The week ahead at HTR – 13th February
You are welcome to join with us for The Parish Mass every Sunday at 9:00AM followed by Coffee in the Hall.
Sunday School begins on February 27th.
Mass on Wednesday at 6:00PM and Friday at Noon.
Readings: 1st Reading: Jer 17: 5-10. Psalm: Ps 1. 2nd Reading: 1 Cor 15: 12-20. Gospel: St Luke 6: 17-26
In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus tells us: Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man (Luke 6:22). Therefore, let us not be afraid of the challenges that we might face for the sake of advancing the kingdom of God in this world. For this is the reason of our existence. God made us to exist in this world so that we could bring others closer to Jesus.
I must say, living this kind of life is not easy. In fact, it is very difficult. It means we must become vulnerable and that is a condition most of us would rather avoid. But, Jesus is always unsettling us and, as he tells us that the order of things in God’s rule is reversed, we discover that life with God means knowing what poverty and hunger and sorrow and being cursed look like. It means knowing how it feels to be overlooked and discounted. It means knowing what it is like to be hated. And, it means allowing ourselves to become vulnerable, living in solidarity all others, and admitting our total dependence upon God.
When Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor,” he overturned the politics of blessing. He preached that blessings were more than happiness. They were a social vision. God gives gifts to everyone, but especially to the vulnerable and those at the bottom of society. Gifts are not only for the few, but wildly distributed for all. And the people at the bottom? The losers? God’s favour resides with them. God has uniquely blessed them. What is the proper response to gifts? Blessing is an invitation to give thanks…..a blessed community is a grateful community. When Jesus spoke to the people on that day, that gathering started as a crowd, and the way opened for them to become a society formed by gratitude.
February 26th 10am – 1pm USED BOOK SALE WITH COFFEE AND HOMEMADE CAKE. Great selection of coffee table books, history and novels as well as childrens books.
March 2nd is Ash Wednesday. A joint Sung Mass at Holy Trinity at 7:00pm with Imposition of Ashes and the joint choirs of Holy Trinity and St Andrew’s will sing the Mass along with the famous Allegri “Miserere”. Confessions can be heard by appointment.
The Lent Course: God at the Movies – We meet every Thursday evening in Lent at St Andrew’s in Deal from March 10th until April 7th at 6:30PM.
Stations of the Cross – We walk the Way of the Cross every Friday in Lent at 5:00PM.
April 10th PALM SUNDAY: Liturgy of the Palms, Procession and Solemn Mass with the Reading of the Passionat 9:00AM
April 11th – 13th Mon, Tue and Wed of Holy Week Mass and Homily at 6:00PM
Tuesday April 12th. The Chrism Mass (Blessing of the Oils) at Canterbury Cathedral with Bishop Norman. 12 Noon. All are welcome.
April 14th MAUNDY THURSDAY: Mass of the Last Supper with Footwashing and Stripping of the Altars followed by the Watch at the Altar of Repose. 6:00PM with Watch until 8:00PM.
April 15th GOOD FRIDAY: The Way of the Cross for Children at 10:00AM . The Solemn Liturgy of the Passion at Noon.
April 16th HOLY SATURDAY. EASTER EVE The Great Easter Vigil at 8:00PM for both parishes. The Blessing of the New Fire, Reading of the Prophecies, Renewal of Baptismal Vows and First Mass of Easter.
April 17th EASTER DAY The Parish Mass of Easter Day at 9:00AM