Keeping Hope Alive

The Gospel story today (Mark 10:17-30) is about the successful and good-living man who finds himself invited by Jesus to give up his riches, hand all over to the poor, and is assured by Jesus that, as a result, he would have treasure in heaven. Added to this, Jesus asked the man to follow him. He had asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Confronted by Jesus’ advice, it was too much for the man: “But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.”

Over recent years and months we have been shocked/saddened/angered/astounded/bewildered/frightened by what has been happening in the financial markets in this country and across the world. Sadly, the wealth and the resources of the world are distributed unevenly (unfairly?). Great wealth brings its problems as well as easing the lives of those who have it. We know all too well, however, that millions of people struggle to earn a simple living, to feed themselves and their families, and to just keep living. Would rich people selling all they have and giving the proceeds to the poor make a significant difference? I imagine the answer is a complicated one, and is more about our attitudes to riches, creating and making money, use of resources etc. I am sure our understanding of our relationship to God and his creation would need to be a very significant part of our thinking.

The apostles were astounded when Jesus told them, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And further, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven”. After all, it was commonly understood then that riches were a sign of divine favour. Abraham was one of many rich men in Scripture.

Christ explained his meaning. Though money can very easily set up barriers between people and God, it can also be used in his service. The grace of God can so influence a good person that he or she can use wealth for good purposes. The possession of wealth involved duties towards those in need.

It does not necessarily mean the giving away of all one’s wealth (though many may choose to do so), but it does mean not making a god of it, and therefore spoiling our relationship with God. In the Gospel, Jesus loved the man for his faithfulness to the Commandments, but wished him to let go of simply adhering to the Commandments so that he could attain heaven in due course. Instead he wanted him to allow God to guide his daily life in the ‘here and now’. The latter is a more risky undertaking. I like to think that the man was able eventually to ‘let go and let God’.

SATURDAY/SUNDAY 10th/11th October 2009

Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Sat 6.30pm Gretta Hayes RIP (Liz Jones)

Sun 9.00am Mr & Mrs Gleeson In Thanksgiving for their 50th Wedding Anniversary (Fiona Perks)

11.00am Jackie Daines RIP (Deidre Adams)

6.00pm People of the Parish

Collection today for the Needs of the Diocese

Daily Masses 12th October– 17th October 2009

Mon St Wilfred, bishop

9.30am Gabriel Pillai Aaseer Vatham RIP (Jeevaratnam Family)

4pm Tolworth Hospital Mass

Doris Swash RIP (FM)

Tues St Edward the Confessor, king

9.30am Tom Gleeson RIP (Cummins Family)

Wed St Callistus I, pope & martyr

9.30am Margaret Carmody RIP (Alan & Dorothy Mundow)

Thur St Teresa of Jesus (of Avila), virgin & doctor of the Church

9.30am Funeral Mass: Mary Howells RIP

Fri St Hedwig, religious

9.30am Edith Winifred Eales RIP (FM)

10am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Sat St Ignatius of Antioch, bishop & martyr

9am Baby Ivy Grace Williamson RIP (Dellia Williamson & Family)

SATURDAY/SUNDAY 17th/18th October 2009

Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

World Mission Day

Sat 6.30pm Dan & Rosa McGeown RIP (Eric & Frances Powell)

Sun 9.00am People of the Parish

11.00am Antoinette De Souza RIP (Parish Choir)

12.30pm Baptisms: Ethan Ishmail & Tyrese Munetsi

6.00pm Edward Tyler RIP (Evelyn Tyler)

Retiring collection for the Association

for the Propagation of the Faith

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturdays 9.30-10.00am and 5.30pm-6.00pm

Last week’s Offertory collection £1,852

CASE £ 236

CAFOD Family Fast Day £ 626

We thank you for your continued generosity

(Cash counters next week: Pam Ford & Vivienne Phillips)

We welcome into the Church

Harrison James Chard, who was baptised last Sunday and

Alessia Rose Simpson, who was baptised on Wednesday.

Mass Readings

This Week: .28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Wisdom 7:7-11

Wealth, gold and riches are nothing compared to the love of God and the wisdom to know what is most important in life.

Second Reading Hebrews 4:12-13

God knows who we really are and what our hearts truly love. There is no hiding place.

Gospel Mark 10:17-30

People who are wealthy find it difficult to trust in God rather than in money.

Next Week : 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Isaiah 53:10-11

Isaiah meditates on the saving death and final victory of the suffering servant; this prophecy is fulfilled by Jesus.

Second Reading Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus is presented as our high priest who has overcome sin and death to intercede for us in heaven.

Gospel Mark 10:35-45

Jesus teaches that discipleship can mean suffering and serving after the pattern that he himself showed us.

