A new idea . . . This week's newsletter.

Here is this week's newsletter.  Another way to view our parish newsletter . . .

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All is ready . . .

Wishing everyone a very Happy and Blessed Christmas!

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Are you going to be there? Looking forward to seeing you. Don't forget to sign the list in the porch or there might not be enough pizza!

Saints Joachim and Ann . . .

Today here at St Ann's we celebrate our Patronal Feast of St Joachim and St Ann.

An ancient tradition from the second century attributes the names of Joachim and Ann to be the parents of Our Blessed Lady.

Today we entrust the mother and father of Our Lady with all our needs, particularly the needs of our families and the sanctity of our homes.

We pray in the Opening Prayer of today's Mass:

God of our fathers,

you gave Saints Joachim and Ann

the privilege of being the parents of Mary,

the mother of your incarnate Son.

May their prayers help us to attain

the salvation you have promised to your people.

St Joachim and St Ann, pray for us.

Mass for all at St Ann's . . .

My brief visit home is coming to an end. I offered Mass today with my family for all at St Ann's.

The photos are of my parish church of St Asicus, Frenchpark.

I hope you've been enjoying lovely weather as I have here and that it continues for all the tennis fans in our parish now that Wimbledon is just beginning. ( I don't think I ought to mention that other national sport at the moment!)

News from across the Irish Sea . . .

I gather that you've been having a little bit of snow in Banstead! I'm sure you're all aware that I haven't escaped the bad weather by being over here for a few days. Luckily I got home before the snow arrived and the airport was closed for a while.

I just thought I'd write a few lines to let you all know that I was delighted to offer Mass for all at St Ann's today and ask God's blessings on the families of our parish.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament . . .

Another quote from that marvellous little book, 'A Curé of Ars Prayer Book':

When we are before the Blessed Sacrament, instead of looking about, let us shut our eyes and our mouth; let us open our heart: our good God will open His; we shall go to Him, He will come to us, the one to ask, the other to receive; it will be like a breath from one to the other. What sweetness do we not find in forgetting ourselves in order to seek God! The saints lost sight of themselves that they might see nothing but God, and labour for Him alone; they forgot all created objects in order to find Him alone. This is the way to reach Heaven.

We are privileged here at St Ann's to be able to have Eucharistic Adoration on three days of the week. Now that the school holidays are over we have returned to our regular pattern of 3-day Adoration:

Tuesday: 10 am - 8 pm

Wednesday: 10 am - 7 pm

Thursday: 7 am - 8 pm

If you are passing by; out shopping or on your way home after dropping children off at school, do please pop in and 'say hello' to Our Blessed Lord.

My Dear Jesus,

I adore you in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.

I adore and praise your Most Holy Name.

I adore and worship your Body hidden in the Sacrament.

I adore your humility in veiling your Godhead.

I adore your Most Sacred Heart masked by these shadows.

I adore for ever the Most Holy Sacrament.

Amen.

Tempus fugit . . .

I'm speechless! (I know that's not like me!)

I was overwhelmed by so many aspects of yesterday's celebration; the beautiful Mass; being surrounded by my some of my brother priests from the Deanery and further afield and the presence of some of the Friars of the Renewal who travelled all the way from Canning Town especially for the Mass of thanksgiving; by Fr Emmanuel's marvellous homily and by the sheer number of people who were there to celebrate with me.

Amongst the sea of faces I spotted many friends from my former parishes of St John the Evangelist, Horsham and St Joseph's, Epsom plus a huge number from our own parish and some of the ministers from the Banstead Five Churches.

I was very moved by the genuine warmth and affection of everyone present.

I have already thanked everyone of course but can never repeat if often enough. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who was involved in this anniversary celebration of this most special event in my life - my Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood.

Here is a slideshow of the photos taken last night which I think captures the spirit of the evening. Here's to the next 10 years!

All Roads Lead to Rome . . .

Well, here we are 'at the 11th hour'; all packed and ready to go. I'm very much looking forward to our parish pilgrimage to Rome beginning tomorrow.

I'm always delighted to pay a visit to my 'old stamping ground' and it will be good to be in the company of parishioners some of whom will be making their first visit to the Eternal City.

Please be assured of our prayers for all at St Ann's as we visit the various sites on our pilgrimage. I trust that you will also keep us in your prayers.

I hope to be able to send you a brief message now and again throughout the week to let you know how we're getting on so do please keep 'popping by' the blog to see.