Faith in Focus:
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
A woman spent 45 minutes in the queue for confession. As she was leaving the box she said to the priest, "Thank you, Father. With my sins forgiven I'm as pure as a newborn baby now." The priest said to her, "That's pride. Get back in the queue!"
There's a lot of prejudice about pride and humility. Some people think that humility means soft-pedalling on the truth. So even though they may have won the Nobel Prize for Saving the World there are some people who feel that it's somehow indecent to admit it. They should actually take pride in it.
This approach to humility often means that people fail to use their talents because they don't want to be considered pushy. There are lots of parishes where excellent readers and musicians, organisers and volunteers, just remain quietly in their seats because they are reticent about using the God-given talents that they have.
And "God-given" is the operative phrase. For humility does not consist in being the shrinking violet in the room, or in acting like some unctuous Uriah Heap character, but in being proud to admit our qualities, but acknowledging where our gifts come from.
So humility is a type of pride in God, because humility means using our gifts and talents, being the real people we are, while at the same time giving glory to the source of all good things: God. The actual word "humble" has nothing to do with "humble pie" (which is really "umble" or offal pie) but everything to do with "humus", that good rich soil in which seeds can be planted and produce a rich crop. If a person is humble then they are more susceptible to the action of God working through them. So a humble person is one who is likely to produce lasting fruit. A humble person is one who makes things grow, one who is grounded.
Gloating in your own strengths leads to a fall; glorying in the gifts God has given you leads to praise. That's why Jesus tells us today that those who exalt themselves will be humbled but those who humble themselves will be exalted. And that's something to be proud of!
Parish News
DECEASED PRIESTS
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Canon Norman Smith who died last Sunday. Canon Smith served both in St Anthony's, Farnham Royal and in Holy Family, Langley. His Requiem is at the Cathedral at 12.30 on Thursday. Please keep him in your prayers, Pray too for Fr Pat Branagan, a retired priest of the Birmingham Diocese who was helping in St Margaret's Luton and died on Tuesday.
MASSES AT ETON WICK
There will alas be no Mass next weekend at St Gilbert's, but from September 12th onwards, all being well, there should be Sunday mass until the end of the year.
THINKING OF BECOMING A CATHOLIC?
We shall be starting a programme for those interested in the Autumn. Please phone Sheila at the Presbytery to join the list of those coming (01628 605764).
PARISH FINANCES
Loose and envelopes £798 Standing Orders £250 Total £1048 Further donations for Pakistan £158 Many thanks. Next Sunday there will be a retiring collection for the National Catholic Fund.
» Prayer for Pakistan (Cafod, a pdf document)
CHARISMATIC DAY OF RENEWAL FOR THE DIOCESE
Saturday October 2nd at St Augustine's Milton Keynes. 9.30 - 4.00 P.M. Speaker Jenny Baker, Bring packed lunch. Drinks provided.
LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINARS
St Joseph's Church, Chalfont St Peter SL9 8RY. Thursday evenings in October and November excluding October 28th, Everyone is welcome. See fliers in Church porches. Contact Joan Barham 01753 886581.
15TH OCTOBER 2010 - DON'T MISS IT!
Save the date, mark your diaries, whatever you do - you won't want to miss a very special concert taking place at Our Lady of Peace on Friday, 15th October 2010 at 8.00 p.m. Bring your family, bring your friends! All funds raised will be donated towards the continued upkeep of our church. The programme is almost complete and more details will be announced in the coming weeks - however, we can tell you right now that the line-up is outstanding and you won't be disappointed. Aptly named 'A Night in October' it will be a very special night indeed!
For more information on how you can purchase tickets please contact Bob Bryant on 07979 820064 or 01628 543650. If you would like to discuss sponsorship opportunities please call Anna Goldberg on 07532 338874.
PAPAL VISIT: PLEASE PAY UP!!!!
The cost of the day is the initial £10 per head you have already been asked for plus an additional £6 per person to cover the coach return journey. Please pay up and make our organisers life easy!!!! Millie will be at most Masses this weekend, or you can pop the money in an envelope through the Presbytery door.
