Holy Trinity and St Augustine of Canterbury

Extracts from Newsletter for November 2002

Father John will be away for two weeks at the beginning of November as he will be going for an operation and will subsequently need a period of convalescence. In his absence, Father Michael Lee has very kindly agreed to say the weekend masses. He will not, however, be available for weekday masses or any other duties. There will therefore not be any masses Monday to Friday during the first two weeks of November, apart from Friday 1st November, The Feast of All Saints, when mass times are 10 am and 7.30 pm, as noted on the front of the newsletter. Saturday and Sunday mass-times remain as usual for the weekends of 2/3 and 9/10 November.

Please pray that Father John's operation will be successful and he will enjoy a full and speedy recovery.

Remembrance Sunday 10 November - During our 10.30 am Mass on this day we will commemorate all the brave men and women who have given their lives so that we may live in freedom. May God reward them for their great sacrifice.

Appeal for the Sick & Retired Priests' Fund There will be a retiring collection for this Fund on the weekend of 9/10 November. Envelopes for your donations are available at the back of the Church. Very few of our priests have a home other than the presbytery and, when they retire at the age of 75, it is vital that the Diocese should be in a position to provide the accommodation and the care that they need. Expenditure for last year amounted to just over £856,000 and the income from all sources amounted to a total of £690,000. Your generosity and prayers are asked for, in order that the shortfall be met and our priests be well looked after.

S V P The fortnightly meetings of the Society of St Vincent de Paul have been taking place on Thursday evenings at 8 pm in the Convent. This arrangement has now been changed to 3 pm on the same afternoon. The next meeting takes place on 31st October. Those who found the evening meeting impossible, but could attend in the afternoon, are welcome to come along and find out about our work. A telephone number is posted at the back of the Church.

Marriage Preparation Courses 2002-2003 Patrick and Pauline Haynes continue to provide these courses at London Colney and dates for next year are as follows: 29 March 2003; 26 April 2003; 14 June 2003. If you wish further details on these courses for engaged couples, contact details are: Tel: 01442 392618; e-mail: p.haynes@virgin.net.

Under 3's We would like to provide a box of board or cloth books for this age-group so they can have something to share and look at with their parents during Mass. If you have any unwanted prayer books or bible story books - new or old - that would be suitable, please could you donate them? Thank You!

200 Club Winners We congratulate the latest winners in our monthly prize draw .....

August: 1st Stephen Morris; 2nd Peter Gray; 3rd Jean Batterbury; 4th Jeff Brooking.

September: 1st Peter Wearden; 2nd Dave Cumming; 3rd Philip Gerard; 4th D Fidock.

October: 1st Elaine Glover; 2nd D Fidock; 3rd A Lockyer; 4th Peter Francis

Ascent Christmas Project 2002 Ed-Aid - Education in Africa -Don't forget your donations of pencils & pens, geometry equipment, and other items of stationery, in good condition, which can provide pupils and teachers in The Gambia and Sierra Leone with those things we take for granted. The large box will be in the porch from now until December. Thank You!