ST DUNSTAN'S CHURCH
WOKING
NEWSLETTER
Canon Rob Esdaile, Parish Priest
Father Nick Harden
Deacon Russell Young
January 29th 2023, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
FROM COMMANDMENT TO BEATITUDE
“Why do you want your child baptised?” “I want him/her to know right from wrong.” That is such a common reflex response among parents bringing their wonderful offspring to our community. It’s not wrong, of course. Christians should be people with a developed ethical sense. And it’s entirely understandable that people think that that’s what church-going is about. We’ve spent centuries telling people that Catholics are people who don’t (miss Sunday mass, eat fish on Fridays, sleep around, break the law …). “Thou shalt not!” is certainly part of the story. But there’s nothing very Gospel in “Thou shalt not!” Even when Jesus said, “Thou shalt not …” he immediately took people further: from “Don’t commit adultery” to “Don’t treat women as sexual objects to be thrown away at whim”: from “Don’t kill” to “Don’t hate”; and from “Don’t hate” to “Do good to those who hate you.” Not “Thou shalt not” but “Thou shalt! Love one another!” That’s the New Commandment. That’s the Gospel. Moreover, Jesus was best known as spending time, scandalously, with people who weren’t very good at “Thou shalt not” – Prostitutes, Tax-Collectors and the like.
The sadness is that most Christians are rule-followers rather than disciples, people of the Beatitudes. But if we just live life in the negative, defined by what we don’t do, we risk becoming judgemental people who create a society in our own image. We’ll also have very little capacity to understand St Paul’s message in this Sunday’s Second Reading that “to shame the wise and the strong God chose what is foolish and weak by human reckoning.” (1 Cor 1.26-31) – because that just doesn’t “make sense” to the moralising, hyper-critical mind. We shall neither be able to deal with our own car-crashes nor have anything very life-giving to say to others.
The Christian disciple is someone who lives by the puzzle of the Beatitudes: the suggestion that poverty of spirit is stronger than strength; that gentleness outguns aggression; that mourning is a hope-filled space; that hunger for justice is the greatest form of ambition; that mercy is its own reward; that purity of heart is the only way to real insight; that the struggle for peace and acceptance of the opposition this provokes is actually heaven on earth.
The irony is that any little child knows all this. Littleness, gentleness, trust, starting over when everything falls apart, celebrating life’s blessings day after day: these are the winning formula. It’s the grown-ups who forget, especially the ones who are good at following rules. So why do you want your child baptised? Or why do you still want to be called a Catholic Christian? Fr Rob
The sadness is that most Christians are rule-followers rather than disciples, people of the Beatitudes. But if we just live life in the negative, defined by what we don’t do, we risk becoming judgemental people who create a society in our own image. We’ll also have very little capacity to understand St Paul’s message in this Sunday’s Second Reading that “to shame the wise and the strong God chose what is foolish and weak by human reckoning.” (1 Cor 1.26-31) – because that just doesn’t “make sense” to the moralising, hyper-critical mind. We shall neither be able to deal with our own car-crashes nor have anything very life-giving to say to others.
The Christian disciple is someone who lives by the puzzle of the Beatitudes: the suggestion that poverty of spirit is stronger than strength; that gentleness outguns aggression; that mourning is a hope-filled space; that hunger for justice is the greatest form of ambition; that mercy is its own reward; that purity of heart is the only way to real insight; that the struggle for peace and acceptance of the opposition this provokes is actually heaven on earth.
The irony is that any little child knows all this. Littleness, gentleness, trust, starting over when everything falls apart, celebrating life’s blessings day after day: these are the winning formula. It’s the grown-ups who forget, especially the ones who are good at following rules. So why do you want your child baptised? Or why do you still want to be called a Catholic Christian? Fr Rob
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOULS OF
Sheila Rickard RIP
Sheila Rickard RIP
and Brian Roberts RIP.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
May they rest in peace.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
May they rest in peace.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK especially for those whose names are on our prayer board.
CHANGES THIS WEEK
Please note that there will be no Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday 28th January. Also, that the morning Mass on Wednesday February 1st will be at the earlier time of 9.30 am and there will be no Morning Prayer.
ACOUSTICS
We are aware that the acoustics in the church are causing some issues with understanding the spoken words and we are trying to address the problem. A lot of work has been done to improve the PA system and we are now looking to reduce the reverberation/echo in the Nave. At present, this measures around 3 times the recommended level. Contractors are returning shortly to review their original recommendations after which we hope to agree the work schedule. Please bear with us in the meantime.
