ST JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH
West Green
4 Vincent Road, London N15 3QH
Parish Office: 020-8888-5518 E-mail: westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
Facebook: West Green - St John Vianney Church
Website: http://stjohnvianneywestgreen.co.uk/
23rd/24th March 2019 –3rd Sunday of Lent
Dear Parishioners
Our first reading from Genesis tells us
how God appeared to Moses in the burning
bush. He revealed his name as: “I am who I
am” or “I am the Existing One”, Yahweh. God
has heard the cries of an oppressed people
and sends Moses to free them. It leads to
the exodus and our liberation in and
through Jesus.
In the Gospel, we see that Jesus rejects the
idea that accidents and misfortunes that
befell people are not a punishment for sin. It
raises the whole question as to why
innocent people suffer and why is there so
much tragedy in our world. Whether we
look at the misfortune of Grenfell Tower or
the murder of 50 people in New Zealand or
all the other tragedies, we are looking at a
sad element of our human nature. We are
given freedom. Sometimes we misuse it
with tragic consequences. We cannot blame
God for our human tragedies and sufferings.
We have to be responsible human beings.
We have responsibilities for our own
actions. Putting the blame on others is not
answer. The “if only syndrome”, is not the
way to respond to our human wrongdoings.
And so to the fig tree! Note it was planted
in a vineyard. It had a very special place.
Note too, that a fig tree takes three years to
reach maturity, but if it didn’t produce a
crop in time, it was unlikely ever to produce
figs. But the gardener, who knew about
growing figs, was a very patient man. He
asked for one more year when the tree
could be fed and cared for. If that didn’t
work … then cut it down next year!
We can learn so much about Jesus here.
He is patient with us. He gives us second
chances. He gives us the benefit of the
doubt!
Thank God that he is so patient with us.
When we are trying to do our best, even if
we fail, God loves us so much that he “puts
up” with our faltering steps. Every effort we
make during Lent is so important. How we
avail of the chances given us in PRAYER,
FASTING and ALMSGIVING is so important.
Entering into the spirit of these activities is
so vital and recognising that what we are
doing is for God’s glory and coming to the
help of our brothers and sisters. i.e. the
£1,000 given last weekend for CAFOD; your
response to the LiveSimply-Lenten-Soup-
lunch today, and the other activities which
show concern for all our brothers and
sisters in Christ.
Kurdish Centre: I visited the Kurdish
Centre on Green Lanes last Thursday. I met
the three hunger strikers, Ali, Nahide and
Mehmet. They started the fast on 14th March
in solidarity with the imprisoned leader,
Abdullah Ocalan. He has been in prison on
Imrali Island since 1999 with no visitors,
family or lawyers in the last five years. Over
1,000 Kurdish people in prison and out are
on hunger strike at present. I’m looking at
ways you can get to meet these three who
are on hunger strike. [See leaflet for more
details].
That’s all for now! Fr Joe
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
IN LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTIONS
CATECHETICAL PROGRAMMES 2019
For any enquiries, please contact Sr. Devy
on 07455 544 065 or the Parish Office.
SUNDAY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Next session: Sun, 31st March at 10am
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Next session: Sat, 27th April at 10am
+ Mass at 11am on Sun, 28th April
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Next session: Confirmation Programme –
Session with Parents
Sat, 30th March, 3:30pm – 5:45pm
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR
ADULTS (RCIA)
Next session: Sat, 6th April at 4pm
BAPTISM FOR INFANTS
If you would like to have your child baptised
on the 11th May or later, the next session
will be on Monday, 6th May at 7.30pm
in the Parish Hall.
Please contact the Parish Office or Sr. Devy
to book your place on the course.
PARISH OUTREACH
SANDWICH MAKING (PREPARATION):
in the Parish hall on Friday 29th after Mass.
Next SOUP RUN: Group D
at 4.30pm on Sat, 30th March 2019
FUNERAL FOR SEAN McKEON RIP:
Who died on 20 March 2019, will take place
here on Thursday 4 April at 10am
Followed by cremation. May he rest in
peace. Our thoughts and prayers for his
family and friends.
LENTEN ACTIVITIES
STATIONS
OF THE CROSS
+ SACRAMENT OF
RECONCILIATION
Fridays at 7.30pm
GUIDED PRAYER
Meetings with individual guide on
Fridays, 29th March & 5th April.
Leaflet with further details at the back of the
church, along with the sign-up sheet.
PASSOVER MEAL
Wednesday 10th April at 7:00pm
in the Parish Hall.
Tickets are available at the back of the
church
WALKING PILGRIMAGE TO SANTIAGO DE
COMPOSTELA
The next meeting for those who will be
going on this pilgrimage will be held today,
Sunday, 24th March at 10am in the
meeting in the Jubilee Hall.
SOUP – SOLE FOOD – SOUL FOOD
ST JOHN VIANNEY LIVE SIMPLY GROUP
Invite you to share a Simple Soup Lunch
today, Sunday 24th March
after the 11am Mass;
Suggested donation: minimum £2/person.
Supporting CAFOD and in solidarity with the
poor who have so little to eat.
Please come along after the 11am Mass to
