Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

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The Policing of Prayer Police arrested Adam Smith Connor in November 2022 because he had his head bowed and hands clasped near to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service clinic in Ophir Road, Bournemouth. He had been praying silently in his head for his unborn son who died some 20 years ago and when asked to move on, he refused.   He was arrested within the newly introduced ‘safe zone’ around the clinic. These were introduced in October 2022, became law on 31st October 2024, and ban any activity in favour or against their services, including protests, harassment, and vigils.   Smith-Connor was found guilty, three weeks ago and was handed a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay more than £9,000 legal costs.   Mr Smith-Connor said outside of court: “Today, the court has decided that certain thoughts – silent thoughts – can be illegal in the United Kingdom. That cannot be right. All I did was pray to God, in the privacy of my own mind – and yet I stand convicted as a criminal?’    I highlight this case because it breaks new ground that we should be aware of. Smith-Connor now has a criminal record – not for doing something bad, but simply for thinking the wrong thoughts, in the wrong place. Fr Francis Please pray for those who are sick: Duncan Taylor, Canice Carson, Laetitia Smith, James Langan, Theresa Chee and Pamela Faber.   Please pray for those who are recently deceased:  Tommy Freeman, Michael Marjoram, Iris Emma Howard.   Pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time:  Margaret Scott, Adam Bagalski, Niccolo Torrigiani, Gianfranca Savoia. Congratulations To Haley and Eamonn who were married on 26th October by Bishop James Curry. Earlier this year they undertook our parish marriage preparation course. May they be blessed with all the graces and joys of married life. Assisted Dying: News and Updates (01/11/24)  Anscombe Bioethics Centre: resources, including:  Writing or Speaking to your Member of Parliament Eight Reasons Why We Must Not Legalise ‘Assisted Dying’ Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: A Guide to the Evidence Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Papers Videos on Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide https://bioethics.org.uk/educational-resources/resources-on-eas/ Event: Panel Discussion: Is the assisted suicide bill about compassion, giving choice and dignity? Sunday, 24 November 2024, 3-5pm  Farm Street Church, 114 Mount Street, W1K 3AH   Come and hear from experts in the field who have serious concerns about a possible change in the law: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thomson DBE DL: Multi gold medal winning Paralympic athlete and advocate for disability rights Dr Matthew Doré: Consultant Palliative Care Physician Professor Julian Hughes: Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist Professor David Jones: Professor of Bioethics   Panel Discussion including Questions and Answers. Livestreaming available by visiting www.farmstreet.org.uk/livestream Octave of All Saints (ends 8th November) There’s still time to visit a cemetery, to obtain an indulgence which can be applied to deceased loved ones, more information here.   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. The November dead list envelopes will also be available for Masses to be offered during November for the faithful departed. Meray Jacoub Meray received her First Holy Communion in our parish in May this year. She became sick during the time of the course and has since been regularly in hospital. Meray is on dialysis often for several hours a day and is ultimately in need of a kidney transplant. We ask firstly for your prayers for Meray and her family who are very worried at this time. We also ask you to consider how you might be able to assist Meray, with a renal (kidney) transplant, or some other supports, cards, letters etc. More information can be provided by contacting the Parish Office. Sacrament of Confirmation 2024 Sacramental preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation begins in January 2024, for those in Year 9 or above. Candidates can collect a registration form from Fr Francis after any Sunday Mass. BEWARE - SCAM EMAILS! Do not open any email ending “gmail.com” claiming to be from one of the priests of the parish, it will almost certainly be a scam! Genuine clergy emails always end with “rcdow.org.uk” - spread the word!  Parish Readers’ morning on the new translation of the Lectionary Saturday 16th November 2024 - 11am  to 1pm Anyone wishing to become a parish reader also welcome to attend. Please contact Fr Francis for more information. Catholic Children’s Society Christmas Gift Appeal The Catholic Children’s Society is appealing for Christmas Gifts for local children and families facing a Christmas without presents, food or basic essentials. Note: Only brand new gifts and we are not able to collect gifts. Please bring your gifts to the parish office before Sunday 24 November 2024. Please see poster here for more details or visit www.cathchild.org.uk Schola Cantorum of Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School Faure Requiem marking the centenary of Faure’s death with music by Bach, Rheinberger and MacMillan. On Thursday 7 November at 7pm at Our Lady of Victories Church, Kensington High Street. Tickets £15 (£8) available at: scholacantorum.co.uk or use the link: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/DWSN  UPDATED: The Year of Jubilee 2025   Theme: Pilgrims of Hope Opening Mass for the Holy Year will take place in Westminster Cathedral on Sunday 29th December 2024 at 12 Noon. There will be opportunities to walk various pilgrimage routes including a new route within London. More details to follow. Pauline Books and Media The bookshop will be open from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Friday and Sunday.   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: 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 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 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 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 11.15am. Adoration concludes at Noon with the prayer of the Angelus. 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