Thirtieth Sunday Ordinary Time Year A

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The Stolen Child Dear parishioners and friends, Two commandments, One love. Mathew  22: 34-40 In recent days a line from the poem, “The Stolen Child” by WB Yeats (pictured above), has been repeating in my mind; “For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.” The Stolen Child is a metaphor for a child's wish to return to childhood unencumbered with the burdens of the troubles of his or her parents unresolved conflicts with each other. The poem plays on the fear in the child that 'the world's more full of weeping than you can understand’. Without being facile we ‘grown ups’ are too often forgetful of the impact our decisions  have on our children. The late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks wrote of religion and violence: “In the history of religion, people have killed in the name of the God of life, waged war in the name of the God of peace, hated in the name of the God of love and practised cruelty in the name of the God of compassion. When this happens, God speaks, sometimes in a still, small voice almost inaudible beneath the clamour of those claiming to speak on his behalf.” What he says at such times is: “Not in My Name.”   Mgr Jim REMINDER: Clocks go back one hour tonight, Saturday 29th Oct, at 2am. Sick and Retired Priests’ Fund Collection Next weekend is the annual collection for sick and retired priests in the Diocese of Westminster. Last year, the Diocese of Westminster provided care to 82 retired priests, at a cost of £850,000. The number of our priests over the age of 65 is steadily increasing, and caring for our brother priests in their senior years, or at a time of illness, is a fundamental part of the mission of our diocese. The priests in our Diocese, although retired, continue to work in our parishes and schools, visit our sick or elderly in hospices, and hospitals, and make themselves available, at our time of crisis and need. By giving to the Sick & Retired Priests’ Fund, next week, you can ensure these needs are met.  If you can, please take a donation envelope, and return it next weekend. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code, either on the envelopes or posters at the back of the church and give online. Finally, if you feel you would like to give to the SRP fund on a more regular basis, please do consider joining our Patron’s Programme. Leaflets about the Patron’s Programme are also available at the back of the Church. All Saint's Day - Wednesday 1st November The Solemnity of All Saint's is a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass will be at 10am and 6:30pm in Our Lady of Victories. World Mission Sunday Thank you very much for your donations to World Mission Sunday last week. A total of £ 948.65 was collected. To continue supporting mission throughout the year, please go to mission.org.uk or call 020 7821 9755 (office hours). Prayer vigil for peace in the Holy Land Thank you to all who attended last Sunday evening and helped read, steward and lead the vigil. A precis of Dr Hagopian’s reflection: A plea for hope is available here. It was good to see many fellow Christians from Christians together in Notting Hill and Kensington & Chelsea. Our Lady of Victories Primary School Our parish Primary school will be holding open days for prospective parents and pupils to visit. Dates to be announced. For more information call the school on: 020 7373 4491. Remembering our dead, our loved ones in November The month of November is a time when we are invited to especially remember the memory of our loved ones who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. A Vigil of Light will take place throughout the day where candles will be placed on the sanctuary bearing the name of someone you want to remember in prayer. On the morning of 2nd November (All Souls Day) the candles purchased will be placed on the Sanctuary. You are kindly requested NOT to bring your own candles, only the ones purchased which are fire safe will be placed on the Sanctuary. The November dead list envelopes will also be available for Masses to be offered during November for the faithful departed. Upper Room Leadership Programme - Aged 18-22 years old?  Westminster Youth Ministry is developing a training programme for Young Catholic Leaders. Prepare to begin a life changing journey of formation,  training, and prayer with 20 other young Catholics in the Diocese. Starting in the Upper Room and accompanied by Mary, Mother of God, we will set out together to prepare for a life of professional and spiritual leadership, to carry out the Great Commission, and ‘make disciples of all nations’ (Mt 28.19).    