Fifteenth Sunday Ordinary Time
Published
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I thank you for coming to the Angelus here at Castel Gandolfo, where I arrived a few days ago. I gladly take the opportunity to extend my cordial greeting to all the inhabitants of this dear little town, with my best wishes for a good summer. In particular I greet our Bishop of Albano.
In this Sunday's Gospel (Mt 13:1-23), Jesus recounts to the crowd the well-known Parable of the Sower. In a certain way it is an “autobiographical” passage, for it reflects the very experience of Jesus, of his preaching. He identifies himself with the sower who scatters the good seed of the Word of God and notes the different effects it obtains, in accordance with the way in which people hear the proclamation. Some listen superficially to the Word but do not take it in; others accept it at the time but are unable to persevere and lose it all; there are those who are engrossed by worldly concerns and enticements; and those who listen receptively, like the good soil: here the word bears an abundance of fruit. However this Gospel also puts the accent on Jesus’ preaching “method”, that is, on his use of parables. “Why do you speak to them in parables?”, his disciples ask (Mt 13:10). And Jesus answers distinguishing between them and the crowd: to his disciples — namely to those who have already decided for him — he can speak openly about the Kingdom of God, to others, instead, he must proclaim it in parables, precisely to encourage their decision, conversion of the heart; indeed, by their very nature parables demand the effort of interpretation, they not only challenge the mind but also freedom. St John Chrysostom explained: “And this he [Jesus] says to draw them unto him, and to provoke them and to signify that if they would covert he would heal them” (cf. Homily on the Gospel of Matthew, 45, 1-Basically, God's true “Parable” is Jesus himself, his Person who, in the sign of humanity, hides and at the same time reveals his divinity. In this manner God does not force us to believe in him but attracts us to him with the truth and goodness of his incarnate Son: love, in fact, always respects freedom. Fr Philip
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY OT (A)
| Day / Date | Time | ChurchCh | Intention |
|---|---|---|---|
| SATURDAY 11th July | 6.00pm | CC | Lourdes Ribeiro RIP (Costa family) |
| SUNDAY 12th July | 8.30am | SJ | Vera & Philip Weston RIP (Barry Weston) Barry Weston RIP (Liz Goddard) |
| SUNDAY 12th July | 10.00am | CC | God’s Blessings on Val King (Charles & Lisa Nicholls) |
| SUNDAY 12th July | 12noon | SPH | For the People of the Parish |
| MONDAY 13th July | 10.00am | CC | Alan Jarek RIP & family (Eugenia Jarek) |
| TUESDAY 14th July | 10.00am | SJ | Barry Weston RIP (Marie Marriott) |
| WED 15th July | Priest celebrates Mass privately | ||
| THURS 16th July | 10.00am | CC | Jim & Dora Austin RIP |
| FRIDAY 17th July | 10.00am | CC | Laurence Leonard Grainger RIP (Linda Pool) |
| FRIDAY 17th July | 6.15pm | CC | Mass (Latin) Holy Souls |
| SATURDAY 18th July | 10.00am | CC | Brian & Martina Wilkins RIP |
| SATURDAY 18th July | 12noon | CC | For Our Confirmation Candidates |
| SATURDAY 18th July | 6.00pm | CC | John Constable RIP (Margaret Constable) |
| Sunday 19th July | 8.30am | SJ | Phyllis Bennett RIP (Vivienne Bowman) |
| Sunday 19th July | 10.00am | CC | In Thanksgiving (Vipin & family) |
| Sunday 19th July | 12noon | SPH | For the People of the Parish |
Are you in year 7-13 and would like to come and join us for pizza, fun and games? We would love to see you at our meeting in Fisher Hall after Saturday 6.00pm Mass– Stefano. Next meeting dates 11th July then a break for the Summer.
Parish Bereavement Support: Please see our new leaflets with full details, at the back of each church.
MUMS/DADS NIGHTS Taking time to feed our own faith by exploring an aspect of Christianity with other parents in the parish. We meet in someone's home, watch some input to get us thinking and chat over pizza and drinks. All are very welcome. Contacts Isabel (07851062232 or Nick (07851609097)
COMMUNITY STOREHOUSE, PADDOCK WOOD Please continue with your much needed donations, which can be left in the Narthex at St Justus. Online bank transfer: Community Storehouse, HSBC Bank Sort code: 40-36-35Acc No: 11298410 Ref: St Justus member. Waitrose and Tesco gift cards are welcome as an alternative.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL would like to thank everyone for the generous support given to their charitable work. Presently baby food, toiletries and non-perishable food would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
WAITROSE TONBRIDGE ‘COMMUNITY MATTERS’ programme will be supporting St Vincent de Paul (SVP) from 1 July - 30 September. Please support the SVP by shopping at Waitrose and place green tokens which are available at the checkouts into our charity box to help us raise vital funds.
MASS INTENTIONS We are getting very short of Mass Intentions both weekdays & weekends at Corpus Christi. Also, at St Peter’s. Your offerings for Mass Intentions are a vital income for your priests as they do not receive a salary. You can use a Mass Intention envelope found in the Narthex of both churches or via the parish office and by email.
THIS WEEKEND There is a second collection Stella Maris, a Catholic charity supporting seafarers worldwide. Port Chaplains and volunteer ship visitors welcome seafarers, offer welfare service and advice, practical help, care and friendship. They rely wholly on voluntary contributions and can only continue through your generosity particularly this collection. There are some Gift-aid envelopes available.
PARISH ACCOUNTS A short presentation will be given to the parish after all Masses this weekend.
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL AGM to be held on 13 July at 7.30pm in the Fisher Hall. This meeting is open to all Parishioners. If anybody has questions they would like discussed at the meeting it would be helpful to share those in advance with Fr Philip. Thank you.
ST JUSTUS SOCIAL MEETING Tuesday 21st July after 10.00am Mass in the hall. If you can’t make the meeting but have ideas for social events and fundraising, please let Joan know your ideas and availability to help. Helpers are needed to move forward with planning. It would be lovely to see everyone at the meeting.
HOST FAMILY I wonder if anyone can help, I am looking for a host family for an Italian student who is arriving in September and staying for a month. The student will be attending the Weald of Kent Grammar School in Tonbridge so the host family would need to be less than an hour's commute to school. The student would pay for their own travel expenses but you would need to provide breakfast and dinner and a friendly face when they are at home. You would be paid £500. If this is something that you could do, please get in touch with Father Philip as soon as possible as the deadline for agreeing placements is fast approaching .
HOLY FACE DEVOTION there will not be a meeting on Saturday 18th July following the 10am Mass. There will still be Rosary before Mass as usual.
Congratulations to Lena King who was baptized this weekend and to her parents & Godparents.