support the Livesimply-soup-lunch.
ST PATRICK’S CELEBRATION
Thanks to all who attended and participated
in our celebration which helped to raise the
sum of £820.10 including expenses.
Special thanks to our performers, chefs and
caterers. Well done!!
DON’T FORGET
The clocks for forward
next weekend.
 CAFOD LENT FAST:
THANK YOU so much for your continued
support and generosity which to date raised the
sum of £1,027.13. CAFOD can claim an extra
25% at no extra cost to you for those who Gift
aided their donation.
Come and join the Alpha
course on Mondays,
7:15pm
Next session 25th
March.
We will share in the hall before the talks!
This will be followed by group discussions
on our beliefs.
Everyone is welcome – you don’t have to be
part of the Parish – so pass the word!
You can sign up on the form at the back
of the Church or contact
Phil and Joe Di Leo on 0208 889 4979
or email pndileo@btinternet.com.
INSIGHT II: WOMEN & MEN OF THE BIBLE
This course offers an insight into the lives of
various women and men in the Bible,
specifically from the Old Testament.
Next session: Tues, 26th March (7:30pm)
or Wed, 27th March (10:00am)
THANK GOD ON FRIDAY!
Friday, 5th April, 7:30-9:00pm.
Make time to spend a moment alone with
God in thanksgiving, prayer and adoration.
The short talk, adoration and music will be
led by the Verbum Dei Missionaries.
All are welcome!
[There will be no Stations of the Cross]
ST. JOHN VIANNEY NURSERY APPLICATIONS
SEPTEMBER 2019
If your child was born between
1 September 2015 and 31st August 2016 and
st
you wish to apply for a Nursery place for
September 2019 at St John Vianney School,
please come and collect an application pack
from the school office. We offer FREE 15 or
30hour (if eligible) spaces.
Address: Stanley Road, Tottenham N15 3HD
Telephone: 020 8889 8421
PLANNING GIVING & GIFT AID
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES for 2019-2020
ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION.
We thank all those who support our parish
through the weekly offerings, offertory
envelopes and Standing Orders.
This weekend and over the next three weeks,
we will be giving out the envelopes for your
offertory donations from 7th April 2019.
On collection of your envelopes, please check
that your details are correct and let us know if
there are any corrections to be made.
New members are welcome to join the Planned
Giving Scheme – register at the back of the
church.
If you are an Income Tax Payer and not on Gift
Aid please consider signing a Gift Aid
declaration; as a registered charity, your
offertory contributions increases this gift by
25p for each £1 given, if your annual income
tax is more that the tax we will reclaim. An
additional source of income to the parish at no
added cost to you.
If you no longer pay tax please contact
Germaine. Thank You!
CARDINAL’S LENTEN APPEAL 2019
The Cardinal’s Lenten Appeal funds
initiatives in parishes, schools and charities
in the three mission areas of: Marriage and
Family Life; Youth and Evangelisation;
and the Church’s Service in Society. This
year, the Cardinal is asking us to think about
the last of these in particular, and he has
launched a new programme focusing on the
food poverty that affects so many across the
Diocese. Much of this poverty remains
hidden. Donation Leaflets are available.
CARE4CALAIS APPEAL
The French police have cleared the
migrant/refugee camps in Calais; they
destroyed tents, sleeping bags and clothing.
Care4calais have put out an emergency
appeal for tents, sleeping bags and joggers,
also back-backs.
We would like to follow up this appeal as
soon as possible.
 MASS & SERVICE TIMES
Monday 9:15am
THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR
Tuesday 9:15am
The repose of the soul:
Wednesday 9:15am
Thursday 9:15am Sean McKeon
Sean Culhone
Friday 9:15am Nora Connolly
7:30pm [Stations of the Cross John Danaher
and Sacrament of Reconciliation] Frank Flanagan
Saturday 9:15am Jack & Peggy Danaher
RIP
[6pm – Sunday Vigil Mass]
Sunday 9:00am and 11:00am RIP Anniversary
Peter McEvoy
Michael Mills
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Ange Michael Jhuman
Friday 7:30pm – 8:00pm Sr Mary Bonaventure Murphy
Saturday 9:45am – 10:15am
Special Intentions:
ADORATION
OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Manuel Lopez
Christina Danaher
Tuesdays after 9:15am Mass
Ernest Carrott Sr.
First Friday of the month at 7:30pm
Anne
First Sunday of the month after 11am Mass
Adelia Owens
ROSARY
Thanksgiving:
Weekdays at 8:45am (before mass) Fr Joe and the Parishioners of St John
First Saturday of the month at 3:00pm Vianney

MORNING TEAS /COFFEE

(in the Parish Hall)
Sundays, after 9am and 11am Masses
and Thursdays, after the 9:15am Mass
And for the sick and those in our parish
NAMES NOT LISTED ABOVE
ARE LISTED IN OUR BOOK OF INTENTIONS.

NEXT SUNDAY: 2nd SUNDAY IN LENT

1st Reading: Joshua 5: 9-12
Psalm: Psalm 33: 2-7 PARISH OFFICE HOURS
2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 17-21
Tues. to Fri. 10am-12noon, 1pm-4pm
Gospel: Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32
To make an appointment
Phone: 0208 888 5518 or
PARISH TEAM email westgreen@rcdow.org.uk
Fr. Joe Ryan, Parish Priest
Sr. Devy Pranadjaja, Parish Sister We cannot guarantee to have anyone available
Germaine Ng Ying, Parish Admin/Secretary outside of these hours.