ST JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH
West Green
4 Vincent Road, London N15 3QH
Parish Office: 020-8888-5518 E-mail: westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
Facebook: West Green - St John Vianney Church
Website: http://stjohnvianneywestgreen.co.uk/
9th/10th March 2019 – 1st Sunday of Lent
Reflecting on the Jesus’ words today –
“A person does not live on bread alone” –
and the wonderful Big Brew event with the
Confirmandi last week, I was remembering
an experience I had as a teenager myself.
I used to take part in the 40 Hour Famine
events which the World Vision foundation
runs in schools across Australia. From 8pm
on a certain Friday, we would fast for forty
hours and consume nothing but water or
barley sugar, and ask people to sponsor us
and raise money to fight global hunger.
Sometimes they would organise a sleep-out
and young people from all around Sydney
would camp out in Hyde Park to spend
those forty hours together, ending with a big
brunch on Sunday noon.
It was only years later that I looked back
and realised what an incredibly effective,
fun and challenging way it was to get the
message across:
1. It made us grow in awareness. I was
hungry, but knew that there was a lovely
hot breakfast waiting at hour-40. For
many people, there was no “hour-40”.
2. It provoked an actual change of life style.
I appreciated food that much more and
not take it for granted; it also stopped
me from making a big drama if dinner
were an hour at late at home.
3. It made a difference in the lives of
others. I may not have ended world
hunger, but I contributed to making one
(or two, or three?) person’s life better.
It amazes me how something as small as
forty hours of no food could shape so much
of how I lived the rest of my life.
TIME OF GRACE
Lent is here. All forty days of it. Sometimes
we see it as being that ‘miserable time of the
year’ where we are deprived of even the
simple joys of life and wonder – ‘what’s the
point of giving up chocolate? I’m going to
just binge on it at Easter and the rest of the
year anyway!’ Yet, how different it would be
when we realise that God desires for us to
live Lent as a ‘grace moment’ instead: an
opportunity for real life transformations, in
small or big ways.
Recently someone shared one of those ‘Lent
induced transformation’ stories with me.
Last year, she decided to try something
different and give up complaining – it was a
difficult promise to keep, as she quickly
realised how she actually complained more
often than she thought. Nonetheless, she
stuck to it, and had since joyfully continued
this new habit and become a better person
(those around her greatly benefited too!)
Dare I ask (nay, challenge!) each one of us,
myself included, to think seriously about
what we’re giving up or taking on? Can we
do something that can help us be a better
person and be happier (instead of
miserable) with ourselves as a result – and
make others’ lives better too?
It’s never too late to start, even if we’ve
missed out on the first four days of it. Let us
walk with the Spirit through this wilderness.
Have a blessed Lent season! Sr. Devy
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
IN LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTIONS
CATECHETICAL PROGRAMMES 2019
For any enquiries, please contact Sr. Devy
on 07455 544 065 or the Parish Office.
SUNDAY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Next session: Sun, 17th March at 10am
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 27th April at 10am
Mass at 11am on Sun. 28th April
FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAMME
Sacrament of First Reconciliation:
Fri, 15th March, 3:40pm-4:40pm
Celebration: Sat, 16th March at 12pm
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Next session: Confirmation Retreat
Sat, 23rd March, 10:30am – 5:00pm
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR
ADULTS (RCIA)
Next session: Sat, 16th March at 4pm
BAPTISM FOR INFANTS
If you would like to have your child baptised
on the 11th May or later, the next session
will be on Monday, 6th May at 7.30pm
in the Parish Hall.
Please contact the Parish Office or Sr. Devy
to book your place on the course.
PARISH OUTREACH
SANDWICH MAKING (PREPARATION):
in the Parish hall on Friday 15th after Mass.
Next SOUP RUN: Group B
at 4.30pm on Sat, 16th March 2019
FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT – THANK YOU!
We thank all our Confirmation
Candidates who hosted the FairTrade “BIG
BREW” last Sunday and all parishioners
who contributed to event. Special thanks to
Isobel who donated FairTrade items for the
hampers. We raised £1,002.42 – well done!
All the proceeds from this event will go
towards obtaining a memorial bench at
Downhills Park for Chloe Quiliec.
We pray for the repose of the soul of:
JOHN DANAHER, RIP
[husband of Christina Danaher]
His Funeral Mass will take place on
Wednesday 13th March at 10am
here at St John Vianney, followed by
cremation at Enfield Crematorium.
LENTEN
ACTIVITIES
STATIONS
OF THE CROSS
Fridays at 7.30pm
GUIDED PRAYER
Opening Meeting: Sun, 10th March
at 12:30pm in the Hume Hall.
Meetings with individual guide on Fridays,
15th, 22nd, 29th March and 5th April.
Leaflet with further details at the back of the
church, along with the sign-up sheet.
PASSOVER MEAL
Wednesday 10th April at 7:00pm in the
Parish Hall. Tickets are available from
Mariantha and Germaine.
NEXT FILM NIGHT
This Sunday 10th March at 5pm,
showing "The man in the white suit",
about a man who invents a fabric that will
never wear out. £3 donation appreciated.
 PRAYER SPONSOR
We invite you to take a name card from the
front of the church and pray for one of the
candidates preparing for First Communion,
Reconciliation, or Confirmation during Lent.
Your support is much appreciated!
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, 12th March (7:30pm)
or Wed, 13th March (11:00am)
CAFOD LENT FAST DAY
Fast on Friday 15th March
and give what you can in the retiring
collection on Sunday 16th/17th March.
This Lent, your generosity will give vital
support to the communities we work with
around the world. Please pick up a Fast Day
envelope at church today.
ST PATRICK’S CELEBRATION
Join us in our St Patrick’s celebration with
Traditional Bacon & Cabbage
Dinner/Social
on Sunday 17th March
from 5:00pm to 9.00pm.
Ticket – £10 per Adult; £5 child (primary
school to age 10); pre-school/baby – free
Tickets available at the back of the church.
Come and join the
Alpha course on
Mondays, 7:15pm
starting from
18th March.
The cooks are already planning our meals
which we will share in the hall before the
video talks! This will be followed by group
discussions on our beliefs.
Everyone is welcome – you don’t have to be
part of the Parish – so pass the word!
You can sign up on the form at the back
of the Church or contact
Phil and Joe Di Leo on 0208 889 4979
or email pndileo@btinternet.com.
WALKING PILGRIMAGE TO
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
The next meeting for those who will be
going on this pilgrimage will be held on
Sunday, 24th March at 10am in the
meeting room 6 upstairs in the hall.
SOUP – SOLE FOOD – SOUL FOOD
ST JOHN VIANNEY LIVE SIMPLY GROUP
Invite you to share a Simple Soup Lunch on
Sunday 24th March after the 11am Mass;
Suggested donation: minimum £2/person.
Supporting CAFOD and in solidarity with the
poor who have so little to eat.
THANK GOD ON FRIDAY!
Friday, 5th April, 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!
CARDINAL’S LENTEN APPEAL 2019
The Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal funds initiatives
in parishes, schools and charities in the three
mission areas of: Marriage and Family Life,
Youth and Evangelisation and Church’s
Service in Society, This year, the Cardinal is
asking us to think about the last of these in
particular, and he has launched a new
programme focusing on the food poverty that
affects so many across the Diocese. Much of this
poverty remains hidden. Many use foodbanks
even though there is a wage earner in the
family. Please take a donation leaflet as you
leave Mass today. In addition, to find out about
volunteering opportunities, visit
CardinalsLentenAppeal.org.uk.
ST. JOHN VIANNEY NURSERY APPLICATIONS
SEPTEMBER 2019
If your child was born between
1 September 2015 and 31st August 2016 and
st
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
 MASS & SERVICE TIMES
THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR
Monday 9:15am
Tuesday 9:15am The repose of the soul:
Wednesday 10:00am [funeral for the late John Danaher
John Danaher, RIP] Matthew Stapleton
Thursday 9:15am Delia Kavanagh
Mary Fitzgerald
Friday 9:15am Jerry Russell
Saturday 9:15am Rose Marie Köppel
[6pm – Sunday Vigil Mass] RIP
Sunday 9:00am and 11:00am RIP Anniversary
Demetria Dela Cruz Hoggan
Desmond R Van Gramberg
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Saturday 9:45am – 10:15am
Special Intentions:

