When does Christmas Finish? Our Lady & St For many people Christmas finished on 25/12 in the evening as they pre- Parish Priest: Fr F. Javier Ruiz-Ortiz pared for the sales. Decorations went down and trees were disposed of. 177 Bow Road, London E3 2SG For the Church, the liturgical season of Christmas finishes next Sunday, 10th January with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. However, in the Tel: 020 8980 3961, Email: [email protected] older tradition, Christmas lasts until the Feast of Presentation of the Lord, 2nd February. Website: https:// This marked the end of a long 40-day “Christmastide” that corresponded to the 40 days www.stcatherinebow.church of Lent. It is historically called “Candlemas” because of ’s prophecy of Jesus being a light for the Gentiles. Following this tradition we will keep our Crib till that date, just as the Holy Father is keeping his at St. Peter’s! If you haven't put down your crib you 31st January 2021 could also keep it till the 40th day after Christmas. Fourth Sunday ordinary Time—B

Parish Masses for the coming week: On 21st January the declared Sr Mary of Jesus (Elizabeth Prout) a Date Feast Time Mass Intention Venerable, a step closer to sainthood. She was born in 1820 in Shrewsbury and died in 1864 in Sutton. She is the Foundress of The Institute of the Holy Family, Sat 30th 6pm Jakub JOSZKO, int later known as the Sisters of the Cross and Passion. Elizabeth was baptised an Anglican and, under the influence of Fr. Dominic Bar- 4th Sunday in Ordi- Sunday 9.30am Jane Namagembe LWANGA, RIP beri she became a Catholic at the age of28. Dominic received John Henry New- 31st Jan nary Time man into the Church too. Her choice brought her into conflict with her family. She 11.30am Antonietta PEDACE, RIP had to choose between them and her faith and she chose the latter. Elizabeth went to looking for work and alongside another Passionist father 6pm People of the Parish she got a teaching in St. Chad’s school in Angel Meadows, a very poor area of Manchester. Mon 1st 9.15am Bridie COMERFORD, RIP Manchester in 1849 was at the centre of the Industrial Revolution. It was an age Feb of exploitation and greed. The poor lived and worked in appalling conditions. Shocked by this inequality and injustice Elizabeth and a few companions were Tues 2nd PRESENTATION OF 7am Mark ALEXANDER. RIP moved to do something about it. In 1852, and with the help of Fr. Gaudentius THE LORD Rossi, Elizabeth founded “The Institute of the Holy Family”. Elizabeth, the leader, was given the name Mother Mary Joseph of Jesus. The spirit of the Institute was Wed 3rd Sts Theodore, Dun- 9.15am Jose PENIN FERNANDEZ. RIP to be the spirit of the Holy Family living, working and praying in their home at Nazareth. The Sisters lived in community combining a humble and prayerful life Fri 5th St Agatha 12noon Kate CHILDS, RIP with an active ministry outside the convent. There was no class distinction among members. No dowry was required. Lack of education was a not an obsta- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Friday 11am—11.45am cle. Sisters went out to teach, to sew, to work in the mills or in any employment Reconciliation 5.00pm - 5.45pm. compatible with their religious state. They had no property, no patrons, and no Parish Secretary: Angela Braniff - Mon, 9.30am – 2.30pm & Wed, 9.30am – security. They pooled their wages and when they were out of work they, like their 12.30 pm neighbours, went hungry. Dire poverty was often their lot. In the 1850’s this ‘classless’ community, was considered ‘revolutionary’. It aroused fierce opposi- Columban Sisters - Tel: 020 8980 3017 tion. After investigations from the diocesan bishop the Institute was approved. St Agnes School, Rainhill Way, E3 3ER Tel: 02089803076 - Elizabeth died aged 43 and since, her institute has grown. email: [email protected] She needs a miracle to become a . Don’t be afraid to ask for her interces- sion!! The sanctuary lamp is burning in honour of Sheila BELL, RIP Attending Mass in 2020 Masses 1. Please sanitise your hands when you arrive and wear a mask. Keep a safe dis- The government met with Faith leaders and they agreed to keep places of worship tance at all times.. open. Some (including catholic parishes of the Diocese have decided to close). At this 2. Please seat in any available space. It would be helpful if you do not seat by the time the obligation to go to Mass has been removed and each of you will have to make central aisle. Once in your space do not move till directed by the stewards. an informed personal decision about your attendance to mass. 3. There will be no collection during mass. Please give your contribution as you We have gone back to a 2-meter separation in the benches, allowing only two spaces leave the church or online (https://parish.rcdow.org.uk/bow/donate/). (for