ST JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH

West Green
4 Vincent Road, London N15 3QH
Parish Office Tel No: 020-8888-5518 E-mail: westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
Facebook: West Green - St John Vianney Church
Our website: http://stjohnvianneywestgreen.co.uk/
(SJV Parish Centre 020-8888-5518)

2nd /3rd DECEMBER 2017 - FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Dear Parishioners,

If you could have one wish, what would you ask for?

Think about it carefully... will it be for something material

house, money, car? Will it for a soulmate, or perhaps for
certain relationships in your life to be healed? Will it be for
an end to all war, or a cure to all diseases? Will it be for you
to be a better person, or to live a different life?

...What do you really long for?

Sometimes we dont give ourselves permission to voice our longings, or to even

acknowledge them in the first place. As children we have no problem expressing our
dreams no matter how out of reach they might seem: I want to go to the moon! I want
to open a zoo one day! etc. But as we grow older and experience the challenges, failures
and disappointments of life, or made to feel ridiculous or naive, we get tired of dreaming.
We start conforming and settling for less, for much smaller and easier dreams... a new
phone or gadget, a holiday here or there, etc. Make no mistakes: the big dream is still in
there that desire which ultimately finds its root in our deepest longing for love, for
security, for peace, for happiness... we just become very good at ignoring it. Yet our
deepest longing is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and when we silence
that voice, our lives become somewhat empty and passion-less.

Today we begin Advent. It is a time of preparation before Christmas Day, a season of

waiting and anticipation; but the waiting will only be hopeful and meaningful if we have
something to look forward to, something we REALLY want and desire. Fr. Ron Rolheiser,
an OMI priest, writes, Advent is about longing, about getting in touch with it, about
heightening it; a longing which lets us touch Gods ultimate design for us. It is about
daring to write that wish-list for that ultimate gift which no store can provide but God
alone.It is about asking God to break through all obstacles and impossibilities in our
lives, and to come and fulfill that longing we carry in the depth of our heart; to recognise
how desperately we need Him, and to cry out as Isaiah did in the first reading today,
Oh that you would tear the heavens open and come down! (Isaiah 63:19)

I pray that this Advent, we may once again discover and embrace our deepest longings;
to have the courage to ask God for it and wait in hope and trust for Him to fulfill it.

