ST.

JOHN VIANNEY 4 Vincent Road, London N15 3QH

Parish Office: 020 8888 5518
CHURCH E-mail: westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
WEST GREEN Website: stjohnvianneywestgreen.co.uk

5th /6th October 2019
27th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
“How long, O Lord, am I to cry for help
while you will not listen?”
Thus begins our first reading today from
the book of Habakkuk. It may have been
written more than 2500 years ago, but I’m
sure many of us can identify with these
words and find ourselves asking the same
question at one point or another in our
lives!
It’s interesting how our faith is so closely
connected to this issue of whether God
listens to our cry or not. I’ve heard people
telling me of how they’ve ‘lost their faith’
when they felt that God failed to answer
their prayer. Others, on the other hand,
seem to have ‘found their faith’ when they
experienced God granting them a miracle
as they asked for the impossible.
Seen from this angle, it almost appears as
if ‘faith’ is some kind of magical power that
enables us to have whatever we want.
Even Jesus seems to agree with this in the
gospel: “If you have faith the size of a
mustard seed you could say to this
mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in
the sea,” and it would obey you.” That’s an
impressive new kind of super power!
This is why the second half of the gospel
today is just as important as the first half,
and we can’t leave it out. Jesus reminds his
disciples how, at the end of the day, we are
all just mere servants, called to do our
duty. Out of love, God has made us His
children – yet we are still creatures, not
gods.
Faith is not something to be ‘used’ for our
own purpose and desires, and God is not
our own personal genie in a lamp. Rather,
faith is an entering into a loving
relationship with God: trusting completely
in His love for us even when we don’t
understand what is happening. Surely God
listens to us and knows our needs, even
before we say anything to him (cf. Psalm
139)! At the same time, we are to love Him
in return and do His will; again, trusting
that it would be the best thing for us.
Perhaps this week we can try praying,
“Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
He might have something surprising to say!
God bless! Sr. Devy

