5th Sunday of Lent

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5th Sunday of Lent Letting go Dear parishioners, dear friends:   Our Lenten journey is nearing its end. Next week we enter into Passion (Palm) Sunday and Holy Week. Are you any the better for your Lent? For me the answer is Yes and No. Yes I have found the time to read a little more and made space to reflect.  No, my rhythm of prayer is still uneven. But then do I give prayer the priority it deserves in my life.   It’s been a year since we went into our first lock down. I wonder what have you learnt from this experience.  We have all certainly experienced loss, whether it be a person, a moment of celebration or a cherished hope. The loss is real. From the moment we are born loss is part of our lives. The experience of loss plays a profoundly important part in forming who we are. Jesus teaches today unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains a single grain, but if it dies it yields a rich harvest. (John 12:20-33) Loss is not just about the experience of death. Our varied experiences of leaving and being left: of letting go and moving on, of relinquishing our false dreams.  All these ‘little deaths’ leave their mark in us. Throughout our lives we are faced with a whole series of necessary losses.   It seems that through loss we learn to change, adapt and make new gains. In truth it’s a painful process. For many it is too hard to bear.  For Jesus in the gospel today, the hour has come to let go. To let go in love for us.  His leaving is not a passive act. Nor is Jesus filled with resentment. Though he does know fear.  There is however a question posed by his action to each one of us. Will we his followers understand. Will we be changed? His loss becomes the ground of our Hope.   We have all be changed by this pandemic, by what has been described as our ‘Long Lent’.  What have I learnt from loss, from suffering, my own or someone else’s?  What are my real fears? Can I entrust them to God? or another person. This is the hour of decision. A grain of wheat has to die, if it is to bear fruit. A single grain of wheat can produce as many as seventy grains. The grain who is Christ has fallen into the earth, he has risen, he is the tree of life, laden with new fruit, full of promise.   Mgr Jim For news and prayer list for the sick and our deceased go to the notice board section of our website.    Mass times from Palm Sunday, March 28th: Saturday Vigil 6.00pm Palm Sunday Saturday 6.00pm  Sunday: 9.00 am, 10.30 am & 12.00 noon Confessions Saturday 27th March 11.00 to 12 noon 5.00 to 6.00 pm Mass times for Holy Week and Easter: Maundy (Holy) Thursday Mass of the Lord's supper 7.00pm No watching at the Altar of repose. Good Friday: Stations of the Cross 11.00am Solemn Celebration of the Passion of the Lord 3.00pm Stations of the Cross with solemn music 6.30pm Please, book for one event only on Good Friday Holy Saturday Easter Vigil 8.00pm Confessions 11.00 to 12.00 noon Easter Sunday  Mass at 9.00am, 10.30am and 12.00noon. In order to comply with the Covid regulations and social distancing you will need to book your place online.    Station of the cross You can now follow the stations of the cross from our website.  Stations of the cross The Year of St Joseph ‘Pope Francis has declared a year dedicated to St Joseph, from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021. He says: “Each of us can discover in Joseph - the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence - an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble" (Patris Corde - With a Father's Love - Pope Francis). Let's do that. Let's ask St Joseph to keep a watchful eye on this family of the Church, to intercede on our behalf’. – Cardinal Vincent Nichols https://rcdow.org.uk/faith/news/st-joseph/ Download Novena of St Joseph Lenten Alms During Lent we will be supporting the Cardinal's Lenten Appeal.  Leaflets and envelopes are at the back of the Church. This Lent, please support the Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal and help provide food for children and families in our communities who are facing hunger. You could also support work to help our brothers and sisters come through the global pandemic stronger and better able to cope. You can make your donations using the link bellow: The Cardinal's Lenten Appeal - Diocese of Westminster (rcdow.org.uk) CAFOD Could you walk for water as a personal Lenten Challenge.  By Walking 10.000 steps a day, every day, for 40 days?  Find out more at cafod.org.uk/walk also  Donate to CAFOD Our ecumenical Lent Course With the Kensington Council of Churches & Churches together in Notting Hill.    Wednesday evenings in Lent, from 24 February to 24 March at 7.30pm.  All five sessions will be hosted by and with speakers from: Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org If you wish yo attend the course please ask the parish office for the Zoom link: [email protected] Even if you have already decided to participate in another Lent Course (there are many on offer) please consider joining with other Christians in RBKC (including KCC and CTiNH) for one hour, each Wednesday this Lent.   See all details bellow on the attached poster.   A useful link for prayer and reflection if you are feeling weary and anxious Alone Together The Bible Timeline Course Starts: Wed 7th April 2021 at 7.00pm (for 8 consecutive Wednesdays)  The Bible Timeline Study System, was developed by Jeff Cavins. It divides the whole Bible into 12 colour-coded Periods, easy to understand and memorise. In the course, Mauro will walk you through each of the 12 Periods. This way, you will clearly see how the many characters and events in Scripture are related to each other in one unified narrative, from Adam & Eve to Jesus Christ.  You will grasp the Big Picture of the Bible from start to finish, the Old and New Testament, ...for life! To Register click here Our Lady of Victories 16 Abingdon Road London W8 6AF 020 7937 4778  [email protected]