LENT LUNCHES
We are looking for someone or a small team of people to help organise the Churches Together in Woking Lent lunches. These are held at St Dunstan’s on the six Fridays in Lent, starting on Friday February 24th. If you would like to find out more, please contact the parish office. Thank you.
SAVE THE DATE - ARE YOU ENGAGED OR MARRIED?
Saturday 18th February at 10.00 am. In recognition of National Marriage Week 7-14th February, we will be holding a special Mass dedicated to all Engaged and Married couples within our parish. A special occasion to come to Mass as we light a candle and pray for your Marriage whether you have been married for months or decades or are currently planning a wedding! If you would like to be involved in the Mass either with welcoming, reading or music please get in touch with us: Ed & Donna Hunt - stdunstansmarriagepreparation@gmail.com.
LEPRA – WORLD LEPROSY DAY 5th FEBRUARY
Today 600 people will be diagnosed with leprosy, more than 50 of these will be children. Worldwide over 7 million people are affected, up to 3 million are living with undiagnosed leprosy, 4 million live with life-changing disability and many experience severe discrimination, isolation and prejudice arising from misunderstanding or lack of information. Yet leprosy is curable and the cure is free. Lepra works to find, treat and rehabilitate people, and to promote their rights in India and Bangladesh. Lepra's mission is to beat leprosy, so all cases are easily diagnosed and treated, without causing disability or discrimination. To make a donation visit www.lepra.org.uk or contribute to the retiring collection after Mass next weekend. To find out more, watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agrvAZ8WlEs.
RACIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY 2023
This year Racial Justice Sunday falls on February 5th and the theme is “All are included in the mission of Christ and His Church. Let us walk together, pray together and work together”. The Bishops’ Conference has produced three videos reflecting on ‘Walking together’, Praying together’ and ‘Working together’. These can be found at www.cbcew.org.uk/racial-justice-sunday.
They have also suggested praying in the following words:
God of our past, present and future,
You created each one of us in your image and likeness,
help us to recognise you in each person.
help us to recognise you in each person.
As we pray for an end to suffering caused by racism
lead us this day to walk with one another,
lead us this day to walk with one another,
pray with one another and work together,
so that we create a future based on justice and healing,
where all can fulfil the hope you have for all peoples.
so that we create a future based on justice and healing,
where all can fulfil the hope you have for all peoples.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
WOKING FOOD BANK
There will be a collection for Woking Food Bank next weekend, February 4th and 5th. They are in particular need of: chocolate spread, long-life milk, men’s razors, ladies’ razors, marmite, clothes washing detergent, men’s deodorant, long-life sponge puddings, cooking oil, instant mashed potato, tomato ketchup, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, brown sauce and fruit juice. Thank you for your continued support.
NEW PARISHIONERS EVENING
There will be a New Parishioners’ Evening on Friday 10th February at 7.30 pm in the Function Room. If you have joined St Dunstan’s Parish in the last 6 months, or if you were not able to come to the last New Parishioners’ Evening, then you are invited to come along and meet one another, some longer-standing parishioners and our Parish Clergy: Canon Rob, Fr Nick and Deacon Russell. You are warmly encouraged to bring along your children too. There is no need to let us know if you are coming. It would be lovely to see you if you can attend.
SQUAT2FIT MUMS, DANCE CARDIO MORNING IN AID OF YOUR SANCTUARY
Tuesday January 31st 9.15 am, St Dunstan’s Church
Tuesday January 31st 9.15 am, St Dunstan’s Church
The Squat2Fit mums, a Woking fitness group, is hosting a dance cardio morning followed by coffee and cake at St Dunstan’s Church in the function room on Tuesday 31st January at 09:15. Donations are welcome, and proceeds are in aid of Your Sanctuary, a Surrey based charity supporting survivors of Domestic Abuse. All are welcome to attend.
FILM CLUB – TUESDAY 31st JANUARY, 2.00 pm
Run by the SVP, the film to be shown in the Function room will be Downton Abbey – The Movie. The movie, set in 1927, follows on from the final TV series which was broadcast in 2015
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY (SVP)
The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) is a voluntary network with over 7,000 members in England and Wales, with an active branch at St Dunstan's. If you or someone you know is struggling or lonely please contact us via email at wokingsvp@gmail.com. If you use WhatsApp, you can now sign up for occasional updates about the SVP and our work by scanning the QR code.
