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

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – 31 August 2025
“Rich in What Matters to God”

“With God’s Grace, We Begin Again.” A warm welcome at the start of the 2025–26 academic year. We keep our children and young people in prayer: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Prov 16:3).

Tea & Coffee after Sunday Mass

Please join us in the garden after the 10:30 am Mass. Kids have a friendly “Kids’ Corner” space to meet and play.

Double Glazing Project – Appeal for Support

We’re upgrading the priest’s house from single to double glazing to improve warmth and energy efficiency.
Target/Quote: £28,500. Received so far: £7,415 (26%).
Preferred giving (Bank Transfer):

• Account Name: RCAS Kingston Hill
• Bank: NatWest
• Sort Code: 60–50–01
• Account Number: 79124429
  Reference: Double Glazing.
  QR donations are available in church (1.5% fee); transfer is best for larger gifts. Thank you for your generosity.

First Holy Communion 2025–26 – Registration Open

Start date: Monday 22 September 2025 (Parish Hall).
Weekly sessions: Mondays, 5:30–6:15 pm.
Celebration Mass: Saturday 7 June 2026, 12 noon.
Please complete the online registration form [Add link].

Baptism at St Ann’s

Baptisms usually take place Saturdays after the 12 noon Mass. Start the process via our Baptism Application Form, the parish office will guide you through next steps.

New Altar Servers – Induction

Children who have already received First Holy Communion and wish to serve: please give your names to Mrs Adriana or Fr James. Induction: 27 September 2025, 10:30 am Mass.

School Pilgrimage Visits

We welcome Marymount School (Year 12) on Monday and Holy Cross School Staff on Tuesday for their pilgrim experience at St Ann’s. Keep them in your prayers for a grace-filled year.

RCIA 2025–26

Begins Sunday 19 October 2025. For adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist or reception into full communion. Please speak to Fr James or Sr Ursula.

Readers’ Annual Planner (2026)

Thank you to our readers. If you’d like to join the rota for 2026, please submit your name via the form [Add link].

Jubilee & Milestone Anniversaries

Couples (or parents) marking 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 years: share your details with Fr James. We will remember you at Mass and can help request a Papal Blessing.

Homily – Humility, the Mark of a Christian

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

Today, the Word of God brings us to a very central theme of our Christian life — humility.

When we look at the disciples of Jesus, we see ordinary people — fishermen, tax collectors, simple men of no great reputation. They were not philosophers, not scholars, not leaders. And yet, Jesus chose them. He moulded them. He polished them — not with worldly knowledge, but with the wisdom of God. They became shepherds, apostles, saints. St. Paul says, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27). This is the mystery of humility.

If you ask, “What makes a Christian different from others?” — it is not wealth, not influence, not power. It is love and humility. That is the hallmark of our faith. Every religion speaks of virtue, but in Christianity, Jesus Himself points to humility and love as the highest virtues. “Learn from me,” He says, “for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29).

In today’s Gospel, Jesus paints a very simple but striking picture. Imagine a banquet. People rushing to take the best seats. We can almost see it, can’t we? Yet Jesus says: “When you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:10–11).

Pride seeks the top, but humility finds its place at the bottom. Pride pushes forward, humility steps back. Pride boasts, humility serves. And Christ tells us clearly — the humble will be lifted high.

Look at Our Blessed Mother Mary. When she received the message of the angel, she did not exalt herself. She said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.” (Luke 1:38). And later, in her Magnificat, she sings: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for He has looked upon the lowliness of His servant.” (Luke 1:46–48). Because she was humble, God exalted her above all creation.

Humility is not weakness. It is the greatest strength. Let me share a story from the life of Mother Teresa. One day, she went to beg for food for her children in the orphanage. A shopkeeper, annoyed, spat on her hand. What did she do? She calmly said: “This is for me. Now, please give something for my children,” and stretched out her other hand. The man was silenced, humbled, transformed. And from that day, he became a supporter of her work. That is humility — it changes hearts where anger and pride cannot.

Scholars tell us that pride is often rooted in fear and insecurity. We wear masks of superiority to cover up our inner weakness. But humility is born of love. It comes from knowing who we are before God — nothing, yet deeply loved. As St. Augustine said: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”

So let us examine ourselves, dear brothers and sisters. How often do we seek recognition, the first place, the applause of others? Do we sometimes create a false image of ourselves through wealth, status, or appearance? Jesus reminds us today — true greatness is not in being seen, but in being hidden in love.

Think of a tree. If the roots are shallow, the tree will fall at the first strong wind. But if the roots are deep, it will withstand every storm. Humility is like those deep roots — unseen, but giving strength. Without it, our spiritual life collapses. With it, we stand firm.

St. Peter says: “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time He may exalt you.” (1 Peter 5:5–6).

Yes, dear friends, humility is the way of Christ. He humbled Himself, even to the Cross, and therefore “God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name.” (Philippians 2:9).

So let us walk that same path. Let us be humble in our families, in our parish, in our daily lives. Not seeking to be served, but to serve. Not exalting ourselves, but letting God lift us up.

For the promise of the Lord remains true: “The humble will be exalted, and the exalted will be humbled.”

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