Celebrating 150 years of Passionist Parish Life
12^th October 2008 –  28^th Sunday of the Year

Farewell from Fr. Mark and Fr. Charles

Fr. Mark Writes:

As the time comes to say farewell to you all in the Parish of St. Joseph’s, my first reaction is one of gratitude: for your welcome to me three years ago, and for all the many and varied ways in which you have been a support and encouragement since then. I would like to thank all those who, often in unseen ways, keep the wheels of Parish life turning – they are too numerous to mention by name but they form a loyal and cheerful team without whom the Parish Priest’s life here would be impossible.

The resident Passionist Community have been a tremendous support to the Parish Team of Frs. Christopher, Charles and myself and I would like to pay special tribute to Frs. Malachy, Conleth and Timothy who have been (and still are) so willing to help out with daily Mass, funerals and baptisms.

I have also had the most dependable and creative support of the Parish Pastoral Council and the parish Finance Committee. Their advice, encouragement, and professionalism have been invaluable.

It would be impossible to exaggerate the amount of work that Shirley, our Pastoral Assistant, does – this has been nowhere more apparent than in the huge amount she and her helpers have done in the course of our 150^th celebrations. Very special thanks to her for her enormous contribution, and to Ed in the parish office and Frank in the sacristy and treasury for all their tireless work.

Do keep up the great family spirit which is such a hallmark of St. Joseph’s parish community. Exercise all your gifts for the building up of the community. And thank you for all you have shared with me.

God bless,

Mark CP

and Fr. Charles:

Dear Friends,

I fully endorse everything that Fr. Mark has said in his farewell. I would just like to add that the
twenty-four years I have spent in the Parish have been very rewarding years of priesthood. I have been enriched in so many ways by your love and support.

I pay tribute to Frs. Hubert and Christopher for the great welcome when I joined them in the early days, and Fr. Daniel when he became Parish Priest. We always worked as a team. I became a great friend of Shirley Taylor who with her great energy and gifts always amazes me.

The decision to come here was Our Lady’s Birthday. I leave on a special day of Our Lady of Fatima.
May Our Lady always bless the wonderful people of this Parish of St. Joseph and especially St. Joseph’s School staff, pupils and parents, who were like a family to me.

Keep me in your prayers,

God bless you always,

Fr. Charles

We pray for the sick in the parish and the hospitals, and for Ritaclare Britton, Rachel Jury, Yvonne Hoey, Janet Shrubshall, Carolyn Moran, Marva Barnett, Mary Hynes, David Brown, Anne Bergin, Joseph McCarthy, Rev. Phillip Storr-Venter, Margaret Wilkes, Dr. Kali Collie, Kathleen Keane; for those lately dead: Hubert Pinto; and for those whose anniversaries occur: Margaret Turner, Ida Webster, Thomas Foley, Alice McGartland, Annie Cardiff, Alice Saunders, David & Grace McKane, Micko Guthrie;

Christian Stewardship  Last week's Offertory was £1,985.45 - Planned Giving: £952.99 - Loose Cash: £1,032.46 Heating & Lighting: £19.45    In addition we also receive standing orders worth around £670 per week.

October – Month of the Rosary.
Pope Benedict has asked us to pray the Rosary for peace in all nations.

Our Lady of Willesden October Rosary Procession, this Sunday 12^th October. Torchlight procession 7.00pm from Our Lady of Willesden, 1 Nicoll Rd. NW5, returning to the church for homily and Benediction. See poster in porch.

St.Joseph’s in Catholic Life Magazine Copies of the August edition of Catholic Life Magazine, with an article on our church of St. Joseph’s, are still available in the Repository shop at the back of the church, along with the usual range of books, cards and gift items, and the weekly Catholic papers.

School Vouchers Morrisons supermarkets are offering vouchers for gardening in schools. We would welcome any you may collect, for St. Joseph’s school.

Issues in Theology Churches Together Theology Group continues its Autumn series with a discussion on Luther's response to the devil: 'I am baptised!' Luther on faith and baptism this Monday 13^th October, 8:00pm, at 42 Onslow Gardens, N10. See porch noticeboard for further meetings.

Walk-in Photo-Portrait Studio Studio quality portrait by professional photographer, at St. Augustine's Church,  Archway Road/Langdon Park Rd, N6  Saturday 8th November, 11 am-3 pm. From only £7.50, time and materials given free by the photographer and proceeds will aid St. Augustine's.

Interfaith Prayer for Peace Sunday 19^th October 3.00pm, hosted by the Quakers at Friends House, 173 Euston Road, NW1 (opposite Euston station) at the start of the annual Week of Prayer for World Peace.

Welcoming Christ in our Community Migration, the changing face of London is the theme for Westminster Diocese’s Annual Justice and Peace Day on Saturday 25^th  October, 10am – 4pm at St. John Fisher Parish Hall, Imperial Close, North Harrow. Bring food to share for lunch. See porch noticeboard or contact 020 8888 5518 or justiceandpeace@rcdow.org.uk

Concert in aid of The Passage Day Centre for the Homeless There will be a Koto (Japanese Harp) concert with traditional Japanese dance this Thursday 16^th  October at 7.00pm in Westminster Cathedral Hall, Ambrosden Ave. SW1. Tickets to include Japanese refreshments are £20 from The Passage, St. Vincent’s Centre, Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1NL, Tel 020 7592 1856

Irish Centre Ceili Sundays 8.00-11.30pm at at the Irish Centre, Murray St. Camden Town, NW1. Music by Tony Kearney, licensed bar, entry £4. All welcome, partners not required, basic tuition at 8.00pm. Special guests this Sunday 12^th October, the fabulous Cupla from Carlow. Please support the last and only weekly Ceili in London. Contact Anton Coyle  020 7272 5815.  

St. Joseph’s Pastoral Centre in Hendon, supports people with learning disabilities and their families. They are looking for volunteers to join their Management Committee. If you are interested please contact Sue Pratt on 020 8202 3999 or at sue@stjoseph.org.uk or visit www.stjoseph.org.uk .

Russian Language for Beginners Tuition from scratch by Russian Studies post-graduate: Cyrilic alphabet, pronunciation, basic grammar. £15 per hour Contact 020 8341 7419, c.veal@ucl.ac.uk

Readings for next w/e: 29^th Sunday of the Year   
Isaiah 45:1,4-6, Ps 95, Thessalonians 1:1-5, Matthew 22:15-21

Feast Days this Week: Mon 13^th   St.Edward the Confessor, Tues 14^th   St.Calistus, Wed 15^th   St.Teresa of Jesus (of Avila), Thu 16^th    St. Hedwig, also St.Margaret Mary Alacoque, Fri 17^th      St.Ignatius of Antioch, Sat 18^th      St.Luke the Evangelist