St Anthony of Padua Anerley

The Sixth Sunday

Mass Readings: Pages 137 – 139
Order of Mass: Pages 7 – 47

In love and charity Jesus touched the leper. His kindness led him to break what had become a religious as well as a social ban. Through their  failure to recognise Jesus as the Messiah and their lack of charity the people in turn made him an outcast. It is the need for us to have charity as our guide that leads Paul to call on the people of Corinth to be helpful to all.

When asked by a leper to heal him, Jesus took pity on him, stretched out his hand, touched him and healed him immediately. That is the beautiful and self giving witness of Jesus who came for those outcasts. He knew the Leviticus instruction which is today’s first reading. The leper is unclean. He must live outside the camp. Yet Jesus touched him. Aware of the danger of  the news spreading, he sternly ordered the man not to talk about the cure, but he did.

In today’s second reading, St. Paul’s imitation of Christ could well be our personal program of life. If Christ becomes the principle and pattern of our transformation, in being conformed to him we must each discover and realise our own unique identities as persons, and be healed of the sinful disposition that obstruct the flourishing of our true selves. Only the inexhaustibly rich Image of God who did things like today’s miracle could constitute the principle and pattern for the transformation and fulfilment of every human person who has ever lived. The more we become like Christ, the more surely do we discover the best of our true selves.

Sunday Teas:

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

Next Sunday’s teas will be served by

the French Speaking Prayer Group.

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

Last Sunday’s Collections:  The 1st collection was £496.84p + £332.35p in  Gift Aid Envelopes giving us a parish total of £ 829.19p.    The 2nd collection for Parish Funds was £ 63.57p.  Thank you for your generosity.  Today’s retiring collection is for Poor Parishes ( to support poorer parishes within the diocese).

Recently Deceased:
Bridget McLaughlin’s funeral is on Thursday 15th February at 2.30pm (please note the change of time from last week’s notice) followed by the committal at 3.45pm at Beckenham Crematorium.  Her body will be received into the church on the 14th February at 4.30pm.

Elizabeth Ockenden’s funeral will be on Friday 23rd February at 2pm followed by the committal at 3pm at Beckenham Crematorium.

Marie Harris’s funeral will be on Monday 26th February at 2pm followed by the committal at 3pm at Beckenham Crematorium.

Margaret Southwell’s funeral will be on Wednesday 28th February at 11am followed by the burial at 12.30pm at Beckenham Cemetery. Her body will be received into the church on Tuesday 27th February at 4.30pm.

Ash Wednesday: This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. The mass times are 9.30am and 7.30pm. Please remember it is a day of fasting and abstinence.

Stations of the Cross: The Stations of the Cross will be on Wednesdays after 9.30am mass, Fridays at 7pm and Sundays at 4pm.

Mass Intentions: Please speak to Father Stuart if you have any mass intentions and try to give at least 3 months notice in order to get your specific dates. Please do not email requests to the presbytery. Thank you.

National Eucharist Congress: You are warmly invited to a meeting in the Parish Centre on Tuesday 20th February at 7.30pm (refreshments will be served) to launch the Congress Home Team.  Your views, ideas and support will be very much appreciated. Charles Chilaka and Brigid Sullivan

London Evenings of Faith – Winter/ Spring 2018: All are welcome to a series of talks on the theme ‘The spirit of Vatican II’ at 7pm on alternate Tuesdays from 30th January 2018 (subsequent talks are 13 February, 27 February & 13 March). Talks are held in The Challoner Room, Basement, 24 Golden Square, London, W1F 9JR (Tube: Piccadilly). Cheese & wine/ juice served. Full dates and details are available at www.faith.org.uk/events/evenings-of-faith.

Are you worried about dementia? On Monday March 5th at 7.30 pm. there will be a talk and discussion about spotting the first signs of dementia and what we can do about them. It will be held in the main hall Our Lady of the Annunciation Bingham Road,Addiscombe.  Refreshments and cash bar available. All are welcome.  For more information please see the noticeboard or contact John Woodhouse 0790 8888 586 (by text)  Norwood Catenian circle.

Life in the Spirit Seminars: Starts on Wednesday 18th April for 8 consecutive Wednesdays at SS Joseph and Swithun Parish, Plaistow Lane, Bromley, BR1 2PR.  7pm Registration and refreshments, 7.30pm Welcome and gathering followed by the Seminar at 8 until 9.30pm.  If you are interested in attending please email admin@stjosephsbromley.org or call 020 8402 0459.  The poster is on the noticeboard.

Please pray for the sick of the Parish: John Barry, Mercie Ihekweme-Hill, Kieran Quinn, and Michael Creech.

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS (11th Feb—18th Feb 2018) (Year: B)