DECEMBER IS THE MONTH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Third Week of Advent & Christmas Octave: notices & service times.
FHC24 Chldren’s Christmas Choir:
1. Practice Saturday 23rd 10.00 a.m.
2. Arrive at church on Sunday 24th at 5.15 p.m. Carols led by the children at 5.30 p.m. Vigil mass at 6.00 p.m.
This is the first part of your child’s First Holy Communion Programme.
KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS.
Our Knights of St Columba will be handing out Christmas posters for your windows after all masses this Sunday.
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:
Thursday 21st December 2023
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 Fayre
Thanks to all who contributed to the Christmas Fayre last Saturday. After expenses, a total of about £196 was made for the parish.
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.
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
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. Reception in the Church on Sunday 17th December at 4.00 p.m. and funeral on Monday 18th December at 11 o’clock followed by committal at Hillview.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS
THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT & THE CHRISTMAS OCTAVE
Saturday 16th December St Eusebius, bishop & martyr [TC]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary (in Latin & English)
+ 10.00 a.m. (Latin 1962) The people of the parish
+ 6.30 p.m. Said THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Joachim D’Souza (Bernie’s dad) R.I.P.
Sunday 17th December
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. Sung with Liturgy of the Word for children in Church Hall. Aadita Pinto TG on her birthday.
+11.00 a.m. Solemn Latin Mass (in Latin with English Readings. Advent Setting) Tony McLaughlin TG for successful operation.
4.00 p.m. Reception of Anne Fanthome into the Church.
7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in the Hall. All welcome.
Monday 18th December Advent feria
The Daily Rosary at home
+11.00 a.m. Funeral Requiem of Anne Fanthome followed by committal at Hillview cemetery.
Tuesday 19th December Advent feria
The Daily Rosary at home
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Wednesday 20th December Advent feria
The Daily Rosary at home
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Thursday 21st December Advent feria
5.30 p.m. The Daily Rosary
+6.00 p.m. The people of the parish
6.00 p.m. Mini-Vinnies Winter Warmers. All invited for soup and roll after mass.
No Lunch Club Today
Friday 22nd December Advent feria
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Denis Murphy R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Choir Practice.
Saturday 23rd December Advent feria
N.B. NO 10.00 A.M. MASS TODAY
10.00 a.m. FHC24 CHILDREN’S CHOIR PRACTICE
5.00 p.m. PARISH CHOIR PRACTICE
+ 6.30 p.m. Sung FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Paul & Val Yeates TG (wedding anniversary)
Sunday 24th December
No morning masses. Sunday obligation fulfilled on Saturday 23rd at 6.30 p.m.
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD. CHRISTMAS. Solemnity with octave.
5.30 p.m. Carols led by our children’s choir
+6.00 p.m. Vigil Mass. Sung Cynthia D’Silva W.B.
9.30 p.m. Carols led by the parish choir.
+ 10.00 p.m. Solemn Latin (missa de angelis) Midnight Mass. Petronella Martyres R.I.P.
Monday 25th December
+8.00 a.m. Said Dawn Mass. Mary & Eric Kemp R.I.P.
+10.00 a.m. Sung Mass of the Day. The people of the parish.
Tuesday 26th December St. Stephen, deacon, first martyr of the church, feast.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Peter Braganza R.I.P.
Wednesday 27th December St. John, the apostle and evangelist, feast.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Thursday 28th December The Holy Innocents, feast.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
No Lunch Club Today
Friday 29th December St. Thomas of Canterbury, bishop & martyr.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Eileen Ruddy R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Choir Practice.
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.