ST JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH

West Green
4 Vincent Road, London N15 3QH
Parish Office Tel No: 020-8888-5518 E-mail: westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
Facebook: West Green - St John Vianney Church
Our website: http://stjohnvianneywestgreen.co.uk/
(SJV Parish Centre – 020-8888-5518)

17th /18th FEBRUARY 2018
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
“REPENT, AND BELIEVE
THE GOOD NEWS”
We see the banner displayed clearly on the
front wall as soon as we enter the church.
We hear these same words last Wednesday,
as our foreheads were marked with ashes.
Today, again, we read and hear Jesus
proclaiming these very words in the Gospel.
The message is clear... or is it?
The word “repent” may sound familiar to
most of us, but I get the impression that
many of us may feel uncomfortable with it,
or dislike the notion outright. There is a
general sombre, sad and serious air about
it all. It makes us think of fingers pointing
accusingly at a person with head bowed
down, shoulders hunched, feeling guilty
and ashamed. Often we associate this
‘repentance’ of Lent as needing to go into
the desert and suffer, having to make up
for our sins by doing penance, making
sacrifices, and giving up the pleasures of
life. The more I sacrifice, the ‘better’ I am.
But the desert is not a place of punish-
ment, and Lent is not about us ‘redeeming’
ourselves (Jesus did that for us already!)
Someone said to me very recently, “there’s
no need for us to go looking for a desert –
quite often Life is the biggest desert, and
we are in it whether we like it or not.”
How true! Are we not already in this
desert? As Fr. Joe mentioned in his homily
on Ash Wednesday, there is more than
enough pain, suffering, death, sadness,
hunger, poverty, dryness, etc. in our lives
and in this world. Life is full of sacrifices
as it is. I don’t think God wants even more
of it from us!
Repent, yes – recognise our faults and
shortcomings, and turn away from sin...
but then turn to him and believe in the
Good News: no matter what desert we
find ourselves in, we are not alone. Even
Jesus didn’t go through the desert alone –
an angel was sent to look after him!
God knows
that we can’t
face that dry
emptiness
and all those
‘wild beasts’
just on our
own
strength and
will power...
The Kingdom of God is close at hand –
God is very close to us, precisely in the
desert: He is loving us, looking after us,
encouraging us and giving us strength. We
don’t have to do it alone, God is walking
with us.
May this Lenten season be a time where
we experience God’s tender mercy and
love, as we walk with Him in trust and
hope towards Resurrection.
God bless, Sr. Devy
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY IN
LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTIONS
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED
SACRAMENT
The first Sunday after the 11am Mass and
Tuesdays after our 9:15am Mass
PARISH ACTIVITY – TEAS /COFFEE
In the Parish Hall on Sunday, after 9am
and 11am Masses
ROSARY: All parishioners are invited to
join us in praying the Rosary at 8.45am
every weekday before the Morning Mass
at 9.15am
CATECHETICAL PROGRAMMES 2018
Any enquiries please contact
Sr. Devy on 07403 784463 or
Parish Office on 020 8888 5518
SUNDAY MORNING
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
For children attending State Schools
Next session: Sunday 25th February at
10am in the Parish Centre
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Next Session: Saturday 10th March at
10am, in the Hume Hall.
Parents’ Meeting on 10thMarch at 10am
in the Jubilee Hall.
FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAMME
Next Session: Saturday 24th February at
12noon, for children who received their
First Holy Communion in May 2017
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Next Session: Saturday 24th February
3.30pm – 6pm in the Hume Hall, followed
by mass.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR
ADULTS (RCIA):
Next session: Friday 2nd March 2018
11.00am-12.30pm in the Parish Centre.
THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM
If you would like to have your child
baptised on the 10th March or later, the
next session will be on Monday 5th & 19th
March at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall.
Please contact the Parish Office to book
your place on the course.
RCIA: RITE OF SENDING / ELECTION
Let us continue to pray for our
catechumens and candidates who are
preparing to receive the sacrament of
baptism, confirmation and Eucharist.
They have journeyed to the Cathedral to
celebrate the Rite of Election this
Saturday, 17th February at 3pm with
Cardinal Vincent.
PLEASE PRAY FOR
THE REPOSE OF THE SOULS OF:
The late James O’Donnell, RIP
(Father of Mary) who died last Tuesday;
Details of his funeral to follow.
May he rest in peace.
The late Bob Lemmon, RIP
(Husband of Rose) who died last Tuesday;
Details of his funeral to follow.
May he rest in peace.
We will remember their families and
friends in our prayers.
THANK GOD ON FRIDAY!
Make time to spend a moment alone with
God in thanksgiving, prayer and adoration
on 9th March from 7:30-9:00pm
in St John Vianney Church.
There will be a short talk, adoration and
music led by the Verbum Dei Missionaries.
All are welcome!
PARISH OUTREACH SOUP RUN
The next Soup Run is on
Sat. 24th February 2018: Group A
Volunteer Driver/Helpers urgently
needed.
