ST JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH

West Green
4 Vincent Road, London N15 3QH
Parish Office: 020-8888-5518 E-mail: westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
Facebook: West Green - St John Vianney Church
Website: http://stjohnvianneywestgreen.co.uk/

8th /9th DECEMBER 2018 - 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Dear Parishioners, There are ugly situations in our world that

no lengths of tinsel can beautify; brokenness
Earlier this week we put up the Christmas
decorations in our house – out came the in our lives that can’t be hidden behind
nativity scene, tree, tinsels and lights from shiny gift wraps; darkness in our hearts that
no amount of fairy lights can brighten. Often,
the boxes where they’ve been hidden away
we believe that this makes it impossible for
for the last 11 months. “Prepare a way for
the Lord!” John the Baptist announced in us to enter into the celebration of Christmas.
our gospel reading today. We certainly And yet... God was born in a poor, simple
made a fun activity out of it! But it made me stable. He did this in Bethlehem 2000 years
wonder... is that really what John was ago, and I had come to realise that this is
talking about? probably his preferred place of ‘birth’ even
today, in our lives.
It’s normal for us to want to decorate our
homes when we are expecting an important We don’t need to have everything sorted out
guest. I was imagining myself to be the and ‘beautified’ in our lives in order for Him
owner of that special inn a couple of to be born – as much as we wish we can be
millennia years ago – if I had known that the ‘palaces’, our lives are often no more than a
King of kings were going to be born in the stable, poor and imperfect. Yet Jesus is
shed behind my house, I probably would’ve perfectly content to lie there in the soft dim
moved all the junk out, swept and dusted light, among the faint scent of hay and damp
and sprayed nice smelling disinfectant all earth, in what we may consider ‘a mess’.
over the place, repainted the walls, laid
some fancy rugs ... or better still, let’s tear May we continue to “prepare a way for the
the whole thing down and build a wonderful Lord” in humility of heart in this season of
new palace, one that is actually fit for a king! Advent. and be ready to welcome Him with
open hearts when He comes!
But this is hardly realistic when it comes to
our lives. I found myself rather annoyed God bless, Sr. Devy
with the first line of the first reading today –
“Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow
and distress, put on the beauty of the
glory of God...” Well, I wish it were that
easy!! If only sorrow, distress, pain and
suffering are like coats that we can simply
take off and replace with joy and peace, in
the blink of an eye! Instead, more often than
not, we experience them like thick, black tar
that covers us head to toe, weighing us
down and impossible to remove even with
all the soap and scrubbing.
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY IN
LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTIONS
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Tuesdays after our 9:15am Mass and
on the 1st Sunday after our 11am Mass
ROSARY
Please join us in praying the Rosary
at 8.45am every weekday,
before the 9.15am Mass.
MORNING TEAS /COFFEE
In the Parish Hall on Sunday,
after 9am and 11am Masses.
We also welcome parishioners and
newcomers on Thursday mornings
after the 9:15am Mass.
PARISH OUTREACH SOUP RUN
The next Soup Run is on
Sat. 15th December 2018: Group C
CATECHETICAL PROGRAMMES
FOR 2018 - 2019
If you have any enquiries, please contact
Sr. Devy on 07455 544 065 or
Parish Office on 020 8888 5518
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR
ADULTS (RCIA)
During the 6pm Mass on Sat 8th December,
we welcome our RCIA candidates in the
‘The Rite of Acceptance’.
Next session: Sat, 5th Jan + Mass 6pm
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
We welcome our First Communion
Candidates to participate in our11am
Mass this Sun, 9th December
Next session: Sat, 12th January at 10am
FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAMME
Registration is now open for children who
had received their first Holy Communion in
May 2018 to prepare for the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. The first session will be on
Saturday, 19th January 12pm-1:15pm
SUNDAY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Next Session: Sun, 16th Dec at 10am
+ Mass at 11am
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 15th Dec at 3.30pm
+ Mass at 6pm
THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM
If you would like to have your child baptised
on the 12th January or later, the next session
will be on Monday, 7th & 21st January 2019
at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall.
Please contact the Parish Office to book your
place on the course.
MADELEINE HOLMES, RIP
We pray for the repose of the soul of
Madeleine Holmes, RIP
Her Requiem Mass will be held
at 10am on Monday 10th December
here in St John Vianney.
We remember her and her family in our
prayers. May she rest in peace.
JOCELYN LUXON, RIP
We pray for the repose of the soul of
Jocelyn Luxon, RIP
Her Requiem Mass will be held on
Wednesday 12th December at 10.30am in
the Chapel at St Anne's Home, 77 Manor
Road, Stoke Newington, N16 5BL.
We remember her and her family in our
prayers. May she rest in peace.
ANNUAL ADVENT PEACE
Pax Christi will hold its Annual Advent Peace
Service on 11 December at 7pm at s
Aloysius Church, Phoenix Road, Euston,
London. This popular event will focus on
Advent and the call to peace.
INSIGHT II: WOMEN & MEN OF THE BIBLE
This course offers an insight into the lives of
various women and men in the Bible,
specifically from the Old Testament.
Next session: Tuesday, 11th Dec. (7.30pm)
or Wednesday, 12th Dec. (10am).
 PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
All members are reminded that the next
meeting is on Wednesday 12th December at
7:30pm in the parish hall.
LITURGY GROUP GATHERING
for Tea and Mince pies!
This includes everyone who supports the
daily and weekly Liturgies
including Church cleaners, Collectors,
Readers, Eucharistic Ministers,
Powerpoints, Flower arrangers,
Altar Servers, and Musicians.
We would like to invite you for a Thank You
tea and mince pies at 10am on Sunday, 16th
December (between masses).
Hope you can come!
CAROL SINGING
Come and join us in Carol Singing
at Wood Green Shopping Mall
on Wednesday 19th December from 5pm.
To let us know who will be joining us,
please sign up on the list at the back of the
church.
ADVENT PENITENTIAL SERVICE
Here, at St John Vianney on
Friday 21st December at 7.30pm;
an opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament
of Confession. A number of visiting priests
will be available for individual confession.
THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
will be celebrated on:
Saturday 22nd 9:45—10:15am
ADVENT PENITENTIAL SERVICES
(7:30PM) IN NEARBY PARISHES:
Wood Green – Friday 14th December
Stroud Green – Tuesday 18th December
Muswell Hill – Wednesday 19th December
St Ignatius – date to be advised
APPLYING FOR A PLACE IN RECEPTION
AT ST. JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL
FOR SEPTEMBER 2019
Stanley Road, Tottenham, N15 3HD.
Application packs are now available from the
school office. (See notice board for full details)
The deadline for ALL applications is
TUESDAY, 15th January 2019
WESTMINSTER JUSTICE & PEACE
COMMISSION 2019 CALENDARS
With quotes from Laudato Si
Available at £3 each or 2 for£5 in the
Repository
CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SALE
The Verbum Dei Missionaries will be selling
Christmas Cards at the back of the church
after each mass as part of their fundraising.
Your support will be greatly appreciated!
JOB VACANCY
JUSTICE & PEACE COORDINATOR
Location: West Green Parish and
Vaughan House London; Contract type:
Permanent. Job Purpose: To serve the
Westminster Justice & Peace Commission in
coordinating Justice and Peace endeavours
across the diocese. Salary: £30,000 Hours of
Work: 35 hrs per week. Closing Date: 4th
January 2019. Principal Duties and
Responsibilities: Coordinate the Diocesan
evangelical work of Justice and Peace in
accordance with Catholic Social Teaching,
through awareness-raising and coordinating
action. For full details see
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO SANTIAGO
If you would like to join us to go to Santiago
de Compostela for a 7 days walking
pilgrimage at the end of May 2019, we need
to have your registration and deposit as
soon as possible. Please contact the office
for more information or to sign up.
ENTRANCE/EXIT TO CAR PARK
Please use the center gates as entrance and
exit. On exiting the center gate gives a better
view of traffic and also you can be seen by
the oncoming traffic.
ACTIVITIES IN THE PARISH HALL
Irish Dance Classes: Mondays, 7:30pm
Karate Classes: Fridays, 6:30pm
SEE NOTICEBOARD FOR FULL
INFORMATION
 Entrance Antiphon THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR
O people of Sion, behold, The repose of the soul:
the Lord will come to save the nations, Mary McGarty
and the Lord will make the glory of his voice Mrs. Yolande Cullen
heard in the joy of your heart. Peter Stone
Madeleine Holmes
First reading
Jocelyn Luxon
Baruch 5:1-9
Michael John Tolly
Psalm 125:1-6 Michael King (brother of Kathy Nyland)
What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we Gladys Keating
were glad. James McLean Millington
RIP
Second reading
Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11 RIP Anniversaries
Mr. Sergio Fumasoli
Gospel Acclamation
Joan O’Callaghan
Alleluia, alleluia!
Madeleine Jordan
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight, Yves Soupe
and all mankind shall see the salvation of God. Concencāo Ferreira Vieira
Alleluia!

