Pierre Marie Pascal Mendy (19) is looking for a work placement in Luxembourg for 3 months from 1 July  2014 in marketing, accounting, business administration or related fields. His mother, Rose, is well known to the Redemptorist community and is very involved in the Francophone section of the Paroisse Européenne. The young man speaks French and English (and is qualified in Latin and Greek — presumably Classical!). I have copies of his letter of application, his CV and a letter of recommendation from his college.

If you can help, or can suggest whom he might contact, I will pass on his contact details. Thank you. Fr Ed.

Our parish is doubly blessed in having a large number of children attending Mass each week, and having a Children’s Liturgy, where any young people (and parents who wish to accompany them) are able to have age-appropriate catechesis. We are looking to widen the pool of leaders so that we can reduce the burden on each catechist (at the moment, we have one full-time leader, Marina, and one occasional leader). If you are able to participate in this invaluable ministry, please contact me. Similarly, if you know of someone else who might be interested and able, please alert them to our need in this regard. Thank you. Fr Ed.

Today at a Consistory in Rome, Archbishop Vincent Nichols was made a Cardinal by Pope Francis. Archbishop Nichols, from Liverpool, England, is the Archbishop of Westminster, and is head of the Church in England and Wales. Each cardinal is nominally parish priest of a parish in Rome, and Cardinal Nichols has been nominated as parish priest of St Alfonso — the church which houses the original shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and is part of the headquarters of our Redemptorist order. This is a significant moment for Redemptorists and for our shrine.

7th Sunday of Ordinary Time year A

Readings: 

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2. 17-18 Through Moses, God calls the people to holiness, a state which will mean them living peacefully with each other

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 The Christian community is the temple where God lives

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48 The Christian is called to be perfect, as God is perfect

Mass music for 23 February

Dan was well known in our parish community until his return to the United States last year. He is due to be ordained Deacon on 31 May this year. As part of the process, ‘banns’ are published, inviting anyone objecting to the ordination to contact his home diocese. Details can be found here. We keep Dan in our prayers, and assure him of our very best wishes as he approaches this important stage in his life, remembering also his family. Fr Ed