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/

17th /18th August 2019

20th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday’s readings are difficult to

explain and engage with. The first reading
from Jeremiah is placed in Jerusalem about
the year 588BC. The Babylonian army are at
the gates. Jeremiah had spent ages warning
the people of the city about the pending
doom. They ignored him, laughed at him
and had him thrown into prison. Jeremiah is
a pacifist. He also reminds the people once
again, as he had before, that they had
forgotten God and their promises to him.
Jeremiah also has to challenge false
prophets who gave easy answers to difficult
questions. Jeremiah has now isolated
himself because he is sticking to his fidelity
to the word of God. He is in conflict with his
own people. He ends up being thrown into a
deep well to get rid of him! It is the pagan
foreigner, the Cushite who saved Jeremiah
in the end.
Whatever it was that inspired Jeremiah is
very like the fire that Jesus wishes to bring
into the world of his day. “How I wish it
were blazing already. There is a baptism I
must still receive, and how great is my
distress till it Is over!”
It is worth being aware that to the ancient
Jews, fire symbolised the unapproachable
purity of the presence of God. eg. In Exodus,
the billowing smoke as God descended on
Mount Sinai; Moses and the burning bush;
the fiery serpent in the desert; and in the
New Testament, the descent of the Holy
Spirit in the form of tongues of fire. It is this
fire of God’s love that will cause division.
There will be those in a household who will
respond and those who will not. St Luke is
writing these words in the 80s AD,
Christians were experiencing persecutions
by Jewish and Roman authorities. Some
were converting to Christianity, others were
not. Families were divided in their loyalty
and decisions.
To keep the gospel values, one meets
opposition today too. Pope Francis is
gracious to the world leaders he meets
today but he doesn’t necessarity agree with
them. St Oscar Romero is a perfect example
of what happens to a prophet who will
declare what is right and wrong. We need to
support and listen to them. In fact all of us
are called to stand up for our faith.
Holiday in Ireland: I had a most delightful
holiday in Tipperary with family and
friends. I hope you too will have had a
break as well.
Big game today: All Ireland Hurling final –
Tipperary v Kilkenny!
God bless, Fr Joe
 THANK YOU! FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
LAST SUNDAY.
CATECHETICAL PROGRAMMES
2019-2020
IF YOU WISH TO ENROL FOR ANY OF
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMMES,
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM (AVAILABLE
AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH) AND RETURN
TO THE PARISH OFFICE WITH ALL THE
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BY AUGUST
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Monthly on Saturday, 10:00am-11:15am
plus Sunday Mass at 11:00am.
Preparation course for children who are in
Year 3 or above in September 2019 who
wish to receive the First Holy Communion.
First session: 21st September 2019
SUNDAY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Sundays, 10:00am-10:55am
plus Mass 11:00am
A supplement religious education
programme for children preparing for
First Communion or First Reconciliation
who are attending State Schools
First session: 29th September 2019
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Saturdays, 3:30pm-5:45pm
plus Mass Saturday 6:00pm.
A programme for young people who are in
Year 10 or above in September 2019
who wish to receive the sacrament of
Confirmation.
First session: 28th September 2019
BAPTISM FOR INFANTS
If you would like to have your child
baptised on the 14th September or later,
the next session will be on Monday 9th
September at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall.
Please contact the Parish Office to book your
place on the course.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
FOR ADULTS (RCIA)
Saturdays, 4:00pm-5:45pm
plus Mass 6:00pm
A programme for adults who are interested
in receiving the Sacrament of Baptism,
First Communion or Confirmation in the
Catholic Church. It is also open for anyone
who would like to explore their faith more.
First session: 19th October 2019.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE
SOULS
For the late Julia O’Donnel, RIP
Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Muswell, 1
Colney Hatch Lane N10
on Tuesday 20th August, 10am followed
by burial at
New Southgate Cemetery N11
May she rest in peace.
For the late Angela Francois, RIP
Funeral Mass at St John Vianney
on Friday 23rd August, 10am
followed by burial at Islington & Camden
Cemetery N2
May she rest in peace.
We will remember their families and