You are advised to travel as a group by coach, since access to the Hyde park site can only be obtained in the presence of our Pilgrim Leader (Millie Fernandes).
IN PREPARATION FOR THE PAPAL VISIT:
- Forty Hours Adoration will be held at Bridgettine Convent, Iver Heath from Thursday 26 August, 2010 from 7.00 p.m. with Mass of Exposition to Saturday 28 August 2010 with Closing Mass of Deposition at 11 a.m. All welcome.
- Holy Hour at Out Lady of Peace 7.30 - 8.30 p.m. - Tuesday 7th September.
» Click here for the Guide to the Hyde Park Vigil
» Download/view The Pope in the UK document (32 pages, pdf)
» Watch videos: Bishops' Faith Stories from the Heart
» View the official itinerary timeline
» View the locations on the Papal Visit itinerary
» Click here to find out more about The Papal Visit
» Visit the Papal Visit official online store
» Rail & Tube travel information for the Papal Visit
NEW PARISH PRIEST
Fr David Barrett will be taking over as Parish Priest on November 1st and Fr Michael will be moving to St Peter's Marlow, Please keep them both in your prayers.
SHEILA FREEMAN TO RETIRE AS
PARISH SECRETARY
Sheila (pictured) is taking the opportunity of the move to bring to an end her time as Parish Secretary. She will carry on living here as a parishioner, We thank her for all she has done during her seven years in post.
DOWRY OF MARY WALSINGHAM PILGRIMAGE
Sunday 12th Sept. See poster in porch.
YOUTH WEEK 2010
This will be taking place between Monday 30th August to Sunday September 5th. Activities will be each evening with the Retreat in the day-time on Saturday & the Mass at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning. All events will be at Holy Redeemer Church, Wexham Road. There will be a week of activities: Sports, Question Time, Art, Entertainment, Retreat & Youth Mass.
All are welcome, especially those between the ages of 11-25 years of age. It is open to all in the Slough Pastoral Area. Please refer to the poster at the back of Church or see the fliers in the porches.
BILLIONS
A billion seconds ago it was 1979.
A billion minutes ago St John had only recently died.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were in the Stone Age.
A billion days ago nothing with two feet walked our earth.
A billion years ago seems just like a second in God's mind.
And he was there!
CONGRATULATIONS TO…
Sam Stockton and Holly Lewis who were married at Our Lady of Peace on Friday.
Walking Humbly
with our God
Click here to read the latest parish bulletin…
Mass Times, Places & Intentions
28TH AUGUST - 5TH SEPTEMBER
Saturday 28th August
6.00 p.m. Our Lady of Peace - Tom McLaughlin RIP
Sunday 29th August - TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
9.00 a.m. St Gilbert's - Gretta Condon RIP
9.45 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Dec'd of Mann family
11.30 a.m. St Andrew's - Andre Smyk & Tony Smyk RIP
6.00 p.m. Our Lady of Peace - People of the Parish
Monday 30th August | ST MARGARET CLITHEROW
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Catholic Women's League intentions
Tuesday 31st August
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Hannah Seaton's intentions
7.30 p.m. Our Lady of Peace - HOLY HOUR: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Wednesday 1st September
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Nora & Maurice McAuliffe RIP
Thursday 2nd September
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Service of the Word and Holy Communion
11.00 a.m. St Andrew's - N.B. NO MASS
Friday 3rd September | POPE GREGORY THE GREAT
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Dec'd of Barry family
7.30 p.m. St Gilbert's - Dec'd of McCann family
Saturday 4th September
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Service of the Word & Holy Communion
6.00 p.m. Our Lady of Peace - In Thanksgiving (Stewart)
Sunday 5th September - TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
9.00 a.m. St Gilbert - N.B. Service of the Word and Holy Communion
9.45 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - John Walsh RIP
11.30 a.m. St Andrew's - Dec'd of Seston family
6.00 p.m. Our Lady of Peace - People of the Parish
At Our Lady of Peace, Morning Prayer of the Church is said at 9.15 on weekdays and Saturdays, and the Rosary after the morning mass on weekdays. Do come and join us!
CONFESSIONS
Saturdays 5.15 -5.45 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace.