God bless, Sr. Devy

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY IN
LAST SUNDAYS COLLECTIONS
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED
SACRAMENT
The first Sunday after the 11am Mass and
Tuesdays after our 9:15am Mass
TEAS / COFFEE
In the Parish Hall after
(Sun.) 9am &11am Masses. Volunteers
needed to help out on a rota basis
PARISH OUTREACH SOUP RUN
The next Soup Run is on
Sat. 9th December: Group D
Volunteer Driver/Helpers urgently needed.
CATECHETICAL PROGRAMMES
Any enquiries please contact
Sr. Devy on 07403 784463 or
Parish Office on 020 8888 5518
2017-2018
CATECHETICAL PROGRAMMES
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Next Session: Sat, 9th Dec. 2017,
10am in Hume Hall.
Mass on Sunday 10th Dec at 11am.
Leaders Meeting: 9th Dec 17 at 11.15am.
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 9th Dec. 2017
at 3.30pm in Hume Hall,
followed by Mass at 6pm.
SUNDAY MORNING
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
For children attending State Schools
Next session:
HOLY COMMUNION: Saturday, 9th Dec
at 10am in Hume Hall.
FIRST RECONCILIATION: Sunday 10th
Dec at 10am in the Parish Centre
THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM
If you would like to have your child
baptised on the 9th December or later, the
next session will be on Monday
4 & 18th Dec. 17 at 7.30pm in the Parish
th
Hall. Please contact the Parish Office to
book your place on the course.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR
ADULTS (RCIA):
Next session: 16th December 2017,
3.00-5:45pm in the Parish Centre.
OUR PARISH BAZAAR THANK YOU
We wish to thank all who have donated
items for our Grand Draw, Tombola and
various stalls, to those who baked cakes,
our caterers, the Confirmation Candidates
and numerous helpers at the stalls and all
who participated and supported our Parish
Bazaar last Sunday. We raised 1,126.31 as
part of our fundraising effort.
Congratulations to our winners!
Please see list at the back of the church.
PARISH MAGAZINE 2017
Our new parish magazine, THE LAST TEN
YEARS, including MY JOURNEY TO ST
JOHN VIANNEY compiled by Barbara
ODriscoll, will be available at the back of
the church for 5 per copy.
Copies of our 2007 magazine are still
available at 3.00 per copy.
MISSION CALENDARS
Two St Peter Claver nuns will be selling
their Mission calendars next week-end.
They belong to the same order as Barbara
and Danuta's sister, Sister Assunta.
AVAILABLE IN THE REPOSITORY
SUNDAY MISSAL 2018: 5.95 per copy.
(Readers: see Germaine for your copy.)
WESTMINSTER YEAR BOOK 2018:
4.50 per copy.
WE PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF
Madeleine Jordan, RIP
Funeral Mass will take place on Tuesday
12th Dec at 9:15am here at St John Vianney
Church, followed by burial at New
Southgate Cemetery. We keep her family
and friends in our prayers
May she rest in peace.
FILM NIGHT The next film night is on the
Sunday 10th December at 5.00pm, showing
Twelve Angry Men starring Henry Fonda.
 THANK GOD ON FRIDAY!
Make time to spend a moment alone with
God in thanksgiving, prayer and adoration
on 8th December from 7:30-9pm
in St John Vianney Church. There will be a
short talk, adoration and music led by the
Verbum Dei Missionaries.
All are welcome!
YOUTH PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA
There will be a pilgrimage to Fatima for
youths aged 16-20 years, on 23rd-28th
March 2018. If you are interested to join
this pilgrimage or know someone who
might like to, please contact Sr. Devy.
CHILDREN REHEARSAL:
We invite the children to participate in the
Christmas play rehearsal at the Church
after the 11am Mass today, 3rd December.
Please write your name on the list at the
back of the Church.
PAX CHRISTI ADVENT PEACE SERVICE
WHEN: 4th December 2017
TIME: 7:00 pm 9:30 pm
WHERE: St Aloysius Church, Phoenix Rd
Kings Cross, London NW1
LIVE SIMPLY
Invites you to a walk in Downhills Park
next Sunday, 10th December. Meet outside
the church after the 11am Mass.
HOMELESS DURING ADVENT:
Each year we have a basket in the church
for donations and presents for the
HOMELESS e.g.: socks, gloves, hats/caps,
scarves, toiletries (toothpaste, soap,
disposal- able razors) etc. Bigger items
such as CLEAN blankets, towels, mens
clothing will be greatly appreciated and
these can be handed in to the presbytery
during office hours before Friday 16th
December. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE
ITEMS ON THE DOORSTEPS OF THE
CHURCH, PARISH OFFICE or CENTRE.
Items left on the doorstep will be binned.
SOUTH TOTTENHAM REFUGEE
ALLIANCE
Meets again Thursday 7th December from
7-8.30pm at St John Vianneys Centre, 386
West Green Road N15 3QL. We are getting
down to allocating volunteers for particular
parts. New volunteers are most welcome.
For more info please contact Fr David
Walter, 0208 800 8374 or
dardaghwalter@gmail.com.CAF
CATHOLIC EDUCATION
The Government is making a critical
decision on whether to overturn the
admissions cap which prevents Catholic
schools from allowing all Catholic pupils to
attend. They have acknowledged that this
policy discriminates against Catholics and
promised to abandon it; now we need you
to tell them not to U-turn on their promise
to Catholics. Visit
http://catholicnews.org.uk or search for
Catholic Education in your search engine
to write to the Government and urge them
to drop their policy which bans new
Catholic schools.
OPEN MORNING FOR PROSPECTIVE
PARENTS ~ ST JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL
RECEPTION CLASS 2018
An Open Morning has been arranged for
Thursday 14th December 2017 at 9.15am at
St John Vianney Primary School for parents
who have children due to start Reception
Class in September 2018.
Parents, if this is of interest to you, please
call the school office on 020 8889 8421 to
book a place. They will endeavour to
answer any questions you may have about
the application process and about the
school. If your child was born between 1st
September 2013 and 31st August 2014 and
you wish to make an application for
admission; application packs are now
available from the school office, Stanley
Road London N15 3HD.
The deadline for ALL applications is
MONDAY 15th Jan 2018.
 THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR
Entrance Antiphon The repose of the soul:
To you, I lift up my soul, O my God. In you, I have Madeleine Jordan
trusted; let me not be put to shame. RIP
Nor let my enemies exult over me; and let none
who hope in you be put to shame. RIP Anniversary:
Liam Cummins
First reading Mary & John Archer
Isaiah 63: 16-17; 64: 1. 3-8
Special Intentions:
Psalm 79 Angela OConnor (Get Well)
God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine Mary OConnor (Get Well)
on us and we shall be saved. Jane Savidge (Get Well)
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9 Christina & John Danaher
Joan OCallaghan
Gospel Acclamation Helen Shine
Alleluia, alleluia! Catherine Aherne
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy Joe Breen
and give us your saving help. Janice Leckie (Get Well)
Alleluia! Adriane Delaney (Get Well)
Gospel: Mark 13: 33-37 Birthday
Communion Antiphon Bernie Campbell (102)
The Lord will bestow his bounty, and our earth
Christmas
shall yield its increase.
Bridie OReilly
Mary & John Murray
Fr John Buckley
MASS & SERVICE TIMES For the sick and those in our parish
Mass 9:15am Angela & Eduardo Pane, Angelina Boi,
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Anne OBrien, Barry Cove, Daniel St
Friday, Saturday Guillaume, Bernadette Stapleton, Con
Kelleher, Jean Poppleton, Joe Breen,
(Sat.) 6pm;
Maria Terzaga, Matthew Stapleton,
Sunday: 9:00am and 11:00am
Michelle Christodoulou, Sheila Courtney,
Sacrament of Reconciliation: Tom Reaney, William Wadhams, Yvonne
Saturday: from 9:45 am 10:15am Joseph
NAMES NOT LISTED ABOVE,
ARE LISTED IN OUR BOOK OF INTENTIONS.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

PARISH TEAM Tues to Fri 10am-12noon, 1pm-4pm
Fr. Joe Ryan, Parish Priest To make an appointment
Sr. Devy Pranadjaja, Parish Sister Phone: 0208 888 5518 or email
Germaine Ng Ying, Parish Adm/Secretary westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
We cannot guarantee to have anyone available
outside of these hours.