If Jesus were to stop speaking there, I

imagine the consequences would be quite
problematic. It almost sounds as if, if I
have faith, the whole world will obey my
words. Or, if I take it a step further: with
faith, I can even order God around and He
will obey me! This may sound silly, yet
unfortunately this is what many of us
deeply belief, albeit unconsciously.
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
LAST SUNDAY!
CATECHETICAL PROGRAMMES
2019-2020
For more information, contact the
office or Sr. Devy on 07455 544 065
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 12th Oct 2019, 10:00am
plus Sunday Mass at 11:00am.
SUNDAY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
A supplement religious education
programme for children preparing for
First Communion or First Reconciliation
who are attending Non-Catholic Schools
Next session: Sun, 13th Oct. 2019, 10am
plus Mass 11:00am
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 12th Oct 2019, 3:30pm
plus Mass 6:00pm.
BAPTISM FOR INFANTS
If you would like to have your child
baptised on the 12th October or later,
the next session will be on Monday 7th
October 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)
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: Sat, 19th Oct 2019, 4:00pm
plus Mass 6:00pm
DIOCESAN ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2018
See: parish.rcdow.org.uk/westgreen
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING
Thanks to all parishioners who
brought/made cakes and those who bought
cakes to support the wonderful work the
MacMillan Nurses do. We have raised the
sum of £396.08. Thank you all, well done!
CAFOD HARVEST FAST DAY
was Friday 4th October:
Family Fast Day focuses on providing a
reliable supply of clean, safe water.
With your donations CAFOD can reach
struggling communities and bring water
closer to home.
Imagine the difference this could make!
Please return your Fast Day envelope and
give what you can in the retiring collection
this Sunday 5th /6th October. Thank You.
INSIGHT III:
WOMEN & MEN OF THE BIBLE
This course offers an insight into the lives
of various women and men in the Bible,
specifically from the New Testament.
Next session: Tuesday, 8th Oct (7.30pm)
or Wednesday, 9th Oct (10am)
PARISH OUTREACH
SANDWICH MAKING (PREPARATION):
on Fri. 11th October after 9:15am Mass.
Next SOUP RUN: Group D
at 4.30pm on Sat, 12th October 2019
Volunteers are urgently needed on
Saturday mornings at 7:00am to help with
preparing the sandwiches, soups, tea and
coffee. Drivers also needed.
FILM NIGHT
The next film night is this Sunday, Oct 6th
from 5pm, showing "TO CATCH A THIEF" -
an Alfred Hitchcock romantic thriller
starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.
£3 donation appreciated. All welcome!
 VARIETY SHOW:
St John Vianney’s Got Talent!
All Parishioners are invited to our parish
fundraising event next Sunday 13th
October, 5pm–9pm. Join us for an evening
of fun and laughter! Tickets from £5.00,
available after all Masses. Refreshments
provided. Let us support our Parish!
Do you have a talent to show off? Can you
dance, sing or play any musical
instruments? Are you a Comedian, a poet
or an Actor/Actress? Contact Mariantha if
you want to showcase your talent!
PARISH PILGRIMAGE:
SHRINE OF ST JUDE, FAVERSHAM
Saturday 26th October 2019. Coach leaves
at 10am. Cost £16 per person. Tickets are
available from Mariantha 0208 352 3405 or
Germaine 07711 582 620.
THANK GOD ON FRIDAY
Make time to spend a moment alone with
God in thanksgiving, prayer and adoration.
The short talk, adoration and music will be
led by the Verbum Dei Missionaries.
Next session: Friday, 1st Nov, 8:00pm
(after Mass of All Saint’s Day at 7:30pm)
You are also most welcome to join the day
retreat at the Spirituality Centre
on Saturday, 2nd November, 10am-5pm.
LONDON CATHOLIC WORKERS
Giuseppe Conlon House of Hospitality are
seeking donations of Food Items and
Toiletries for their centre.
If you can avoid baked beans, tinned
spaghetti, and tinned soup please do.
See notice board for full details.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CAFOD is looking for volunteers with public
speaking skills to promote our work in
Parishes and Schools. Please email
tsheen@cafod.org.uk for further details.
THE GOD WHO SPEAKS:
Celebrating, living and sharing God's word
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
England and Wales have designated 2020
as a “Year of the Word” to celebrate the
10th anniversary of Verbum Domini (Pope
Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation on
‘The Word of the Lord’) and the 1600th
anniversary of death of St Jerome, who
translated the Bible into Latin.
The Year of the Word 2020 was launched
on 30th September 2019 (Feast of St
Jerome). For more info: cbcew.org.uk/
home/events/the-god-who-speaks/
BAPTISED AND SENT
Extraordinary Missionary Month: Oct 2019
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Pope
Benedict XV's Apostolic Letter Maximum
Illud, The Holy Father has chosen the
theme: ‘Baptised and Sent: The Church of
Christ on a Mission in the World’ for
Missionary Month 2019. Faith-sharing
booklets “Baptised and Sent” are now
available in the Piety Stall (£3 each).
Handout available at the back of the
church.
For more info: rcdow.org.uk/faith
JOB ADVERTISEMENT for
JUSTICE & PEACE COORDINATOR
Location: West Green Parish and Vaughan
House London
Contract type: Permanent
Job Purpose: To serve the Westminster
Justice & Peace Commission in coordinating
Justice and Peace endeavours across the
diocese
Salary: £32,000
Hours of Work: 35 hours per week
Closing Date: 25 Oct. 2019.
For full details and application –
https://jobs.rcdow.org.uk/justice-peace-
coordinator/
SECONDARY SCHOOLS OPEN EVENTS
Please check the folder at the back of the
church for the Secondary Schools/ Colleges
Open Events.
 MASS & SERVICE TIMES

Monday 9:15am THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR:

Tuesday 9:15am
Wednesday 9:15am The repose of the soul
Thursday 9:15am Liam Hanley
Friday 9:15am Dominic Kirk
Geraldine Brehony
Saturday 9:15am
Barney Morgan
6pm (Vigil Mass) Daniel Mealey
Sunday 9:00am and 11:00am James Brehony
John Danaher
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION RIP

Saturday 9:45am – 10:15am

RIP Anniversary
ADORATION Patrick Joseph Elmes
OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Patrick William Elmes
Marie Thérése Buckland
Tuesdays – after 9:15am Mass
First Friday of the month – 7:30pm
First Sunday of the month – after 11am Special Intentions
Mass Nellie
Christina
ROSARY Daniel

Weekdays at 8:45am (before mass)

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) Birthday

Sundays, after 9am and 11am Masses Kathy
and Thursdays, after the 9:15am Mass

NAMES NOT LISTED ABOVE ARE

PARISH TEAM LISTED IN OUR BOOK OF INTENTIONS
Fr. Joe Ryan, Parish Priest
Sr. Devy Pranadjaja, Parish Sister
Germaine Ng Ying, Parish Admin/Secretary

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

NEXT SUNDAY:
Tues. to Fri. 10am-12noon & 1pm-4pm 27th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
To make an appointment,
1st Reading : 2 Kings 5: 14-17
phone: 0208 888 5518 or
Psalm : Psalm 97: 1-4
email: westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
2nd Reading : 2 Timothy 2: 8-13
We cannot guarantee to have anyone Gospel : Luke 17: 11-19
available outside of these hours.