JANUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS
Octave Day of Christmas and Week of Christmastide.
TRADITIONAL REQUIEM: ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF POPE BENEDICT XVI. With Palestrina’s missa pro defunctis. Monday 8th January 2024 6.30 p.m. at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane WC2E 2NB. Arranged by the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales.
FHC24 SESSION 1 Saturday 6th January at 10.30 a.m. in the Church Hall.
BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE As part of the preparation for the 2025 Jubilee year, the Southwark Marriage and Family Team will be running a Building a Better Marriage Course throughout the Archdiocese from February 2024. The one day course is for married couples (whether married for one year, 60 years or anywhere in between). It seeks to help husbands and wives to make their marriage better and to improve their communication skills. There is no group sharing and private information remains private to each couple. Couples who have attended previously have found it enjoyable, informative, and uplifting. For more information contact the Marriage and Family Life team through the Archdiocese of Southwark: website. https://www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/mission/marriage-and-family-life
Winter Warmer Drop-In at St Thomas More provided by the MINI- VINNIES of our Primary School. Message from Mrs Wendy McClumpha:
In a world where compassion knows no boundaries…where every act of kindness makes a difference…where hope is served alongside hearty meals…
We invite you to join us at the St Thomas More Church Hall at 6.00 p.m. on Friday 26th January 2024
We are more than just a kitchen; we are a community of caring hearts. Our Mini Vinnies prepare each meal with love and dedication. Families, children, and friends of St Thomas More Church who experience food poverty are more than welcome.
Our support to you means everything to us. So please come along!!
From the Mini Vinnies group at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School.
Christmas Message from the Archbishop.
Archbishop John Wilson has recorded his annual Christmas message for the Archdiocese, calling for us all to embrace prayer and welcome Christ into our hearts. He reminds us that: “if we ask, we will be heard. If we seek, we will be found. If we knock, the Lord Jesus will open the door”. So let 2024 be the year we all give prayer a go and welcome Christ into our hearts. To read or watch the message, head to www.rcsouthwark.co.uk.
Crib.
All donations made at our crib this year will go to the Catholic Children’s Society. Your donation will help local disadvantaged children and their families. The crib will be with us until Candlemas, 2nd February.
SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN.
Please contact your MP and urge them to oppose Stella Creasy and Diana Johnson's amendments to the criminal justice bill. As we know the pills by post scheme has led to the death of totally viable, healthy babies outside of the provisions of the abortion act itself. Rather than scrap this flawed scheme these amendments have been tabled making a self-performed (home abortion) possible at any stage of pregnancy and removing the prohibition on hiding the body of a dead newborn baby including in circumstances where the baby has been killed by infanticide (I couldn't believe this either) Urge your MP to support Early Day Motion 131 instead. Please visit www.spuc.org.uk and sign up for email alerts. You'll get details about how to make a submission to the committee dealing with these amendments - heading criminal justice bill 2023 scrutiny@ parliament.uk
From the parish priest: Thank you to all of you for your Christmas offerings, the presents and hospitality and for the encouragement given in your kind and supportive words and greetings.
FOOD BANK you can make your donations at Sunday Mass in the crates in the Church Porch (narthex) and they are taken to Bexley Food Bank on a Monday morning.
Bexley Food Bank Requirements
Food
UHT Milk Tinned Meat (Hotdogs, Meatballs, etc.) Tinned Fish Tinned Fruit Sponge/Rice Puddings Coffee (small jars) Long-life Juice Pasta Sauce Spreads Tinned Meals (Spaghetti, Chicken or Veg Curry’s Chilli) Tinned Soup Jam and Spreads
Non-food Items
Shower Gel Shampoo Conditioner Deodorant Toilet rolls Washing Up Liquid Laundry Detergent Pods Shower Gel
Bexley Food Bank currently particularly requests (please notice the new items at the end: Please follow the link below to view the food donations page of the Bexley food bank site. https://bexley.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/
DEATHS
Ann Fanthome who died on Tuesday 14th November 2023, aged 83. Her funeral was on Monday 18th December.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS
Octave Day of Christmas and Christmastide
Saturday 30th December Sixth day of the Octave of Christmas [TC]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary (in Latin & English)
+ 10.00 a.m. (Latin 1962) Janice Caswell R.I.P.
+ 6.30 p.m. Said THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH. Feast. Joseph Hughes R.I.P.
Sunday 31st December
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. Sung (no Liturgy of the Word for Children this week) The Pereira Family WB & TG
+11.00 a.m. Solemn Latin Mass (in Latin with English Readings. Missa de Angelis) Joseph Bane RIP
7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in the Hall. All welcome.
Monday 1st January 2024 MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, Octave Day of Christmas, Solemnity.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Vivian Miranda RIP
Tuesday 2nd January Ss Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, bishops & doctors of the church
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. The People of the Parish
Wednesday 3rd January The Most Holy Name of Jesus
The Daily Rosary at home
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Thursday 4th January The beatified martyrs of the diocese, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Loretta Fernandes RIP (birthday remembrance)
No Lunch Club Today
Friday 5th January Christmastide feria
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Anne Fanthome RIP
6.00 p.m. Choir Practice.
Saturday 6th January The Epiphany of the Lord [TC]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Low Mass [Latin 1962]Alice ‘Babs’ Pitcher R.I.P.
+ 6.30 p.m. Said THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Solemnity. Mary Hughes RIP