Twenty Ninth Sunday Ordinary Time Year A

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Re-framing the question. Dear parishioners and friends,           A Dominican and a Jesuit were chain smokers. Both were eager to be allowed to smoke while performing their devotions, but needed to gain permission from a higher authority. ‘I tried asking the Prior, but he was dead against it’, said the Dominican. ‘What did you ask, precisely?’ enquired the Jesuit. ‘Well, I asked him whether it was acceptable to smoke while I was praying.’ ‘Wrong question,’ replied the Jesuit. ‘I asked my superior whether I could pray while I was smoking. Permission granted.’ Re-framing the question, or as it’s known in psychology, the framing effect, is the well attested phenomenon, whereby the way information is presented has a potent and ineluctable effect on how we respond to it.           Jesus seems to re-frame the question of whether to pay taxes or not, and avoid the obvious pitfalls of being labelled a traitor to Rome or to God. Jesus does this, not by laying down rules or regulations but timeless principles. In this case, the principle of ‘rendering unto God the things of God’ serves as a reminder that we are citizens of earth and heaven. That we have a duty to ‘Caesar’ in return for the privileges which ‘Caesar’s’ rule brings us. Yet, there are also matters of religion and of principle in which the responsibility of the Christian is to God.             Pope Francis is masterful at re-framing questions, for example, recently some Cardinal’s requested clarification on the Church’s teachings on revelation, blessings for same-sex unions, the Synod and forgiveness. The Holy Father deftly replied to each one, with clarity and in some cases re-framing the question, with his characteristic emphasis on pastoral charity. Fr Francis World Mission Sunday This Sunday is World Mission Sunday, when the Holy Father invites all   Catholics to contribute to a special collection for Missio, his charity for world mission. Please support Missio in helping missionaries to work alongside communities throughout the world that are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief. Visit Missio’s website: mission.org.uk Ecumenical Evening Service Join us this evening Sunday 22nd October 7-8pm in Our Lady of Victories for an ecumenical evening service to pray for the Peoples of the Holy Land. They need our prayers and support. 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 We keep in our prayers the Holy Family Catholic Parish Gaza Fr Gabriel Romanelli is parish priest of Holy Family Parish in Gaza. Fr Gabriel is stuck in Bethlehem as he travelled there the day before the conflict started to collect medical supplies for parishioners and he’s not been able to get back to his parish. He gave me the following update.                                                                          ‘The current population of Christians living in Gaza is 1017 of which 135 are Roman Catholic. The RC Latin parish has a compound consisting of the church, presbytery, parish hall, Convent of the Incarnate Word and the Missionary of Charity (Mother Teresa’s Sisters) Convent. The Sisters of Mother Teresa look after an orphanage with 54 children and a Residential Home for the Elderly. Outside the compound we have two schools, one LPJ school and the other looked after by the Rosary Sisters.            None of the Christian community have decided to leave the area and travel south to the Rafah Crossing, where the Israeli Defence Force has told people to go. Currently, the Latin Church buildings are sheltering approximately 500 people and the Church is providing food and somewhere to stay. They have decided not to go to Rafah because they believe it will be more dangerous and they want to “stay close to Jesus” in the church!            Bombing is very close and they constantly hear loud explosions outside the parish compound but they are determined to stay together. None of the buildings within the parish compound have been damaged but the Anglican Church Hospital was very badly bombed a few days ago’. We keep them in or prayers. 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]