St. Joseph's, Highgate

ST. JOSEPH'S HIGHGATE
PARISH BULLETIN

St Joseph’s Church, Highgate Hill,
London N19 5NE
Tel. 020 7272 2320 Fax. 020 7281 9433
Web: www.stjosephshighgate.org.uk
e.mail: (name)@stjosephshighgate.org.uk

One of the features of our modern world is the speed of change. When I was growing up the world seemed a very stable place. There was weeks of wonderment and conversation to be got out of a new change – like when we didn’t have to risk breaking an arm to wind up the car any more – the engine could be started simply by the turn of a key! And when the horses and carts stopped coming down the road – the milk-man had one, the coal-man had one, and the vegetable seller had one – (and none of them wore nappies, not like the jarveys’ horses in Killarney, so you can imagine how well fertilised the local gardens were!) – and were replaced by motorised vans, we wondered where would all this innovation end! I’m not convinced the milk-men were too impressed – we lived quite close to the dairy, and we could see many of them struggling back at about one mile an hour after finishing their rounds, because their batteries on the electric floats were practically dead.

I can still remember the excitement at home when we got our first electric ‘record-player’ to replace the wind-up gramophone with the one-inch nails for needles that had been there since the time of John McCormack! And the record player was there for a long time before eventually being replaced by the ‘music centre’. And my mother couldn’t believe her luck when they invented the pressure-cooker – no need any more for a multiplicity of pots and pans for one meal! Do people have them any more, I wonder – it’s years since I’ve seen one.

The whole subject of change was coming into my mind during the week, not simply because of all the changes we’ve had to deal with in regard to the texts for mass. Somewhere during the week I came across a discussion on all the new words that are coming into our language – many of them as a result of the world of computers and internet. Time was when only birds tweeted, but now the whole world seems to be at it. That’s when they’re not blogging or googling or interfacing or whatever! But I came across a new word, to me anyway, during the week, that had nothing to do with computers, and that gave me inspiration for the next sport I’ll take up when my golfing career ends. The word was ‘chairobics’ – which essentially seemed to mean ‘exercises you do while sitting on a chair’. It seemed to encompass such skills as reaching above your head, or squeezing a rubber ball in one’s hand, or twiddling ones toes. I’m confident these are skills I will eventually master! Might even become a chairobics champion at some future Olympics.

Dealing with people’s slowness to change was a continual frustration for Jesus. They were set in the concept of what a Messiah was – he was going to be a political as well as religious leader. To get them to change that expectation, and to realise that his Kingdom was not of this world was a difficult task. While they could readily wonder at, and rejoice in his many miracles, particularly the curing of the sick, they were much slower to appreciate that this was but an outward expression of his call for inner healing – healing the illnesses of the soul. His was a constant call to repent of the old ways and change to a new way of living, loving without limits. For ourselves too, isn’t it remarkable how quickly we can change our gadgets, and even our language, but how slow we seem to be in making those important changes that would make us better and more loving people.

We pray for the sick and housebound of our parish – particularly Bob O’Rourke: w e remember those who have died recently– Patricia O’Keefe (funeral 11.00am Monday 6 th February), Sr. Siobhan Shelley CP, Patricia Dockery, Patrick Brennan, Teresa Plucinski; and we pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time - Patrick Byrne, William & Christina McGarry, Rosaleen Fox, Maura Mahon, Bridgette Dumas .

The Archbishop will be inviting to this Mass - which will take place in Westminster Cathedral, on Saturday 26 May 2012 at 3.00 pm. - all couples in the Diocese who are celebrating their 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th and 60th+ wedding anniversary of Catholic marriage in 2012. If you qualify, please give your parish clergy the following details: husband and wife’s names, wedding date, full postal address and email (or telephone number, if no email).

Each year the Cathedral is absolutely full, with standing room only for those who arrive late, so unfortunately there is no room to include family and friends in the invitation. An exception is made for very elderly/frail who would not be able to cope during the 1hr 30min Mass without support, but you are asked to clear that with the Cathedral authorities in advance.

The collection last Sunday amounted to £2,060. In addition we also receive standing orders worth around £475 per week. Thank you for your continuing generosity.

As this is Education Sunday, there is an exit collection at all masses this weekend in aid of the Catholic Education Service.

For parents, families and carers of all faiths, remembering Babies and Children, especially those lost before or around birth, at the Whittington Hospital. This Sunday 5th February 3.00pm, in the staff area of N19 Restaurant (entry via Whittington Court on Level 1).

The Archbishop will be the Chief Celebrant, at the annual Mass in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 11th February 2012 at 2.00 pm. The Sacrament of the Sick will be administered during the Mass by the Archbishop, Auxiliary Bishops and Priests who will be concelebrating the Mass.

This is planned to take placehere at St. Joseph's on Saturday, 3rd March at 3 pm. It will be led by Fr. Michael Gwinnell. Please see poster in church porch.

Are you aged 18+? Would you like to be involved in outreach work during the 2012 Olympic Games? The Joshua Camp will be hosting and training hundreds of Catholics from around the world to serve at the Games. If you would like to serve or perhaps even participate in a leadership role please contact Sr. Emma Nolan of the Youth Support Team: sremmanolan@rcdow.org.ukor 020 7798 9360. For more information on the event, see www.thejoshuacamp.com

The January Draw for the 100 Club was held last Saturday. The number of entries was 165 and the winners were: £400 Michael Fitzpatrick (105), £100 Nigel Maitland (18), £50 Joe Catlin (188), £50 Paul O’Shea (13), £50 F.J. Blackwell (113). A copy of the results may be obtained from the Parish office on request. Next month's draw will be held as usual on the last weekend of the month, Saturday 25th February, and subscriptions should be paid by the previous Sunday, 19 th February. Thank you once again to all who support the parish in this way.

We all seem to be having difficulty finding our way around the new Mass Books that we’ve had since the introduction of the New Missal – particularly for the common responses, Gloria, Creed etc. Fortunately we hadn’t disposed of the interim cards we used from September to Advent, so we have replaced them in the seats for your convenience. Please do not remove them from the Church.

On Saturday 24 March there will be a National Catholic Youth Congress held at Wembley Arena. The organisers are hoping for 8000 young people and young adults to attend. (6,500 places have already been taken.) Bookings are for groups – from parishes, schools, youth groups etc. If there were sufficient interest we would be willing to organise a group from here – contact Fr. Pat. For individuals or small groups there are tickets available through Vaughan House to be part of a Westminster diocesan group – for these you should contact this website - http://cymfed.org/congress/flame/2012/ - for more information.