ST.

JOHN VIANNEY 4 Vincent Road, London N15 3QH

Parish Office: 020 8888 5518
CHURCH E-mail: westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
WEST GREEN Website: stjohnvianneywestgreen.co.uk

11th/12th January 2020 wounds of favouritism (whether it was real

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD or not) can pester and disrupt any family.

Dear Parishioners, It’s somehow consoling to know that even

the great St. Peter was not immune to this
Growing up as the third among four
tendency, as we see in today’s second
children, one of the things that used to
reading. He thought that the Jews were
upset me as a child was when I thought
God’s only chosen people, the special ones,
mum loves my siblings more than she loves
until a vision made him change his mind
me. My 4-year-old brain couldn’t
and he finally confessed: ‘The truth I
comprehend why mum always seemed to
have now come to realise is that God
be cuddling my brother and not me (never
does not have favourites’ (Acts 10:34).
mind that it was because he couldn’t walk
It is the way of the world and something
yet and naturally needed to be carried)
very human to build criterias of preference
Or how come my sister got a bigger
based on race, gender, age, education,
present than me? (It was because the thing
social background, physical appearance,
I wanted was smaller in size, really).
etc. But that is not the case with God: God
Or why was my
has no favourites, and He loves each and
older brother
every one of us equally. It might not be so
allowed to do
obvious, when externally it seems that life
that and I’m
can be so unfair. However, perhaps the
not? (Well, he
challenge is to open our mind so that we
IS seven years
may realise the truth as Peter did.
older than me).
And on and on I’m sure Jesus didn’t think He was God’s
it went... favourite either, and yet the experience of
hearing the voice confirming that He was
They may be silly things, but it’s amazing
loved would have been essential for him.
how all these comparisons and rivalry and
Jesus was able to live, love and endured
jealousy can form such a big part of one’s
the cross as He did because He was deeply
childhood. The smallest things could trigger
rooted in this being loved by the Father!
that age-old complaint: “It’s not fair!”
I imagine most parents with more than one Believe it or not: you, too, are the Beloved.
child would be familiar with the scenario. You are loved. His favour – His blessing,
Whether you have a ‘favourite’ or not His presence, His Spirit – rests on you, He
(though of course, we all know that you’re is with you and you are not alone.
not supposed to have favourites), I’m sure
you love each child as deeply as the other, Let us listen to the voice of God in the
every one of them with their unique depth of our hearts as He speaks to us
character, circumstance, ability, needs, etc. today and says, “You are my child,
Nevertheless, no parent or child is perfect, the Beloved: my favour rests on you!”
and despite one’s best intentions, some- God bless, Sr. Devy.
times squabblings are inevitable, and these
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
LAST SUNDAY!
CATECHETICAL PROGRAMMES
2019-2020
For more information, contact the
office or Sr. Devy on 07455 544 065
FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAMME
Children attending Catholic schools who
had received their first Holy Communion
in May 2019 are invited to prepare for
their first Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The first session will be on Saturday,
18th January 2020, 12pm-1:15pm
(for both children and parents)
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
FOR ADULTS (RCIA)
th
Next session: Sat, 18 Jan 2020, 4:00pm
plus Mass 6:00pm
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 25th Jan. 2020, 3:30pm
plus Mass 6:00pm.
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 8th Feb. 2020, 10am
plus Sunday Mass at 11:00am.
BAPTISM FOR INFANTS
If you would like to have your child
baptised in February 2020 or later, please
contact the Parish Office or Sr. Devy to
make the necessary arrangements.
YEAR OF THE WORD 2020
The God who Speaks: Matthew’s Gospel
We invite all parishioners to rediscover the
story of the life, death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ and his teaching in the
wonderful gospel by St. Matthew.
A copy of a special edition of Matthew’s
Gospel will be available for each home,
and will be distributed during mass on the
weekend of 25th/26th January.
Don’t miss out!
We pray for the repose of the soul of:
IRIS BROWN, RIP
Whose funeral Mass will take place here
at St John Vianney on
Monday 27th January 2020 at 10am.
We remember her and her family and
friends in our prayers.
May she rest in peace.
INSIGHT III:
WOMEN & MEN OF THE BIBLE
This course offers an insight into the lives
of various women and men in the Bible,
specifically from the New Testament.
Next session: Tuesday, 14th Jan. (7.30pm)
or Wednesday, 15th Jan. (10am)
WELCOME
We will welcome Veronique from Calais
Secours Catholique to our Coffee Morning
on Thursday 16th January 2020 after Mass.
PARISH OUTREACH
SANDWICH MAKING (PREPARATION):
on Fri. 17th Jan. 2020 after 9:15am Mass.
Next SOUP RUN: Group D
at 4.30pm on Sat, 18th January 2020
Volunteers for sandwich making and
drivers are urgently needed
PAX CHRISTI – PEACE SUNDAY
19th JANUARY 2020
“Good politics serves peace”
One thing is certain: good politics is at the
service of peace. It respects and promotes
fundamental human rights, which are at
the same time mutual obligations…
Today more than ever, our societies need
“artisans of peace” who can be messengers
and authentic witnesses of God the Father,
who wills the good and the happiness of the
human family.
There will be a Retiring Collection next
Sunday to help the works of PAX Christi.
 SJV LIVESIMPLY GROUP SURPLUS
CHRISTMAS GIFTS and CAKE SALE
We all know it is difficult to buy presents
for friends who have everything!!
There will be a sale of Surplus Gifts and
Cake Sales to help us raise fund for the
London Catholic Worker on
Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th January
after all the Masses.
If you have any Surplus Christmas gifts
you would like to donate, please leave
them in the Church or the Parish Office.
Parishioners are also invited to support the
event by bringing in cakes and buying.
Your support will be much appreciated!
ST. JOHN VIANNEY’S FILM NIGHT
The next film night is on
Sunday 19th January at 5.00
showing “The Fourth Wise Man”, about his
personal journey to find the King of kings.
THANK GOD ON FRIDAY
Make time to spend a moment alone with
God in thanksgiving, prayer and adoration.
Next session: Friday, 7th February, 7:30pm
CRIB OFFERING 2019
On behalf of the Catholic Children’s Society
‘Thank You!’ for your to support their work
with disadvantage children and families.
To date we have raised £346.92.
ADORAMUS: COME AND SING IN A
WORLD PREMIERE
Join with Adoramus as we give a World
Premiere performance of our composer
Robin Stephenson's MISSA BREVIS on
Sat 28th March at East Barnet School.
It will be coupled with Dvorak's Te-Deum
and Symphony No.8 Concert.
Weekly Rehearsals are on Tuesdays
8pm-10pm, beginning 7th January 2020
at Christ Church Cockfosters.
For more details, go to adoramus.com/join
or phone 02083670042
JOURNEYING WITH THE BIBLE
Fr. Javier Ruiz-Ortiz PhD and Sr. Monica
Cardona PhD are running a series of talks
for the Year of the Word on the Bible.
The dates and topics are:
Tue, 14th Jan: What do we mean by Bible?
Tue, 28th Jan: Who speaks in the Bible?
To whom does he speak?
th
Tue, 11 Feb: Where does the Bible come
from and when did it take
place?
All sessions will take place 7:00pm-8:30pm
at Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street,
SW1P 1QN. Suggested donation £5.
Please register at livingfaith@rcdow.org.uk
JOY - THE INFALLIBLE SIGN
OF GOD'S PRESENCE
A talk by David Wells (internationally
renowned author) on the liberating virtue
of joy in our world,
at the London Jesuit Centre on
Friday 17th January, 7-9pm
To register, search ‘London Jesuit Centre’
on Eventbrite.
WALKING PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA
for 16-21 year olds
A group of young people will be going on a
walking pilgrimage to Fatima in April 2020.
They will be fundraising in the coming
months for this trip: let us support our
young people as much as we can!
AVAILABLE NOW IN THE PIETY STALL
St Paul Sunday Missal: £5.95
Westminster Year Book 2020: £4.50
LIVE SIMPLY MESSAGE
Earth community can take
from the bounty of the
earth whatever it needs
for subsistence, but it also has the duty
to protect the earth and to ensure its
fruitfulness for coming generations (LS 67)
 THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR:
MASS & SERVICE TIMES

