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

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

This week’s Gospel reminds us that discipleship is not about numbers or comfort but about carrying the Cross with trust. Jesus is not looking for fans but for faithful followers who can say with courage: “Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will” (Psalm 40:8).

We were blessed to welcome pilgrims from Holy Cross School and Marymount School last week. Their presence filled our parish with joy and reminded us that young hearts open to God are a powerful witness.

Looking ahead, we warmly invite you, your families, neighbours, and friends to our Pets’ Blessing Mass on Sunday, 5th October at 10.30 am in the garden. All are welcome.

Parish News & Events

• Tea & Coffee: Join us in the Garden after Sunday Mass – a chance to meet and share. Kids can enjoy the Kids’ Corner.
• Kids’ Gardening Day: Sunday 14th September after Mass.
• Family Mass: Sunday 28th September at 10.30 am (no catechism on this day).
• New Altar Servers: Induction on 28th September during Mass.
• Pets’ Blessing Mass: Sunday 5th October at 10.30 am – outdoor in honour of St Francis of Assisi.
• Committee Meetings:
  • Church Maintenance Team – 5th October, 3.00 pm
  • Synodal Team – 12th October, 3.00 pm
  • Finance Committee – 19th October, 3.00 pm
• All Saints Procession: Sunday 2nd November, during Mass.

Sacraments

• Baptism: Usually on Saturdays after 12 noon Mass. Apply via QR code in church.
• First Holy Communion 2025–26: Classes start Monday 22nd September (5.30–6.15 pm). Celebration: Saturday 7th June 2026 at 12 noon.
• RCIA Programme 2025–26: Begins Sunday 19th October. Contact Fr James or Sr Ursula.
• Anniversaries: Couples celebrating jubilees (10–80 years) are invited to share details with Fr James for a blessing.

Jubilee Year Pilgrims at St Ann’s

• Weekly Devotions:
  • Tuesdays – 6.15 pm Adoration & Confession, 7.00 pm Mass
  • Saturdays – 11.15 am Adoration & Confession, 12 noon Mass
• Rosary Walks – Richmond Park:
  • Saturday 20th September, 9.45 am
  • Saturday 4th October, 9.45 am
• Fourth Saturday Talks – Parish Hall:
  • Saturday 25th October, 9.45 am
    Finding God in Silence: Teachings of the Desert Fathers

Parish Project – Double Glazing Appeal

The presbytery windows and doors are single-glazed, making it very cold and inefficient in winter. The upgrade project cost is £28,500.

• Raised so far: £9,325 (32.7%)
• How to support:
  • Bank Transfer (preferred):
    RCAS Kingston Hill – NatWest
    Acc: 79124429 | Sort: 60-50-01 | Ref: Double Glazing
  • QR Code: Available at the back of the church (note: 1.5% processing fee).

Your generosity helps us maintain a warm and welcoming parish home.

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 – Discipleship of Jesus

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

Today’s Gospel is a very powerful moment in Jesus’ journey — almost like the intermission in a movie, when the story takes a sharp turn and we begin to see where everything is heading. A huge multitude was following Him: His disciples who had left everything, the Pharisees and scribes who wanted to catch Him out, the sick who longed for healing, the curious, and even those who followed simply for bread and fish. But Jesus, at this point, turns to them and says plainly: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).

This is no longer about the crowd. Jesus is not looking for fans — He is looking for true followers. As in the days of Gideon, when God reduced an army of thirty thousand down to three hundred (Judges 7:7), the message is clear: quality matters more than quantity. The crowd can be noisy, but the disciple must be faithful.

In the first reading we heard about King Solomon. A man of wealth, wisdom, and power — yet he confessed, “What man can know the counsel of God? Or who can conceive what the Lord intends?” (Wisdom 9:13). Even Solomon recognised that human strength, intellect, and possessions are not enough. He surrendered to God’s wisdom. If the king of Israel himself bows before God’s wisdom, how much more are we invited to live in trust and surrender?

And Jesus takes it deeper: discipleship is not about comfort, success, or recognition. It is about the Cross. Moses was called, not to a throne, but to the wilderness. Joseph was chosen, not to sit in a palace immediately, but to be sold into slavery in Egypt. Jesus Himself, when He became incarnate, was not given riches but was given a Cross. As St. Paul reminds us: “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23–24).

Dear friends, discipleship means sacrifice. It means to let go of selfish inclinations and live in selfless love. Too often we treat God like a transaction — we give a prayer and expect a return, almost like a business deal. But Jesus asks for more. He asks for hearts that can say, “Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will” (Psalm 40:8).

This speaks so strongly to our families and our society today. We live in a world that measures success by numbers — how many followers on Instagram, how many likes on Facebook, how big a crowd we can gather. But discipleship is not about numbers. Even Jesus, when arrested, saw the crowd disperse, and yet from a handful of disciples, He built His Church. As Mother Teresa said: “God has not called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful.”

And to the young people especially: true greatness is not in being seen or recognised, but in giving. A family is not built by everyone seeking their own recognition, but by parents and children carrying the daily crosses of patience, forgiveness, sacrifice, and love. A society is not strengthened by popularity, but by commitment to truth and justice. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” That is discipleship in action.

So today the Lord looks at us and says again: “If anyone wants to be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The Cross is not a burden meant to crush us — it is the path of love that lifts us. And the promise is sure: “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Let us, then, be true disciples — not just part of the crowd, not just fans of Jesus when things are easy, but followers who carry the Cross with love. Let us surrender our wisdom, like Solomon, into God’s hands. Let us trust, like Moses and Joseph, that even the wilderness and the chains can become the path to God’s glory. And let us live, like Jesus, with love that gives and forgives without measure.

For in the end, it is not the size of the crowd that matters, but the depth of the heart that follows.

Amen.