individuals or family bubbles) 4. For communion, wait till the steward asks you to move. If you cannot queue, Fr For time being St Catherine’s will be open as usual and Masses will be celebrated as Javier will come to you. Communion will be distributed only under one kind and announced. We will monitor the needs of the parish and the choices people make and on the hand. change things if necessary. Fr Javier is happy to hear your thoughts, ideas and concerns 5. At the end, wait to be ushered by the steward. If you are on the pulpit side, leave on this matter. through the main aisle and the main door; if you are on the font side, leave by the Whereas Fr Javier is not travelling to the Seminary at the moment, he will have to be side aisle and the side door. ready to teach online at 9am. Mass on Tuesday will continue at 7am. 6. If you want to stay praying or light up a candle, wait in your place. Only light the Stewards at Mass candle when people have cleared the area. The work of stewards/ushers is fundamental at this time for the safe opening of the 7. The toilets are in use. Please follow the guidance posted. Do not throw wipes to parish. Ushers are required to arrive at mass earlier; accommodate people once mass the toilets. If the toilets are blocked they will be closed. has started; ushering people to communion and out of mass at the end. They also spray 8. We need to record your presence. Please use the QR code or give your details clean the benches which have been used. If you want to help with the ushering of peo- when entering the church. This is to assist the Track and Trace ple during mass, speak to Fr. Javier. A shortage of ushers at a given mass might result 9. Above all, be sensible, be aware of the people around you and respect them. in the closure of that celebration. Sanctuary Lamp Reconciliation is celebrated Saturday 5pm and Sunday between morning masses and before evening mass. Otherwise please contact Fr Javier for an appointment,. The sanctuary lamp will be burning in memory of a faithful departed. If you would like to dedicate a candle for someone, please speak to Fr Javier (suggested donation £10) Broadcast of 11.30am Mass We continue to broadcast the 11,30am Mass on YouTube. You can find us on Financial support www.youtube.com/user/sebastianbrzegowy/live. Thank you for your ongoing financial support. Thank you to those who are giving online (Account Name: WRCDT Bow; Sort Code: 40-05-20; Account Number: 01308157). Journeying with the Bible You can also use the QR Code at the front of the Newsletter or on the green posters in Fr Javier together with Monica Cardona, FMVD, will continue delivering some talks on Church. Please add your Surname and First Name as a reference. the Bible online. More info on https://rcdow.org.uk/faith/evangelisation/the-god-who- The collections for November and December amounted to £7,499.99. many thanks for speaks/journeying-with-the-bible/. If you want to register, please contact catad- your generosity. [email protected]. Next talk will be on 9th February at 7pm. We have just completed our Financial returns for 2020. once they are approved by the Bow Food Bank Diocese, we will make them public to the parish. The Bow Food Bank needs our support. From this month we will collecting an item through the month and delivering it on the last Sunday of the month. The January item RCIA is pasta, (please bring 1kg or 1/2 Kg bags). For more information or if you want to volun- At this stage we are having some introductory meetings for those interested in the Cath- teer, please check http://www.bowfoodbank.org/wp/ This weekend we will deliver all olic faith. If anyone is interested please speak to Fr Javier. Next meeting will be on Tues- items after 12,30 mass.February item will be rice. day 2nd February at 6.30pm on Zoom. First Holy Communion 2021 St Agnes School—There are some vacancies in year. Please inquire with the school Thank you to all who have attended the meeting for parents on Zoom on Saturday. The Christmas Crib Appeal—The crib offerings this year as ever will go to the Catholic missalettes can be collected from Fr Javier. Children’s Society. This is the last opportunity to support this appeal. Mass Offering—There are plenty of free slots for masses in January (and after). Sug- Baptism—Only allowed for parties of 6, including the baby gested donation: £10 Wedding—There is no marriage course this year. If you need one, speak to Fr Javier Registration Form— Available from the Back. You can fill in online by using Ordinations—Please pray for Marco Salvagnini and Jakub Joszko who were ordained www.bit.ly/ParishCensus2020 or scanning the QR Code from the poster at the back. for the diocese next Saturday (30/01) at St Parish, Tottenham. Lent— ash Wednesday is 17/02. A special Lent leaflet will be available next week.q