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)

17th /18th DECEMBER 2016

4TH SUNDAY OF AVDENT

Dear Parishioners,
The Lord himself therefore will give you a sign the maiden is with chid and will soon give
birth to a son whom she will call Emmanuel, a name which means God-is-with-us.
Isaiahs prophecy in the 8th century B.C. is that Ahazs wife, the queen, will give birth to a child
and that before this child knows how to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two
kings terrify you will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:16) If Ahaz trusts in God, Judahs two hostile
neighbours will eventually lose their power by the time the child is out of the nursery, and
that the child will continue Ahazs line in safety. Unfortunately, Ahaz refuses to trust in God.
He signs a coalition with Assyria, Assyria smashes the two hostile neighbours, but in return
the kingdom of Judah has to submit to worshipping the gods of Assyria. Oops .
The same prophecy from Isaiah is used in the Gospel of St. Matthew. Josephs decision to
interpret his dream as a sign from God meant that he became a key player in God the Fathers
plan to send Emmanuel God-with-us by the way, Emmanuel refers to the title of the child,
not the name. A name is a persons mission. Jesus means God saves. So, Jesuss mission is to
save his people from their sins. He is Emmanuel God-with-us as the God who saves.
Anyway, despite all logic Joseph trusted in God: He took his wife to his home, meaning into
his heart and home. Joseph trusted that Gods plan would be revealed even though he didnt
fully understand. Obviously, Josephs trust did work out in the most incredible way, and is still
being worked out in our lives today Or is it?
We are invited to be like Joseph and choose to interpret mundane events as miraculous signs
from God that say: God-is-with-me and God-is-saving-me. What do I mean? In the course of
our day, we endure the monotony of getting up, getting to work, school, etc. We have to work
in jobs that may not inspire us. We have to be with people we would rather not spend time
with. We have to try to love people work colleagues, neighbours, family, and friends - who
do not seem to appreciate us. We often feel that God-is-not-with us.
However, God is constantly giving us miraculous signs that He is with us. Where? It could be
through a bird singing, a baby or a child laughing, through a song that moves us, through a
pleasantly nostalgic smell, a kind touch, or word of affirmation. How do we know this? We
cant. But faith is not about merely believing that God exists. Faith is interpreting, in the
messiness of our life, seemingly mundane events as signs that God-is-with-us, to our home,
our heart, like Joseph, and acting immediately on it through praise and thanksgiving. I wonder
what wonderful signs of His love our saviour God-with-us is giving you today, and this week?
How did you immediately respond to Him? What effect did this have in your relationship with
him? Im curious!
Fr Damian

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY IN

LAST SUNDAYS COLLECTIONS
CATECHETICAL PROGRAMMES
All the activities take place in the Parish
Hall. Any enquiries please contact
Sr. Devy on 07403 784463
FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAMME
2017
For children who received their first
communion in May 2016, application forms
are available at the back of the church.
(First Reconciliation)
Parents Meeting, Saturday 7th January
2017 from 12noon to 1pm in the Jubilee Hall
Session One Saturday 7th January 2017
from 12noon to 1pm in the Parish Centre.
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME
Next session on January 07, 2017 at
3.30pm
SATURDAY MORNING RELIGIOUS
INSTRUCTION
Next session on 14th December (entrance
on Vincent Road N15)
FIRST COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Next session for First Communion
Candidates & Parents Meeting on 14th
December at 10am.
RCIA RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
OF ADULTS:
We ask you please to pray for the new
catechumens and candidates as they
continue their conversion journey. We, as a
parish, will journey with them as they
discover what it means to follow Christ as a
Roman Catholic. Next session on 14th
January 2017 in the Hume Hall: 4.005:45pm - Followed by 6pm Mass.
THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM
If you would like to have your child baptised
on the 14th January 17 or later, the next
sessions will be on Monday, 9th & 23rd
January 17.

Please contact the Parish Office to book your

place on the course.
EPIC: A JOURNEY THROUGH CHURCH
HISTORY
The history of our Faith is a fascinating
story of adventure, rebellion, tragedy and
triumph - a story 2,000 years in the making.
This course is a captivating and fast-paced
look at the story of the Catholic Church,
beginning with the lives of the apostles all
the way up to the present day. Join us
either on Tuesdays (7.30-8.00pm) or
Wednesdays (10.00-11.30am) in the
Jubilee Hall. Sessions will begin on
10th/11th January 2017. Cost: 15 for
study materials. To register or for more
information, contact Sr. Devy on
devy.fmvd@gmail.com or 07403 784463.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES IN THE PARISH:
CHRISTMAS PLAY REHEARSAL
This Sunday at 12noon for one hour, to
practice hymns for the Christmas Eve Mass.
All children are welcomed to come and take
part on this wonderful event!
MISSION CALENDARS:
Just a few words to say thank you for your
generosity last weekend, I collected
681.30.
A Happy and Holy Christmas and a Blessed
New Year
Sr Assunta
PARISH / FUND RAISING ACTIVITY:
TEAS /COFFEE
In the parish hall after (Sun.) 9am and 11are
Masses
CAROL SINGING
We will be Carol Singing
at Wood Green Shopping Mall
on Wednesday 21st December from 5pm.
Please come and join us. To let us know who
will be joining us, could you sign up, list at
the back of the church.