Join us, and experience inspiring places and talks across several locations in the Diocese, build relationships with others in small groups, access unique resources to learn and grow in practical skills for leadership and mission, and discover your unique calling to build up the Church (Eph 4:12). Be quick! Applications close on the 11th November. Visit https://youth.rcdow.org.uk/programmes/upper-room-leadership-programme/ to apply or email [email protected] for enquiries. Poster here News from the Holy Land and the Holy Family Parish In Gaza For updates, prayer resources and news from the Christian communities in Israel-Palestine and Gaza go to:  www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/Blogs/holy-land-update  and we have a prayer page to provide inspiration for prayer www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/Blogs/holy-land-conflict/reflections-and-prayers-for-peace On the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Palestine (25 October), Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa (pictured below), Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, has sent this letter to his diocese. Donations to relieve those in need can be given through Friends of The Holy Land:    Charity Number: 1202568 Website: www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk Friends of the Holy Land a Christmas Concert Helping Christians in Need Thursday 14th December 2023     7.30pm Featuring The London Welsh Male Voice Choir   Guest Soloists Margaret Keys & Anthony Stuart Lloyd at Our Lady of Victories Church  235a Kensington High Street London W8 6SA   Tickets through Eventbrite: search for FHL Christmas Concert Info at: https://www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/Event/christmas-concert-2023 Concert by CITY CHAMBER CHOIR Tuesday 31 October 2023 7pm at Our Lady of Victories. Music by 20th Century French masters, showcasing the glorious new Skrabl Grand Organ. Duruflé: Requiem | Villette: Tu es Petrus; Three motets | Poulenc: Salve Regina | Alain: Chanson à bouche fermée | Messiaen: O sacrum convivium £15.00 (£10.00 full time students only; under-12 free). Buy online from www.ticketsource.co.uk/city-chamber-choir or at the door. 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: Young Adult Group This is a group for people in their 20s and 30s and aims to build a community in the parish. More events will be coming soon. If there are any questions, please send us an email at: [email protected] or join our WhatsApp group using the QR code:  Welcome to all our Parishioners If you are new to the parish, please come and say hello and complete the new parishioner registration form which can be found on our website:  https://www.ourladyofvictories.net/parish-registrationfinancial-support.html Here you can also find further information on all our parish activities. Leaving a Legacy In the last year, the parish has received a number of legacies from parishioners who have remembered the work of the parish in their wills. Please pray for the repose of the souls of those parishioners. They will be remembered in our annual donors Mass. Please consider remembering the parish in your will. See the leaflets at the back of the Church or call 0207 798 9375 or email [email protected] Pauline Books and Media The Sisters of the Pauline run their shop in the repository at Our Lady of Victories Church from Tuesday to Friday and Sunday from 9am to1pm. The contact number is 07561456074.  OLOV LATEST NEWS GIFT AID DONATIONS:   Dear Parishioners:   We have worked with our colleagues in the Parish Support Team towards procedures for processing the Gift Aid from contactless donations through the Dona provider. When signing a Gift Aid declaration on the device, you will also be asked if you would like your previous contactless donations to be Gift Aided.  Further, as entering a Gift Aid declaration on the device can take a couple of minutes, we want to help reduce the amount of time you may spend on the device, and reduce the queue for it. Leaflets have been created and placed at the back of the church and on the notice board. These contain a QR code that will enable you to use your smartphone to make your Gift Aid declaration. You can also access the Dona portal and leave your donation by simply scanning the underneath QR code: You can also donate securely by debit or credit card by clicking on the button created at the section end.   Weekly Mass Schedule Monday to Friday - 10.00 am Saturday - 6.00 pm Sunday - 9.00 am, 10.30 am, 12.00 pm and 6.00 pm.    ALL OUR MASSES ARE LIVE-STREAMED FROM OUR WEBSITE.    Eucharistic Adoration and Confession On Wednesday's, after the 10am Mass, there is Eucharistic Adoration. This is an opportunity to spend some time in prayer before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. During that time a priest will also be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Adoration concludes at Noon with the prayer of the Angelus. Confessions are also available every Saturday from 5 pm to 5.45 pm.   Please do keep an eye on the website: www.ourladyofvictories.net which will be updated weekly.  Mgr Jim Curry & Fr Francis   Our Lady of Victories 16 Abingdon Road London W8 6AF 020 7937 4778  [email protected]