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/

16th/17th March 2019

2nd Sunday of Lent/ Feast of St Patrick

Dear Parishioners,
Today, we celebrate the second Sunday of
Lent, but how could we forget St Patrick’s
Day? The first reading from Genesis tells of
God’s promise to Abraham that he would
have many descendants. God makes a
solemn covenant with him. The ritual
mentioned indicates that the animal was cut
in half and those making the
contract/covenant walked between the two
halves, showing the fate that would befall
them if they failed to keep the covenant.
The birds of prey symbolise the forces of
evil. So when Jesus spoke of a ‘New
Covenant in his blood’, people understood
the significance and we too are part of that
new covenant.
And so on to Mount Tabor, where Peter,
James and John got a glimpse of the glory
that was hidden in Jesus. At this
transfiguration scene, Jesus speaks with
Moses and Elijah about his approaching
suffering in Jerusalem. The incident was
meant to confirm him in the course he had
taken. It was also meant to strengthen the
Apostles in their time of trial at the death of
Jesus. It’s interesting to compare this
experience on Mount Tabor with the
experience of Patrick as a shepherd – slave
on Slemism in Co. Antirm. It was there as a
young man he found God. In the loneliness
of that mountain he prayed day and night. It
was from there he escaped only to return as
a priest to convert the very people who
enslaved him. The rest is the history we
remember today on his feast day.
Back to St Peter: he wanted to stay in that
precious moment. “Lord it is good for us to
be here!” This was his reaction when he
saw the face of Jesus in his glory. It must
have been a moving experience for him. The
face of Jesus must have told a wonderful
story.
When you think of it, how we use that same
concept: “You should have seen him/her
face when I said …” In other words, our
faces tell how we are feeling. It reveals who
we are and what life has done to us! This
explains why we use the word ‘face’ in
talking about others. We talk about ‘losing
face’ and ‘saving face’; about being ‘two-
faced’ if a person is deceitful; about people
being ‘faceless’ which implies we hide
behind systems etc. Yes, we all wear
different ‘faces’ at different times. This is
the nature of life. Scripture says: “Lord, let
me see your face and I shall live”. Let us see
the face of Jesus in our neighbours and
others. Can we pray that our countenance
during Lent would be one of joy,
compassion, sincerity, rather than all the
negative ‘faces’ we can pull!
At our Deanery meeting this week, we were
discussing how we could help people to
celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation
more often. During the Stations of the Cross
each Friday in Lent there will be an
opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament. On
the last Friday in Lent we will have our
usual Penitential Service as well.
God bless. Fr. Joe
 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, 24th March at 10am
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 27th April at 10am
+ Mass at 11am on Sun, 28th April
FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAMME
Congratulations to the children who
celebrated the Sacrament of First
Reconciliation last Friday!
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Next session: Confirmation Retreat
Sat, 23rd March, 10:30am – 5:00pm
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR
ADULTS (RCIA)
Next session: Sat, 6th April 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 22nd after Mass.
Next SOUP RUN: Group C
at 4.30pm on Sat, 23rd March 2019
ST PATRICK’S CELEBRATION
Join us in our St Patrick’s celebration with
Traditional Bacon & Cabbage
Dinner/Social
this 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.
LENTEN ACTIVITIES
STATIONS
OF THE CROSS
+ SACRAMENT OF
RECONCILIATION
Fridays at 7.30pm
GUIDED PRAYER
Meetings with individual guide on
Fridays, 15th, 22nd, 29th March & 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.
The family of the late John Danaher (RIP)
would like to thank Fr. Joe for the lovely
funeral Mass he celebrated and the people
of the parish of St. John Vianney for their
Mass cards and prayers at this sad time.
Mass will be offered for their intentions.
CAFOD LENT FAST DAY
The Fast was last Friday, 15th March
Please 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
and give generously today.
 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.
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, 19th March (7:30pm)
or Wed, 20th March (10:00am)
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 the 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.
Donation Leaflets will be available later. 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
CARE4CALAIS APPEAL
The French police have cleared the
migrant/refugee camps in Calais; they
destroyed tents, sleeping bags and clothing.
Care4calais have put out an emergency appeal
for tents, sleeping bags and joggers,
also back-backs.
We would like to follow up this appeal as soon
as possible.
THE PASSAGE IS RAISING FUNDS
THROUGH THE BIG GIVE
From 12 noon Tues 19th March – 12 noon
Tues 26th March to support its work with
homeless people moving from Street to
Home. For more information ring Andrew
Hollingsworth 020 75921856
andrew.h@passage.org.uk Donate at
www.thebiggive.org.uk/thepassage2019
 MASS & SERVICE TIMES
THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR
Monday 9:15am
The repose of the soul:
Tuesday 9:15am John Danaher
Wednesday 9:15am Amanda Koh Ngai Hun
Thursday 9:15am Matthew Stapleton
Nora Connolly
Friday 9:15am Tom Maybin
7:30pm [Stations of the Cross and Mary & Pat Moran
Sacrament of Reconciliation] Andrew & Marie McLoughlin
Saturday 9:15am RIP
[6pm – Sunday Vigil Mass] RIP Anniversary
Sunday 9:00am and 11:00am Seamus Galvin
Adelle Gavin
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Special Intentions:
Friday 7:30pm – 8:00pm
The Maybin Family
Saturday 9:45am – 10:15am
Bridie Mullahy
Mary O’Connor
ADORATION
Patrick McLoughlin
OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Ava Maria Ubaka
Tuesdays after 9:15am Mass Christina Danaher
First Friday of the month at 7:30pm Maria Oliveira
First Sunday of the month after 11am Mass Mavis Todd
Michael James
ROSARY Mr & Mrs Joey Gonito
Sisters Syra, Agnes, Anita
Weekdays at 8:45am (before mass)
First Saturday of the month at 3:00pm
And for the sick and those in our parish
MORNING TEAS /COFFEE
(in the Parish Hall)
Birthday
Sundays, after 9am and 11am Masses Patrick Nyland [Remembrance]
and Thursdays, after the 9:15am Mass Christine Ng Ying [Remembrance]
NAMES NOT LISTED ABOVE
ARE LISTED IN OUR BOOK OF INTENTIONS.
NEXT SUNDAY: 3rd SUNDAY IN LENT
1st Reading: Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15
Psalm: Psalm 102: 1-4, 6-8, 11 PARISH OFFICE HOURS
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-6, 10-12
Tues. to Fri. 10am-12noon, 1pm-4pm
Gospel: Luke 13:1-9
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.