REMEMBRANCE TREE
Our Remembrance Tree is up and we
encourage parishioners to write the names
of their loved ones and hang it on the tree.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA
MON 24 THUR 27 APRIL 2017
We will join Cardinal Vincent on the
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Fatima.
3 nights full board accommodation.
Parish Pilgrimage: A full itinerary
including a visit to Lisbon on day of arrival,
daily Mass, 2x1/2 day excursions,
Price: 530 per person (excluding transport
to and from SJV Parish), Travel Insurance
26 per person, Price includes flights with
Air Portugal from London Heathrow.
200 Deposit, make cheque payable to
Tangney Tours Ltd. Booking forms are
available, please contact Germaine on
07711582620.
GREATER THINGS
CALLING ALL YOUNG ADULTS! (16-35)
Please note, the deadline date for coming to
the Youth 2000 retreat with me is
Wednesday 21st December. If they want to
go by themselves, they can, but I need to
make arrangements by that date.
Meet with God at 'Greater Things' Youth
2000 New Years Retreat Dynamic talks,
creative workshops, friendship, adoration &
worship, reconciliation & healing 5 pm
Thursday 29th December 2016 to 2:30 pm
Sunday 1st January Maria Fidelis School,
North Gower Street, NW1 2LY. Only 85
donation. If interested in joining Fr Damian,
please speak to him, or email:
damianryan@rcdow.org.uk
To register: contact 01328 821 153, or
online: info@youth2000.org
It promises to change your life
JUSTICE & PEACE OPEN EVENING AND
SHARING SOCIAL
J&P Commission invites you to their Annual
Open Day here at St. John Vianney Parish
Hall on Wednesday 18th January, starting
with Mass at 6.30 pm; followed by Social
and Sharing event!

COLD WEATHER VINNIE PACKS:

The St Vincent de Paul Society is
distributing 12,000 Vinnie Packs to the
homeless over the winter, mostly in the
Westminster diocese. See
svp.org.uk/node/330 for more information.
They cost about 3.20 to produce. Any
contribution will be very welcome.
Donations can be made by text VIMP33
[AMOUNT] to 70070 or by cheque made
out to SVP and sent to Vinnie Packs, PO Box
72264, and SW1P.
HOMELESS DURING ADVENT:
On behalf of all the homeless who have been
seen and fed during our Soup Runs, many
thanks to all the parishioners who have
been helping with the preparation of
sandwiches, soups, tea and coffee
throughout the year; to those who have
generously donated gifts and clothing;
especially our drivers and helpers who over
the years have been doing the soup runs.
Thank you for your help and support.
BAZAAR PRIZES
Waiting to be collected
Would the winners of the following raffle
prizes please check your tickets and contact
Germaine during office hours to arrange
collecting your prize.
Pink 446-450 Teachers whiskey (Mr
Amadi)
Pink 46-50 Box Biscuits (Kevin)
Pink 426-430 Bible Stories Book
(Clarise)

THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

MASS & SERVICE TIMES:
Sunday 18th December (4th Sunday of Advent)
(Sat. 6pm); Sun. 9:00 and 11:00am
Monday 19th to Saturday 24th December: 9.15am
CHRISTMAS EVE Saturday 24th December
Morning
9:15am
Family/Childrens Mass
7:00pm
Carol Service
10:00pm
Mass of Christmas
10.30pm
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS DAY)
Masses:
9:00 and 11:00am
Mon 26th to Sat 31st December: Mass 9.15am
NEW YEARS EVE
Mass at 6pm
10.00pm Service begins with review of 2016
Mass at 10.30pm
(to see in the New Year)
SUN. 1st JAN 2017 (New Years Day)
Mass: Sun. 9:00 and 11:00am
(Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God)

MASS & SERVICE TIMES

Mass 9:15am
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday,
Friday, Saturday
(Sat.) 6pm; Sunday: 9:00am and 11:00am
Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Saturday: from 9:45 am 10:15am

PARISH TEAM
Fr. Joe Ryan, Parish Priest
Fr Damian Ryan, Assistant Priest
Sr. Devy Pranadjaja, Parish Sister
Fr Samuel Danso, In Residence
Germaine Ng Ying, Parish Adm/Secretary

The repose of the soul:

Joe Doyle
Mary King
Thomas Nyland
RIP
RIP Anniversaries
Allan Essoo
Special Intentions:
Sr Gill
Shirley Pinder
Romayne Silva
Sr Sheila (in Boston)
Laura Harris
Bridget & Jerry King
Mary & Joe McSweeney
Birthday:
Gloria Hodgson
Rose Marie Soltz
Wedding Anniversary
Paixao (John) & Cristina Colaco (25th Anniv)
James & Suzette Ng Ying
For the sick and those in our parish
Pippa Da Cruz Ann Commins, Anne OBrien,
Betty Kennedy, Bridget Mitchell, Boniface
Pinto, Don OSullivan, Greta Lettice, Iris Brown,
Jean Adams, Kathy & John ORourke, Margaret
Kennedy, Maria DSouza, Mary, Catherine &
John OSullivan, Nellie OShea, Nelda & Angelo
Catani, Pantaleone Mansi, Pat Phelan, Patricia
Hunt, Marie Dorson, May Hempenstall, Rita
Mongelard, Sarah Namagambe, Sheila
Courtney, Sherry Arul, Timothy OConnor,
Trudy Sinton, Val Eaves, William Ng Ying,
Yvonne Joseph
Names not listed above, are listed
in our Book of Intentions.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS

Tues to Fri 10am-12noon, 1pm-4pm
To make an appointment
Phone: 0208 888 5518 or email
westgreen@rcdow.org.uk

We cannot guarantee to have anyone available outside

of these hours.