St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Twelfth Sunday

Mass Readings: Pages 93 – 96
Order of Mass: Pages 6 – 60

When push comes to shove, people react differently. In today’s first reading Jeremiah refuses to be intimidated by terror from every side. That doesn’t mean that the terror doesn’t get to him – he is a prophet, not a robot – it means that he has no intention of allowing the terror to write his script and dictate who he is. Jeremiah has been abandoned by all his friends who now try to discredit him. He is thrown into prison for his preaching, and the army council threatens him with death if he doesn’t change his tune. But Jeremiah refuses to be bullied into agreement because he believes that “the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero”. What keeps Jeremiah sane amidst all this persecution is the profound belief that God cares for him. And, less spiritually, the frank hope that God will clobber all his enemies in good time!

In today’s Gospel Jesus appears in strong voice against intimidation. He does not disguise the truth that his disciples will be confronted by those who threaten, bully and intimidate others into submissive agreement. Jesus’ advice is clear: not only does he want his disciples to refuse to submit to the merchants of death, he tells them not to be afraid of them: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”

The followers of Jesus are going to come face to face with the kind of violent intimidation that gives them an offer they can’t refuse. Jesus tells them to refuse it. They have a real choice: disown Jesus and love, or profess him and face certain death. That is a fearful prospect. Yet Jesus says: “Do not be afraid.” How can the disciple not be afraid? What power is available to the disciple to overcome that fear?

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 Knights of St Columba.

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

Last Week’s Collections: The 1st collection was £503.76p + £357.97p in Gift Aid Envelopes giving us a parish total of £861.73p.   The 2nd collection for Day-for-Life was £100.46p.  Thank you for your generosity.  The 2nd collection today is for Peters Pence (supporting the charitable works of the Pope and the Holy See).

Baptism Preparation: Baptism preparation classes will be on Thursdays, the 6th, 13th and 20th July at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre.

First Holy Communion: If your child would like to make their First Holy Communion then please complete an application form (available from the catechists).

This Weekend: The Sisterhood of St Elisabeth Convent from Belarus will be at the Church selling their crafts to raise funds for their work.  Please see the poster on the notice board or visit their website www.obitel-minsk.by for further information.

Parish picnic: The Parish picnic will be on Sunday 9th July from 12.30 to 3 pm – please come along to share some food and drink and to meet old and new friends. This is a great way for us to get to know each other better. If you would like to help out, please phone or email the presbytery or speak to a member of the Parish pastoral council.

UCM Cake Sale: Many thanks to all those who supported the UCM Cake Sale earlier this month.  £75 was raised for a former St. Anthony’s /Coloma pupil to do voluntary work at a clinic in Cambodia.

St John Bosco Children’s Summer Holiday Camp: Bookings for the Boys and Girls camps are now being taken.  If you require further information please contact Paul Hayes on 07534065347 (6 – 9pm—Boys enquiries only) or Gemma O’Flaherty on 07491811167 (6 – 9pm—Girls enquiries only).  Visit www.svpboscocamp.org.uk.  Closing dates: 30th June (Boys); 31st July (Girls).  Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Days of Prayer for Eucharistic Ministers: The Emmaus Centre will be holding 3 more Days of Prayer for Eucharistic Ministers.  The dates are Saturdays 8th July, 2nd September and Wednesday 12th July.  If you would like to attend one of the days then please contact the Emmaus Centre on 020 8777 2000.

Garden Party: The Claver Convent are holding a fundraising garden party on the 8th July from 12 – 4pm.  Address: 89 Shortlands Road, Bromley.  Entrance is £1 for adults, children are free.  Please see the notice board.

CAFOD Talk: Father Peter Hughes is a missionary based in Peru.  He will be holding a talk – Response of the Church in Latin America to Pope Francis’ Call.  The talk will be at the Church of St Edmund of Canterbury Parish Hall (opposite the church), 20 Village Way, Beckenham, Kent on Thursday 13th July from 7 – 9pm.  Please see the notice board for further details.

St Christopher’s Hospice 50th Anniversary Service at Southwark Cathedral, July 20th at 7pm:  St Christopher’s Hospice celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year and part of that celebration is a service at Southwark Cathedral.  We would really like people in our local communities to be part of the congregation for this service, especially as many of them will have had the need to use St Christopher’s expertise at some stage in their lives for a family member or a friend.  If you are interested in attending then send a SAE, together with a note of whether they would like one or two tickets to Southwark50@stchristophers.org.uk or write to Southwark50 Service, St Christopher’s Hospice, 51-59 Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham SE26 6DZ.

The Passage Garden Party: The Passage helping homeless people.  There will be a Garden Party in aid of The Passage in the historic College Garden, Westminster Abbey on Friday 21 July 2017 from 6.00 p.m. Visit the oldest cultivated garden in England with a back drop of the Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.  Tickets £40 from The Passage, St Vincent’s Centre, Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1NL tel. 020 7592 1856 email tickets@passage.org.uk which includes buffet supper, wine, soft drinks, live music and a prize raffle.  Tickets are also available through passage-garden-party.eventbrite.co.uk

Centre for Catholic Formation Courses: Please see the notice board for courses in Liturgy, Canon Law and the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies.  Please also see their website www.ccftootingbec.org.uk or contact them directly on 020 8672 7684 for further information.

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.

                                      Please remember to switch off your phone.

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS (25th June —2nd July 2017) (Year: A)