Parish of Our Lady & St Vincent, Potters Bar
29th August 2021, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
It’s what’s inside that counts
Frequently washing our hands, using sanitiser and good ventilation are all healthy routines for more than just coronavirus. In the same way the washing of food, hands and crockery mentioned in today’s Gospel sounds very hygienic, but this was also done to make things pure in the eyes of the Jewish Law. Food was sprinkled because it may have been harvested on the Sabbath, which was forbidden. You washed your hands because you may have been in contact with a Pagan. The washing of dishes was a question of legal purity.
By emphasising these rituals and customs the Pharisees upheld a notion of religious purity and made their culture distinct from other ‘impure’ cultures. The pharisees also introduced all kinds of discriminatory customs and regulations to reinforce the hierarchy of their own society.
Jesus opposed all this. He preached a kingdom of love, welcome and inclusivity. He put this into action by associating with people normally ostracised by society such as lepers and tax collectors. He also gave a different meaning to the term ‘purity.’
Jesus teaches that ‘purity’ is about what goes on inside a person’s heart: it is about what happens in their inner selves, their attitudes; what theologians term their ‘fundamental option. As everybody has a heart and an inner self, purity is something given to all people, not simply to one ethnic or social group. He then adds that a list of things that makes a person impure: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit and so on. ‘All these evil things,’ he said, ‘come from within and make a person unclean.’
The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus but he evaded that and also took the opportunity to break through the religious code that they used to put divisions between people. He deconstructed the old ritual laws and defined ‘purity’ in a new and inclusive way. Let us pray to God that we might see the good in all people and encourage that good, both in them and in ourselves. Let us also ask to be cleansed of any attitudes we may have that discriminate against others because of who they are or where they come from. That, after all, is the fullness of what we pray when we pray ‘thy kingdom come.’
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 Mon, Tues & Fri 10am – 12noon but emails are checked daily
To speak to a priest in an emergency ring 07854 866860
COLLECTIONS
15th August Envelopes £302 Loose £318
22nd August Envelopes £304 Loose £275
Donation for next phase of garden £3,000 Thank you very much.
Collections are counted a week after they are taken.
CAFOD – DONATE TO THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE APPEAL
CAFOD has been working in Haiti for some years through trusted local partners. They are well placed to support the earthquake relief effort. Please donate so local experts can help provide emergency food, water and shelter to those most affected. There will be a second collection after all Masses this weekend, or you can donate online: www.cafod.org.uk
There are some books on the table in the narthex. Please take any that you would like and leave a donation for CAFOD.
ECUMENICAL PRAYERS
Christians in Potters Bar gather for prayer with breakfast on the first Saturday of each month at 8.30am. The next prayer is on Saturday 4th September at St John’s Methodist Church, Baker Street at 8.30am. All are very welcome.
WELCOME
Next weekend we welcome Dale Cutlan, a seminarian for Cardiff Diocese, who is studying at Allen Hall. Dale will be working in the parish for the academic year. He will spend Wednesdays in the school and Friday will be his rest day.
EILEEN GEOGHEGAN RIP
Eileen died last summer and so the number able to attend her funeral was limited due to COVID precautions.
There is a memorial Mass at 12.30pm today – all parishioners are welcome.
SCAFFOLDING
The scaffolding is to allow repair of the leaking roof windows. Thank you again for the £5,200 donations earlier this year which has paid for the scaffolding.
TEA & COFFEE AFTER MASS
It is good to be able to gather again after Sunday Mass. Thank you to those who have volunteered to help with this. We need more volunteers. All you need to bring is milk – everything else is provided.
GARDENING TEAM
Thank you to the volunteers who have worked so hard to clear all the weeds from around the car park, getting the church grounds looking so good. We need more volunteers to help keep on top of this. All the equipment is provided and you can work at times to suit you. Please contact the parish office if you can help – no matter how little time you can spare.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION THANKSGIVING MASS
There will be a Thanksgiving Mass at 11am on Saturday 11th September to celebrate all the children who recently made their First Holy Communion in May this year, the Mass will be followed by a celebration in the hall. All parents should have received a text and email, please make sure you respond to Francesca Khaliq by 2nd September at the latest, many thanks.
OCTOBER MASS INTENTIONS
Masses for October can be booked in person, by phone or email on Tuesday 7th September from 10.30am.
COVID PRECAUTIONS
Following guidance from the diocese we politely ask that you
• Use the test and trace app or sign in for each service
• Sanitise your hands
• Wear a face covering to help others who are vulnerable or anxious
• Do not attend church if you have COVID symptoms.
