Next week’s second collection: The Annual Mission Appeal this year is for the Josephite Missionaries who work in the Congo – There are no European missionaries left here; they are committed to establishing a wholly Congolese Region of the Congregation. Three Secondary schools in the Diocese of Mweka receive no Government funding. Your money will be used to support these and to support the training of young Congolese Josephites to be the ministers and teachers of the future. There are details of the Mission appeal at the back of the church. For further information www.josephiteb.org

Heart Gives Unto Heart - Papal Visit Internet Radio which is being produced by young, and some not so young,Catholics to spread the good news of the Catholic Faith during the Pope’s visit in September. Go to our website http://www.heartgivesuntoheart.co.uk and see a clip of the press launch for the new Papal Visit Radio Station. This radio station initiative is a direct response to Pope Benedict’s call for priests ‘ to discover new digital possibilities to proclaim the Word of God and carry out their ministry’.

The Unemployed and the Homeless General: That those who are without work or homes or who are otherwise in serious need may find understanding and welcome, as well as concrete help in overcoming their difficulties. Victims of Discrimination, Hunger and Forced Emigration Missionary: That the Church may be a “home” for all people, ready to open its doors to any who are suffering from racial or religious discrimination, hunger, or wars forcing them to emigrate to other countries.

Today’s second collection is for the CAFOD – Disaster Emergency Comm. Appeal for Pakistan At least 1,100 people have died and, with entire communities devastated, it is now estimated that 3 million people desperately need help in north-west Pakistan, Punjab and Balochistan. Thousands have been forced to flee their homes, the numbers affected continue to increase and the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better due to infrastructure damage to entire villages, roads, bridges etc. There are fears that diarrhoea and cholera will spread among the homeless. Food and drinking water are in short supply.

The sun shone and over 30 Parishioners enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon last Friday in the garden of Liz and Kevin Fry and David Blower – a big ‘thank you’ to them and their family. The Wednesday Club charity for this year is Cabrini – the Catholic children’s rescue society – and he event raised £150 towards our collection for the year.

St Laurence church gardens were judged to be “well maintained and very good”. Grateful thanks to all those who help with the gardens throughout the year.

The Unemployed and the Homeless
General:  That those who are without work or homes or who are otherwise in serious need may find understanding and welcome, as well as concrete help in overcoming their difficulties.

Victims of Discrimination, Hunger and Forced Emigration
Missionary: That the Church may be a “home” for all people, ready to open its doors to any who are suffering from racial or religious discrimination, hunger, or wars forcing them to emigrate to other countries.

The Unemployed and the Homeless General: That those who are without work or homes or who are otherwise in serious need may find understanding and welcome, as well as concrete help in overcoming their difficulties. Victims of Discrimination, Hunger and Forced Emigration Missionary: That the Church may be a “home” for all people, ready to open its doors to any who are suffering from racial or religious discrimination, hunger, or wars forcing them to emigrate to other countries.

Sunday 1st August. Lord, for your faithful people, life is changed, not ended provides the theme for this year’s Day for Life – the day dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition. Day for Life 2010 aims to present the Church’s teaching on death; it will highlight the importance of the sacrament of the sick, of praying for the dead and accompanying the dying person as they journey towards God. It will point towards the consoling presence and support of the community of faith and of all those who ‘have gone before us marked with  the sign of faith’.
As in previous years there will be a special collection proceeds going to assist the work of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre and other life-related activities supported by the church.
Please collect a leaflet from the back of the church.