ADORATION Ava Maria Ubaka

OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Christina Danaher
Maria Oliveira
Tuesdays after 9:15am Mass Mavis Todd
First Friday of the month at 7:30pm Michael James
First Sunday of the month after 11am Mass Mr & Mrs Joey Gonito
Nigel & Nikita
ROSARY Sisters Syra, Agnes, Anita
The Rowley Family
Weekdays at 8:45am (before mass)
First Saturday of the month at 3:00pm

MORNING TEAS /COFFEE
(in the Parish Hall)
Sundays, after 9am and 11am Masses
and Thursdays, after the 9:15am Mass
And for the sick and those in our parish
NAMES NOT LISTED ABOVE
ARE LISTED IN OUR BOOK OF INTENTIONS.

NEXT SUNDAY: 2nd SUNDAY IN LENT

1st Reading: Deuteronomy 26: 4-10
Psalm: Psalm 90: 1-2, 10-15 PARISH OFFICE HOURS
2nd Reading: Romans 10: 8-13
Tues. to Fri. 10am-12noon, 1pm-4pm
Gospel: Luke 4: 1-13
To make an appointment
Phone: 0208 888 5518 or
PARISH TEAM email westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
Fr. Joe Ryan, Parish Priest
Sr. Devy Pranadjaja, Parish Sister We cannot guarantee to have anyone available
Germaine Ng Ying, Parish Admin/Secretary outside of these hours.