ST JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH

West Green
4 Vincent Road, London N15 3QH
Parish Office: 020-8888-5518 E-mail: westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
Website: stjohnvianneywestgreen.co.uk
Facebook: West Green - St John Vianney Church

2nd /3rd FEBRUARY 2019

4th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
What is LOVE?
There are so many ways to describe it.
The Oxford dictionary defines ‘Love’ as “an
intense feeling of deep affection”. Science
may try to explain love as a result of
hormones and neurotransmitters in our
brain. Last week in our Confirmation session
with the young people, we saw a short clip
of the song “So this is love” from the film
Cinderella, with the fairytale couple twirling
around in a ballroom. Recently the lyrics of
Bette Midler’s ‘The Rose’ came to my mind:
Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed. It is ‘normal’ for a little child to get
Some say love, it is a razor impatient as he/she demands for their food
that leaves your soul to bleed. right away, or be jealous when a sibling
Some say love, it is a hunger receives more attention, or throws a
an endless, aching need. tantrum when they don’t get what they
I say love, it is a flower want... or ‘loves’ the colour blue one day and
and you, its only seed. hates it the next day! But just as we all need
We are all ‘seeds’ of love, we all have the to grow up as a person, we need to mature
in our capacity to love, too.
capacity to be loving (yes, ALL of us can be
loving!); but for us to be this beautiful It’s easy to say, “Of course, I love my [...]!”
flower, we need to grow. (insert mum/dad/son/daughter/husband/
In today’s second reading, Paul writes, wife/friend/brother/sister/neighbour/etc).
“When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, It’s not as easy to actually LOVE them (and
and think like a child, and argue like a child, here I’m using the word as an active verb,
but now I am a man, all childish ways are put not as a feeling) by trying to be patient, or
behind me.” Perhaps we too can say: “When I not getting angry at the slightest things, or
was a child, I used to love like a child... but to trust, or to forgive, or to simply be kind.
now that I am an adult, I need to love in a I pray that we may all strive to grow in our
grown-up way!” loving... and look forward to seeing our
I believe that it is with this ‘growing-up’ in church full of unique, beautiful flowers!
mind that Paul gave his version of what a God bless, Sr. Devy
‘mature’ love is, in what I find to be one of
the most beautiful and truest (albeit PS: We welcome Fr. David Ardagh-Walter
challenging!) definition of love. in all our celebrations this weekend.
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
IN LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTIONS
MORNING TEAS /COFFEE
In the Parish Hall on Sundays,
after 9am and 11am Masses.
We also welcome parishioners and
newcomers on Thursday mornings
after the 9:15am Mass.
CATECHETICAL PROGRAMMES 2019
For any enquiries, please contact Sr. Devy
on 07455 544 065 or the Parish Office.
SUNDAY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Next session: Sat, 9th February at 10am
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 9th February at 10am
FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 9th February at 12pm
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 9th February at 3:30pm
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR
ADULTS (RCIA)
Next session: Sat, 16th February at 4pm
BAPTISM FOR INFANTS
If you would like to have your child
baptised on the 9th February or later,
the next session will be on
Monday, 4th and 18th February
at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall.
Please contact the Parish Office or Sr.
Devy to book your place on the course.
SURPLUS CHRISTMAS GIFTS
AND CAKE SALE
A big THANK YOU to: all who have
donated their surplus gifts for our Bring
and Buy Sale; all who have brought in
cakes and cookies; all who have helped at
the various stall, especially the parents of
the First Communion Candidates who
looked after the Cake stall.
Your support has been greatly
appreciated, and had helped to raised
£788.22 towards our fund-raising efforts
for the London Catholic Worker,
Giuseppe Conlon House. Well done!
THANK YOU FROM
CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY
Thank you for your generosity to the
crib donations which raised £470.92.
The Catholic Children’s Society supports
disadvantaged children and families
across London, Hertfordshire and the
South East. We work with individuals of
all faiths and none; our sole aim is to help
those in greatest need. Your donation will
help support our work.
INSIGHT II:
WOMEN & MEN OF THE BIBLE
This course offers an insight into the lives
of various women and men in the Bible,
specifically from the Old Testament.
Next session: Tues, 5th Feb (7.30pm)
or Wed, 6th Feb (10am)
THANK GOD ON FRIDAY!
Friday, 1st March, 7:30-9:00pm.
Make time to spend a moment alone with
God in thanksgiving, prayer and
adoration. The short talk, adoration and
music will be led by the Verbum Dei
Missionaries. All are welcome!
 PARISH OUTREACH
SANDWICH MAKING (PREPARATION):
in the Parish hall on Friday 8th after Mass.
Next SOUP RUN: Group A
at 4.30pm on Sat, 9th February 2019
CAFOD TALK AND Q&A
Wed, 6th Feb 2:30-4:00pm at
CAFOD’s Volunteer Centre at Catholic
Church of Christ the King, 1st Floor,
29 Bramley Road, Oakwood, N14 4HE
This volunteer meeting will include an
opportunity to hear a first-hand account
of our work to defend indigenous rights
and the Amazon in Brazil. Please contact
Tony Sheen tsheen@cafod.org.uk for
further details or to book a place.
LITURGY GROUP DAY
There will be a special day organised on
Saturday, 3rd March 2019 for all who
are involved in our liturgical celebration:
...church cleaning team
...PowerPoint creator & operator
...welcomers ...collectors ...readers
...altar servers & supporting families
...all the musicians and choir
...those who bring up the offertory gifts
...Eucharistic ministers ...etc
Please mark this date on your
calendars and we look forward to
seeing you there!
ST. JOHN VIANNEY NURSERY
APPLICATIONS ~ SEPTEMBER 2019
If your child was born between
1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016
and you wish to apply for a Nursery place
for September 2019 at St John Vianney
School, please come and collect an
application pack from the school office.
We offer FREE 15 or 30hour (if eligible)
spaces. Address: Stanley Road,
Tottenham N15 3HD
Telephone: 020 8889 8421
CARDINAL’S MASS OF THANKSGIVING
FOR THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
The Cardinal invites all couples
celebrating their 5th, 10th, 25th, 30th, 40th,
50th 60th (and every year after 60th)
wedding anniversary to celebrate the
Sacrament of Matrimony at
Westminster Cathedral
Saturday 8th June 2019 at 3pm.
Please give your parish clergy/parish
office the following details
by 23rd March 2019 so a personal
invitation can be issued:
husband and wife’s names, wedding
date, full postal address and email
(or telephone number, if no email)
JUSTICE AND PEACE REP NEEDED!
What is “Justice and Peace”?
It’s about wanting to make a difference,
witnessing to gospel values in society,
not only by helping those close at hand,
or sending gifts overseas, but asking why
problems are arising, and whether we
can speak up for change. We are
currently working on such things
as climate protection, Fairtrade, the
refugee situation, and peace in the
Middle East. Justice and Peace reps can
publicise our work, maintain a parish
notice board, or raise awareness in the
parish. Can you be your parish Justice
and Peace representative? Contact the
office at justice@rcdow.org.uk
If you are interested, please sign up on
the list at the back of the church
If you or your friends and family are
looking for a new opportunity in the
Diocese of Westminster, please visit our
website https://jobs.rcdow.org.uk/
AVAILABLE IN THE REPOSITORY
Westminster 2019 Yearbook;
St. Paul Sunday Missal:
Justice & Peace Commission 2019 Calendars
MASS AND SERVICE TIMES