Keeping Hope Alive

No.2995

Christ The King (A)

22nd November 2008

PARTNER IN CHURCHES TOGETHER IN SURBITON

Our Lady Immaculate Parish

Priests of the Parish:

Canon Anthony J Charlton,

Father Arbo Lekule

401-403, Ewell Road,

Tolworth, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 7DG.

Tel: 020 8399 9550

Fax: 020 8399 3291

Email: ourladyimmaculate@ukonline.co.uk

Website : www.oli.freeuk.com

Deacon : Rev. A. Callan.

59, Princes Avenue, Tolworth KT6 7JL.

Tel: 020 8399 9862

Our Lady Immaculate Catholic

Primary School

Headteacher:

Mr Tim Sheehan

399, Ewell Road,

Tolworth, Surbiton,Surrey KT6 7DG.

Tel: 020 8399 9854

Fax: 020 8399 8582

Email: oli@rbksch.org

Website : www.oli.kingston.sch.uk

this is an edited version of the Parish News

It is in your power to be a King?

A story was once told of a wealthy king who had a huge kingdom and many slaves. He drove his subjects mercilessly in the name of prosperity.

One of his slaves was an old man who had been working in the king’s palace for many years. His body was nearly worn out with hard work and little rest. At the end of the day, however, once he had laid his weary head down on his sand-bag pillow, he dreamed he was a rich king with a huge estate. All night long he was waited upon by servants, fed rare delicacies and entertained by beautiful friends, with lovely melodies in the background. He spent the entire time of sleep dangling his healthy children on his knees and laughing into the night.

Of course, upon waking, the old man was once again the lowly labourer who spent his day toiling in the king’s estate. At lunchtime, when he sat down to eat his rice, his face showed his weariness. His friends would then try to console him with kind words. “Do not worry too much,” they would say. His reply was, “By day I am a slave to the king but at night I am the king. I spend half my life toiling in the king’s estate, but the other half in ease and comfort.”

On the other hand, when the king, who spent his day admiring his golden palace and commanding his slaves, laid his head upon his silk-pillow, he tossed and turned and groaned all through the night. He worried about burglars, runaway slaves, and all kinds of possible wars with neighbours. In the morning when he woke up his muscles ached, his bed was soaked in sweat and his mouth was very dry.

The king thought about this as he toured his large palace to try and relax his agitated mind. Every day he noticed among his slaves one old man who looked frail. Yet he never complained, never shunned work and always had a smile on his face. “I envy that man,” the king thought. “He has nothing, yet seems so much happier than me”

The frail slave noticed the unhappy face of his king and after sometime, he took courage and approached him; “Take it easy on your servants, my king, and you will sleep with ease.” That night the king put up a banquet for his slaves, shared his gold and silver with the poor and in the morning went to work in the estate with the slaves. He became a brother to all and this was the end of his sleepless nights.

Jesus came to serve not to be served; he called us brothers and sisters; he had no palace to lay his head; he wore a crown of thorns; and yet he is truly a Universal King. We have the privilege to share his royalty through our Baptism. However, it is in our power to shape the kind of royals we want to be; a worried royal or a serene one.

Arbo Lekule

(The story is adapted from the “Tales from the Tao”. London, Solala Towler 2005)

SATURDAY/SUNDAY 21st/22nd November 2009

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING (B)

Youth Day

Sat 6.30pm Mary Howells RIP (June McGuinness & Family)

Sun 9.00am Tom Gleeson RIP (Keely Family)

11.00am Ann Deasy RIP (Dowling Family)

12.30pm Baptisms:

Jessica Louise Strange, Daniel William Strange & Jack Louis Riley

6.00pm People of the Parish

Retiring collection for the Catholic Youth Service

Daily Masses 23rd November– 28th November

Mon St Clement I, pope and martyr

9.30am James Kelly RIP (M Crowley)

Tues SS Andrew Dung-Lac, priest and companions, martyrs

7am Dennis Peiris RIP (Beatrice Peiris)

9.30am Alec Morley RIP & Family

Wed St Catherine of Alexandria, virgin & martyr

7am Penny Weir RIP (Ellen Farmer)

9.30am Marie O’Brien RIP (CAFE)

Thur Feria

7am Holy Souls

9.30am Eric Clarke RIP (Eileen & Family)

12 Noon Funeral Mass: Baby Daisy Wilson RIP

Fri Feria

7am Bridget & Mary Ansell (Mrs R Whelan)

