17th October, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Friends,
Jesus reminds the brothers, James and John in today’s gospel that they do not realise what they are asking for when they ask Jesus to do them a favour. “Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” They had a good feeling about Jesus and his project. They had seen plenty of evidence of his popularity because of his miracles and they remembered the words spoken in last week’s gospel that those who have left parents, family, even land for the sake of the gospel and for his sake “who will not be repaid a hundred times over…” Surely this is a good bet? They saw Jesus the successful person who did much for others and NOT the Jesus who was about to come into conflict with authority and ultimately pay for that with his life. Jesus saw himself as a servant, beautifully expressed in the chorus to ‘The Servant King’:
“This is our God, the Servant King,
He calls us now to follow Him,
To bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.”
The church too is viewed by many clergy in this same way as James and John viewed Jesus and they see themselves as the chosen ones. It’s called “CLERICALISM” and it’s not good.
This feeds into the event that Pope Francis launched in Rome last Sunday at St Peter’s. The text of his homily you will find on the Vatican website: https://www.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html and then select ‘homilies.’ It introduces us to another model of understanding the church based on three words: 1) Encounter; meeting Jesus in a variety of ways and often in prayer, reading and dwelling on the fact that HE IS FULLY ATTENTIVE TO US at all times. 2) Listen; he wants to hear from us and we need to hear from him. 3) Discern; figure out what is going on in our lives and bring it to him to discuss and listen back. This is the area that James and John fell down on, they did not hear Jesus say, “not without persecution”, instead they only heard the bit about being rewarded 100fold. No wonder they jumped at leadership roles!
Pope Francis wishes the faithful to enter a period of reflection, prayer and discussion that will go on for nearly two years and culminate in the prayerful collective wisdom to formulate a type of leadership in the church which he is now calling ‘SYNODALITY.’ It’s up to individuals, groups, parishes, diocese etc. to support this initiative. I am personally very hopeful that we (the people) will involve ourselves in this venture. (More later).
- On Friday of this week (22nd October) there will be a Liturgy of the Word and Holy Communion.
- Volunteer stewards needed at weekend and weekday masses. Please take a BLUE SHEET (in the porch) and contact Helen.
God Bless You All,
Fr John
Stage 4 Guidance: Please note the following:
- Track and Trace continues.
- Please use hand sanitiser on ENTRY and EXIT.
- Social distancing – 1m.
- Masks to be worn at all times unless exempt.
- Holy Communion at the end of mass, then please exit church.
- The Minister may say “The Body of Christ” to which you may reply “Amen”.
Mass Intentions
Sat 16th Oct 6.00pm Kulandai Raj RIP (Kevin Patrick & Family)
Sun 17th Oct 8.30am Deceased Members of the D’Souza Family (Amy)
10.30am Ivana Stephen (Thanksgiving) (Priya & Sijo)
5.30pm Pramod Kumar Narula RIP (Sandra)
Mon 18th Oct 7.30pm Paul Pullen RIP (Ray Handysides)
Tue 19th Oct 10.00am Thanksgiving (Joan Forward)
12.30pm Funeral: Helen O’Brien RIP
Wed 20th Oct 10.00am Annie Williams RIP (Anne Hodges)
Thu 21st Oct 10.00am Cherry Small (Ill), Int. of Peter and Luke Daley (Barbara)
11.30am Funeral: Paul Pullen RIP
Fri 22nd Oct 10.00am Liturgy of the Word and Holy Communion
Sat 23rd Oct 6.00pm Thanksgiving (Sola & Robin)
Sun 24th Oct 8.30am Benny Mascarenhas RIP (Elaine & Joseph)
10.30am Kathleen Boakes RIP (née Harrington)
(Sisters, Brothers, Nephews & Nieces)
5.30pm All Parishioners
St. Augustine’s School Open Days for Reception 2022 – Prospective Parents and Carers – Several dates have been scheduled in Oct/Nov for school visits. To book a place please complete the form available at the website www.staugustine.surrey.sch.uk under school open days.
Concert at High Cross Church, Camberley - 7.30pm Saturday 23rd October. The Surrey Heath Singers are performing Vivaldi’s Gloria and some choral work by Purcell. £10 for pre-booked tickets at http://www.surreyheathsingers.org.ukor £15 on the door and £5 for students.
Offertory Collections £303.61Collections for Weekend 9th/10th October
Gift Aid Collections £92.00
Standing Orders (Weekly Average) £1016.00
Total £1411.61
Please pray for all those who have died recently:
Kathleen Boakes (née Harrington), Joan Cottrell, Pramod Kumar Narula, Helen O’Brien and Paul Pullen
May they rest in peace.
Please pray for all those who are sick at this time:
Marie Bellizzi, Maureen Bowers, Pauline Brookman, Veronica Brown, Joe Buttaci, Bill Cable, Lally Clarke, Eileen Cookson, Zita Falber, Pat Farrell, Hermanthe Fernando, Leo Gibson, Kath Grant, Mary Higton, Irene Hole, Gill Kirwin, Georgia Mackinlay, Luz Martin, Miriam McDonnell, Helen McLachlan, Eric Miller, Maura Morris, Andrei Penkov, Wilson Rabanos, Claire Rayner, Donal Reidy, Milo Reiske, Moira Seed, Gill Shaw, Sherry Small, Ralph & Pauline Smith, Godelieve Vandersloten, Patricia Van Kuyk, Alfonsa Varghese, Lorraine Vella, Mark Wardell and all those named on the noticeboard in Our Lady’s Shrine.
May they find consolation in their suffering.
Alton Day of Renewal Prayer Requests
We will pray for anyone feeling isolated, anxious, depressed, or physically ill. We will help you draw close to the love of Jesus, who said “come to me all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”. On weekdays 10.00am-4.00pm tel 07579 824523. Full details at www.altonrenewal.com/prayer_request
Contact Information
Call 01276 504876, or email frimley@abdiocese.org.uk
The Church is located at 111 Portsmouth Road, Frimley, GU16 7AA. It is on the opposite side of the A325 Portsmouth Road to Frimley Park Hospital. When facing Frimley Park Hospital, the Church is behind you to the left.
Daily Liturgy
