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

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – 7th September 2025
“Discipleship in Action”

ThiParish News & Updates

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

This week we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. What was once a symbol of shame and suffering becomes, in Christ, the sign of glory and victory. St Paul reminds us: “He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). May the Cross teach us humility and self-giving love in our daily lives.

Congratulations – Baptism

We congratulate Anna Megan Ferncombe who was baptised last week. God’s blessings be upon her and her family. We also thank them for the beautiful flowers they offered to St Ann’s, which have brightened our worship.

Upcoming Events

• Pets’ Blessing Mass
  Sunday 5th October, 10.30 am – outdoors in the garden. Please invite neighbours, family and friends. All pets on leads or in carriers. Every pet will receive a small gift and medal.
• Kids’ Gardening
  Sunday 14th September, after 10.30 am Mass – All children welcome for fun gardening on the church campus.
• Family Mass
  Sunday 28th September, 10.30 am – celebrated as our Family Mass. No Sunday Catechism sessions on this day.
• New Altar Servers
  Sunday 28th September, 10.30 am Mass – Induction of new altar servers. Children who have received First Holy Communion and would like to serve are invited to give their names to Mrs Adriana or Fr James.
• Rosary Walks in Richmond Park
  • Saturday 20th September, 9.45 am
  • Saturday 4th October, 9.45 am
    Gather at the Francis of Assisi Fountain.
• Fourth Saturday Talk
  25th October, 9.45 am, St Ann’s Hall – “Finding God in Silence: Teachings of the Desert Fathers.”

St Ann’s 60+ Club – New Beginning

From Wednesday 22nd October, every week from 10.45 am – 12.15 pm in the parish hall.
Activities include: chair exercises, bingo, creative games, raffles, monthly guest inputs, plus tea, coffee and sandwiches.
Hall limit: 30 (10 booked, 20 places left). Wheelchair users welcome if accompanied.
To join or refer someone: kingstonhill@rcaos.org.uk | 020 8546 8732.

Parish Projects

• Double Glazing Appeal
  To upgrade the priest’s house and improve energy efficiency. Cost: £28,500. Already received: £10,825 (38%). Contributions by bank transfer or QR code at the back of the church.

Sacraments

• First Holy Communion 2025–26
  Classes begin Monday 22nd September, 5:30–6:15 pm in the Parish Hall. Celebration Mass: Saturday 7th June 2026 at 12 noon. Registration via QR code.
• Baptism
  Baptisms usually take place on Saturdays after 12 noon Mass. Application forms available online.

Parish Life

Parish Hall for Hire – Ideal for family celebrations. Over 60 parking spaces, kitchen and access to garden. Enquiries: kingstonhill@rcaos.org.uk

Tea & Coffee after Sunday Mass – Join us in the garden each week.

Homily – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. What a feast! And yet, what a simple message. Many times, we fill it with complicated theology, and we forget the heart of the matter. Think of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. A very simple act — yet it revealed the whole mystery of His servant leadership. Today’s feast is like that. Let us put aside the big words and return to the basics.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells Nicodemus: “No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven” (John 3:13). You cannot ascend unless you are willing first to descend. You cannot rise unless you first humble yourself.

This has been humanity’s struggle from the very beginning. In Genesis, God gave everything, but humanity, filled with pride, wanted to be equal to God, and disobeyed. Pride created a breach. But Jesus, the new Adam, came to heal it. As St Paul says: “He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

Let me share a story. During the time of St John Paul II, a man once came up to him in public and began shouting insults, mocking him and the Church. Everyone expected the guards to silence him or for the Pope to walk away. But John Paul stopped, walked towards the man, took his hand, and said: “Thank you for sharing what is in your heart. I will pray for you.”

The man was shocked. In that moment, the Pope did not defend himself with power or anger — he descended in humility. And that humility touched the man so deeply that later he came back to apologise. The Cross is exactly this: humility transforming insult into grace, hatred into love, defeat into victory. When humility touches the cross, shame turns into glory.

So, my dear friends, Christ means humble, and Christians must also be humble. True greatness is not in being popular or powerful. Jesus said: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). Like Job reminds us: “Naked I came, naked I go. The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

Today the Cross is lifted high — not because it was made of wood, but because the Son of God hung on it with humility and love. Let us carry that same humility in our families, our workplaces, and in our parish. If we descend with Christ, we will surely ascend with Him.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.