We are now permitted to sing and so we will gradually start reintroducing music with words being on the screen above the doors as we can’t share hymnbooks yet.
BAPTISM PREPARATION
Babies are normally baptized in the first few months of life but COVID has delayed this for some. The Church requires parents to attend Baptism Preparation. The next course:
Tuesday 28th September
from 7.30 – 9pm on Zoom.
And Sunday 3rd October after 9am Mass in the hall.
If you have a baby for baptism, or if you are pregnant, please register with the Parish Office today for the course.
COME AND SEE
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a journey in Faith for those who want to know more of the Catholic Church or wish to become a Catholic. For further information, please contact Francesca Khaliq, Fr Shaun or Deacon Don. Meetings will start in September at a time to suit you. Who can you ask?
FIRST RECONCILIATION/HOLY COMMUNION & CONFIRMATION COURSES
Forms should have been handed in and those who have applied should have received a confirmation email.
ALTAR SERVERS
A meeting for anyone interested in becoming an altar server has been arranged for Saturday 11 September 2021 from 3.45 to 4.45pm. The aim is to introduce new servers on how to serve mass. There will be a follow-on training session on the following Saturday 18 September, from 3.45 to 4.45pm. Please come along and see how you can help in the celebration of the mass.
LITTLE LAMBS – URGENT
This ‘stay and play’ group for parents and toddlers will recommence meeting on Thursdays at 9.30 – 11.30am in the hall. If it is to reopen we need volunteers for the support team to set out toys, make tea and sanitise toys at the end. Please contact the office to find out more if you think you can help.
PARISH PATRONAL FESTIVAL
We will celebrate the Feast of St Vincent de Paul over the weekend of 25/26 September. 6pm Mass on Saturday 25th will be led by Pope Paul School and Sr Ellen Flynn, Leader of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, will be blessing the Louise de Marillac Room (helped by the children). After that there will be a reception with drinks and finger food.
There will be celebrations after 9am and 11am Mass as well – breakfast after 9am and Bring-and-share finger food and drink after 11am.
We need volunteers to organize the refreshments. Please sign-up on the list in the narthex if you can help.
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING 17th SEPTEMBER
There will be a Coffee morning in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support at 10.30am (after 10am Mass) on Friday 17th September. We will need all your support and donations of cakes and raffle prizes will be greatly appreciated. Please bring along raffle prizes to the Parish Office and if you are able to help with baking cakes, or you can help on the morning, then please contact Francesca Khaliq. Many thanks.
HOLY COMMUNION TO SICK AND HOUSEBOUND PARISHIONERS
We are able to resume the very important ministry of taking Holy Communion to sick and housebound parishioners. If you or a member of your family would like us to visit your home please contact the office or speak to Fr. Shaun or Deacon Don. Please be assured that we will be following all the guidelines issued by the government and the diocese.
CHURCH CLEANING
Team A, Wednesday 1st September 10.30am (first Wednesday of the month) Ann McGorman, Bernadette Page, Margaret Clancy, Mary Kennedy.
Can you help? Contact the parish office if you can.
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Please remember in your prayers
The sick, their, including: 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, Bernard Keown, Ann O’Neill, Jason Mosely, Robert Chambers, Abbey Cummings, Kathleen Gershlick, Anne Conlon, Kathy Lavelle, Vincent, Lee & Abigail Clark.
Recently dead: Ellen Stachowiak, Tamara Parrott, Daniel Sardison, Harry Neale and for all those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Davina Rappai, Kate Ringham, Thomas Doheny, Sorcha Devlin, Des Cole.
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY
5th September, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Isaiah 35: 4-7
James 2:1-5
Mark 7:31-37
Newsletter deadline – Tuesday 9.30am
TIMES OF MASS & OTHER LITURGIES
Sunday 29th August, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
6pm (Vigil) Davina Rappai RIP (Anniversary)
9am People of the Parish
11am Sean, Catherine, Suzane & Tom Burke RIP & Theresa Quirke RIP
12.30pm Memorial Mass for Eileen Geoghegan RIP
Monday 30th August 10am Mass Michael Tzouvanni RIP (Anniversary)
Tuesday 31st August 10am Mass Intentions of Martin King
Wednesday 1st September 10am Mass Bridie McGuhern RIP
Thursday 2nd September No Mass
Friday 3rd September 10am Mass Kate Ringham RIP (Anniversary)
Saturday 4th September
2pm Baptism, Georgiou Emilio
5.15 – 5.45pm Sacrament of Reconciliation
6pm (Vigil) People of the Parish
Sunday 5th September, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
9am Connor Devine RIP
11am Geoff Hurst RIP
