St Anthony of Padua Anerley

Fourteenth Sunday

Mass Readings: Pages: 99 – 101

Order of Mass: Pages 7 – 60

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

           St. Matthew begins today’s collection of Jesus’ sayings with our Lord’s observation that humble folk were God’s kind of people; Jesus the carpenter was one of them. The message, of a piece with Older Covenant tradition, does not condemn intellectual pursuit or achievement. No, intellectual pursuit is praiseworthy, and our Church community needs more of it. What Jesus is condemning is intellectual pride. He is not connecting faith and ignorance, but faith and lowliness: this lowliness consisting of simplicity, openness, and trust—the kinds of virtue we observe in a child. Jesus is saying that it is not by understanding alone that one accepts his message, but by divine revelation. That revelation is not denied to so called ‘wise and the learned’ people—provided they are at the same time humble, open and trusting.

The heart of Jesus’ message is ‘Come to me’ – a call to a personal relationship. The shift from ‘Keep the law’ to ‘Come to me’ is a significant one. A religion in which is experienced only an adherence to legalistic impersonal norms and not as a joyful life-giving relationship with the Author of life is false. In coming to the person of Jesus, we discover that far from being burdened we are liberated.

For us, the best of what’s normal is Christ. He, the Son of God, became one with the best of what’s truly human. He invites us to come to him. To see if we are capable of living the life of the spirit with him, we can test ourselves on the degree to which we have overcome intellectual pride, and on whether we have acquired the humility, openness, and childlike trust that Jesus practised and loved.

++++++++++++++++++++++

Sunday Teas:

This Sunday’s teas will be served by the Flower Arrangers.

Next Sunday’s teas will be served by the UCM.

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

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Last Week’s collections: The 1st collection was £1119.99p including Gift Aid £372.60p. The 2nd collection for Peters Pence was £137.95p. Thank you for your generosity. The 2nd collection today is for Parish Funds.                     The 2nd collection next week will be for The Apostleship of the Sea.

Recently Deceased: Please remember Johnny Lobo and his family in your prayers. Details of his funeral will be in the newsletter next week.

Family Mass: The Family Mass readers are organised by the parish. We need three children who would be able to do the readings.

Baptism Preparation Classes: The next two (of three) classes will be held on 7th and 14th July in the Parish Centre at 7.30pm. All three classes need to be attended.

Parish Garden Party: The Parish Garden Party will be on Sunday 20th July. Please put this date in your diary. Any volunteers of help on that day would be greatly appreciated.

First Holy Communion 2015: Applications are now open for 2015. If your child is in year 3 or aged 8 or over please fill in a form (available in the narthex) and give it to the clergy. The closing date is 31st August 2014.

Confirmation 2015: Applications are now open for 2015. If your child is in year 8 or is aged 12 or over then please fill in one of the red application forms (available in the narthex). The closing date is 31st August 2014.

RCIA: 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 (available in the narthex).

Magnificat Books for July and August are now available in the Repository.

If you want to see a priest then please phone and make an appointment.

Advanced Notice – Sunday Teas: There will be no Sunday teas during the month of August as the Parish Centre is going to be refurbished. Thank you.

St John Bosco Centre – Summer Camp 2014: The St John Bosco Centre provides an opportunity for children to have an exciting camping holiday in a countryside setting. The boys camp (8 – 13 yrs) runs for two weeks from 26th July to the 9th August and the girls camp (9 – 12 yrs) runs for one week from 9th August to 16th August. The camp fee is £140 for one week. If you require any information or application forms then please contact either the boys booking secretary on 01708 509790 (6 – 9pm only) or the girls booking secretary on 01634 311350 (6 – 9pm only) or see the website: www.svpboscocamp.org.uk. The closing date is 31st July 2014.

‘Differing Needs’: A diocesan Day for celebrating the love of God for all, Sunday 6^th July, 12:00 noon to 4:00pm, at The Friars, Aylesford, ME20 7BX.  Sensory prayer, art & craft workshops, celebratory music, praying the Rosary, open air Mass, opportunities to meet new friends, entertainment, a beautiful setting.  All are welcome.

The Passage Garden Party Appeal: Please support the excellent work which The Passage does for homeless people in Central London, by attending The Passage annual Garden Party in the beautiful and historic College Garden, Westminster Abbey on Friday 11 July, from 6.00 pm to 8.30 pm. Tickets at £32 each, include wine, soft drinks, buffet supper and live music. Tickets are available from The Passage, St Vincent’s Centre, Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1NL. Tel: 02075921856. Email:tickets@passage.org.uk. See also www.passage.org.uk. It will not be possible to purchase tickets at the Abbey. All proceeds in aid of The Passage.

Are you a Grandparent? Do you know a Grandparent? Our annual Grandparents’ pilgrimage at Aylesford Priory is on Saturday 12th July. Fun and faith for all the family.

Altar Servers Summer Break – Tuesday 12th to Friday 15th August, Woldingham, Surrey: This is an excellent few days for boy and girl servers aged 10 to 15 years old. Meeting in a holiday atmosphere activities include talks, discussions, prayer, daily Mass, as well as sport, Chessington World of Adventures, Swimming. The cost is £135. For more details download a form from www.stanselmsdartfor.wordpress.com or contact Fr Stephen Boyle on 01322 220075 or email: sboyle@clara.net.

Christ the King: St Mary’s Sixth Form College: Calling all former Christ the King Sixth Form College students – are you an ex student? The college has recently launched it’s new Alumni Association and would love to hear from you. Log in to your profile today for free lifetime membership: www.alumni.ctksfc.ac.uk