Mass Times & Liturgy Services Vigil 6.30pm (Sat).

Sunday 8.30am, 10.30am & 6.30pm

Mon. Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat.10.00am

Thur. Communion Service 10.00am

Morning Prayer 9.15am Monday & Friday

Rosary 9.30am Monday & Friday

Adoration Wednesdays 8-9.15pm

Friday 10.30-11.00am

Saturday 10.30-11.00am

Confessions Saturdays 10.30-11.00am

Sundays 10.00-10.20am

ST MARGARETS PAGE

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (c)

29th September 2019

Our readings today centre on our treatment of the poor and marginalised. This is in fact a central tenet of Catholic Social Teaching, which has at its heart, the Common Good. This is not to be confused with the greater good, which is a political expedient, lacking in compassion and which, inevitably disenfranchises those who don’t have a voice or who have not the wherewithal to use it. The Common Good, which serves society in its totality, is root-ed in the dignity of man by virtue of his creation in the image and likeness of God.

In the gospel, Jesus names the poor man but the wealthy man is anonymous. Tradition has the rich man named Dives but that stems from the Latin word for wealth: dives. So, why does Jesus name the poor man but leave the rich man unnamed? The answer is a simple reversal of our worldly ways. To most, the beggars we see in the street are anonymous; they have no name; we look away or worse still, we look through them as though they are not there. But to God, they are precious in his eyes. Lazarus lives at the gate of the rich man, meaning that every time the rich man left his house, he had to walk around Lazarus, perhaps even step over him.

Why does God allow poverty to exist and yet have people of such immense wealth? Why are there starving children in the world alongside the mega-wealthy such as Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump? God is omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omniscient so he will know that there are poor, that they need help and that he can do something about it. So, is it the case that God is an ‘underachiever’ as Woody Allen said?

God created the world with plenty for all and he also created us with free will. We can’t have it both ways; we can’t have our free will and then expect God do everything for us. This is not to deny miraculous events but we have to play our own part in bringing the kingdom of heaven to fruition. We have all been created with a purpose and as John Henry Newman said, ‘He has committed some work to me that he has not committed to another, I have my mission...I am necessary for his purposes...I have a part in his great work.’ We have to be active participants. As Christians we are called to see all of humanity through the lens of brotherhood. When we pray the words ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done’, it doesn’t mean that we can now sit back and let God do everything. We are saying that we will be actively bringing about the kingdom of heaven on earth; we will be actively enacting the will of God on earth.

Parish Priest: Canon Peter Newby. Deacon: Joseph Estorninho, Safeguarding Officer: Sarah Jones.

St Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, 130 St Margaret’s Road, Twickenham TW1 1RL 020 8892 3902

Web www.stmargarets-church.co.uk for ‘THE PAGE’ on line Diocesan Website: parish.rcdow.org.uk/stmargaretsonthames

The Parish Office is open Monday-Friday 8:00am-12.45pm. Parish Administrator: Jean McGinley; Bookkeeper: Ann Edes

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That will is to carry out the corporal works

of mercy: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to give shelter to travellers, to visit the sick, to visit the imprisoned, and to bury the dead.

The question remains: Why does God allow poverty to exist when there is such overwhelming and excessive wealth? The simple answer is that he allows it in order to achieve an even greater good and that greater good is the invitation to the rich (those who enjoy the grace of God) to look after those who are suffering through poverty. This is an invitation and the wealthy must accept or decline. The poor may need the rich to get out of the hell in which they live but, as today’s gospel shows us, the rich need the poor to get into heaven.

What about the comeuppance of the wealthy man? Why is he not allowed to warn his brothers? Does God want them to fail? Did God, author of life, create people for them to be damned? Of course not! For this reason God has inspired the Holy Scriptures, given us prophets, given his only Son, who gave us the church, which, through the apostles has given us tradition and sacraments precisely so that we have help on our journey. What Abraham tells the wealthy man is that his brothers have had the benefit of all the teachings and one spectre won’t change their ego-centric lives. Christianity is outward looking; the rich man was so inward looking that he couldn’t see a man lying on his doorstep!