At our LiveSimply Launch we showed the moving and inspiring film ‘The Letter’ that explained Pope Francis encyclical ‘Laudate Si’ and his vision for a world that strives to counteract climate change and respects creation. Climate change can seem an insurmountable issue that is beyond our ability to change but the film shows how ordinary individuals can have a huge impact. In the film Pope Francis says ‘It’s like a choir. We have to sing together.’ As a Parish, we hope to ‘sing’ together to show that we can strive to work to live: a more simple lifestyle, in solidarity with people in poverty and more sustainably with creation. You can watch the film at https://www.theletterfilm.org/.There will be further opportunities to register an interest on sign-up sheets after the weekend Masses or email the parish office woking@abdiocese.org.uk. Keep your eyes peeled for more information on the award in the weeks ahead. Some of our future LiveSimply actions may involve group activities while others may be carried out individually in your own homes and lives.
The Cafod LiveSimply Team
ST DUNSTAN’S CHURCH - MASS TIMES & INTENTIONS
Morning Prayer at 9.45 am, Monday – Saturday,
Morning Prayer at 9.45 am, Monday – Saturday,
Weekday Lectionary Cycle Year 1, Week 4; Sunday Lectionary Cycle Year A
Saturday 28th January, St Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor, Memoria
10.00 am Charles Ismail RIP
Rosary
Vigil Masses for Sunday
6.00 pm Bridget Ann Meldrum RIP
6.00 pm Bridget Ann Meldrum RIP
7.15 pm Mass in Portuguese
Sunday 29th January, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
9.00 am Pauline Pitt RIP
10.30 am Gina Poulter RIP
12.00 noon Mass in Italian
5.30 pm All Parishioners
Monday 30th January, Weekday
10.00 am Matthew Balchin
10.00 am Matthew Balchin
Rosary and Adoration until 2.00 pm
Tuesday 31st January, St John Bosco, Memoria
10.00 am Andrew Kasamaki RIP
10.00 am Andrew Kasamaki RIP
Rosary
Wednesday 1st February, Weekday
No Morning Prayer
9.30 am Margaret Levy RIP
No Morning Prayer
9.30 am Margaret Levy RIP
Rosary
Thursday 2nd February, The Presentation of the Lord, Candlemas, Feast
10.00 am Harris Cunningham RIP
Rosary
Friday 3rd February, St Blaise, Bishop, Martyr, Optional Memoria
10.00 am Benedict Wilson RIP
10.00 am Benedict Wilson RIP
Rosary
Saturday 4th February, Weekday
10.00 am Eric Stevenson RIP
10.00 am Eric Stevenson RIP
Rosary
Vigil Masses for Sunday
6.00 pm Lidia Zöbeli
6.00 pm Lidia Zöbeli
7.15 pm Mass in Portuguese
Sunday 5th February, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Racial Justice day
9.00 am Baby Zefren Silva Correia RIP
10.30 am All Parishioners
12.00 noon Mass in Italian
5.30 pm Estrella Buenaflor RIP and Paquito Buenaflor RIP
Sacrament of Reconciliation
After the 10.00 am Mass on Saturday (not January 28th), or by appointment
After the 10.00 am Mass on Saturday (not January 28th), or by appointment
All services will be Live Streamed at st-dunstans.org/streaming
ST HUGH OF LINCOLN CHURCH – MASS TIMES
Saturday 28th January, St Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor, Memoria
6.00 pm Vigil Mass for Sunday
Sunday 29th January, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
9.30 am Mass
Monday 30th January, Weekday
10.00 am Mass
10.00 am Mass
Thursday 2nd February, The Presentation of the Lord, Candlemas, Feast
10.00 am Mass
10.00 am Mass
Saturday 4th February, Weekday
6.00 pm Vigil Mass for Sunday
6.00 pm Vigil Mass for Sunday
Sunday 5th February, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Racial Justice day
9.30 am Mass
9.30 am Mass
Sacrament of Reconciliation - Saturdays 5.15 – 5.45 pm
READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY
Zephaniah 2:3,3:12-13; Psalm 145:6-10; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12.
OFFERTORY COLLECTION
Thank you for last Sunday’s Offertory collection of £4,371.75 (the cash offertory, donations on the contactless machines and the average of the standing orders). Please consider setting up a monthly standing order and adding a further 25% via GiftAid at no cost to you if you are a UK taxpayer. The forms for this are available on the GiftAid table in the narthex and on the parish website.
