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

Upcoming Parish Highlights

• Parish Synodal Committee Meeting – Sunday 12th October, 3.00 p.m.
• Finance Committee Meeting – Sunday 19th October, 3.00 p.m.
• Saints Parade (Children’s Event) – Sunday 2nd November, 10.30 a.m. Mass
• Kids’ Gardening Day – Sunday 9th November, after 10.30 a.m. Mass
• Family Mass – Sunday 25th October, 10.30 a.m.
• Rosary Walks in Richmond Park – Saturday 18th October & Saturday 1st November, 9.45 a.m.
• Fourth Saturday Talk: “Finding God in Silence” – Saturday 25th October, 9.45 a.m.

Well-being at St Ann’s

Our 60+ Club begins Wednesday, 22nd October, from 10.45 a.m. – 12.15 p.m.
Join us in the hall for chair yoga, creative games, a raffle, and refreshments.

Wholeness Exercise with Fr James Raj – Every Wednesday, 6.00 – 7.00 p.m.
A gentle time of breathwork, meditation, and yoga-inspired movements for inner peace and focus.

Reflexology and Healing Touch with Koffi Amani – By appointment at St Ann’s House.
To book: 📞 07365 387 299

Tea and Coffee After Sunday Mass

Everyone is warmly invited to join us in the garden after Mass for tea, coffee, and fellowship. Children can enjoy the Kids’ Corner — a joyful space to make friends and share smiles.

Homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Luke 17:11–19 — “Were not all ten made clean?”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

Let me begin with a simple story.

Two men were on their way to a new village. The first man met a monk on the road and asked, “Father, what are the people like in this village?”
The monk replied, “Tell me first — what are they like where you come from?”
“Oh,” said the man, “they are bad, selfish, unkind people.”
The monk nodded and said, “You will find them the same here.”

A little later, another man came by and asked the same question.
Again the monk asked, “What are the people like in your village?”
He smiled and said, “They are good and loving. In my difficult times, they stood by me.”
The monk said, “You will find them the same here too.”

The disciple who overheard both was puzzled and asked, “Master, why did you give two different answers for the same village?”
The monk smiled, “Because, my son, it is not about the village. It is about the heart that looks at it. What you carry inside you, you will see outside you.”

Perspective Shapes Gratitude

My dear friends,
In the same way, the story of Naaman the Syrian and the ten lepers in today’s readings invite us to see life from the lens of humility and gratitude.

Naaman, a great commander, was a man of pride and position. But leprosy stripped away his titles, his rank, and his self-image. He was angry at first, too proud to obey the prophet’s simple command to wash in the Jordan. Yet by the advice of his servant, he humbled himself — and was healed. His healing was not only of the skin, but of the soul. Humility healed him.

And so too in the Gospel, ten lepers cry out from a distance, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13).
Jesus tells them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. But only one — a Samaritan — came back, fell at the feet of Jesus, and gave thanks.

Nine were healed, but only one was made whole.
Nine received cleansing, but one received grace.
Nine walked away with health, but one walked back with a new heart.

Humility and Gratitude Bring Joy

It is humility that brings gratitude, and gratitude that opens the door to joy.
The grateful man saw not just his clean skin, but the mercy of God. He did not rush to show himself to the world — he turned first to the One who made him whole.

We too are often like the nine — busy, successful, blessed in many ways, yet slow to bend the knee and say “Thank You, Lord.”
We think our blessings are the fruit of our own merit. But as St Paul says, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).
Everything is grace. Everything is gift.

The proud heart complains even when blessed. The humble heart rejoices even in little.
Gratitude is not the result of abundance — it is the cause of abundance.
As Meister Eckhart once said:

“If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is ‘Thank you,’ it will be enough.”

The Journey and the Gunas

The ten lepers were on a journey — and so are we, from womb to tomb.
Along this journey, we encounter many inner gunas — qualities that shape who we are. Pride, fear, doubt, but also humility, compassion, and gratitude.
Among these, it is gratitude — born of humility — that transforms the soul and gives it lightness.

Like the grateful leper, when we recognise God’s hand in our blessings, when we turn back to give thanks, we rise to a higher plane of life — joyful, content, and free.

A Final Reflection

So, dear brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel asks us a simple but piercing question:
Where are the nine? And where am I among them?
After receiving God’s blessings, do I forget the Giver?
Or do I return with a grateful heart, acknowledging His mercy?

Let us learn from that one Samaritan, whose humility opened the way to wholeness.
May we too find healing — not only of body, but of heart.
And may our gratitude make us truly joyful and whole in the sight of God.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
– 1 Thessalonians 5:18