Deacon Joseph writes:

Antiphon All that you have done to us, O Lord, You have done with true judgement For we have sinned against you. And not obeyed your commandments. But give glory to your name And deal with us according to the bounty of your mercy Response to the Psalm My soul, give praise to the Lord.

Mass Intentions Sat 28- Sun. - 6th Octobe2r019

29th September 26th Sunday of the Year (c ) Amos 6:1. 4-7 Psalm 145 1 Timothy 6:11-18 Luke 16:19-31

6th October 27th Sunday of the Year (c ) Hahak l:2-3. 2:2-4 Psalm 94 2 Timothy 1:6-8. 13-14 Luke 17:5-10

Sat 28th

10.00am Communion Service 10.30-11.00am Adoration 6.30pm Mass

Intention of Helen Douglas Johnstone

Sun 29th 8.30am Mass 10.30am 6.30pm Mass

Chris Harris RD Lynch McGuinnes Family Intention Walker Fr Patrick Fitzgerald RIP de Souza

Mon.30th 9.15 Morning Prayer 9.30am The Rosary 10.00am Mass

Tue. 1st October

10 .00am Mass

Wed. 2nd 10.00am Mass

Kathleen Eglington RD Walker

Thurs.3rd

10.00am Communion Service

Fri. 4th 9.15am Morning Prayer 9.30am the Rosary 10.00am Mass 10.30-11.00am Adoration

Ann Winter RD Winter

Sat. 5th

10.00am Mass 10.30am-11.00am Adoration

6.30pm Mass

Memorial for Fr Christopher Gawecki

Jeanne Morrisey Erhardt RD Erhardt-Lewis Family

Sun.6th 8.30am Mass 10.30am Mass 6.30pm Mass

For our Parishioners Fr Christopher Gawecki RIP Winter Pastor Juliette Lacotan RIP de Souza

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

The Sick: ,

Carol Samba, Colin Bartram, Gerry McEntee,

Rose Williams, Peter Coughlan, Hilary Sudell,

Rose Lorden, William Hamilton, Mary Arnold,

Ethan Knott, Cesar Juan Urrutigoity,

Mary Ethel Arnolda, Francesca Bianchin,

Sydney and Patricia Parkes, Judith Thomas,

Wanda Ostrowska, Christopher Browne,

Antonella Sesta, Margaret Masterson,

Bernard Sharratt, Carmen Ruibal,

Ann Macpherson, Donal Dwyer (brother of

Mary Ibbett), Barry Titmus, and

Chris McLoughlin (son of Olga)

Anniversaries

Annie O’Hare, Mary Deal, Josephine Chivers,

Ben Orton, Maria Kilczewska, Benedicta Barber,

Joseph McAlees,Bridie Barry, Joe Miller, and

Brian Philip Smith .

Deanery Intentions:

For Fr Reg Dunkling and the parishioners of the

Sacred Heart Teddington and the Parish of

Hampton wick

St Margaret of Scotland

Welcomes Newcomers

to the Parish

We would be pleased if you could complete

one of our Census Forms available at the back

of the Church and return it to the Presbytery.

Family Fast Day Friday 4 October No one should be beyond reach of the love and support they

need to thrive. This Fast Day, CAFOD invites us to fast, pray

and give, so we can extend the hand of friendship to the

world’s poorest people. Fabiano’s village in rural Uganda has

been devastated by drought. Every day, children would trek

miles for water, risking their education – and safety.

Donations from parishioners across England and Wales

helped install a solar powered water pump in the village. Now

Fabiano and his friends can collect water quickly and safely.

On Family Fast Day, CAFOD invites us to eat a simple meal for

lunch or dinner and give the money we save to help children

like Fabiano. Please collect a Fast Day envelope from church

this week and return next weekend and give generously.

Fr Christopher Gawecki RIP There will be a Memorial Mass for Fr Christopher on

Saturday October 5th at 10:00am followed by tea and coffee in the Hall.

Fr Patrick Fitzgerald MAfr. RIP (Fr Fitz)

There will be a Memorial Mass for Fr Fitz on Saturday October 19th at 10:00am followed by tea and coffee in the Hall.

