saint columba’s 23 newsletter 7
TRANSCRIPT
Saint Columba’s Newsletter
Gospel Reflection �
23rd February 2020 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
STCOLUMBA’SCATHOLICCHURCH,CHESHAMwww.stcolumbas.churchParishSecretary:[email protected]
WedsandThurs9-12.30pm.Pleasetelephoneoremailtocheckavailabilityatallothertimes
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FrAlessandroReno
Matthew5:38-48
Jesusdoesnotwishtoproposeanewsystemofcivillaw,butratherthecommandmenttolovethyneighbour,whichalsoincludeslovingenemies.Andthisisnoteasy.Thesewordsshouldnotbeseenasanapprovalofevilcarriedoutbyanenemy,butasaninvitationtoaloftierperspective,amagnanimousperspective,similartothatoftheHeavenlyFather.Anenemy,infact,isalsoahumanbeing,createdassuchinGod’simage,despitethefactthatinthepresent,thatimagemaybetarnishedbyshamefulbehaviour.Whenwespeakof“enemies”,weshouldnotthinkaboutpeoplewhoaredifferentorfarremovedfromus;letusalsotalkaboutourselves,aswemaycomeintoconflictwithourneighbour,attimeswithourrelatives.Howmanyhostilitiesexistwithinfamilies!Letusthinkaboutthis.Enemiesarealsothosewhospeakillofus,whodefameusanddousharm.Itisnoteasytodigestthis.Wearecalledtorespondtoeachofthemwithgood,whichalsohasstrategiesinspiredbylove.MaytheVirginMaryhelpusfollowJesusonthisdemandingpath,whichtrulyexaltshumandignityandletsusliveaschildrenofourFatherwhoartinHeaven.Mayshehelpusexercisepatience,dialogue,forgiveness,andtobeartisansofcommunion,artisansoffraternityinourdailylife,andaboveallinourfamilies.
Saint Columba’s Newsletter
Parish�
CongratulationstoWilliamArnoldwhowasbaptisedyesterday.PleasekeepWilliamandhisfamilyinyourprayers.
AshWednesday
Lentisthetimetorediscoverthedirectionoflife.Duringajourney,ifwearedistractedwewillnotgetfar:theLordisthegoalofourjourney.Lentisthetimetofreeourselvesfromtheillusionofchasingafterdust,itisthedirectionmustleadourjourneytotheLord.TheGospelproposesthreesteps:PrayerreunitesustoGod;charity,toourneighbour;fasting,toourselves.Lentwillbecomeatimeofgracethatliberatestheheartfromvanity.Itisatimeofhealingfromaddictionsthatseduceus.Itisatimetofixourgazeonwhatabides.TheashesreminduswemustliveourlivestothefullestsotolooktotheGospelandtobelievethatitisreallytheGoodNewforus.
TheProduceandCakeSaletakesplaceafterthe9ammassnextSunday1stMarch,withallproceedstothechurchrefurbishmentfund.Canyouhelpbybringingalonganybakedgoodsorproduce,orbyhelpingtosellthem?WewouldlovetohaveyoursupportwiththismonthlyeventCallLizon775784formoreinformation.
SecondSaturdayCatholicConventionandHealingService–Saturday14/3/2020TheconventionisacelebrationoftheCatholicFaithforallagesandbackgrounds.Familyfriendlygatheringsincludelivelypraiseandworship,Holymass,healingserviceandprayersessions.Ifyouwouldliketofindoutmoreinformationpleaseseetheleafletonthenoticeboard.Binu,aparishionerat6pmMass,ishappytoco-ordinatetravelarrangementswithanyonefromtheparishinterestedinattending.Pleasecontacttheparishofficeforhiscontactdetails
NYMOwillbehostingaYouthMinistryConferenceonthe7March,forallwholoveyoungpeopleinourChurch,andwanttoworktoleadthemtoacloserencounterwithChrist.TheeventisbeingheldattheRECentreinLuton.Moredetailsathttps://nymo.org/conference/orcallFionaon01582720627
Saint Columba’s Parish Newsletter
Saint Columba’s Newsletter
Diocese�
ChurchestogetherforCheshamevents:"Seeing&Believing?"-Thursday19Marchat7for7:30pmatStMary'sChurch.Thisisthe4thofaseriesof6-monthlylecturesandwillbeaninteractiveexplorationofthedivinethroughthehistoryofart.Pleaseseetheposteronthenoticeboard.
Ecumenical�
WordFest2020–OurdiocesanScriptureFestivaldayJune6@10:00-4:30pm.ThisexcitingeventwillbeheldonatThorntonCollege.AfantasticcelebrationdayexploringallaspectsoftheBible.Formoreinformationpleaseusethelinkhttp://formationpathways.co.uk/event/wordfest-6th-june-2020-our-diocesan-scripture-festival-day/
ParishRetreat–updateThejointParishRetreat(IHM&StColumba’s)willnowbeononeday-Sat21March2020andwillbeheldattheBridgettineConvent,Iver.Thethemeoftheretreatis"TheVocationandMissionoftheFamilyintheChurchandinthecontemporaryworldenlightenedbytheWordofGod“.Pleaseregisteryourinterestincomingtotheretreatbyemailingparishsecstcolumba@gmail.com
HoldthedateforBackpackers-Tuesday28thJulytoFriday31stJuly2020atThomasHardingSchool.Formoreinformationandhowtohelppleaseseethenoticeboard.
NewPrincipalrequired-TheDirectorsoftheDominicBarberiMultiAcademyCompanyarelookingtoappointanewPrincipalforStJoseph'sCatholicPrimarySchool,ThamefromSeptember2020.Closingdateforapplicantsisnoon03March2020.Moredetailsonthenoticeboard.
WorldDayofPrayer–PrayingwithZimbabweonFriday6March2020atChristChurch,Waterside,Chesham.Servicesat10:30amor7.30pm.Allwelcome
ToreceivetheE-Newslettereachweek,justsend“IwanttoreceivetheNewsletter”to:[email protected] to include in the newsletter (short texts ready to publish /image)mustbesentbeforeThursdayNoontothesameaddress.
Agenda �
At Your Service�
Saint Columba’s Newsletter
Date StColumba’s IHM
Sun.23 9amMass–HedleyKnowles6pmMass–StColumba’sParishCommunity 11amMass
Mon.24 NoMass NoMass
Tues.25 7pmMass–Greenfamily NoMass
Weds.26 7pmMass–AshWednesday 9:30amMass
Thurs.27 9amAdorationoftheBlessedSacrament,followedby9.30amMass(HagganFamily)andtheRosary
NoMass
Fri.28 NoMass 9:30amMass
Sat.29 10amMass 6pmVigilMass
Sun.01 9amMass–StColumba’sParishCommunity6pmMass–ThomasMurphyRIP
11amMass
Thisweek,pleaseprayfortheSoulsofthosewhoseanniversariesoccuraboutthistime:
PatriciaWhite(1986),MargaretReynolds(1972),CorneliusDriscoll(1986),JohnSmith(1970),RaymondBaker(2009),EthelBunclark(1989),MonicaHayman(2001),JoanneLeitrim(1984)