WELCOME
Times of Mass and DevotionsHA = Holy Angels Church, Ash GU12 6LU HF = Holy Family Church, Farnham GU9 0LH |
||||
| Sat 15 Nov | 5.30pm | HA | First Mass – Fr. John Nuttall | All Holy Souls Book of Remembrance |
| Sun 16 Nov | 9.15am | HF | 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time | All Holy Souls Book of Remembrance |
| 11.00am | HA | First Holy Communion Children’s Mass | ||
| Mon 17 Nov | NO MASS | |||
| Tue 18 Nov | 9.30am | HF | Liturgy of the Word | |
| Wed 19 Nov | 9.30am | HA | Liturgy of the Word | |
|
|
||||
| Thu 20 Nov | 6.15pm | HF | Adoration | |
|
7.30pm |
HF | Liturgy of the Word | ||
| Fri 21 Nov | NO MASS | |||
| Sat 22 Nov | 5.30pm | HA | First Mass – Fr. John Nuttall | Angela & Anna Vella (RIP) |
| Sun 23 Nov | 9.15am | HF | Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe | |
| 11.00am | HA | Youth Mass | Father Stan Burt (RIP) | |
Second Collection
There will be a Second Collection TODAY for The Cathedral Maintenance Fund
Collections for 9th November, 2014
Holy Angels Offertory: £255.05
Standing Orders Oct: £975.00
Holy Family Offertory: £234.00
Information
International Supper: Saturday 29th November – Holy Angels after Mass 7pm – 10pm.
This event is the brainchild of our young people who are fundraising for Karibu Nyumbani the orphanage built and run by Fiona Hendy in Tanzania. We are planning a trip to the orphanage next summer to give some helping hands with the running of the place and looking after the children, animals and vegetable plot. The fundraising is to help fund some of the cost of the travel for the young people, all adults will be self funded, and much needed funds for the orphanage. The idea is that various international dishes will be provided as a buffet so parishioners and friends will have an opportunity of tasting different dishes from different countries. Please do come along and enjoy the company of our young people and the tasty dishes that will be on offer. Tickets are being sold at both churches over the coming week’s £8 adults and £5 children
Prayer Requests for the sick
Deacon David Morgan, Newton Abrew, Michael Brandon, Patrick Quinn, Maureen Cosgrove and Sean Flynn.
We pray for all those in our two Parishes who are sick and need our prayers at this time.
Advent Booklet: This is now available for use in parish groups or for individuals. Advent 2014 is a booklet of scripture, reflections and prayers written by young people and designed for small group discussion. Six young people were brought together to write reflections on the second reading of each week of Advent, and to design prayer activities and challenges to introduce new methods of prayer to people around the Diocese.
To order copies contact the Diocesan Bookshop on 01293 651165 or email bookshop@dabnet.org. For more information contact David Wills, Adult Formation Adviser on 01293 651157 or david.wills@dabnet.org.
Holy Family
Harvest Lunch: Many thanks to all who supported the Harvest Lunch at Holy Family on Friday 7th November. The event raised £188 for Disability Africa (www.disability-africa.org ) which will make a huge difference to the lives of disabled children in The Gambia. Many thanks from both Holy Family Justice and Peace Team, and all at Disability Africa.
Please Note: There is a Thank you letter from DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee) at the back of the church thanking the parishioners for their donation of £135 (towards helping the children suffering in the Middle East conflicts) from the previous cheese and soup lunch held earlier in the year. This, in fact, amounts to £270 as the Government doubles donations given.
Holy Angels
Prayer Group: takes place once a month on a Tuesday at Holy Angels Church in the Parish Office: 7.30pm for 7.45pm start. Next dates are: 2nd Dec, 2014, 13th Jan, 2015 and 16th Feb, 2015.