Monday 9:15am The repose of the soul

Adana Harrinarine
Tuesday 9:15am Denis Nagle
Wednesday 9:15am Iris Brown
John McAuliff
Thursday 9:15am Nalda Cattini
Friday 9:15am Nancey Brosnan
Saturday 9:15am
6pm (Vigil Mass)
RIP Anniversary
Sunday 9:00am and 11:00am Agnes Murphy
Joan O’Callaghan
John Danaher
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Maria Kuczwalski
Saturday 9:45am – 10:15am Michael & Mary Guerin
Peter Fernandes
ADORATION
OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Special Intentions
Tuesdays – after 9:15am Mass Margaret
st
1 Friday of the month – 7:30pm Marie
st
1 Sunday of the month – after 11am Mass Sr Letiza

ROSARY
And for all the sick and
Weekdays at 8:45am (before mass) those in our parish
First Saturday of the month at 3:00pm

MORNING TEAS /COFFEE

NAMES NOT LISTED ABOVE ARE
(in the Parish Hall)
LISTED IN OUR BOOK OF INTENTIONS
Sundays, after 9am and 11am Masses
Thursdays, after the 9:15am Mass

PARISH TEAM Meditate

Fr. Joe Ryan, Parish Priest
Sr. Devy Pranadjaja, Parish Sister
Germaine Ng Ying, Parish Admin/Secretary
PARISH OFFICE HOURS
Mon.- Fri. 10am-12noon & 1pm-4pm
Our God is the God of the surprises. Like
the Magi many a times we look for God in
the obvious places but at times he is not
there. Even when we find him, we need to
change our views so that we can recognise
him, not only in the nice, comfortable life
but also in the humility of a stable.

To make an appointment, Pray

phone: 0208 888 5518 or
email: westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
We cannot guarantee to have anyone
available outside of these hours.
Heavenly Father, light of the nations who
wanted to share the humility of life with us,
give us a desire to look for you and open
our eyes so that we recognise you when
you come our way.