Dear Parishioners

During an idle moment this afternoon I looked at the chart plotting daylight hours and see that we have all benefited from 20 minutes of extra daylight compared to January 1st. Not much maybe but a very early indication that light is emerging out of the darkness. Now we pray that the COVID statistics move in the same direction. The roll out of the vaccine can give us all hope, but like waiting for the days of spring and signs of new life we must remain patient and place ourselves into the merciful hands of Jesus Christ who has conquered sin and death.

May I highlight some of the activities taking place here at St Margaret’s over the next few weeks that might be of interest to you.

Parish Pub Quiz, Friday, 22nd January, 8:30pm
Back by popular demand the Parish Quiz returns. Sadly, no prizes but if you would to join in a community event please log on through your zoom facility. Click here for the Zoom link.

Children’s Liturgy Alternate Sundays 9:45am – 10:15am
Every fortnight the Parish is running a children’s liturgy and should you wish your child to participate please contact the Parish Office for an activity pack with the materials for three sessions. The new packs will be available shortly and cover the alternate weeks after half-term.

The link to join the Zoom sessions is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81756153513?pwd=QTkwWHR2bkNyQzh5NjNtTi9FVkpadz09

Confirmation
The Parish Confirmation course will begin after half-term (lockdown permitting) and be completed in the summer. If your son or daughter is in Year 9 or above and would like to participate please contact Deacon Joseph Estorninho on josephestorninho@rcdow.org.uk

Enquiry course for those wishing to be received into the Catholic Church
This coming Tuesday, 26th January at 7:30pm Fr Peter will be leading the meetings on becoming a Catholic using material from Alpha and reading through one of the Gospels. If you are interested in participating or might know someone who does please let them know.

The link for the sessions is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88149772355?pwd=Y2tjV29odG5ON0N2OWpvazlaS01zdz09

Prayer Course
This Thursday the Parish begins the Prayer Course, along with St Elizabeth’s Parish and St Mary’s University. Peter Astley the presenter will be leading us through different forms of prayer to help us build up our own prayer life.

The meetings start this Thursdays, 21st January, 7:30-8:30pm and please register at https://stelizabethofportugal.churchsuite.co.uk/events/khjxephq

Lenten Alms
This year the Parish will support one charity during Lent and if you would like to present a charity as a possible choice for our collective fundraising please contact the Parish Office for an application form. Applications should be received by Sunday 31st January.

With every good wish
Fr Peter

Newsletter: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Sunday Mass can be accessed here.

Click the links below to download the Page, Mass sheet, Mass readings and the Look colour in sheet for the children.

Newsletter: The Baptism of the Lord

The Sunday Mass can be accessed here.

Click the links below to download the Page, Mass sheet, Mass readings and the Look colour in sheet for the children.

Heart speaks to Heart' Prayer course January to March 2021
This month St Margaret’s will be joining St Elizabeth's Parish for a course on prayer led by Peter Asprey.

A number of parishioners have already undertaken the course and found it very helpful, and so I thought it would beneficial to offer the repeat course more widely within the Parish. Registration takes place through the St Elizabeth's parish website, click here to register.

I hope that those who choose to participate will be assisted in developing their prayer life. As Catholics it is easy to fall into the temptation that we belong to the Church in terms of cultural identity rather than in see the Church as the place to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship is at the heart of the Church's life, and sustains every Parish mission.

Newsletter: Second Sunday of Christmas

The Sunday Mass can be accessed here.

Click the links below to download the Mass sheet, Mass readings and the Look colour in sheet for the children.

Christmas Thanks
May I thank all those who assisted in different ways with regard to the Christmas Masses. The recent crop of Track and Trace notifications in addition to London been placed in Tier 4, and with NHS requests for vulnerable parishioners to isolate, resulted in Mass attendance being sparser than originally predicted as parishioners stayed at home fulfilling their civic duty.

I am pleased to say that the Parish was able to provide 6 Masses for the Christmas and those who were able to come and celebrate with all due precautions. The two children’s Masses managed to deliver a socially-distanced drama of the Gospel with Mary, Joseph and angels and shepherds. Thank you to our families who provided the two casts. Christmas was celebrated in the best way possible under the circumstances.

Thank you must be said to Kathryn James and Anne Edes for the Nativity Play; Alison Drew for the flowers; the musicians for providing music at all six Masses, Gavin Evenhuis, Liz Benedetto Emma Higham, Leslie and Eleanor Hill; the many stewards and cleaners who made the Church a safe environment for everyone, and to Caroline Estorninho for live streaming the night Mass on Christmas Eve. Caroline’s expertise has allowed for Mass to be streamed on a regular basis each Sunday for those parishioners unable to attend due to shielding. The combined numbers of those who participate in person and those on line is the great majority of those who attended before the pandemic which is very encouraging.

Desmond McGinley RIP
May I pass on the very sad news that Des McGinley died after a short illness a week last Sunday, 20th December at West Mid Hospital. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for Jean and her son Duncan at this time. Des was a long-standing member of this Parish and always very supportive of the mission of St Margarets, clergy and laypeople alike. I will miss his kindness, quiet demeanour, erudition and incisive comments about the Church and my own work here.

The date for his funeral has not yet been established but numbers are restricted owing to government regulations. The funeral will be live streamed and details will be on the Parish website.

May I wish you all a very Happy New Year and eventual release for every permutation of lockdown and shielding.

Fr Peter