Parish of Our Lady & St Vincent, Potters Bar
21st March 2021, Fifth Sunday of Lent
The Tension Builds
Just before today’s Gospel Jesus has entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, something that the Old Testament predicted the Messiah would do. This was a bold challenge to the Pharisees. Many Jews who had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead also came to Jerusalem with Jesus and openly testified to this great sign – another challenge.
Now some Greeks (Gentiles) approach Jesus. In the verse before today’s passage we read The Pharisees then said to one another, ‘You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!’ Jesus is aware of the danger which all of these events are putting him in. He declares, ‘now the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’ He then uses the simple analogy of the grain of wheat which, in order to produce its harvest, must fall to earth and be used up to produce a wheat plant which will, in turn, produce many more wheat grains. He knows that he will die in order to produce his rich harvest and he trusts in his Father’s care.
How do we see our mission as grains of wheat? Are we prepared to put God’s will before our own, trusting in him, knowing that it may involve hardship? We see it and do it every day; parents who set aside their own needs for the sake of their children; those who care for a sick relative or friend; scientists working round the clock to develop vaccines; healthcare workers going the extra mile but putting themselves at risk.
Once more, over the next two weeks, Jesus will show us what it means to be a grain of wheat, sometimes denying our own wants in order to produce a rich harvest. Let us resolve to set that time aside to walk with him, whether in person or on line. He has much to teach us and we have much to offer. Only by entering fully into Holy Week can we hope to hear the call of the Father clearly rather than as rumbles of thunder! The tension builds and we have much to learn.
01707 654359 Email pottersbar@rcdow.org.uk Website www.olasv.org.uk
All services are live streamed – click on ‘live streaming’ link on website
Recording of Sunday Mass available on 01707 518202 after 10am Sunday
Parish Priest: Canon Shaun Lennard shaunlennard@rcdow.org.uk
Presbytery: 243, Mutton Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 2AT
Deacon: Rev Donal Hopkins donhopkins@rcdow.org.uk
Catechetical coordinator: Mrs. Francesca Khaliq pottersbarcat@rcdow.org.uk
Secretary: Mrs. Bernadette Saunders
Safeguarding Rep. Mike Sibley pottersbarsg@safeguardrcdow.org.uk
Parish Office open Fri 9.30am – 12.30pm but emails are checked daily
To speak to a priest in an emergency ring 07854 866860
CLOCKS GO FORWARD ONE HOUR TO B.S.T. NEXT WEEKEND
COLLECTIONS
14 Mar Envelopes £574 Loose £250
CAFOD so far £490.80
Thank you for your generosity
Planned Giving Envelopes which start in April, have been posted to those in the Planned Giving Scheme this year in order to keep the system-COVID safe. If you have not received yours please contact the office If you have any queries please email Luisa, our organiser at pottersbargac@rcdow.org.uk .
Envelope 159 we do not have your address – please contact Luisa or the office a.s.a.p.
LENT
BRITISH SUMMER TIME
Remember that the clocks go FORWARD by an hour next Saturday night.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Every Friday during Lent a family is leading Stations of the Cross at 7pm followed by Adoration until 8pm. This is a beautiful devotion and a great way of preparing for Holy Week.
MASS FOR GERARD BURGON RIP
Gerard, who died recently, was the first Headteacher of Pope Paul School and 10am Mass on Wednesday 24th will be offered for him. A representative group of children from the school will attend.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Years 5 & 6 of Pope Paul School will be broadcasting a Stations of the Cross service from Church next Thursday 25th March at 10.30am. This will be live-streamed only but there are 21 paces in the hall for those without internet access. Please sing up on the board in the narthex if you would like a seat in the hall. We are sorry that, because of COVID restrictions, people cannot be in the church.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Owing to COVID restrictions we cannot have a Penance Service this year. Instead there are extra sessions of confessions and visiting priests.
Sat 27th March 10.30 – 11.30am Fr Christophe Brunet, Parish Priest of Cockfosters, will be available for Confessions.
Sun 28th March 3 – 5pm, Fr Shaun will be available for Confessions.
Mon 29th March 10.30 – 11am Confessions (Fr Shaun)
7.30 Reflective Penance Service LIVE STREAMED ONLY
Tues 30th 6.30 – 8pm Confessions
Weds 31st 10.30 – 11.30am, Canon Robert Plourde will be visiting.
6.30 – 7.30pm Confessions (Fr Shaun)
Sat 3rd April 11am Confessions (Fr Shaun)
NATIONAL DAY OF REFLECTION
23rd March is the anniversary of the first national lockdown and all churches are observing this as a Day of Reflection with silence at 12noon and clapping at 8pm. We will have prayers at the 10am Mass.
STEWARDING AND CLEANING
If you can help please let the office have your email address and you can then give your availability each week.
OR SIGN UP NOW
HOLY WEEK SERVICES
A card is available with times of services in Holy Week. We will not be running a ticketing system. Once the church and hall are full we will not be able to admit anybody else so please come in good time.
On Good Friday there are three services. If you have young children please bring them to 11am service. Do not come if you do not have children, come to one of the other services.
