5th September 2021, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

SEASON OF CREATION: CLIMATE SUNDAY

The Season of Creation runs from 1st September until the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on 4th October.  This season had a particular importance this year as we prepare for the COP26, UN summit of world leaders in Glasgow on 31st October.  It is so important that Pope Francis is going to attend and many young people are engaging in action and lobbying in preparation for the conference – we should all be engaging.

Today is Climate Sunday, an ecumenical initiative, to raise awareness of the serious situation we are in and to pray about it.  We give thanks to God for the richness of creation and has for his guidance so that we may cherish all that he has given us – and that includes his people, our brothers and sisters.

It is fitting that we will be launching the projects that we, as a parish, have chosen following the Love in Action programme last year.  They are detailed in the enclosed flyer and there is also a notice about the first of these, the Eco church award, inside the newsletter.

The following reflection was written after the 2018 UN climate meeting in Poland. It presents the concerns of the Church for creation and is taken from The Ecologist’s Breviary.

‘The sacrament of the Eucharist, holy Mass, is at the very centre of our Christian life. It gives us a unique opportunity to establish deep communion with God and with all material reality. It is a unique place of encounter of the Divine and the earthly. Here, we give thanks for all that is good in us and around us. Here, we express our love for the Creator and Lord of the Universe and for the great works that he unceasingly accomplishes. Here, we ask that our thoughts, our hearts, and our senses be renewed so that we can see our neighbour and nature as God does. Here, at last, we ask forgiveness for the evil and sin that destroy the divine harmony of the world.

(Adapted by CAFOD from ‘The Ecologist’s Breviary’ by Zdzislaw Kijas OFM Conv, Katowice 2018.)

See www.cafod.org.uk/news for more ideas and information

 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

29th August Envelopes £337 Loose £301

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. Last weekend £980 was given and the collection remains open for another week. Please donate so local experts can help provide emergency food, water and shelter to those most affected.  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. Today is the last chance!

WELCOME

This 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.

MASS TIMES THIS WEEK

Please note that there is no Mass on Wednesday but there is Mass on Thursday instead. 

Mass on Friday is at 9.30am and we will be joined by Pope Paul School Year 6 pupils.

HOLIDAY CLUB THANK YOU

All those who helped with the Holiday Club are reminded of the thank you tea party this afternoon (Sunday) at King Charles the Martyr Vicarage (behind the church) at 4pm.

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. Please sign up.

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.

OCTOBER MASS INTENTIONS

Masses for October can be booked in person, by phone or email on Tuesday 7th September from 10.30am.

FRHC 2022 PARENTS’ MEETING

Those who have registered are reminded of the very important parents’ meeting this Monday 6th September in the Hall.

If your child was not baptised in this parish you need to bring along the baptism certificate if not already seen.

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 Thursday 16th September at 9.30 – 11.00am in the hall (Thursdays, term time only). 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.  Fr Axcel Soriano will be celebrating the 11am Mass so that we can congratulate him properly near his First Anniversary of ordination (19th)

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.

ECO CHURCH

We all know how important it is to reduce the causes of climate change and protect our environment and God’s earth for future generations. Do we, however, really understand how we can contribute to this cause? We all have a part to play, and we can join all churches in this process.

But where to start? How do we know which actions will have the most effect? Eco Church can help our church celebrate what we already do well and make informed decisions about what to do next. It can guide us to express our care for God’s world in our worship and teaching; in how we look after our buildings and land; in how we engage with the local community and in global campaigns, and in the personal lifestyles of our congregation. Eco Church adds an element of competition and we can be awarded a prestigious Eco Church Award at Bronze, Silver or Gold level.

A small parish group has formed as part of the Love in Action programme to start on this journey. If you wish to learn more about this work, or would like to join our group, please contact Marie Donatantonio (e-mail on mdonatantonio@gmail.com or give your details to the parish office and you will be contacted).

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Those who have registered are reminded that the sessions for children at non-Catholic schools commence next Sunday at 10am in Louise de Marrillac.Room.

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, 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, Fr Colin Whatling, Cheryl Pereira, Emma Pliskin, Anthony Nithesh and for all those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Leo Butler.

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

12th September, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Isaiah 50: 5-9

James 2:14-18

Mark 8:27-35

Newsletter deadline – Tuesday 9.30am

TIMES OF MASS & OTHER LITURGIES

Sunday 5th September, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

                                                    6pm (Vigil) People of the Parish

                                                    9am   Connor Devine RIP

                                                    11am Geoff Hurst RIP

Monday 6th September  10am Funeral Mass, Ellen Stachowiak RIP                

Tuesday 7th September              10am Mass Catherine & Daniel Bruen RIP

Wednesday 8th September         No Mass

Thursday 9th September             10am Mass Intentions of Maria Kennedy

Friday 10th September                9.30am Mass Theresa & Eddie McMorrow RIP

                                                      (note earlier time).

Saturday 11th September      

                                                     11am First Communion 2021 Thanksgiving Mass

                                                     1pm Baptism, Keaton William John MacSweeney

                                                     3pm Baptism, R’Mari Christopher Simms

                                                     5.15 – 5.45pm Sacrament of Reconciliation

                                                     6pm (Vigil) Leo Butler RIP Anniversary

Sunday 12th September, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

                                                     9am People of the Parish

                                                     11am Fr Aniceto Nazareth RIP