9.30am Giorgio Ugolotti RIP (Maria O’Connor & Family)

10am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Sat Feria

9am Pat Scicluna RIP (Waller Family)

2pm Baptism: Emily Alice O’Brien

SATURDAY/SUNDAY 28th/ 29th November 2009

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (C)

Sat 6.30pm Kathleen Jackson RIP-2nd Anniversary (Family)

Sun 9.00am Lena Byrne RIP (Family)

11.00am Welfare of Ravenna Ahmed

12.30pm Baptisms:

Callum Morely and Finley Couloigner

3pm Comfort Service for the Bereaved

6.00pm People of the Parish

Retiring Collection for St George’s Cathedral

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturdays 9.30-10.00am and 5.30pm-6.00pm

EVENING PRAYER

Evening Prayer of the Church will take place on Sundays at 4.30pm from Sunday 6th December 2009, similar to the Lenten prayer services.

Mass Readings

This Week: Our Lord Jesus Christ the King (B)

First Reading Daniel 7:13-14

Daniel tells of his vision of the Lord returning as a glorious king.

Second Reading Apocalypse 1:5-8

The Apocalypse describes the risen Jesus returning as a mighty king.

Gospel John 18:33-37

St John recounts the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate. Jesus is a king, but his kingdom is not of this world.

Next Week: 1st Sunday of Advent (C)

First Reading Jeremiah 33:14-16

We hear a prophecy that the Lord will fulfil his promise to Israel and Judah by providing a saviour through David’s line.

Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 3:12 – 4:2

Paul reminds the Christian community in Thessalonika to live the Christian life of love for all people.

Gospel Luke 21:25-28. 34-36

Jesus warns of troubled times ahead, with signs in the sky and great agony. His followers must be alert and ready to face these happenings but can be confident of their liberation.

We pray for all the faithful departed who have recently died.

We remember especially Roderick Wilson, brother of Joan McCutcheon, Tom Nolan (brother of Paddy), Hugh Kenny (brother of Alf) and John Davis.

Please remember also Daisy Wilson the two hour old child of Alex and Sarah.

We pray also for all those who mourn and those whose anniversaries occur at this time .

We remember all our sick and elderly parishioners, those in hospital, the housebound and those who care for them; Canon Tony Ford, Bridget & Len Bown, Jill Wilmington, Arthur Wurr,

Clint Samson, Jenny Sathirasegaram, Joseph Neuman, Ann McNicol, Eileen Rosenberg, Bridget McNally, Brenda Flaherty, Rowan Wolsgrove, Lionel Holland, Marcus Bird, Charles Thurley,

Sandra Burlinson, Sophie Burridge, Sam Hitchin, Rene Boffa, Richard Manche, Nicky Bushell, Shirley Enright, Monica Grant, Peggy Howick, Mary Sebastian, Tom Tyler,

Deacon John Sampson, Baby Finn Jordan, Margaret Inskip, Giancarlo Palermo, John Gleeson, Fr Peter Sprague, ,Mary Linstead, Evan Day, Eva Hansford, Jeffrey D’Cruz,

Gordon Cracknell, George Hayes, Michael Hoskins (4 years old), Francis Nazareth, Michael Byrne, Martin Dray, Kay Bridgland, Seema Day, Graham Taylor, Freda Sirmon,

Samantha Nosalik, Bridie Fillmore, Manual Pillai, Fay Kearney, Richard Trutwein, Winna Duncan, Jennifer McIntyre, Carl Williams, Bridie O'Driscoll, Christine Keane,

Josephine Bull, Vic Carrion, Pauline McGuire, Norma Latham and Gerard Murphy .

We welcome into the Church

Conor O’Sullivan &

Keir Michael Haylett

who were baptised last weekend.

CONFIRMATION 2010

Saturday 22^nd May 2010

‘In Confirmation we are called to share more fully in the Church’s mission to bring the Good news of Jesus to the world’

Preparation for Confirmation starts in early January.

If you are in year 9 or above at school, or college, and regularly come to Mass at Our Lady Immaculate parish, you are eligible to be confirmed in this parish in 2010.

If you wish to take part in the preparation programme, you should take an application form from the red box at the back of the Church today.

In order to be included in the programme, you should complete the form, and bring it on one of the following dates for either Fr Anthony or Fr Arbo to countersign.

(Parents are welcome to accompany you)

This should be done as soon as possible but by the latest Sunday December 20th please.

Then watch the newsletter for further details !

