The Reverse Advent Calendar is our way to give to those in need in our local community, by donating food and goods. We hope that, at this busy time of year, it will prompt us to reflect on the real meaning of the season by considering the needs of others. Please pick up an information leaflet and calendar as you leave church today. Click here for the St Antony’s Reverse Advent Calendar 2024 Click here for the Explanation of the Reverse Advent Calendar...
PLEASE READ ! OTP – One Time Password A few parishioners have fallen victim to this hack. So much so the parish leadership has decided to fight back. WhatsApp is a end to end, fully encrypted social media application. What this means is that between your device and the person you are communicating with, is totally secure. However, the single point of failure, and this is not a criticism, is the the persons at either end. Hackers know this and totally exploits this. As users of the technology, we need to make......
Click here for our latest newsletter Throughout the Gospel of Luke, people question ‘who is this?’ when they encounter Jesus. The Pharisees (Luke 5:21), the dinner guests (Luke 7:49), the disciples (Luke 8:25), Herod (Luke 9:9) – all ask, ‘who is this?’ In fact, God himself has already given us the answer right at the beginning of Jesus’s ministry: ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’ (Luke 3:22). The reason that the Baptism of Jesus marks the end of the Christmas season, even though it happened decades after......
Click here for our latest newsletter Today, we celebrate the visit of the Magi to Jesus. We know little about the Magi. They come from the East and journey to Bethlehem, following an astrological sign, so we believe them to be astrologers. We assume that there were three Magi based upon the naming of their three gifts. The Gospel does not say how many Magi paid homage to Jesus. In Matthew’s Gospel, they represent the Gentiles’ search for a Saviour. Because the Magi represent the entire world, they also represent our search......
Click here for our latest newsletter Jubilee 2025 :“Pilgrims of Hope” On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica and officially inaugurated the 2025 Jubilee of Hope. “Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year. A time to re-establish a properrelationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. The Catholic Church celebrates this tradition once every 25 years as a year of grace, offering the faithful the opportunity to renew faith through prayer, pilgrimage, acts of charity, and by asking for a plenary......
Click here for our latest newsletter ‘For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, thebabe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed thatthere would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.’ On this last Sunday before Christmas, our Gospel reading prepares us for the birth of Christ by showing us how Jesus was recognised as Israel’s long awaited Messiah even before his birth. Luke links the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, establishing John’s early connection with......
Click here for our latest newsletter REJOICE, Jerusalem, with great joy,because your Saviour will come,” Today, the Church anticipates the joy of Christmas. The Mass readings speak of Joy : ‘Rejoice, exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem!‘. Zeph 3 ‘Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!‘ Is 12 ‘Brothers and sisters : Rejoice in the Lord always'. Phil 4 ‘he preached good news to the people.‘ Lk 3 The 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, which......
Celebrate the joyous season with us : Join us for a Magical Evening of Christmas Carols at St Antony of Padua Church, Forest Gate, presented by St. Antony’s Gospel Choir accompanied by Live Band on Saturday, 21st December 2024 at 7:30pm. You are all invited to come and enjoy this wonderful experience. Admission is free. Donations are welcome. Thank you for your support....
Click here for our latest newsletter Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Gospel of this Second Sunday of Advent (Mt 3:1-12), presents to us the figure of St John the Baptist, who, a famous prophecy of Isaiah says (cf. 40:3), withdrew to the desert of Judaea and, with his preaching, called the people to convert so as to be ready for the coming of the Messiah, now at hand. (…) In the Season of Advent we (…) are called to listen to God’s voice, that cries out in the desert of the world......
