|
SCRIPTURE
READINGS
|
Wisdom |
2:12,
17-20 |
| Psalm |
53 |
| James |
3:16-4:3 |
| Mark |
9:30-37 |
“THE
DESIRES OF OTHERS”
Our
lives are often largely conditioned by those around
us. We learn to desire what we see and if we are
told that happiness lies in this or that place then
we will seek to enter it. We delay thinking about
God and the shortness and meaning of our lives for
a future which never seems to satisfy us and when
it comes it seems to be imposed upon us rather than
having been freely chosen.
This
is because we stand in relation to the desires of
others
and in this part of the world at this point in history
we are valued by others because of
what we can do and what we can consume. Few value
us because of who we are alone yet
that really is all we have. At work, for example,
the pressures are such that there can be little
time for reflection, if one is fortunate enough
to have a job. Survival means that one just has
to keep going as best as one can.
Thankfully
we stand, ultimately, in relation to Christ who
shared our condition. We are in communion with him
so we should let him help us and adjust our interior
attitudes and spirit to conform more and more with
his. This will never be easy since the desires of
others, who do not have our best interests at heart
as God does, will compete for attention and lead
us away from God and our deepest desire to be with
him. The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius are
an aid to this endeavour.
During
each day, then, we should turn to him in prayer
and with the help of his strength in the Sacraments
come to rely on Christ to help us follow him. Let
us have confidence that we are being looked after
and cared for by God who laid down his life for
you.
Fr
James Campbell SJ
PARISH
COUNCIL
We
have the pleasure to announce the election of new
leaders of the Parish Council: Jonathan Day, Chairman
and Carl Hunter, Vice-Chairman. The other members
of the Council are Stuart Marshall-Banks, Robert
Bingham, Dominic Keogh, Pauline Mercieca, Caroline
Blaazer, Thomas Fink, Leslie Giltz and Dr Helen
Murphy. One of our first projects will be to produce
a Parish Directory with photos of these and leaders
of other Parish groups and activities for easy recognition.
Meanwhile you can get to know them at coffee after
the Sunday morning Masses.
COFFEE
VOLUNTEERS
A
big Thank you to everyone who is helping to serve
coffee and tea in the Hall on Sunday mornings. We
need more volunteers for this wonderful ministry
of welcome. If interested, please contact Fr William.
CHILDREN'S
LITURGY
The
Children's Liturgy of the Word resumes today at
the 9.30am Mass. This is for children of school
age (5 years old) and over. We hope to have group
of 3-4 years old soon. A big Thank You to our team
of catechists!
YOUTH
MINISTRY OF
THE WORD
Children
and young people who wish to read at the Sunday
Family Mass (9.30am) and have not yet registered
should contact Patsy Cummings. (pcummings@rcdow.org.uk
). Training will be provided and this is an
excellent opportunity to develop confidence, to
acquire skills and to serve the Church.
FIRST
HOLY COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION
Parents
of children who wish to make their First Holy Communion
or Confirmation next year, and are 7 or 14 years
of age or above, respectively, should contact Patsy
Cummings via email, or see her after Mass to obtain
the necessary forms.
CHILDREN'S
CHOIR
The
rehearsals for the children's choir commences on
Sunday 20 th September in the meeting room after
the Family Mass from 10.30 to 11.00am. There
is no lower age limit. Parents of children
who are interested who have not yet registered should
see Patsy after Mass or contact her via e-mail (above).
SACRISTAN
Today
we say Good-bye to our sacristan Pat Mallon, who
is retiring after 11 years of devoted service to
Farm Street .
We want to express our tremendous thanks for his
help over the years. He has been an “invisible hand”
in all the major and minor liturgical events that
take place in this busy church. Meanwhile we will
be looking for a replacement and initially we will
need someone to cover all the Masses on Sundays
and major feasts and to help with weddings in addition
to taking on responsibilities for sacristy property
and supplies and the numerous little tasks associated
with this sacred service. If this paid job interests
you please see Fr William. A big thank you to Maria
Fernandes who has volunteered to fill in until a
permanent replacement can be found.
VOLUNTEER
RECEPTIONISTS
We
have a splendid team of volunteers who answer the
door and telephone at 114
Mount Street on weekdays
from 5pm-8.30pm .
With more volunteers on the rota, one would need
to come only twice a month or so. A great way to
help the church and Jesuit community and to meet
people! Contact Fr William.
FILMS
AT FARM STREET
Our
new season begins by popular demand with the entire
1977 series Jesus of Nazareth
directed by Franco Zeffirelli: Thursday evenings,
7pm
(introductory
talk at 6:45pm
) in
the Hall. September 24 th , October 8 th and 22
nd , November 5 th . Light refreshments. Admission
free.
PARISH
REGISTRATION
As
you know, Farm Street
is a city-center church at the service of the wider
Catholic community and our “parishioners” come from
all over London
and well beyond. If you are a regular worshiper
here please be sure you have filled in a registration
form, so we can have basic contact details in the
church office. 2009 forms are available at all the
church doors.
MOUNT
STREET
JESUIT
CENTRE
114
Mount Street , London W1
For
bookings and information:
Lynne
Galloway 020 7495 1673
lynne@mountstreet.info
OTHER
ONE-DAY WORKSHOPS
The
12 Steps – A Path to Freedom for Everyone
Presented
by Sandra Macdonald
11am-4pm
on Saturday 26 September
Dreams
and the Soul's Journey
Presented
by Madeleine O'Callaghan
10am–
2pm on Tuesday 29 September
Exploring
your Personality
Presented
by Margaret Philpot
11am-4pm
on Saturday 3 October
A
Spiritual and Practical Approach to Confident Communication
Presented
by Sandra Macdonald
11am
– 4pm on Saturday 17 October
THE
COMPASSIONATE SAVIOUR: READING THE GOSPEL OF LUKE
Presented
by Brian Purfield
3
more Mondays: September 21 st , 28 th , October
5 th 7-8.30 pm
This
is the gospel most people like best because of its
presentation of Jesus. Luke shows Jesus forgiving
people, extending his message to everyone, and praying
at times of great crisis. The other gospels do too,
but not as much and not so obviously. He also gives
us three of the best–known parables, the Prodigal
Son, the Good Samaritan and the Pharisee and the
Tax Collector. So who was Luke, when and where did
he write and who was he writing for? Finally, what
did he write and what are the main concerns of his
Gospel? Find out!
REFORMING
THE LITURGY
This
is the title of the latest book of Prof. John Baldovin
SJ who will be speaking on this theme at Heythrop
College
, Kensington
Square , on Saturday September
26 th at 5:30pm .
To reserve a place, please ring 0207 795 6600.
IGNATIAN
DAYS
These
popular events have begun again: every second Saturday
of the month from 10:30am
to 4:30pm
. See the leaflet for full
details.
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