NOTICES
Next Sunday (23rd) in the social centre after the 10.30am Mass we shall be saying “farewell” to Sister Catherine (although her last Sunday is 30th June). It is hoped that as many as possible will come to express gratitude for all that Sister has offered the parish through so many years. If you have not yet signed her card, please do so, and if you would like to contribute towards a presentation then there should be someone collecting near the main door after each Mass.
The Marylebone Fair is taking place up and down the High Street this Sunday. We are grateful to those who have baked or bought the 500 cakes which are our offering to the ecumenical stall (to be found in the area opposite the Conran Shop) and to those hardy souls who have given up an hour of their Sunday to help run the stall.
The refurbishment of the church flooring should be completed during this coming week – though the lower and upper sacristies might take a day or two longer to finish. Already the building is looking brighter, and is also much safer as the damaged blocks have been replaced. The whole work is costing over £20,000 and we are very grateful for another tranche of generous contributions during the past week: one of £300, one of £250 and two of £100, one of £80 and two of £50.
The Archbishop has asked that Saint James’s joins the next round of parishes (which include our neighbours at the Rosary and Ogle Street) in his Growing in Faith initiative. This is a scheme to raise a substantial amount of money over five years to underpin the Archdiocese’s outreach to the deprived, its training of new priests, and the care of sick and elderly clergy. There will be much more information available when the autumn comes but the preliminary exercise is to establish a census of regular parishioners. To this end, over the next two weekends (22/23 & 29/30 June) you will be invited to fill in a card which will provide the base for Growing in Faith here.
There are just two weeks left before the Society of St Vincent de Paul annual bike ride on Sunday 30th June (each rider is expected to raise a minimum of £50 in sponsorship money). The goal this year is St Edward’s Chapel at Sutton Park outside Guildford – a mere 40 mile ride! Talk to Bill Metcalf, Simon Webb or Simon Cochrane for more details – contact number 07768 315097. Sponsorship forms can be found at the back of church.
Raymond Arroyo of EWTN, the international Catholic TV network, is coming to the Precious Blood Church in the Borough (SE1) on Thursday June 20th to talk about his work as a journalist and presenter. Everyone is welcome to the talk which begins at 6.30pm. For details contact parish@preciousblood.org.uk
Last week’s giving £3,224 (includes envelopes but not bankers' orders, etc.)