One of the priests will be available at the presbytery on Monday 23rd November from 7pm to 8pm and on Wednesday 25h November from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Saturday 5th December: Are you in your 20s or 30s?

You are warmly invited to join the SW London 20/30s, a social group which attracts Catholics from many surrounding parishes.

We will be meeting for a drink in The,33 Wimbledon Hill Road, SW19 7NE (a two minute walk from Wimbledon Station) at 7.30pm.

For more info please contact Tim Wells: 07849 693 400

Saint Cecilia 22nd November

Every November for the last 400 years the name of St Cecilia has been invoked as patron saint of music at festivals around the world.

Poets from Dryden to Auden have written works in her honour, which have been set to music by composers from Purcell to Britten.

We remember St Cecilia not just as patron saint of music, but as a Christian martyr.

When she was condemned to death by the Roman Governor, she is reported to have survived suffocation in a steam bath and immersion in a cauldron of oil.

She even lived three days after being struck on the neck with a sword. So she was definitely a martyred saint, but as for her musical credentials ….

Modern scholars have discovered that her reported interested in music has no foundation other than in a misinterpreted Latin translation.

For all we know St Cecilia could have been completely tone deaf, and if she was, one wonders what she makes of the thousands of musical tributes directed heavenwards in her honour every 22nd November.

Charity Quiz Night in aid of The Robyn Higgins Appeal

Sunday 6th December 7.30pm at the Emmanuel Church Hall, Grand Avenue, Tolworth.

Teams maximum of 6 people. £5 per person to enter.

Please bring your own drinks & nibbles. Call Keeley on 07908128981 to book your team.

Robyn is 7 years old and needs your help. Robyn was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma (an aggressive childhood cancer) earlier this year. Robyn has undergone all the treatment the NHS can give.

There is no additional treatment available in the UK. Robyn needs to raise £300,000 to enable her to go to the USA for life saving treatment..

For further information about the appeal please see www.robynhiggins.com

Primary School Admissions 2010:

If your child will be five between 1^st September 2010 and 31^st August 2011 he/she is due to start school in September 2010. Please contact the school for information.

The closing date for applications is Friday 4^th December 2009. Further information can be found on the Local Authority’s website www.kingston.gov.uk

A Journey of Prayer for Advent and Christmastide 2009

The Advent issues of ‘My Day by Day’ and ‘Walk with Me’ are now available at the back of the church. Cost £1 per copy.

Justice & Peace: Climate Change, The Poor and us.

As Catholics we believe that while the common good embraces all, those who are weak, vulnerable, and most in need deserve preferential concern. The challenge for us is how we treat the most vulnerable in our midst. In a world marred by deepening disparities between rich and poor, Jesus (e.g. Mt 25:31-46) reminds us that we will be judged at the end of days by how we treated the “least among us.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains: “Those who are oppressed by poverty are the object of a preferential love on the part of the Church which, since her origin and in spite of the failings of many of her members, has not ceased to work for their relief, … always and everywhere. “(Catechism #2448). To add to their burden it is clear that poor countries will be hardest hit by climate change even though they are least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. In some countries, farmers are reporting changes to normal rain patterns and seasons that are already starting to have an effect on their ability to produce their traditional crops, causing anxiety about the future of their livelihoods. Three practical things we can do: 1. Support Fairtrade by choosing to buy Fairtrade goods, 2. Come along to the “Wave” rally in London on climate change on 5^th December. Details are at the back of the church. 3. Read the CTS booklet “Global Warming How should we respond? Catholic Teaching on the environment by Russell Sparkes. £1.95

OLI PARISH LENTEN

PROJECT

Just a short note to remind you all of the meeting on Sunday 29th November to agree the charities for 2010.

The meeting will be in the Old Chapel after 6pm Mass.

The Parish Lenten Project (PLP) has been running successfully for nearly 40 years. The aim of the project is to give the parish a charitable focal point during Lent and give everyone (all groups, clubs and societies) in the parish the opportunity to take part in fund raising for third world projects.

Here is an outline of the criteria that we use to select charities:

· Charity or organisation needs to be based in the third world

· Direct help – we are looking for small charities/organisations rather than large established charities - no intermediate organisations or government agencies

· Christian based

· Confidence in the recipient – we need to know that the money will be going directly to the charity

· Value for money – small and professionally run charity/organisation in the third or developing world

Organisations that have small overheads – we want to make sure that our money will make a real difference.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible next Sunday.