Take cards for your friends & neighbours!
EASTER GARDENS
On Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th April children are invited to bring Easter Gardens, in a tray, to our garden at the back of the church. The entrance is in Mutton Lane, beneath the big red noticeboard opposite Weston Close. The garden will be open in daylight hours all through Easter Week. Please put a label with your name and age on your garden and there will be prizes for the best ones.
All are invited to come and see the gardens and to see our little garden which we hope to develop later this year into a Community Garden.
POTTERS BAR CHURCHES HOLIDAY CLUB
This is exciting! This is such an important outreach for the most vulnerable families in our community! How are you going to help? If you were not at Mass or on the live-streaming last weekend there are information sheets in the narthex. If you cannot come to church contact the office to have one sent. EVERYBODY has a part to play – reach out in love.
CHRISM MASS
This Mass, where the oils are blessed for the coming year and priests renew their vows, will be live streamed from the Cathedral on Tuesday 30th March at 12noon. https://www.churchservices.tv/westminster
RECORDING OF MASS
If you are not able to come to Mass and have no internet access you can listen to Mass on 01707 518202 after 10am on a Sunday.
LITTLE ACTS OF KINDNESS
We thank this charity for the gift bags which they have given for isolated, elderly people. If you know of somebody who might appreciate one please speak to one of the team as we have spares.
LENT ALMS
The Cardinal’s Appeal takes place each Lent and the money collected goes to the work of CARITAS and other social outreach projects in the diocese working to support food banks, trafficking-rescue, homelessness, hardship grants and many other projects. If you would like to give some of your Lent Almsgiving to this please use the envelopes provided and return them in Holy Week. The collection on Holy Thursday evening will be for this fund.
WHAT’S GOING ON VIA ZOOM?
Parishioners with internet can access these faith formation/prayer groups:
Understanding the Sunday Gospel
Tuesday 7.30 – 8.30pm
Prayer, reflection and discussion of the coming Sunday’s readings. Contact pottersbarcat@rcdow.org.uk for joining details.
Prayer Ministry Any convenient time
Trained pairs of parishioners are available to pray with you in complete confidence via Zoom or WhatsApp. Contact Fran on 07732 651388 to set up an appointment
LOVE IN ACTION
We reflect on your suggestions from Love in Action each week. Please email comments to pbalpha@rcdow.org.uk
To Campaign for people’s rights; with Avaaz, Amnesty, Antislavery International, regarding the persecution of Christians in India, exploitation of girls in the Philippines, mining and deforestation in south America to name just a few of the many injustices happening in the world
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR
Zeinab and Shiva who are preparing for Baptism & Confirmation and for Jan who is preparing to be received into the Church and confirmed at Easter.
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Please remember in your prayers
The sick, their families and all who care for them, including: Peggy Rafferty, Damien Grafton, Marsaili MacAuley, Linda Brooks, Patricia Wallington, Grant Davis, Bridie Spelzini, Frank Casali, Susan Lundrigan, Jean Rudd, Theresa Round, Joan Bonner, Antonia Cox, Margaret O’Loughlin, Jean Lowery, Jamie Giles, Mary Lindsay, Paige White, Bernadette Whelan, Christakis Christofides, Philomena O’Sullivan, Cheryl Pereira, Milena Braganza, Daniel Sardison, Bernard Keown, Janet Hill, Ann O’Neill, Ted & Mary Pearce, Jason Mosely, Robert Chambers,Tamara Parrott, Abbey Cummings, John Bannon.
The recently dead: Gerard Burgon, John Kelly, Christopher Walters & Fr Vincent Crewe.
and for all those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Timothy O’Connell, Luigi Borzoni.
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
28th March, Passion (Palm) Sunday
Is 50: 4 – 7, Philippians 2: 6 –11
Mark 15: 1 – 39
Funerals are limited to 30 people invited by the family. They can be watched on live-streaming and you are requested not to congregate in the church grounds.
TIMES OF MASS & OTHER LITURGIES
Sunday 21st March, Fifth Sunday of Lent
6pm (Sat) Hilario Pestano RIP
9am Luisa Zamparolo RIP (Anniv)
11am Luigi Borzoni RIP (Anniv)
Monday 22nd March 10am Piero Filippi RIP (Anniv)
Tuesday 23rd March 10am Anthony Wainwright RIP
Wednesday 24th March 10am Gerard Burgon RIP
Thursday 25th March 10.30am Stations of the Cross by the school
Friday 26th March 10am Janina Antoszewska RIP
7pm Stations of the Cross and Adoration
Saturday 27th March 10am Jolana Hvozdik RIP
10.30 – 11.30am Exposition & Sacrament of Reconciliation
Sunday Vigil Mass 6pm Timothy & Hannah O’Connell RIP (Anniv)
Sunday 28th March, Passion (Palm) Sunday
9am People of the Parish
11am Ellen Condon RIP (Anniv)
3 – 5pm Exposition & Sacrament of Reconciliation
*Numbers are limited to 30 for funerals. Please do not attend unless invited by the family.
