This Sunday, the Church celebrates the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. It is the final 'epiphany' (following the revelations to the Shepherds, the Kings and to Simeon and Anna) where Jesus is revealed as the Messiah, the Lamb of God. It is a good day to remind ourselves of our own baptisms, when we were anointed, as Christ was, to the dignity of 'priest, prophet and king' and the Holy Spirit came upon us. It is a good day to allow ourselves to hear the voice of God say 'you are my child, my beloved; my favour rests on you'. And it is a good day for us, as a parish, to give thanks for all the children, and adults, baptised in our church in this past year. RECENTLY DECEASED
Please remember in your prayers all our beloved departed, especially
Pope Benedict Francis Izogie Omoregie
those who died recently and those whose anniversaries occur at this time.
We continue to remember in our prayers all those who are sick and those who care for them. EPIPHANY There will be Mass at 10 am and at 7.00 pm to mark the feast-day. CAFOD CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, is looking for people join in its mission in the Westminster diocese. Could you volunteer and help us raise awareness in either parishes or schools about its work across the developing world tackling poverty and injustice? Find out more by joining a volunteer meetings in Lambeth on Saturday 21st January or Oakwood on Wed 1st February. Contact Tony at westminster@cafod.org.uk or 0208 449 6970 TODDLER GROUP The group will start to meet again from Thursday 12th, 9-11.30 am. THANKS RECEIVED
The staff at Dennis Scott Unit, Edgware Hospital, have written to thank us for the gifts received for patients there; they were purchased with the money raised from the sales of tea and coffee after the 11.30 Mass on Sundays.
The Passage wrote to thank us for the donation of £250 raised at the Christmas Carol Service.
St Stephen's, Manor Park, thank us for the donation of the car-park barrier.
The Catholic Children's Society wrote to thank us for the donation received; almost £250 to date.
I am aware that individual people will also have made private and on-line donations to these and other charities; thank you all so much for your generosity.
BAPTISM COURSE The next baptism preparation course will take place on Thursdays, 12 and 19 January. If you have a child for baptism, please contact janeyclegg1@gmail.com CHURCHES TOGETHER The Annual Service for Church Unity will be held in Trinity Church, the Broadway, on 22 January at 10.30 am.
Pope Benedict XVI AND FINALLY... Undoubtedly, a great deal will be written about the life and significance of Pope Benedict. I would just include the concluding words of his Spiritual Testament, written in 2006 (which you can find on-line); Finally, I humbly ask: Pray for me, so that the Lord, despite all my sins and insufficiencies, welcomes me into the eternal dwellings. To all those entrusted to me, day by day, my heartfelt prayer goes out. As we pray for the Pope, may we also rest confident in the hope that the Lord will, when our time comes, receive us also, as beloved children, into the company of the Saints in the eternal dwellings. With every good wish and blessing.
Rev Eugene Curran CM