14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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The Kingdom Has Come Near To You! After all the great Solemnities of June, we resume what is known as “Ordinary Time” - mindful that God can bless us with extraordinary graces amidst the ordinary moments of each day. Twice in this Sunday’s gospel, we hear Jesus say, “The kingdom of God has come near.”   Jesus came to proclaim the kingdom of God, assuring his followers: ‘There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom’ (Lk 12:32). The Catechism of the Catholic Church states boldly (#2816): the kingdom has already come in Christ’s death and resurrection. Through baptism, we share in the royal dignity of Christ; we truly are a people of kings. Yet when we look around us, it’s often hard to see the presence of the kingdom; we all long for a better world, yearning for the day when the whole of creation will reflect the glory of the unseen God. So how can we bring about the new world all of us desire?   We can start by giving thanks for the reality of the kingdom already in our midst. Whenever we pray ‘Thy kingdom come’, we open up new dimensions in our hearts to allow God to reign. St John wrote, ‘We are quite confident that if we ask him for anything, and it is in accordance with his will, he will hear us; and, knowing that whatever we may ask he hears us, we know that we have already been granted what we asked of him’ (1 Jn 5:14-15) – an extraordinary statement, yet which only mirrors the words of Jesus himself: ‘Everything you ask and pray for, believe that you have it already, and it will be yours’ (Mk 11:24). Fr Nigel Please pray for those recently deceased:  Kitty McGovern, Alfredo Monteleagre, Camilla Mackeson, Andreaj Katinger, Fr Michael Stewart, Sr Hannah Dwyer, Diogo Jota and Andre Silva.   Please pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Fr Noel Hanrahan, Fr Mark Leenane, Antonio Mancini, Philomena Elizabeth Rossi, Rosl Philpot, Francis Cuss, Pam Hoghton and Agnes McPartlan. Congratulations To Enrique and Elizabete who were married in Genoa, Italy on 3rd June.   To Lydia, who was received in to the Church on 27th June.   To parishioner Father John Church OP, ordained a Dominican priest at Haverstock Hill on 5th July; we look forward to welcoming him for his First Mass at Our Lady of Victories this autumn.  May the Lord continue to bless your vocation and your journey of faith. Announcement It is with some sadness that we will be saying farewell to Fr Francis Thomas, Assistant Priest at Our Lady of Victories since his priestly ordination 2 years ago. He has been appointed Youth Chaplain of Westminster Diocese as well as Assistant Priest at St John Fisher, Harrow North. We'll be losing a joyful, enthusiastic and very hard-working member of the team, but we will have the opportunity to say goodbye properly to Fr Francis before he leaves. If you’d like to contribute to a farewell gift for Fr Francis, you can donate online via HSBC, Sort code 40 05 20 Account 61263714 Account name WRCDT Our Lady of Victories Thank you! Fr Nigel Comboni Fathers Mission Appeal Next weekend, 12-13th July we will be visited by the Comboni Fathers who will be making their annual appeal. Your generosity is highly appreciated. Support the Caritas Westminster Charity Shop Donation Weekend: 26th & 27th July at Our Lady of Victories please bring items over the donation weekend. Caritas Westminster is opening its first-ever charity shop - and your support can make it a success! Out Lady of Victories is taking part in the donation drive to collect good-quality, wearable and usable items that can be sold in the shop. All proceeds will go directly towards Caritas Westminster’s vital work in our parishes and Caritas Westminster Services. We are gratefully accepting: · Clean clothes, shoes, handbags, and accessories Jewellery, belts, scarves, and hats. Sea Sunday will be next weekend 12-13 July. As you know, this is the day in the Church’s year when it prays and collects funds for all those who live and work at sea. Seafarers and fishers play a vital role in all our lives, but they often work in difficult, hazardous conditions. Your parish’s support will make a big difference to seafarers and fishers in need.  