The Church Of The Immaculate Conception
Farm Street
NEWSLETTER
Society of Jesus
January
1, 2005
SPECIAL
ANNOUNCEMENT--DISASTER IN ASIA
Like
many churches throughout the land, Farm Street Church
enjoyed a wonderful Christmas this year, full of joy
and optimism.
Alas,
this mood of happy celebration was quickly dispelled
as news of the appalling devastation in South Asia
began to sink in. After a week of horrendous images
and first-hand reports of the disaster, the full extent
of this human tragedy is
only now beginning to emerge.
We
must put ourselves in the place of these suffering
brothers and sisters. We must remember them in our
prayers and we must take action on their behalf.
On
Sunday January 16 th there will be a collection at
the doors towards ongoing relief and reconstruction.
Because it would be impossible to spread our meagre
resources over such a large area, we are planning
to concentrate our aid on a part of Sri-Lanka, an
island whose population was particularly hard hit
and with which we have links through parish members.
We
hope to have regular up-dates on these efforts.
Donations
may be made at any time. Cheques can be made out to
Farm Street Church ; please be sure to indicate that
they are intended for this appeal.
Thank
you,
Fr
William Pearsall SJ
SURFACE
TENSION
The surface of
things can be somewhat brittle at this time of year.
We are encouraged to think that we are beginning anew,
starting over, and that the change in mere time signals
for us a real change in our lives. But notice how things
really are.
We
can go round the workplace shaking hands and offering
a smile (perhaps that is something new!) simply because
it is expected of us. But the handshakes can be quick,
the smiles brief and the eye contact fleeting because,
to be honest, it can be all a bit awkward, really. Even
being in the bosom of our nearest and dearest, from
which we may have just emerged, can be, in some cases,
slightly wearing. I recall a very funny comedian who
had a slot every New Year's Eve where he featured a
horror movie sketch featuring those characters from
our past, namely The Relatives and The In-Laws!
What
is greatly encouraging here is that we can and do make the
effort to keep the peace and to hope things between us will
improve. However, this can be quite an effort for us and it
is often a relief to get back to normal and have this sometimes
forced jollity over with.
This
tension is quite evident and perfectly normal. How can a mere
date change effect anything? Why should this particular time
of year entail new resolutions (invariably an exercise in
wishful
thinking, certainly in my case) and determined strategies
for a Bright New Future? No reason at all! We should just
relax and get back to normal and await our time
for changing; this will make itself known all too obviously.
We
are coming into what the Church refers in liturgical terms
to as Ordinary Time. Not many people like the word “Ordinary”
since they think it means boring or normal, but much of life
is like that. Jesus. Mary and Joseph experienced it and learned,
as we all have to, to cope and find things to do. In Ordinary
Time, quiet and sometimes long-term changes are made in a
natural and unforced way, in the moments we may have to ourselves,
and is helped by our reflecting on things. This was how Jesus
grew up and this is our own fate too. We can remember that
Christ is now at the centre of Life and at the depths of each
one of us, awaiting our change of heart, but he doesn't force
himself upon us.
As
we live with tension at the surface of our lives, then, let
us allow ourselves a smile at the prospect of the deeper experience
of life and love which awaits us – indeed, is with us already
- and which signals to us the real prospect of a new time
given to us by God.
Fr James Campbell SJ
PARISH
INFORMATION
SOCIETY
FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN Today
there will be a collection at the doors after Mass for this
extremely important work. Please speak to representatives
of SPUC to learn more about the issues and what we can do
as Catholics to promote the sanctity of new life.
REQUIEM
A Requiem Mass will be offered
for Mr Paul O'Neill at 10.30am on Friday January 7 th . Paul
was a regular worshipper at the evening Mass here at Farm
Street . May he rest in peace.
EPIPHANY
Thursday January 6 th is a
Holy Day of Obligation in England . Mass times are the same
as for week-days.
THANK
YOU We
would like to thank Fr Anthony Parish SJ and Fr Dominic Robinson
SJ for helping us with confessions this Christmas.
We hope that you will
always be able to find a priest when you need one. Let us know
of any problems.
YOUNG
ADULTS
The “First Sunday” Mass will be on January 9 th at 7.15pm
with Fr Peter Scally SJ presiding. Pick up a leaflet.
WEBSITE
Have a look at the Farm Street
website (address on the front of this newsletter) and tell
your friends about it. We hope to go from strength to strength
in the world of IT! If you would like to contribute your technical
know-how we would be very happy to hear from you.
