St Ann’s Catholic Church, Kingston Hill – Parish News

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 28th September 2025

“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; the rich man also died and was buried.” (Luke 16:22)

This Sunday’s Gospel leaves us with a profound question: what makes a life journey light? Lazarus, though poor and forgotten, was lifted by angels, while the rich man, though honoured on earth, was weighed down by possessions and indifference. The mystics remind us: the more we cling, the heavier we become; the freer we are, the more God can lift us. Like incense rising when consumed, so the soul rises when it lets go into God. Let us walk this week with freedom of heart, travelling light, ready to be lifted.

Parish Gratitude

We sincerely thank the Cappagh Group of Companies for their generous help in clearing the pruned branches from our campus — keeping our grounds safe and beautiful for all.

A word of appreciation to the Marymount Grade 9 students and their five staff members — over thirty in total — who joined us for the Rosary Walk from the church to Richmond Park. It was a moment of prayer, mindfulness, and communion with creation.

We were also delighted to welcome the New Malden Youth Group — fifteen of them — who came as pilgrims. Your presence brought joy and vitality to our parish family.

Upcoming Events

Pets’ Blessing Mass

• Date: Sunday, 5th October 2025
• Time: 10:30 am
• Location: Parish Garden
  Bring your beloved pets for a special outdoor Mass in honour of St Francis of Assisi, followed by a blessing of all animals. Please dress warmly, as temperatures are forecast between 8–16°C.

Saints Parade for Children

• Date: Sunday, 2nd November 2025
• Time: 10:30 am Mass
  Children are invited to come dressed as their favourite saint. Chrisse will look after the logistics and guide the children on the day.

Parish Committees

Finance Committee Meeting: 19th October, 3.00 pm

Church Maintenance Team Meeting: 5th October, 3.00 pm

Parish Synodal Team Meeting: 12th October, 3.00 pm

Homily – 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(The Rich Man and Lazarus – Luke 16:19–31)

“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; the rich man also died and was buried.”

Dear brothers and sisters,

Two figures stand before us today. Lazarus — poor, weak, unnoticed at the gate, but remembered by God, lifted by angels. And the Rich Man — powerful, comfortable, feasting daily, but forgotten, nameless, sinking in the end.

Notice this detail: Lazarus is given a name, but the Rich Man has none. In Scripture, a name is identity. To God, the poor man is known personally. But the rich man is remembered only for his wealth, his clothes, his table.

The parable forces us to ask: Who is Lazarus today? Who is lying at our gate?

• The neighbour struggling alone.
• The homeless man outside the station.
• The elderly lady whose children rarely visit.
• The refugee family starting again with nothing.
• Even closer: the colleague at work hiding their depression, or the young person weighed down with anxiety. They are our Lazarus.

And what about the Rich Man? He is not condemned for harming Lazarus. He is condemned for ignoring him. His sin is not cruelty, but indifference.

Pope Francis calls this the “globalisation of indifference.” We live in a world where we can change the channel when suffering comes on the news, or scroll past the hungry face in our feed, and feel no responsibility. But as St John says: “If you see your brother in need and close your heart, how can the love of God dwell in you?” (1 John 3:17).

My friends, the “gate” in the Gospel is very real today. It is not just a wall or a door. It may be the gate of our schedule – too busy to notice. It may be the gate of our comfort – we don’t want to be disturbed. It may be the gate of our phone – where we scroll past real pain.

Mother Teresa tells a story. One day she picked up a man from the streets of Calcutta. He was covered in maggots, abandoned, close to death. She cleaned him, gave him water, held him in her arms. As he was dying, he whispered: “I have lived like an animal in the street, but I will die like an angel, loved and cared for.” That man was Lazarus. Unknown to the world, but known to God. Unloved by many, but carried by angels.

And yet, Christ stands with Lazarus. He said: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

So this parable is not just about heaven and hell. It is about today. Heaven begins whenever we open the gate. Hell begins whenever we close it.

St Teresa of Calcutta once said: “The greatest poverty is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for.” That was Lazarus’ poverty. That is still around us.

So dear brothers and sisters, let us ask today: Who is at my gate? Who have I failed to see? And let us pray for the courage to open the door, to cross the threshold, and to bring Christ’s love to the Lazarus in our midst.

Amen.