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

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – 21st September 2025

“You cannot serve both God and money.”

Jesus warns us not to let possessions master our hearts, but to live faithfully in small things, with generosity and integrity — keeping eternity in view whilst loving responsibly here and now.

Welcome: We thank the family of Mary Philippa Carter RIP for the beautiful flowers in her memory, and we warmly welcome Santiago and Leonardo, baptised last Saturday.

Pets’ Blessing Mass: Sunday 5 October, 10:30 am, in the parish garden. All pets and owners welcome. Please bring leads/carriers. Small gift and medal for each pet; tea & coffee after Mass.

Mass Times

Sundays: 10:30 am (Family Mass on the last Sunday of each month)
Saturday Vigil: 6:00 pm
Weekdays:

• Monday 10:00 am
• Wednesday 10:00 am
• Friday 7:00 pm
  (Please check the newsletter for any changes.)

Weekly Pilgrimage Devotions (Jubilee 2025):

• Tuesdays: 6:15 pm Adoration & Confession; 7:00 pm Mass
• Saturdays: 11:15 am Adoration & Confession; 12:00 noon Mass

Parish News

• Tree survey & pruning: Diocesan insurance works are underway; any branches/waste will be cleared by next week. Thank you for your cooperation.
• Tea & Coffee after Sunday Mass: Join us in the garden to meet one another; Kids’ Corner is open.
• Archbishop Emeritus Robert Rivas, O.P.: We are grateful for his presence and prayers with our parish family.

Dates to Note

• Sun 5 Oct, 10:30 am: Pets’ Blessing Mass (garden)
• Sun 5 Oct, 3:00 pm: Church Maintenance Team Meeting
• Sun 12 Oct, 3:00 pm: Synodal Team Meeting
• Sun 19 Oct, 3:00 pm: Finance Committee Meeting
• Sun 2 Nov, 10:30 am: All Saints Procession

Family/Servers:

• Next Family Mass: Sun 28 Sept, 10:30 am (no Sunday Catechism that day).
• New Altar Servers: Induction at the 10:30 am Mass on Sunday 28 Sept (note: previously printed as 27 Sept). Please give names to Mrs Adriana or Fr James.

Rosary Walks in Richmond Park

Begin at the Francis of Assisi Fountain with prayer, then a reflective walk in nature.

• Sat 4 Oct, 9:45 am
• Sat 18 Oct, 9:45 am

First Holy Communion 2025–2026 (Registration)

Start: Monday 22 September 2025 in the Parish Hall, 5:30–6:15 pm (weekly).
Mass: Saturday 7 June 2026, 12:00 noon.
Register online via the QR code provided in church/newsletter. Families are warmly invited to accompany their children on this journey.

60+ Club – Games, Laughter, and a Good Cuppa

Starting Wednesday 22 October, during school time, weekly 10:45 am – 12:15 pm in the parish hall.
Includes: gentle chair exercises & yoga, bingo/creative games, raffle, tea/coffee & sandwiches, monthly guest inputs. Places limited (30). Wheelchair users welcome if accompanied. To join or refer someone: 020 8546 8732 / kingstonhill@rcaos.org.uk.

Double Glazing Project – Appeal

Our presbytery has single-glazed iron windows/doors, making winter heating difficult and inefficient. We are upgrading to double glazing.

Received so far: £12,385 (43.5%)
Preferred giving: Bank transfer — Account Name: RCAS Kingston Hill | Bank: NatWest | Account No.: 79124429 | Sort Code: 60-50-01 | Reference: Double Glazing.
QR giving is available in church (1.5% processing fee). Thank you for supporting a warm, efficient presbytery and the long-term care of our parish property.

Project cost: £28,500

Homily – You cannot serve God and money

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today’s Gospel brings us a very clear teaching from our Lord: “No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13). These words are direct, uncompromising, and they touch a very sensitive area of human life — our relationship with possessions.

Jesus is not saying that money is evil. Money is necessary for our daily life — for food, shelter, education, care of family, and even the running of the parish. But the danger begins when money stops being a servant and becomes the master. When our hearts are tied down by greed, dishonesty, or selfishness, we begin to lose sight of God.

St Paul writes: “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). It is not money itself, but the love of it, that distorts our lives. How true that is even today — families broken because of inheritance disputes, friendships lost because of money, and even nations torn apart because of greed for wealth and power.

Jesus points to something deeper: “Whoever is faithful in very little is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). If we cannot be trusted in handling worldly things, how can we be trusted with heavenly treasures? God tests our hearts in the small things — honesty in our dealings, kindness to others, faithfulness in prayer, generosity with our time and talent.

Let me share with you a story. Some years ago, a man won the lottery. Overnight, he became a millionaire. At first, he was generous, giving to friends and charities. But soon, suspicion, greed, and fear entered his life. He cut ties with friends, quarrelled with his family, and spent his days worried about losing his fortune. In the end, his wealth isolated him. He gained the world but lost his peace.

Contrast that with the story of St Francis of Assisi. He gave up riches, family inheritance, and a life of luxury to embrace poverty and simplicity. In doing so, he discovered freedom, joy, and a deeper intimacy with God. His life reminds us that true wealth is found in God alone.

Dear friends, our Christian journey must hold both perspectives — we live in this world, but we are made for eternity. Death is not the end. We are born for everlasting life. Therefore, our possessions are tools, not treasures. They are meant to serve us, not enslave us.

Let us ask ourselves today:

• Do my possessions help me serve God and neighbour, or do they control me?
• Do I use what I have to build God’s kingdom, or am I building only for myself?

As we journey together as a parish, let us remember that real riches are not counted in pounds or coins, but in love, mercy, and faith.

Let me end with a thought from St Augustine: “God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.” May we empty our hands of what is passing, so that we may receive what is eternal.

Amen.