friends in our prayers.
FIRST COMMUNION /CONFIRMATION
PHOTOS
Parents please collect your
child/children’s photos from the parish
office (Tues-Fri: 10-4) T: 020 8888 5518
PARISH OUTREACH
SANDWICH MAKING (PREPARATION):
Will resume in the parish hall on
Fri. 7th September after Mass.
Volunteers are urgently needed on
Saturday mornings at 7:30am to help with
preparing the sandwiches, soups, tea and
coffee. Also needed are volunteer drivers.
Next SOUP RUN: Group C
at 4.30pm on Sat, 8th September 2019
 PARISH RECRUITMENT FAIR
Your Parish needs you!!
Come and find out more about how you can
be part of our parish life at our
Recruitment Fair
in the Parish Hall on
Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th September
after all Masses.
Refreshments will be served.
All welcome
125 YEARS OF JESUIT EDUCATION AT ST
IGNATIUS COLLEGE
‘St Ignatius College will be celebrating 125
years of Jesuit education at the college on
Friday 20th September 2019 with a
formal celebration dinner.
Tickets are priced at £75 and are available
now on Eventbrite.
Further details available by contacting:
125celebration@st-ignatius.enfield.sch.uk
MULTICULTURAL DAY
Caritas St Joseph invites you to their
Multicultural Day on
Saturday 21st September
from 1pm-4pm
at Caritas, St Joseph’s Grove, The Burroughs,
Hendon Way NW4 4TY
Tickets at reception £11 and £5 for carers (1
carer per student)
For further details see poster at the back of
the church.
CARITAS BAKHITA HOUSE &
SAINT JOHN OF GOD HOSPITALLER
SERVICES
presents a Classical Concert to
SUPPORT VICTIMS OF MODERN SLAVERY
Wednesday 25th September 2019
6:00pm at St. Mary's Church Cadogan
Street SW3
Tickets available from
https://supportvictimsofmodernslavery.event
brite.co.uk
DIOCESAN MASS FOR ALTAR SERVERS
Celebrated by Bishop Paul McAleenan,
the Mass takes place at
Westminster Cathedral at 2.30pm on
Saturday 5th October.
Servers should bring their vestments to
Cathedral Hall and be ready to process by
2pm.
Concelebrating priests are asked to bring an
alb (chasuble will be provided).
All are welcome to attend.
EVANGELISATION: SUMMER AND
BEYOND
‘GOD WHO SPEAKS'
Year of the Word 2020 Launching
30th September 2019, Feast of St Jerome
celebrating, living and sharing God's
word
http://www.catholicnews.org.uk/Home/Spec
ial-Events/The-God-Who-
Speaks/(language)/eng-GB
For further information
see: https://rcdow.org.uk/faith/
'BAPTISED and SENT - Extraordinary
Missionary Month - October 2019
http://www.october2019.va/en/mmsott2019.html
Celebrating the
100th anniversary of Pope
Benedict XV's Apostolic
Letter Maximum Illud,
The Holy Father has chosen
the theme: ‘Baptized and Sent: The
Church of Christ on a Mission in the
World’.
Diocese of Westminster - Agency for
Evangelisation Autumn Season faith-sharing
booklets “Baptised and Sent”, are now
available: smallgroups@rcdow.org.uk
(£3 each)For further information
see: https://rcdow.org.uk/faith/
JOB VACANCIES: ‘If you or your friends and
family are looking for a new opportunity the
Diocese of Westminster, please visit our website
https://jobs.rcdow.org.uk/’
 MASS & SERVICE TIMES
THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR
Monday 9:15am The repose of the soul:
Daphne Campbell
Tuesday 9:15am
Larry Delahunty
Wednesday 9:15am Maurice Hamilton
Thursday 9:15am Cornelius Rice
John Danaher
Friday 10:00am [funeral for the late
Richard Fryd
Angela Francois, RIP]
Julia O’Donnel
Saturday 9:15am Angela Francois
6pm – (Vigil Mass) Maria Pia Lombardi
RIP
Sunday 9:00am and 11:00am
RIP Anniversary
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Saturday 9:45am – 10:15am Special Intentions:
Sean
ADORATION Jane
OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Liam
Tuesdays after 9:15am Mass Ronan
First Sunday of the month after 11am Mass Christina D
Kim
ROSARY Christine & John
Weekdays at 8:45am (before mass) Winnie
First Saturday of the month at 3:00pm
And for all the sick and those in our parish
MORNING TEAS /COFFEE
(in the Parish Hall)
Sundays, after 9am and 11am Masses Birthday
Please note there will be Kathy
no morning Teas/Coffee on Thursdays, Angela
Pauline
during the month of August
after the 9:15am Mass
Wedding Anniversary
Evrol & Patricia
NEXT SUNDAY: 21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY
TIME NAMES NOT LISTED ABOVE
ARE LISTED IN OUR BOOK OF INTENTIONS.
1st Reading Isaiah 66: 18-21
Psalm: Psalm 116: 1-2
2nd Reading: Hebrews 12: 5-7, 11-13 PARISH OFFICE HOURS
Gospel: Luke 13: 22-30 Tues. to Fri. 10am-12noon, 1pm-4pm
To make an appointment
PARISH TEAM Phone: 0208 888 5518 or
Fr. Joe Ryan, Parish Priest email westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
Sr. Devy Pranadjaja, Parish Sister
Germaine Ng Ying, Parish Admin/Secretary We cannot guarantee to have anyone available
Fr. Marcel Kofon, In residence outside of these hours.