Sunday 3rd August 2008
18th Sunday of the year. Year A

Gift Aid The parish has received a cheque for £17443.35 for the 2007/08 tax year. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking all our donors and their families for supporting the Gift Aid scheme. If any donor requires a note of their contributions for tax purposes, please let me know. If anyone would like to join the scheme, please contact me on 8668 7762.
Alan D'Santos, Parish Gift Aid Organiser.

11.30 Mass As from this week there will be no 11.30am Sunday Mass during August. The 11.30 Mass will be back again on Sunday September 7th

Year of St Paul. In the Year of St Paul there are a few St Paul prayer books for sale on the newspaper table. Cost £2. Please put the money in the newspaper box.
If they have all gone and you would like a copy please contact the parish office. Thank you.
Eucharistic Services In the autumn I shall be holding a short session of preparation so that Eucharistic Ministers may conduct services in the absence of a priest.

Baptism Preparation Course A reminder to parents. This will be held over four Saturdays beginning in September. Please contact me if you wish to attend. Sorry but it is not possible for children to attend the course. It will be held in the Pritchard Room at 9am on Saturdays.

Thinking of Becoming a Catholic? I am hoping to start a course of preparation in the autumn. If you know of anybody who may be interested please let them know and invite them to make contact with me.

Early Mass there will be an extra Mass on the first Friday of each month at 7.30am.

Recently Deceased. Robert Spiers Hannah Burns, Elizabeth Medler, Jon Bradshaw, Margaret Kent.
We pray for the sick Jemma Quartly, Teresa Snaddon, Joseph Braganza, Tessie Burke, Mary Souter, Elda Zarb.

Croydon and Purley Catholic Women (CPCW) We meet each Tuesday 9.30am-12.30pm in the church hall, to make new friends or to catch up with old. Women of all ages welcome, with or without children (toys and activities for the children are provided). We aim to have demonstrations and speakers once a month, and will also meet once a month on a Friday evening for social activities. If you have a skill or talent that you would like to share with us please let us know, or alternatively just show up, enjoy some good company and coffee, and make some new friends. Any queries, please contact Lisa Sharpe on 8680 0732 or Catherine Garrad on 8660 7786 or 07985 116 945 See you there! During the summer we will be going on outings e.g. Godstone Farm. If you are interested please contact Catherine or Lisa for information

Hall Booking Veronica Connery on 8660 8502 or e-mail veronica.connery@ukf.net

Hall Maintenance Phil Cullen on 8763 2493

Sunday Coffee Mornings after the 10am Mass. Fair Trade goods are on sale. Fiona Maxwell-Stewart Tel: 8660 2566 or e-mail suefiona@hotmail.co.uk

Creative Crocodiles We meet in the hall on Thursday mornings from 10am-12noon Term time only. All parents/guardians with babies and pre-school children welcome. Phone Val O’Neill on 8406 1960. We are now closed until Thursday September 4th.

Mass for the Bereaved. The next Mass for bereaved families and friends of the Parish will be on Saturday 9th August at 10am. This will be followed by refreshments in the hall, provided by the St Joseph’s Group for the Bereaved.

Newcomers - to our Parish or country. Here are some alternative Beatitudes from Portsmouth diocese. Blessed are you when you smile at me - For then I know I'm welcome. Blessed are you when you look at me with love - For then I know I am special. Blessed are you when you wait for me - For then I know I belong. Blessed are you when you walk with me in public places - For then I know you are proud of me. Blessed are you when you ask me for help - For then I know I matter. Blessed are you when you hold my hand - How else can I feel God's compassion?
St Gertrude's Justice & Peace Group

St. Gertrude’s Rambling Club The next walk will take place on Sunday 17th August starting at 2pm. Meet at High Elms Country Park near the village of Farnborough Kent. From Hayes Common/Locks Bottom take the A21 south towards M25 passing Princess Royal Hospital. At the second roundabout take the third exit (right) signposted to High Elms and follow signs to car park. Allow 3 hours including a tea stop in Downe.
If the weather is doubtful please ring before starting out. Contact Alex Leonard at 8657-8539 any evening or mobile 07801-010004 on the day.

UCM would like to thank all who took part and contributed to our Home Produce sale which took place on Sunday 20th July. Between us we raised £225, which has been sent to the Handicapped Pilgrimage Children’s Trust HCPT Fund.

World Goa Day. Goans and the wider community are invited to celebrate World Goa Day at the Friars, Aylesford on Sunday 31st August. The celebration will commence with and open-air Mass at 12.30pm and will be followed by a picnic in the church grounds. Please contact Fiona Lobo on 86563317 for further information or Rose Fernandes on 8409 8388 for car sharing arrangements, (both drivers and non-drivers)
Details on the noticeboard

Peace Pilgrimage. This will be on Sunday 21st September at Aylesford Friary with Bishop William Kenney CP, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham. Mass at 12noon, Liturgy for Peace at 2.30pm. Details on the noticeboard.

St Philomena’s Old Girl’s Association is organising a Mass at 11am with lunch at 12.30pm and an afternoon Reunion from 3pm (for those not wishing to come to the lunch) on September 13th to celebrate the 115th anniversary of the school. For further information and to book a ticket for lunch (Closing date 30th July) please telephone 07866 598 408. It would be appreciated if you could pass this information on to any old girls with whom you are in contact.

Meditation as a Meeting Place – an afternoon with Rev Laurence Freeman OSB at Guildford Cathedral on Sunday 24th August 2.30-5pm, with Evensong at 6.30pm More information on 01372 200 558 Details on the noticeboard

Tearfund invites you to a conference on “Who is my Neighbour” with Archbishop Desmond Tutu & Lynne Hybels, at Jesus House, 112 Brent Terrace, Brent Cross on Saturday 6th September 2.30-7pm. Please register your attendance at www.tearfund.org/neighbour or call 0845 355 8355. Details on the noticeboard

Education for Parish Service – Formation for Parish Pastoral Ministry. Details of the Foundation Degree Course to start in October 2008 is in the narthex. It is a 2-year course held on Thursdays 9.30am-3.30pm at the CEC Tooting Bec. If anyone is interested in the course please contact the Parish Office or phone 8767 4445.

Catholic Herald Online. Subscribe to the Catholic Herald online and have access to the current and previous issues. Visit the website at www.catholicherald.co.uk for details. The website is updated every Friday.

Keep-Fit Classes are held in the Church Hall St Mary’s West Croydon every Friday morning at 10.30am except the last Friday of the month. All welcome.

Emms Bike Ride & International Trek. Cycle Malawi from 9th-18th May 2009 to raise funds for medical mission projects in Northern Malawi. Register before November 30th & save £50 on your registration fee.
Trek Sinai from 3rd-11th October 2009 to raise funds for Embangweni Hospital, Malawi. Register before 1st April 2009 and save £50 0n your registration fee.
For more information and an application pack contact Joe Cooney on 0131 313 3828. Details on the noticeboard.

A Day with Mary at St Mary’s Church, Clapham Park Road on Saturday 9th August 10.15am-5pm.
St Augustine’s Abbey, Ramsgate on Saturday 16th August 10am-6.15pm
Details on the noticeboard

Grand Food Fete organised by Maymyo Expatriates Charitable Trust in aid of the Cyclone victims of Burma. To be held on Saturday 16th August 12noon-5pm at St Mary’s Church Hall, Wellesley Road
Details on the noticeboard

Walk for Bowel Disease The event is in Richmond Park on Sunday 21st September. More details can be obtained from our website www.boweldisease.org.uk or by calling 0208 540 1220.

Vacancies see the noticeboard & web-site

Page last updated- 1/08/2008