This Week's News

Mixer & Mash night

If you'd like to enjoy a meal together and get to know your fellow parishioners, please get your ticket after Mass from the Parish Social Committee.

Sausage and Mash, pudding, coffee and chat! All for just £15 pp.

Bring your own drinks for an inexpensive night out.

Saturday 3rd Feb - limited numbers - so if you can't get your ticket this weekend or next, email the office and we will reserve one for you. (Vg & GF options available, please specify when you buy your tickets)

Any money left over from covering the costs will go to the Parish funds. See you there!



Retrouvaille England and Wales


“If you want to uncover or reawaken the love, trust & commitment that brought you together & work through difficult times in your marriage visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk for our 2024 program.

Commencing with a Virtual weekend on 8-11 Feb ‘24 or a face-to-face weekend in Welwyn Garden City on 14-16 June 2024”



Celebrating Uganda


Please see the post from our neighbours at Badminton Road Methodist Church for a day celebrating Uganda and her neighbours on Sat 27th January to which we are all invited.
They are also asking for donations towards a new roof for a church in Uganda plus any unwanted tools (carpentry, mechanics, plumbing or sewing machines/threads/materials etc - but not gardening) If you can help please contact the church direct.

Thanks, Deacon Vincent, for your reflections for Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

1st Reading from the first book of Samuel 3:3-10,19.
The text we have today is recording Samuel’s first personal encounter with God. Samuel does not recognise God’s voice and thinks it is Eli calling him. After several visits to Eli in answer to the call, Eli recognises that the voice is the Lord’s. “Speak Lord, your servant is listening”, is the instruction Eli gives to Samuel, and so begins a lifelong intimate relationship between Samuel and God. We might dwell on this text and ask ourselves how many times God has called out to us and we have not recognised his voice. It might have been in one of the Sunday readings or a homily where God was reaching out to us. We need to pray earnestly and explore our spirituality with a good confessor. Then like Samuel we might begin to recognise God’s voice and embark on an intimate relationship with God ourselves.

Psalm 39: 2, 4, 7-10.
This song is following our theme of listening for the Lord. It combines listening and adhering to the word of God, and thanksgiving and giving glory for his great mercy. A beautiful son to dwell upon and let it sink into the depths of our being.

2nd Reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 6: 13-15,17-20.
Paul is speaking very strongly against the misuse of sexuality. The reason is that what we do affects others and those around us. W must act responsibly to protect the community from scandal and scandalous behaviour. We are Temples of the Holy Spirit, and our bodies should behave accordingly. The Holy Spirit is with us and part of us, so let us put ourselves in second place always when it comes to satisfying our desires. Let us conduct ourselves with the true freedom of being children of God and pay attention to his covenant.

The Holy Gospel according to John 1: 35-42.
John recognises Jesus through the revelation of the Spirit. He studies Jesus very hard, then says, “Look, there is the Lamb of God.” Our theme of listening and acting we follow the two disciples as they follow Jesus. When Jesus becomes aware of the he inquires what they want? They want to know where he lives, in other words they want to encounter him at a deeper level, so, they spend the rest of the day with him. One of the disciples is Andrew the brother of Simon Peter. He tells Peter that, “We have found the Messiah”. Simon Peter goes to see what this is all about and Jesus, addresses him and says, “Simon, son of John; you are to be called “Cephas” -meaning Rock.” It is all about hearing the word of the Sprit and responding to it. We are members of a family and community and the nations of the world; we rely upon good and open and truthful communication. Let us be discerning people like Andrew and Simon Peter, who explore the truth, and respond to it positively. John is the instigator in providing Jesus with his first two disciples. When we find the precious gift of God’s friendship it is important for us to respond positively to that and share the Good news. Let us follow Jesus as people of PEACE


God be patient with us as we learn how to become real disciples of the LORD.
Deacon Vincent

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