Faith in Focus:   Last Chance Saloon?

  I always meant to sort out that kitchen shelf and now that it’s crashed to the floor with all the crockery it’s too late.   The same goes for that little chip in the windscreen that now looks like a spider’s web, and of course there’s that faulty old plug on the TV set which probably caused last night’s loud explosion during Coronation Street!

  We love to put things off.   Yes, we’ll get round to them some day but at the moment I’m a bit tired, a bit busy or a bit too distracted to do anything about them.   There’s always tomorrow.

  In today’s gospel, one of the most frightening episodes according to many people, Jesus issues a real warning.   Don’t think that you can put off repentance until tomorrow because repentance is a “now-thing” and, what’s more, you never know what’s lurking around the corner.   He reminds his listeners of two awful events that had just taken place in and around Jerusalem: a murderous attack on worshippers in the Temple, and a disaster that killed eighteen people when a building collapsed on them.   Do you think these people had any idea they wouldn’t return home that day, says Jesus, and do you think they were more guilty than anyone else?   Of course not.

  Then, he tells them, you too must repent now or you will perish like they did.   Lent reminds us that repentance is not a once-and-for-all action; we don’t make a grand act of repentance and then sit back and relax.   Repentance is a constant activity of the Christian, not continually worrying about our stance before God, but striving all the time to be as close to God as we can by the way we treat other people.   Repentance means taking a regular reality check that what we are doing and saying is consistent with our desire to belong to God’s family.   And although we concentrate on repentance a great deal in Lent, it is something that should be a daily activity for all of us, and we need to pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit to be able to repent.

  Is there something in your life that niggles at you?   Something that you know you should do something about which will improve your quality of life with God and with others?   Well, don’t worry about it; you can always do something about it tomorrow, after Easter, in the summer or in the run-up to Christmas… Or perhaps not!

  CAFOD Lenten Fast Day - This year in a special way we are called by Cafod to keep the whole of Lent by denying ourselves and giving to the Third World through Cafod.   This coming Friday is however our normal Lenten Fast Day and we are asked to give generously to the poor in the envelope attached to the Newsletter.   There will be a second collection on Palm Sunday for all our Lenten Cafod giving, or return the envelope in any of the Sunday collections.

  Faithful Departed - Please pray for the repose of the soul of Desmond Reiner whose funeral takes place at the Crematorium Chapel on Tuesday March 9th at 12 noon. Pray too for Giovanna Staiano whose Requiem mass will be at 10.30am. at Our Lady of Peace on Monday March 15th.

  Fairtrade Fortnight - February 22nd - March 7th. Fairtrade goods available after most Masses at Our Lady of Peace and keep your eyes open in the shops.

  RCIA Faithseach - meets on Thursday at 7.30pm. in the Sacristy.

  Car Parking With Care And Consideration - Make it a Lenten resolution!!!   Don’t block our neighbours’ driveways.  Don’t park on the yellow hashed access to the Vicarage at St Andrew’s.   Don’t park on the pavements: disabled/children’s buggies can’t pass.   At Our Lady of Peace if you park on the descending access road near the side door of the Church you are blocking access to the disabled parking spots and leaving our disabled parishioners stranded.

  First Communion Catechist needed - We have one of our groups of 8 children who will recommence their First Communion preparation on Monday Feb 22nd, but at present we have no catechist to help them (CRB check required).   Offers of help to Fr Michael.

  Parish Confirmations - The Bishop will be coming to the parish on Tuesday May 25th at 7.30pm. to celebrate confirmation.   Committed young people in Year 8 and above, who attend Mass here, live in the parish and wish to enrol in our programme of preparation should write to Fr. Michael asking to be prepared for the sacrament.   They should include their phone number, address, date of birth and details of their baptism.   (A rough date if you baptised at Our Lady of Peace, but a baptism certificate if you were baptised elsewhere).   Details of the preparation sessions will be available shortly.

  Holy Hour - Every Tuesday at 7.30pm at Our Lady of Peace with Exposition and Prayers.

  New Parish Website
Our excellent new Parish Website is now up and running and you can find it at: http://www.rc.net/northampton/ourladyofpeace  
It is getting compliments from all over the place, so do have a look at it.

  Bishop's DVD
If any parish groups wish to watch and reflect on the Bishop’s DVD we have a couple of spare copies so please contact me or Margaret Lawrence to use one.   Please pass on to us the feedback from your discussions.

  Children's Liturgy of the Word to shut in the New Year- on alternate weeks unless there are offers of help.
The small group of Catechists, for whom we are ever grateful, can no longer manage to cover all the sessions.   We need six responsible
parish-CRB checked adults to take turns with the (newly required) weekly register and help supervise the children on a rota basis.   We
are not asking here for leaders, but for a responsible adult presence. - Offers of help to the Sacristy (urgently!)

  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament - Tuesdays 7.30 - 8.30pm at Our Lady of Peace.

  Calling all Youth - we would like to start up a choir for 9.45 Mass every other Sunday along with the folk group at the church.   Those who can play a musical instrument are also welcome to join.   We know that there is a huge amount of talent within our parish so do not be shy come along and bring your friends.   Practice will be 9.15am. Sunday, 1st November, before Mass for half an hour and then again every 2nd Sunday after that at the same time.

  Thinking of becoming a Catholic? - We plan to start a new course for those thinking of joining the Catholic Church. Please contact Sheila for more information (Tel: 01628 605764)

  Pilgrimage to Lourdes - Langley Special Needs Group Lourdes Monday 31st May 2010 – Monday 4th. June 2010. Cost of Pilgrimage is £549 which includes return flights and full board at the Hotel Mediterrannee. £23 insurance and £29 per night single room supplement if required. The only additional cost is the coach fare from Langley to Stansted Airport. For further information contact Teresa Mynett 01753 736904, please leave message on the answer phone.

  Dates For Your Diary

    Novena to St. Joseph - All are invited to join the Mill Hill Community for a special Novena of Masses and prayers. The Novena Masses will be offered in St Joseph’s Church, 36 Cookham Rd, Maidenhead from Wednesday 10th March to Thursday 18th March at 7.30pm each evening, except Saturday at 6.30pm and Sunday at 10.45am. There will be a Mass to celebrate the Feast of St Joseph on Friday 19th March at 10am. If you are unable to attend but would like a Novena booklet please contact us by mail (or email to novena@millhillmissionaries.com). Petitions are welcome.

  'Frugel Lenten Lunches' - As in previous years we are holding the Lenten Lunches to help support Namwala Mission in Zambia.   The first one will be held on Friday 19th February, 12pm -2pm.   The 'host' will be Peg and John, please telephone them if you would like to attend 01628 661590.   If you are able to 'host' one of the lunches please let Peg know.

  Lent Course: St Anthony's Crypt - Life to the Full
Starts 23rd of February from 7pm. - 9pm. for 5 consecutive Tuesdays.   A new CaFÉ presentation.   See poster.   For further information 01753 522096.

  Friends of Northampton Cathedral - The Cathedral is the Mother Church of our Diocese and as such is worthy of our special love.   By joining the Friends you will be preserving it, promoting its work and helping to progress the work of the Cathedral through fundraising for future projects.   For further details contact 01604 714556, email: office@northamptoncathedral.org, or visit the website www.northamptoncathedral.org