ECUMENICAL SERVICE SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY

Hampstead Churches Together will hold an Ecumenical Service at 6pm on Sunday, 19 February at Christ Church, Christchurch Hill, Hampstead. All welcome. Sponsored by the Baptist Church, Heath Street.

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THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION

I must bring to your attention the issue of reception of Holy Communion. The Church requires all who receive Holy Communion to consume the Sacred Host at the altar before returning to their places. We are receiving the real presence of Christ and nothing should distract us from that reality. Please remember the correct Christian response to when the Priest or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion says ‘The Body of Christ’ is ‘Amen’. I have also heard from other Priests, of parents giving a portion of the Host to their young children. This is strictly forbidden and is a desecration of the Sacrament. I ask parents to ensure that their children receive Our Blessed Lord in a way that will teach them to understand the privilege they have.

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PARISH COUNCIL 8 FEBRUARY

The Parish Council has been postponed to Wednesday, 8 February at 7.30pm in the Parish Rooms. All items for the agenda or apologies for absence should be addressed to the Secretary c/o 4 Holly Place.

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PARISH FINANCE COMMITTEE 13 FEBRUARY

The Parish Finance Committee will meet on Monday, 13 February at 8pm in the Parish Rooms.

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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH? RCIA (RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS) 7 FEBRUARY

The next session of RCIA will take place on Tuesday, 20 February at 7pm in the Parish Rooms at 4 Holly Place. This process allows those who are not Catholic to look at our faith and if they wish, to go forward for reception into the Catholic faith.

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ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, is a day of fasting and abstinence. Masses will be at 7.30am, 10am and 7.30pm.

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PARISH DINNER 24 FEBRUARY 2012

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FAIRTRADE EVENT: SUNDAY 4 MARCH FROM 11AM TO 1PM BIG BREW AT ST MARY’S !

Come along and join us for a Big Brew in the Parish Rooms! Enjoy delicious Fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits. Traidcraft stall and Fairtrade information. Learn how to bring about positive change in the lives of thousands of producers in the developing world. Fairtrade is making a real difference to the lives of more than 7 million farmers, workers and their families in 59 developing countries. Help people in the developing world work their way out of poverty through trade.

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PARISH PILGRIMAGE/HOLIDAY 2012

Lucca & Florence 27 May to 2 June 2012 

For details, please contact Anthony Coles on 020 7431 3414 or arctc@btinternet.com

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MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE

    Getting married ? Why not apply for the marriage course at St Mary’s? 

Dates: 19 & 26 May 2012 from 1-5pm. 

Apply to the Parish administrator placidofernandes@rcdow.or.uk in order to register. Attendance is required by couples on both days.  

SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE AREA

Notices for these events and others can be found at the new display board in the back of the church. Please help yourself.

THE FAITH EXPLAINED -  A COURSE IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH

Venue: St  Thomas More RC Church, Maresfield Gardens, Swiss Cottage

Wednesday Evenings 7.45-8.45pm (October 2011 to April 2012)

Tel: 020 7435 1388 

Email: swisscottage@rcdow.org.uk

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LUKE: EVANGELIST IN TWO VOLUMES

Hampstead Christian Study Centre

Lectures on St Luke’s Gospel by Revd Stephen Tucker, Vicar of St John-at-Hampstead and on

Acts of the Apostles by Dr Graham Gould, formerly of Theology Dept at King’s College.

1 February Luke and the Location of the Kingdom

8 February Acts: Stories from the Early Church

15 February Acts: With Paul to Rome

See notice board for details or contact Mary Shakeshaft on 020 7433 8334 or Doris Asher on 020 7485 2074

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LENTEN FAITH - SHARING ON THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS

Sparks of Light Booklets are available with reflections and prayer for use during the season. Available at back of Church at a cost of £1.50 each.

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CATHOLICS!

NEW BBC SERIES TO EXPLORE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A CATHOLIC TODAY

I encourage you to watch the series scheduled as follows: Thursday, 23 Feb at 9pm Priests-an intimate behind the scenes portrait of Allen Hall Seminary

Thursday, 1 Mar at 9pm Children-from St Mary’s ,Chipping

Thursday, 8 Mar at 9pm Women-Catholic Women in the Diocese

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JOURNEYING WITH GOD OPEN MEETING FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 7.30pm at ST ALOYSIUS, SOMERS TOWN

A Time of Guided Prayer is a retreat in daily life that is a wonderful opportunity to:

• Take time out
• Deepen your relationship with God
• Explore new ways of praying
• Find help with any kind of decision
• Discover more who you really are

This programme is aimed primarily at young adults aged between 18 and 35.

For further information or to book one of the limited places, please contact Sr Emma at emmanolan@rcdow.org.uk or phone 020 7798 9360.

FAITH MATTERS LENT 2012

CONFIDENT AND CATHOLIC: EXPLORING a VISION for the CHURCH in OUR LAND

This series is to address some of the Church’s key priorities, aims and objectives currently identified by our bishops in their document A Vision for the Church in Our Land. The bishops hope that these priorities will serve to make us more confidently Catholic in our proclamation of the truth of the Gospel and our engagement in society at large.

7pm – 8.30pm, Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Avenue, SW1P 1QJ. All are welcome. Register at www.rcdow.org.uk/faithmatters or at faithmatters@rcdow.org.uk or tel. 020 7931 6078. Suggested donation is £ 5.00 per lecture.

28 Feb Faith of our Fathers: Legacies of English Catholic History by John Morrill, Professor of British and Irish History at Cambridge, a permanent deacon

6 Mar Vocation in Church and World by Mr Martin Rainsford, Headteacher (Douay Martyrs School, Ickenham) and Fr Paul O’Reilly, SJ, Medical doctor and priest

20 Mar Catholic Social Teaching: Practising Visions of Hope by Dr Anna Rowlands, Director of Studies (Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge)

27 Mar Sharing our spiritual riches: Interreligious Dialogue by Archbishop Kevin McDonald, Chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Committees for Catholic-Jewish Relations and for relations with other religions

COLLECTION Sunday 29 January 2012

Collection amounts are now in the on-line newsletter please click:

12 Feb 2012 Newsletter

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READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY 

Mass Times

or

HERE I AM LORD

A Group exploring the call to Religious Life or Priesthood meets Mid and Last Tuesdays Each Month at 7.30pm at 111, Gower Street WC1. More Info go to:www.universitycatholic.net

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CHILDREN'S LITURGY

A Children’s Liturgy runs every Sunday at the 10AM Mass in term time. We welcome all school-age children (5+) who are ready to attend without their parents. If you are interested in leading Children’s Liturgy sessions, please contact Claire Roberts by email atclaire_frognal@yahoo.co.uk

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CCD CLASSES

For Children attending Non-Catholic Schools If your child attends a non-Catholic school, please register with Sister Pauline at St. Dorothy’s Convent, 99 Frognal for CCD Classes. These take place on Sunday morning after 1000am Mass and resume on 3 October, beginning at 11am.  If you are interested/willing to be a leader, please contact Sister Pauline 0207 794 6893. Children must be registered beforehand.

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ECUMENISM

Monsignor Phelim Rowland would like to set up a small committee to address Ecumenical outreach in our parish. If you are interested  in joining or have any comments, please contact Monsignor Phelim ASAP.