Vincent de Paul Group.

Next Sunday’s teas will be served by the UCM (in aid of Macmillan).

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

Last Week’s Collections:  The 1st collection was £470.30p + £424.50p in Gift Aid Envelopes giving us a parish total of £ 894.80p.  The 2nd collection for the Catholic Education Service was 92.27p.  Thank you for your generosity.  The retiring collection today is for the Home Missions (supporting the Bishops’ national work of evangelisation).

Recently Deceased:  Please pray for the souls and families of Grenville George Green and Ellen Garvey.  Grenville George Green’s funeral will be at Lewisham Crematorium Chapel on Monday 2nd October at 9.30am.  Ellen Garvey’s funeral will be on Tuesday 3rd October at 11am followed by the burial at 12.30pm at St Luke’s Cemetery, Bromley.  May their souls rest in peace.

Confirmation Classes: Any young people aged 12 or over who wish to join this year’s Confirmation group should give their names to Father Stuart no later than this weekend.  An application form is available in the Narthex. Introductory meeting for candidates and parents is 10.30am on Saturday 30th in the Parish Centre.

Baptism Preparation: Classes will be on Thursday 28th September, Monday 2nd and 9th October in the Parish Centre at 7.30pm.  It is important to attend ALL three sessions.  Please do try to arrive on time.

The Knights of St Columba Annual Barn Dance: This popular Parish Event is taking place on the evening of Friday 29^th September at the Royston Club. Tickets on sale from the Knights after all Sunday Masses. Cost is £6.00 per ticket.

St Anthony’s Parish Christmas Fair: Please make a note that our Christmas Fair will be held on Saturday 2nd December.  The appeal for donations will be made at the beginning of November.

Parish Calendars: Calendars depicting all the Parish Stations of the Cross are now available from the repository, priced at £5 each.

Knights of St Columba Food Bank Collection: The Knights are collecting for the Penge Food Bank this weekend (23/24th September).  They will collect regularly on the last weekend of each month.  The October collection will be on the 28th/29th.

London Training – 30th September 2017 – St Mary’s London The training day is for anyone who would be interested in helping couples in their churches or communities. If you would like to book on to a training day please follow this link: http://thecentrelondon.com/created-for-connection-training/

How to be a disciple making disciple: Prayer, Faith, Loving service and the Sacramental Life – A talk on 25th Anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Bishop Mark O’Toole.  Monday 2nd October at 6.30pm at St Patrick’s Church, 21A Soho Square, London.  £5 on the door.  Book your place at guildofourladyandstjoseph@gmail.com

Open Mornings at St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School: If you have a child due to start school in September 2018, you are invited to one of our open mornings.  Come along and see our school at work.  St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School is rated good by Ofsted and in our recent Diocesan inspection was judged as an outstanding Catholic School.  We look forward to welcoming you on either 6th or 13th October 2017 at 9.15am to 10.15am.

Young Catholic Adult Weekend: Are you 18 – 40, do you want to deepen your knowledge of the Catholic faith, learn its devotions and meet like minded people? Young Catholic Adults are organizing a weekend at Douai Abbey in Berkshire on the weekend of the 20th – 22nd October with Lawrence Lew O.P. and Canon Poucin ICKSP. To book go to https://v1.bookwhen.com/youngcatholicadults-douai2017.   For updates go to:  http://youngcatholicadults-latestnews.blogspot.co.uk/.  For more details goto:- http://www.youngcatholicadults.co.uk/events.htm. Prices start from £18.50.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Readers: The annual day of recollection for the South East area will take place at Bishop Thomas Grant School, Belltrees Grove, SW16 2HY on Saturday 11th November.  If you would like to attend then please complete and return the form which can be found in the sacristy. 

Job Vacancies: Deputy Headteacher at St Thomas’ Catholic Primary School in Canterbury from January 2018. For further information, please contact the school on 01227-462539. Advert available on www.kent-teach.com. Closing date: Monday 2^nd October at 12noon.
Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School are seeking an Art Teacher to start November 2017 and a School Site Supervisor to begin as soon as possible.  Please see the website www.virgofidelis.org.uk or call 020 8655 9083.
Teaching Assistants are required at Bishop Thomas Grant School, Belltrees Grove, London.  Please contact Mrs Branson on 020 8835 9207 or email sbranson@btg-secondary.lambeth.sch.uk for further information.  Closing date: 29th September 2017.

Please pray for the sick of the Parish: Bridget McLaughlin, Ellen Garvey, John Barry, Margaret Southwell,  Mercie Ihekweme-Hill, Kieran Quinn, Marie Harris and Michael Creech.

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

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS (24th Sept—1st Oct 2017) (Year: A)