ADMISSION TO RECEPTION AT ST DUNSTAN’S SCHOOL, SEPTEMBER 2024
When you apply for your child to be admitted into the Reception Year at St Dunstan’s School in September 2024, one of the forms you will have to submit to the school is the Supplementary Information Form (SIF). One of the questions on the form asks you to state how often you attend Sunday (or Saturday evening) Mass. Once you have completed the SIF form, a priest in the parish where you normally attend Mass must sign the form indicating that they confirm (or not) the Mass attendance you have stated. This will happen during December. Dates will be in the newsletter.
St Dunstan’s is a very large Parish, and it is impossible for the priest(s) to be objective about their response to what has been stated on your form. For this reason, we offer you the opportunity to ‘sign’ a register of attendance at Mass whenever you come on either Saturday evening or Sunday. In this way the priest can look at the register when you bring your SIF form for signing in December and compare the two. Signing will begin on the weekend of February 4th/5th. To join the signing process you need to come to the Parish Office on a weekday to set up a sheet for your child. You will also be given more information about what is involved. The Office is normally open 9.00-3.00, but please do avoid times when Mass is being celebrated.
St Dunstan’s is a very large Parish, and it is impossible for the priest(s) to be objective about their response to what has been stated on your form. For this reason, we offer you the opportunity to ‘sign’ a register of attendance at Mass whenever you come on either Saturday evening or Sunday. In this way the priest can look at the register when you bring your SIF form for signing in December and compare the two. Signing will begin on the weekend of February 4th/5th. To join the signing process you need to come to the Parish Office on a weekday to set up a sheet for your child. You will also be given more information about what is involved. The Office is normally open 9.00-3.00, but please do avoid times when Mass is being celebrated.
WOKING AND DISTRICT IRISH ASSOCIATION
Dance on Saturday February 4th at Old Woking Recreation Club, Westfield Road, GU22 9NG. Held downstairs (no tea/coffee or snacks) with music by Finbarr & Paul. For enquires contact Kathy (07835 258559) or Val (07968 327674).
HOMES FOR UKRAINIANS
We have had queries asking if there are some parishioners who would consider hosting a guest from Ukraine as part of the Homes for Ukrainians scheme. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact the parish office.
There is also help available through St John of God Hospitaller Services, in collaboration with the Caritas Social Action Network, who are also running a Homes for Ukraine programme. Please see the poster and leaflets in the narthex or visit https://sjog-homesforukraine.uk/.
There is also help available through St John of God Hospitaller Services, in collaboration with the Caritas Social Action Network, who are also running a Homes for Ukraine programme. Please see the poster and leaflets in the narthex or visit https://sjog-homesforukraine.uk/.
HMP SEND
The Catholic chaplaincy team is keen to recruit new volunteers. Should you be interested in finding out more and/or would like to attend the weekly mass one day, please contact Ian White at ianwh236@gmail.com or on 01932 340747.
WOKING STREET ANGELS
Woking Street Angels would like to invite all church ministers and members of your congregation to its annual Commissioning Service . We are blessed to have great support from many Woking Churches, financially, with volunteers and with prayer and we have now passed our tenth anniversary. Our Service will be held at St. Paul’s Church, Oriental Road, Woking on Sunday, 26th February 2023, commencing at 4.00 pm. It should last less than an hour and will be followed by a social time with tea and cakes. We would be delighted if you could please support this by coming along. There will be a chance to find out more about our current work, meet some of the operational Angels and trustees, hopefully also Emma, our new Woking Street Angels Coordinator and other guests. Inquiries: contact wokingstreetangels@gmail.com.
WESTMINSTER CHOIR CATHEDRAL SCHOOL
Open Morning for Prospective Chorister Families
Open Morning for Prospective Chorister Families
Sunday 5th February 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
WCCS are inviting boys in years 2, 3 or 4 with musical potential, who might consider becoming choristers at Westminster Cathedral, to come to their open morning on February 5th. For any enquiries, please contact the Director of Admissions, Miss Lucy Auger, office@choirschool.com, 020 7798 9081.
FRIENDS OF THE HOLY LAND – CONCERT
Join Friends of the Holy Land for an unforgettable evening of uplifting music on Thursday 16th February in Westminster Cathedral at a concert featuring the London Welsh Male Voice Choir supported by The Priests. The London Welsh Male Voice Choir has recorded with Charlotte Church, Aled Jones and Bryn Terfel. The Priests are three Roman Catholic priests from Northern Ireland who scooped the Guinness World Record for "Fastest-selling UK debut for a classical act" with their first album. The concert starts at 7:30 pm and tickets starting at £20 are available now through Eventbrite at - http://bit.ly/3i0ath2 or search LWMVC Concert at Westminster Cathedral, or by calling the office – 01926 512980. www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/westminster-concert2023.