Gospel Special Intentions:

Luke 3:1-6 Eileen Breen (Get Well)
Jan Makarovic
Communion Antiphon Theresa Echedolu
Jerusalem, arise and stand upon the heights, Kathy Nyland and Family of Michael King
and behold the joy which comes to you from God. Iris Brown
Sheila Shea
MASS & SERVICE TIMES
Sheila Courtney
Monday 10am [Funeral Mass for the late Gretta Lettice
Madeleine Holmes, RIP] Alice Mills
Tuesday 9:15am Mary Masters
Nancy Mulroy
Wednesday 9:15am Kathleen & Peter Nash
Thursday 9:15am
Friday 9:15am And for the sick and those in our parish
Saturday 9:15am
Birthday
[6pm – Sunday Vigil Mass]
Mark Kalawan
Sunday 9:00am and 11:00am
Saturday Sacrament of Reconciliation NAMES NOT LISTED ABOVE
from 9:45am – 10:15am PARISH
ARE LISTED OFFICE
IN OUR HOURS
BOOK OF INTENTIONS.
Tues to Fri 10am-12noon, 1pm-4pm
PARISH TEAM To make an appointment
Fr. Joe Ryan, Parish Priest Phone: 0208 888 5518 or
Sr. Devy Pranadjaja, Parish Sister email westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
Germaine Ng Ying, Parish Admin/Secretary We cannot guarantee to have anyone available
outside of these hours.