We pray for all the faithful departed who have recently died, especially

Mary Howells (sister of Bridie Fillmore) whose funeral is next Thursday at 9.30am,

Pete Alexander,

Dorothy Louine La Frenais and

Betty Mildner, mother of Susan Fleming .

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, Arthur Weir, Clint Samson, Jenny Sathirasegaram, Joseph Neuman, Ann McNicol, Tom Nolan, 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 .

The Parish Lenten Project (PLP)

has been running successfully for nearly 40 years.

The aim of the project is 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.

We would be grateful if you could start thinking about any overseas charities that could benefit from our support next year.

On Sunday 29^th November 2009, we’d like to invite you to attend the next PLP committee meeting and propose charities for us to support in 2010.

Ideally, we like to support charities that have a connection or association with people in the OLI parish or school.

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

1. Charity or organisation needs to be based in the third world

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

3. Christian based

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

5. 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

Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting and propose a charity or organisation.

Plus we’re always looking for new committee members and event organisers so please come along if you want to get involved in the 2010 Lenten project.

If you would like further information about the meeting then please call Justine Manche on 07710 349871.

We look forward to seeing you on the 29^th November.

World Mission Sunday

Next Sunday, Catholics everywhere unite in celebrating World Mission Sunday.

This year’s theme is Reach Out with Love.

World Mission Sunday encourages prayer and financial support for the mission outreach of the Catholic Church in a world where millions are thirsting to hear of God’s love for them and longing for the light of Christ in their lives. Money collected on World Mission Sunday goes towards helping: 83,000 priests, 455,000 religious and 1,700,000 catechists.

Through them APF supports 194,855 schools, 5,246 hospitals, 17,530 dispensaries, 577 leprosy centres, and 80,560 social and charitable institutions.

There will be a second collection next Sunday.

Pope Benedict’s Prayer Intention for October

Appreciating the Sabbath.

Too often we think of the Church’s laws regarding the Sabbath as restrictive and prohibitive. We are inclined to grumble that Mass at the weekend gets in the way of our shopping, golf, weekend getaway to the caravan or our sleep-in. Try sparing a thought for those forced to work extra hours at the weekend, driven by the need to clothe children and put food on the table.

These people are more likely to regard the Sabbath as a gift. If we have the freedom to attend Mass we should remember to appreciate it.

This month we are invited to join Pope Benedict’s prayer intention

“….. That Sunday may be lived as the day on which Christians gather to celebrate the risen Lord, participating in the Eucharist.”

Christian Meditation:

Please note that the time of Meditation for the Friday morning group is now 10.30 a.m. in the PPC.

Table-top Sale:

There will be a table-top sale and light refreshments in the old chapel 9a.m. - 12.30p.m. on Sunday October 25th. to LIFE.

TOWARDS ADVENT

The annual TOWARDS ADVENT Festival of Catholic Culture takes place on Saturday November 14th at Westminster Cathedral Hall.

Displays by a wide range of Catholic groups and organizations, talks, music, a chance to browse and buy Catholic books, DVDS and devotional items.

Refreshments available all day; play corner for children.

Official opening 10.30am with Archbishop Vincent Nichols and the Chamber Choir of the London Oratory School.

Admission FREE, everyone welcome.

APF Red Box Collections

The total collected from Red Boxes for the September quarter amounted to £620, making a total for the year to September 2009 £1,268.90, an excellent result.

There are some new box holders whom I have been unable to contact.

f your boxes need to be emptied, please leave them at the Presbytery and I will collect them from there and return them to the Presbytery where they can be collected at your convenience.

Tom Studham

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS- DATE FOR DIARY

All Eucharistic Ministers are encouraged to attend a day of reflection each year.

There will be a Reflection Afternoon for all Eucharistic Ministers on Saturday 17th October 2009 from 12 to 5pm in the Catholic Hall.

Please bring a packed lunch with you.

Tea and coffee will be provided.

SCHOOL ENTRY FORMS FOR 2010

Please note that Fr Anthony will be available to sign forms at the following set times :

Tuesday 13th October from 7pm to 9pm and

Wednesday 14th October from 5pm to 6.30pm

Don’t panic if you can’t make these dates.

Fr Anthony will have set times each week for form signing right up until the relevant deadlines, just look out for the set times in each weekend’s newsletter.

FLAT TO LET

Unfurnished 2 bedroom 2 bathroom flat in Surbiton, 5 minute walk from the station. £1,200 per month.

Contact Marianne Jones on 01202 874430.

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

Sacrament of Anointing the Sick

The Mass for the Anointing of the Sick will take place on Sunday 25th October 2009 at 3pm.

If you know anyone who would like to come, please post a note of their names and addresses through the Presbytery door.

If anyone can help with giving lifts or help with refreshments afterwards, please let Fr Anthony know.

11^th October 2009

PARTNER IN CHURCHES TOGETHER IN SURBITON

Our Lady Immaculate Parish