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SCRIPTURE
READINGS
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Jeremiah |
1:4-5,
17-19 |
| Psalm |
70 |
| I
Corinthians |
12:31-13:13 |
| Luke |
4:31-30 |
Believe
it or not, we still have a bit of the Christmas
story yet to come: the Presentation of the infant
Christ in the Temple by Mary and Joseph. This is
celebrated on February 2 nd and, because we bless
the candles which are to be used in the church during
the coming year, this feast is called Candlemas.
For the last few years we have done something very
special on this day.
Not
all mothers have been able to present their new-born
child to the Lord in the way that Mary and Joseph
could. Not all babies survive their time in the
womb or the experience of birth or the early days
or weeks of their earthly life. As we continue to
hold Mary's story before us, we want to offer a
way for all those who have been affected in any
way by the loss of an unborn child to come together
in prayer and to receive the grace, consolation
and strength which comes through the Eucharist.
The
loss of a child by miscarriage or any other cause,
or in neo-natal care, leaves many emotions. We hope
that this special “Liturgy of the Unborn” can bring
peace to some of those who may be living with painful
memories occasioned by this loss. It was our late
Parish Council chairman, Philip O'Brien, together
with Eileen Adams, who helped to give this occasion
shape and we are happy to continue the tradition.
The
Gospel of Christ is “good news” to the little ones
of this earth, but theology has not always helped
people to find or experience this. One example is
the question of original sin and its effects on
the unbaptised child. When I was a priest on supply
as hospital chaplain shortly after my ordination
I had my first experience of this area of doubt.
Several times I was called out to perform emergency
baptisms for newly-delivered babies who were in
danger of death and it was clear that the parents
believed their child would not go to Heaven if this
was not done. Whatever the Church may appear to
have taught regarding the separation from God's
grace of all human life at conception - and this
varies with the theological schools – it is certainly
not the mind of the Church to exclude unbaptised
infants from the fulness of God's presence in Heaven.
Our funeral liturgies for children show this. Pope
John Paul II in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae
affirmed that “there is nothing more innocent
than the unborn child”, and Pope Benedict XVI has
removed any doubt about this by recently declaring
that the idea of a limbo for infants is not Catholic
doctrine. These little ones are received into the
fulness of God's eternal love. They join the company
of saints and angels to become our special intercessors.
This is indeed the “good news” of Christ.
Fr
William Pearsall, SJ
WELL
DONE!
One
of our young parishioners has won first prize in
an art exhibition organised by the Westminster Faith
Exchange. Ciro (age 7) is currently preparing for
his First Holy Communion. He submitted this self-portrait
showing him praying the rosary for the Celebration
and Faith Art Competition for Children and Young
People. Local faith centres and several schools
in Westminster
participated.
We
also congratulate Eleanor Norris, who made her First
Communion in 2008 here and has been awarded The
Golden Sneaker for participating
in the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk in Greenwich
Park
and
raising £803. We thank her and our Farm
Street
donors.
WELCOMING
One
of the reasons people give for coming to Farm
Street is the welcome they
receive. Help us to be a welcoming church. If you
would like to be a greeter at the doors or a helper
at morning coffee, please see Fr James Campbell.
Schedules can be arranged to suit your availability.
Even if you are not an official volunteer, you can
still contribute to our welcome!
WORLD
LEPROSY APPEAL
Next
week-end we welcome the St Francis Leprosy Guild
for their annual appeal. This is a Catholic organisation
with a special link to Farm
Street
Church
. There will be a collection
at the end of each Mass to help leprosy sufferers
throughout the world. Please be generous.
FR
WILLIAM'S PODCAST
You
can hear Fr William speaking about the priest who
inspired him to become a priest on www.totus2us.
com/podcasts/man-for-others. You will find many
other interesting things as well on this new Catholic
website.
There
will be no rehearsals of the Children's Choir until
after Easter
BLESSING
OF CANDLES AND THROATS
On
Tuesday, Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas),
there will be the blessing of candles at the start
of every Mass. You
are very welcome to bring your own candle if you
wish. On Wednesday the blessing
of St Blaise will be given at the end of every Mass
for the protection of throats and for good health
throughout the winter.
MOUNT
STREET JESUIT
CENTRE
The
Centre is offering some varied and exciting courses
and workshops for those who wish to develop their
knowledge of the Faith and their awareness of the
spiritual dimension to our lives. The very popular
Sadhana meditation course starts in February and
there is a repeat of the equally popular “Finding
God Through Art” workshop also in February. Also
there are new programmes of mid-week midday events
during the month of March. There are
many other events on offer so pick up a leaflet
at the doors or a copy of the Programme. We encourage
all our Farm Street regulars (and visitors, too)
to continue to support our joint enterprise with
the Mount Street Jesuit Centre.
LENTEN
RETREAT: A RETREAT IN DAILY LIFE
Participants
will be assigned their own prayer guide, whom they
will meet once a week throughout Lent. The retreat
begins on Saturday 20 th February at 7pm
in the Hall with a gathering
of all those taking part. You will meet your guide
and arrange the time and place to meet. The retreat
will end with a gathering of everyone on Saturday
27 th March at 7pm .
For more information pick up a registration form
and if you decide you would like to participate,
complete and return the tear-off slip by Sunday
14 th February. Places are limited, so apply early!
JESUS
CHRIST FULLNESS
OF LIFE
Join
Fr William at the Grosvenor Chapel on Thursday February
4 th at 7:30pm
for ecumenical worship led by JCFL and a fellowship
meal.
FAITH
MATTERS
This
series of public lectures at the Cathedral Hall
celebrates the Year of the Priest with a special
Lenten programme on the Priesthood starting in late
February. Speakers include Archbishop Vincent Nichols.
See the notice boards for details.
Please
use Gift-Aid envelopes for your donations if you
are a UK
Tax-payer .
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