For more information visit: https://stellamaris.org.uk/ Day for Catechists with Cardinal Vincent Nichols   Catechists from West London parishes are invited to a Jubilee Day for Catechists with Cardinal Vincent and the Agency for Evangelisation on Saturday 19th July (10am-4pm), theme: “Reawakening Blessed Hope”. Venue: St Gregory the Great, South Ruislip, HA4 0EG. Visit: https://rcdow.org.uk/evangelisation/jubilee-days-for-catechists-2025/. It is free to attend but please bring a packed lunch. To book a place, give your name and email address to your parish priest or parish administrator by Monday 30th June, for them to forward to the Agency for Evangelisation.  You will then receive an email from the Agency with more information.   Please note the pilgrimage to St Edmund’s College, Ware, on Saturday 12th July, has been cancelled. Apologies for any inconvenience. Married Love Project     The Married Love Project teaches the greatness of the Sacrament of Marriage and uses the catechesis of St John Paul II to implement these teachings in daily life. Three pillars: Formation, Prayer and Love. To start at Our Lady of Victories on Saturday 13th September 2025 at 3pm. More information to follow. Housebound or in Hospital? If you are housebound, even for a short period, please let the Parish Office know so arrangements can be made for a visit. If you are going into hospital and wish to see a priest, you will need to inform the staff so a visit can be arranged by the Catholic Chaplain.   Retrouvaille:- A Lifeline for Married Couples Alone or bored in your marriage? Considering separation or are already divorced? If you are open to try again – Retrouvaille could be the solution. We have helped thousands of couples get back on track. Call to find out more  www.retrouvaille.org.uk +44 797 338 0443 Pilgrimage to Paris - a Journey of Faith & History 12th-15th September 2025 - with The Tablet & McCabe Travel   Join us for a 4-day pilgrimage to the heart of Paris, where history, culture and spirituality converge. Explore sacred sites, including Notre-Dame Cathedral, with expert guides. Spiritual guide: Fr Nigel Woollen. Three nights in a four-star, art-deco hotel near Montmartre. Return Eurostar travel from London. All breakfasts, dinners & 2 lunches included. From £1,890 per person sharing, limited single rooms available. To book, call McCabe Travel: 01252 226133 quoting “The Tablet” or visit: https://www.mccabe-travel.co.uk/pilgrimages/notre-dame-de-paris/ Pauline Books and Media The bookshop will be open from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Friday and Sundays. The contact number is 07561 456074. Young Married Couples Group Are you a young married couple seeking to build friendships and desiring to connect with other young married couples? Well, a young married couples group is present in our parish. The purpose of the group is to offer support and foster friendship and connection among the many young married couples present in our parish. The ideal age range of the group is under 40. The group meets every month to socialize and foster communion and support. Among the different activities offered are meals together, trips out, games nights and social exercises. If you’re interested in attending, please email Steve and Annie Caprio at [email protected]. You can also join our Whatsapp group using the QR code below:  Welcome to all our Parishioners If you are new to the parish, please come and say hello and complete the parishioner registration form which can be found on our website:  https://www.ourladyofvictories.net/support.html Here you can also find further information on all our parish activities. Weekly Mass Schedule Saturday (vigil): 6 pm Sunday: 9 am, 10.30 am, 12 pm and 6 pm.  Monday to Friday: 10 am   All our Masses are live-streamed from our website.  Please note: the sanctuary and first five pews are livestreamed 24/7. All the celebrations of Mass are recorded. The recordings are kept securely for 28days, after which they are deleted.   Eucharistic Adoration and Confession On Wednesdays, after the 10am Mass, there is Eucharistic Adoration. This is an opportunity to spend some time in prayer before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. A priest will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 10.30 to 11.15 am. Adoration concludes with Benediction and the Angelus at Noon. Confession also available every Saturday from 5 to 5.45 pm. Parish Team: Fr Nigel Woollen (Parish Priest) Fr Francis Thomas (Assistant Priest) Rev. Paul Hewitt (Permanent Deacon)  Sr Maureen McNamara rsm (Sacramental Programmes) Mrs Rachel Mulira (Parish Secretary) Our Lady of Victories 16 Abingdon Road London W8 6AF 020 7937 4778  [email protected] Support our Parish Financially here