Lent begins this Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday there will be three Masses with ashes distributed at each one – at 9.30am, 11.00am (a funeral Mass for the late Vincent Groden), and 7.00pm.

Lent is the Catholic Ramadan – a time for Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. But it is meant to be voluntary. The Church makes it compulsory to Fast and abstain from all meat only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The rest of the time it is an obligation on us to choose for ourselves how we are going to do all three.

Environmentalists and Dieticians encourage us these days to have days free of red meat. Many of us will choose to do that a number of times a week, at least on Fridays (meat of any sort); some do it already for health reasons or simply because they cannot afford it. You can “fast” from alcohol, the internet, chocolates, movies, TV. The purpose of this is to train myself in self-discipline and reassure myself that I can say no to myself and am not totally self-indulgent. There is nothing wrong with any of these things in themselves. But they can take over and become my “gods” – in that I cannot live without them. “Those who look for happiness anywhere other than in God are looking in places that cannot give what they seek”. They are wasting their time.

When it comes to Almsgiving in Lent there are endless opportunities. Don’t forget our twinned parish in Kenya. Fr Steven, the parish priest from there will be with us the weekend after next to update us on how things are going there.

And the box at the back of the church will be collecting Lenten Alms for the two charities nominate by the Archbishop. They are:

The St. John Southworth Fund is a grant-giving scheme created from existing legacies and trusts within the Diocese, some dating back to the 1850s. Its overall purpose is to assist homelessness, migrants and refugees, youth education, disability support, pastoral support for the elderly, children and other various projects. Since its launch in December 2007 it has provided funding to over 160 successful bids totalling more than £1million. .And the Thai Children’s Trust supports the neediest children across Thailand: orphans, the poor, and the hungry. Some are fleeing from violence and persecution in Burma. Others have been abandoned as babies by parents too poor to care for them. Others still have been marginalized because of illness or disability.

Canon Pat Browne

Last Sunday’s Collection came to £1156.00

The week before it was £1186.32. The January Standing Orders came to £3915.55 Thank you all

there are 3 Masses at 9.30am, 11.00am (Funeral Mass with Ashes also) and 7.00pm