Parish Newsletter – Sunday 9 November 2025

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Message from Fr James Raj

“You are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit dwells in you.” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Each of us carries God’s presence within – a living temple of His Spirit. Let us live with gratitude and harmony so that His light may shine through us.

We thank our friends from St Pius X, Norbiton, for joining their pilgrimage with us. The double glazing work at the presbytery has begun and should be completed within a week. Volunteers are welcome to help with Christmas decorations as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. Special thanks to Liam Martin for his electrical support.

May the Lord bless our homes and hearts with peace and strength.

Upcoming Events

• Kids’ Gardening Day: Sunday 9 Nov after 10:30 a.m. Mass
• Kids’ Christmas Party: Sat 22 Nov, 3–5 p.m. (Register by 15 Nov)
• Family Mass: Sun 30 Nov, 10:30 a.m.
• Crib Competition: Send entries by 21 Dec
• Play “Prickly Hay”: Mon 8 Dec, 2:15 p.m., Holy Cross Prep School

60+ Club

Wednesdays 10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. | St Ann’s Hall
Gentle chair exercises, yoga, bingo, raffles, and refreshments.
Contact Anna – 07872 694535
26 Nov: Clay Making Workshop

St Ann’s Campus – Well-being

• Yoga & Meditation: Wednesdays 6–7 p.m.
• Reflexology & Healing Touch: with Koffi – 07365 387299

A space for harmony of body, mind and spirit.

Deanery Mass for Deceased Clergy

Fri 21 Nov 2025 | 7 p.m. (arrival from 6:30)
At St Ann’s Catholic Church. “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God.” (Wis 3:1)
Tea and light refreshments after Mass.

Christmas Preparation Appeal

As we begin preparing for Christmas decorations and celebrations, your contributions are most welcome. You can use the QR code in church or support any of the following:

• Altar candles – £120
• Mass bread and wine – £150
• Advent candles – £50
• Christmas flower decorations – £150
• Post-Mass refreshments – £80–£120
• Gifts for neighbours and those in need

Your generosity helps make St Ann’s a place of beauty, welcome, and prayer this Christmas.

Regular Parish Activities

Saturdays: Adoration & Confession at 11:15 am, Pilgrims’ Mass at 12:00 noon

60+ Club: Wednesdays, 10:45 am – 12:15 pm, in the Parish Hall. Gentle chair exercises, bingo, and social time.

Weekly Pilgrim Devotions:

Tuesdays: Adoration & Confession at 6:15 pm, Mass at 7:00 pm

Visit Our Website

Stay connected with parish updates, upcoming events, homilies, and registration forms at:
www.stannskingstonhill.org.uk

Homily: You Are God’s Temple (1 Corinthians 3:9–11, 16–17)

I sat one day after finishing some work in the garden, feeling deeply happy and blessed. The air was still, and as I looked across towards Richmond Park, I could see the gentle sway of the trees, the play of sunlight, and the quiet rhythm of life all around.

In that peaceful moment, I began reflecting on God’s creation — not only the beauty outside me, but the marvel within me. The body that bends, breathes, feels, and moves — the most wonderful of God’s gifts.

What a mystery this is!
The heart beating faithfully from the moment of our birth; the lungs drawing breath every second without our asking; the eyes capturing light and colour, turning them into wonder; the nerves communicating messages at lightning speed; the blood flowing quietly through miles of vessels carrying life to every corner of our being.

Just think — one tiny clot, smaller than a grain of dust, can stop the entire system. A single breath, when it fails, and the body collapses. Yet here we are, breathing freely, thinking clearly, moving gracefully. The same air that moves through the forest moves through us. The same creative rhythm that sustains the world sustains our heartbeat.

Saint Paul tells us today: “You are God’s building… You are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit dwells in you.” (1 Corinthians 3:9,16)

We are not random beings. We are the finest architecture of God — designed with divine precision. The foundation of this temple is Jesus Christ. And this temple is not built of stone or marble; it is made of flesh, breath, thought, emotion, and soul.

Sometimes we forget this. We look at ourselves and say, “I am ordinary.” But look again.
You can walk, run, speak, laugh, love, cry, forgive, and dream. You can hope, imagine, and even change the direction of your destiny. No creature, no machine can do that.

The human body is not just an instrument — it is a living cathedral.
Your nervous system — billions of neurons communicating silently.
Your heart — beating about 100,000 times a day, faithfully, without complaint.
Your eyes — delicate cameras that turn light into life.
Your skin, your breath, your voice — all singing one truth:

“You are fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

And yet, my dear brothers and sisters, how often do we take this temple for granted?
We feed it carelessly, deprive it of rest, flood it with anxiety.
We breathe shallowly, sleep poorly, scroll endlessly.
We carry addictions — not only of substance, but of the mind: comparison, envy, resentment, gossip.

We damage the temple through imbalance — too much noise, too little silence; too much information, too little reflection; too much judgment, too little compassion.

Saint Paul warns us:

“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)

It is not that God desires to punish; rather, neglect brings its own destruction. When we stop caring for body, mind, and spirit, life begins to collapse from within.

Think of a tightrope walker — every step requires awareness, calmness, and balance.
The moment balance is lost, there is a fall.
Life is the same.
Physical health, emotional peace, and spiritual focus — all three must remain aligned for the Spirit to dwell freely in us.

We are the temple — but not our own. We belong to God.
We must keep His dwelling clean — not merely by diet and exercise, but by pure thoughts, gentle words, forgiving hearts, and grateful spirits.

It is not enough to look holy outside; holiness must be integrated — body, mind, and soul together, reflecting the Creator’s beauty.
That is why we breathe through prayer, eat with gratitude, and sleep in peace.
That is why the Eucharist is not just a ritual — it nourishes the temple from within.

Even a single hair on your head, says Jesus, is counted by God.
You are the apple of His eye.
You are here with a purpose — to glorify God by being fully alive.

As St Irenaeus beautifully said,

“The glory of God is woman/man fully alive.”

So, take time today to marvel at this mystery:
Your body is a masterpiece of divine engineering.
Your soul is a spark of the eternal.
Your life — a temple where heaven meets earth.

Let us, then, respect this temple — feed it with love, rest it with gratitude, cleanse it with prayer, and fill it with God’s Spirit.
Do not let negativity or self-doubt destroy the beauty of what God has built.

The joy of life is not in having — it is in being:
Being aware.
Being grateful.
Being alive.
Being holy.

Let this week be a time to rediscover yourself as the temple of the Living God.
Walk tall, breathe deep, smile freely, and live gently — for the Spirit of God dwells in you.

Amen.