Sick and Housebound

If you are unable to come to Mass and would like to

receive Holy Communion at home; please contact the

Parish Office (020 8892 3902 or email stmar-

garetsonthames@rcdow.org uk) and we will make

arrangements for you to receive the Sacrament.

Songs of the Sea

A recital of romantic songs inspired by waves and tides including

Elgar’s Sea Pictures

Elizabeth Benedetto

Mezzo-contralto &

Jon Booth

Piano

Saturday 12th October 7.30pm

St Mary’s Church Twickenham TW1 3NJ

£15/£10 concessions/ Accompanied U18s free

Intercession for Alpha

The next Alpha course will commence on 7th October and we are grateful to the individuals and groups in the

parish who have been interceding faithfully for Alpha since it began here. Intercession is vital for the course to bear fruit. We plan to add an extra layer of interces-sion by starting an intercession group whilst the Alpha course is in progress. This will be on Saturday mornings

at 8.30 am, downstairs in the church, commencing

7th October Please do come and join us. Enquiries to gavin.evenhuis@gmail.com

Why am I

here?

First Fund Raising Event

Argentinian BBQ

Sunday 20th October 12.30pm

in the Parish Hall and Garden.

Family Tickets £40. single Ticket £15 Children £5

Come and enjoy the great food, Great Company

An opportunity to meet new parishioners

Please get your Tickets for this fantastic event

Chris Key & Fr Peter

Project 2019

Beginning Experience

Weekend

A healing weekend for men and women who

are separated, divorced or widowed will be

held from 18th to 20th October 2019 at the

Domus Mariae Centre, Chigwell, Essex.

For details please contact Freda

01322-838415 or Maura 01322-551503

or email johnabrotherton@hotmail.co.uk.

The appeal to raise funds for the refurbishment of the Hall, attendant facilities and basement was launched before the summer. May I thank those who attended the briefing sessions and who signed up to become a supporter of the project.

I am very pleased to announce that just under

£58,000 has been either raised or pledged so far. This is a magnificent start and I am confident that we will reach the target set by the Diocese of £100,000. This will unlock a loan to supplement our resources to complete the project. The loan will be paid back through the rental income of the refurbished Hall. If you would like to make a donation, whether one-off or a three year standing-order please complete one of the cards in the Church and return it to the Presbytery, or contact Fr Peter or Jean directly. Over the autumn there will be fund-raising events to help raise funds:

Argentinian BBQ on Sunday October 20th, and a Classical Concert on Friday 15th November, and a Festal Lunch on

Sunday 17th November, to celebrate our patron St Margaret of Scotland.

Marriage Preparation Course

at St Margaret of Scotland

Will take place on

2nd November 2019 at 9.30am in the Parish Hall.

If you wish to Register for this course please contact the Parish Office 020 8892 3902 or

email stmargaretsonthames@rcdow.org.uk

If you would like

your child Baptised

St Margaret of Scotland we Welcomes you.

Please would you undertake the following: Meet: Fr Peter after

Sunday Mass to discuss your child’s Baptism and attend Bap-

tism Preparation Course . The next dates for these courses will

be announced shortly. If you wish to be enrolled on one of the

courses or wish to book a date for Baptism please contact the

Parish Office 8.00-12.30pm 020 8892 3902

Project 2019

Alpha

The next Alpha course is due to start on

Monday 7th October The meetings will take place at

Harris + Hoole,

owing to generosity of Justine, the manager.

The timetable is simple meal at 7.00pm followed by praise, presentation and discussion. The meetings conclude at 9.00pm. If you would like to join the next Alpha course please contact Fr Peter

Annual Mass Count Week 2

Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September

St Richard Reynolds Catholic College

in Twickenham will be holding two

Open Mornings for prospective parents and pupils on Friday 4th and Friday 18th October . Tours are scheduled for 8.50 - 10.20am and 10.50am - 11.30am.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL There will also be an

Open Evening on Tuesday 15th October from 6pm-8pm, with Principal talks at 6.30 and 7.30pm. Booking required for all events please refer to the

College website for further details

www.strichardreynolds.org.uk