Today’s Readings
Paul believed that the second coming of Christ was imminent. Hence, he urges the Thessalonians to be watchful. However, Matthew has accepted that the coming of Christ would be delayed. Even so, he too spoke about the necessity of being watchful. In the parable of the talents he spells out what this watchfulness consists in: it consists in carrying out the Lord’s instructions to the best of one’s God-given ability. The First Reading sets before us the example of a woman who uses her talents to live an industrious and virtuous life.
In the Gospel Christ talks about three people who were given different talents. He commends the first two because they used their talents. And he censures the third because he buried his talent.
When Christ talks about talents, we must not think he means a musical talent or a footballing talent. Such talents are important, and all credit to those who possess them, develop them, and use them. But they are outrageously over-valued and over-rewarded in our times. Christ’s parable goes a lot deeper. Ultimately the only thing that matters is what we make of ourselves.
However, we are mistaken if we think it is about making something of oneself in a materialistic sense, though this is not ruled out. The woman spoken about in the First Reading could hardly be described as being either successful or famous. Yet she is held up as a model. Why? Because of the kind of person she is ..industrious, caring, wise and virtuous. She possesses something more valuable than wealth or beauty. She posses a loving heart. She has put her talents at the service of her family, her neighbours, and the poor, Hence, she has the respect of the entire community.
(extracts taken from a book written
by Flor McCarthy, SDB)
Message from Deacon John
The last 6 weeks have been difficult for us all and I wish to thank you for your support and prayers (I know Rita shares my sentiment). I would have liked to have something to tell you about our future but at the moment there is nothing tangible to report. Our parish activities continue and I’m sure that you are as grateful as I am for the support of Fr. John Nuttall, on Saturdays, and Fr’s Aidan and Adrian from the Josephite community at Weybridge for Sundays. This is set to continue to the end of the year with the exception of next weekend (Sunday 23rd) when Fr. Gareth Thomas, a recently ordained Passionist priest, will say the Sunday masses; he’s in Ash for a Baptism.
Our situation is exacerbated by our lack of a Bishop and I ask you all to pray fervently for a resolution for both issues. Ask both the Holy Angels and the Holy Family of Nazareth to intercede for us. A Bishop may take a little while; hopefully our situation will clarify sooner.
Meanwhile we are planning our Christmas services and there will be an opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation on Thursday 11th December in the evening at Holy Family and on Wednesday 17th at Holy Angels, once again in the evening, more details later.
Baptisms: Anyone wanting a child Baptised will need to attend the next course which will take place in the New Year, meanwhile please complete a form to request Baptism so that we know how many are waiting.
Becoming a Catholic: I believe there are some slightly older children 6-14 to be Baptised and some adults who wish to explore becoming a Catholic. If this is you please make sure I have a note of your names and I will book an appointment to have an initial discussion.
What have this week’s readings to say to us? This is the penultimate Sunday of the liturgical year and as the year draws to a close the focus is on end times, are we ready? The OT reading is really an example for us. The author uses the image of a woman to challenge the culture of the time into recognising that all human beings have a value and worth and the capability to make a significant contribution to life. How are we doing?
Paul writing to the Thessalonians reminds them not to lose sight of what the ultimate goal for a follower of Christ is. He reminds them, and us, that we must be ready at all times. [Children] “of the light and of the day: we do not belong to the night or darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober.” Are we ready for any action that is required for the good of those about us?
That is what the main point of the Gospel and what the parable of talents is about. Not making a profit but making use of the gifts we have been given for the good of all. It seems that the servant with only one talent has a hard time of it. Did he deserve to lose all? The problem is that he did not make any use of the gift given to him. Are we making use of the gifts given to us? There are many areas out in our locality and within our parishes where our gifts may be of use. Even if it’s only making a cup of tea one Sunday! (Now I know you can all do that!) There are other areas as well: Cleaning, Flowers, Site maintenance, Children’s Liturgy, Readers, Musicians and singers to name but a few. If you want to make use of your talents in the service of the Parish why not talk to me or give Rita a ring.
May God continue to bless you all Deacon John.