 LENTEN ACTIVITIES
THE STATIONS
OF THE CROSS
On the following
Fridays at 7.30pm:
16th & 23rd February;
2nd & 16th March
(Note: on the 9th March there will be
adoration instead of Stations of the Cross)
GUIDED PRAYER FOR LENT
Opening Meeting
This Sunday, 18th February at 12:30pm
in the Hume Hall
Meetings with individual guide on
Friday: 23rdFeb; 2nd, 9th & 16th March.
Leaflet with further details at the back of
the church, along with the signing in sheet.
PARISH VISITATION
Bishop John Sherrington will come to visit
our parish next weekend on the 24th-25th
February 2018, where he will celebrate
and preach in all the masses. He wishes to
meet with as many parishioners as
possible informally.
After the 11am mass, there will be an
opportunity for parishioners to bring
some food to share and meet our local
Bishop. We will also have an open parish
meeting afterwards.
BRING & BUY and CAKE SALE
We thank all who have donated Surplus
Gifts for our Bring and Buy Sale; all who
have brought in Cakes and Cookies; all
who have helped at the various stall,
especially the parents of the First
Communion Candidates who looked after
the Cake stall. You support have helped to
raised £673.27 towards our fund-raising
efforts. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Thank You!
LENTEN INNER HEALING RETREAT 9-
11th March, see poster at back of church.
FILM NIGHT
Next film night is on Sunday 4th March,
at 5pm in Jubilee Hall. We will be showing
"Ballad of a Soldier", a Russian film
describing a soldier's journey home.
Light refreshments will be served during the
intermission. Donation of £3 is appreciated.
PARISH MAGAZINE 2017
Our new parish magazine, ‘THE LAST TEN
YEARS, including MY JOURNEY TO ST
JOHN VIANNEY’ compiled by Barbara
O’Driscoll, available at the back of the
church for £5 per copy. Copies of our 2007
magazine are still available at £3 per copy.
WESTMINSTER JUSTICE & PEACE
INTERGENERATIONAL EUROPEAN
PILGRIMAGE 2nd – 11th APRIL 2018
We will be leaving by coach from St John
Vianney Church, West Green to:
Calais – EU Borders and Refugees;
Brussels – Trade and Economics;
Strasbourg – EU and Human Rights;
Taize – Reconciliation;
Assisi – Care of Creation;
Rome – Inspiration of Pope Francis and
Geneva – the UN and Human Rights.
Price: £695 per person. There could be a
substantial subsidy for students (18+).
There are four (4) places left. For further
details and application forms please
contact justice@rcdow.org.uk
CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY
The theme is “God’s love is for everyone”
This Lent, Family Fast Day focuses on the
work our partners are doing to fight
hunger and malnutrition in
Zimbabwe. Please pick up a Fast Day
envelope at church today. Fast on Friday
23rd February and give what you can in
the retiring collection on Sunday
24th/25th February. That giving can
make double the impact, as every £1 you
give will be matched with another £1 by
the UK Government. Thank you.
 Entrance Antiphon
When he calls on me, I will answer him;
I will deliver him and give him glory,
I will grant him length of days.
First reading
Genesis 9:8-15
Psalm 24:4-6, 7-9
Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for
those who keep your covenant.
Second reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22
Gospel Acclamation
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Gospel: Mark 1:12-15
Communion Antiphon
One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes forth from the
mouth of God.
MASS & SERVICE TIMES
Mass – 9:15am
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday, Saturday
Sunday:
(Sat.) 6pm; 9:00am and 11:00am
Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Saturday: from 9:45 am – 10:15am
PARISH TEAM
Fr. Joe Ryan, Parish Priest
Sr. Devy Pranadjaja, Parish Sister
Germaine Ng Ying, Parish Adm/Secretary
THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR
The repose of the soul:
Kathrine Booth
Bobby Lemmon
Gerry King
James O’Donnell
Juan De La Cruz
RIP
RIP Anniversary
Lan Franco Gaglione
Special Intentions:
Bridget Cox
Araw De La Cruz & Family
Assi Tan and Family
The Family of James O’Donnell
The Family of Bobby Lemmon
Thanksgiving
For all the sick and those in our parish
Angelina Boi, Anne O’Brien, Barry
Donovan, Bobbie Halley, David
McDonagh, Grace Coutinho, Jocelyn
Luxon, Kathy & John O’Rouke, Maria
D’Silva, Maria Terzaga, Marie Dorson,
Merle Vangramberg, Phil Devane,
Rebecca Ononogbo, Rita Mongelard,
Sharon Gray, Sherry Arul, Val Eaves,
Yvonne Joseph
NAMES NOT LISTED ABOVE,
ARE LISTED IN OUR BOOK OF INTENTIONS.
PARISH OFFICE HOURS
Tues to Fri 10am-12noon
To make an appointment
Phone: 0208 888 5518 or email
westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
We cannot guarantee to have anyone available
outside of these hours.