OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
EVANGELIUM VITAE by Pope John Paul II Part 2
New threats to human life.
3. Every individual, precisely by reason of the mystery of the Word of God who was made flesh (cf. Jn 1:14), is entrusted to the maternal care of the Church. Therefore every threat to human dignity and life must necessarily be felt in the Church's very heart; it cannot but affect her at the core of her faith in the Redemptive Incarnation of the Son of God, and engage her in her mission of proclaiming the Gospel of life in all the world and to every creature (cf. Mk 16:15). Today this proclamation is especially pressing because of the extraordinary increase and gravity of threats to the life of individuals and peoples, especially where life is weak and defenceless. In addition to the ancient scourges of poverty, hunger, endemic diseases, violence and war, new threats are emerging on an alarmingly vast scale. The Second Vatican Council, in a passage which retains all its relevance today, forcefully condemned a number of crimes and attacks against human life. Thirty years later, taking up the words of the Council and with the same forcefulness I repeat that condemnation in the name of the whole Church, certain that I am interpreting the genuine sentiment of every upright conscience: "Whatever is opposed to life itself, such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia, or wilful self-destruction, whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself; whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children; as well as disgraceful working conditions, where people are treated as mere instruments of gain rather than as free and responsible persons; all these things and others like them are infamies indeed. They poison human society, and they do more harm to those who practise them than to those who suffer from the injury. Moreover, they are a supreme dishonour to the Creator".
4. Unfortunately, this disturbing state of affairs, far from decreasing, is expanding: with the new prospects opened up by scientific and technological progress there arise new forms of attacks on the dignity of the human being. At the same time a new cultural climate is developing and taking hold, which gives crimes against life a new and-if possible-even more sinister character, giving rise to further grave concern: broad sectors of public opinion justify certain crimes against life in the name of the rights of individual freedom, and on this basis they claim not only exemption from punishment but even authorization by the State, so that these things can be done with total freedom and indeed with the free assistance of health-care systems. All this is causing a profound change in the way in which life and relationships between people are considered. The fact that legislation in many countries, perhaps even departing from basic principles of their Constitutions, has determined not to punish these practices against life, and even to make them altogether legal, is both a disturbing symptom and a significant cause of grave moral decline. Choices once unanimously considered criminal and rejected by the common moral sense are gradually becoming socially acceptable. Even certain sectors of the medical profession, which by its calling is directed to the defence and care of human life, are increasingly willing to carry out these acts against the person. In this way the very nature of the medical profession is distorted and contradicted, and the dignity of those who practise it is degraded. In such a cultural and legislative situation, the serious demographic, social and family problems which weigh upon many of the world's peoples and which require responsible and effective attention from national and international bodies, are left open to false and deceptive solutions, opposed to the truth and the good of persons and nations. The end result of this is tragic: not only is the fact of the destruction of so many human lives still to be born or in their final stage extremely grave and disturbing, but no less grave and disturbing is the fact that conscience itself, darkened as it were by such widespread conditioning, is finding it increasingly difficult to distinguish between good and evil in what concerns the basic value of human life.
To be continued.
ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL.
A bill has been introduced to Parliament by Kim Leadbeater MP to legalise assisted suicide. This will be voted on by MPs on 29th November. We know that assisted suicide laws in other jurisdictions have had devastating consequences for the poor, disabled and marginalised. This is the biggest threat to the vulnerable in a decade, and we need a huge effort to lobby MPs to vote against the bill. Please urgently contact Daniel Francis, MP for Bexleyheath & Crayford and ask him to vote against the bill. You can contact him by visiting www.livesworthliving.org.uk or write to him at: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA or daniel.francis.mp@parliament.uk
SERVICE FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED will be on Sunday 24th November at 3:30pm with Benediction.
PARISH CHRISTMAS FAYRE
Our Christmas Fayre will be on Saturday 30th November from 12 noon until 4pm.
Bring the family and enjoy festive treats, shop for handmade gifts and decorations and visit Santa’s grotto. Free gift for anyone wearing a Christmas Jumper. Entry £1 per person with children under 5 years free. If you would like to have a table to sell your festive goods, we still have a few spaces available. Please contact the parish office for more information.
DAY WITH MARY.
A Day With Mary is taking place at St George's Cathedral, Southwark on Saturday 14 December (10.15am to 5.15pm). Mass will be celebrated by the Archbishop of Southwark Diocese, John Wilson. Further information is available at https://www.adaywithmary.org/ or https://eventcatholic.com/
AUTUMN FAYRE.
St John Vianney parish Autumn Fayre is on Saturday 23rd November 12.00 – 3.30pm. Various stalls, Fancy Goods, Bottle Tombola, Toys, Cakes, Bric a Brac and much more. Bacon butties, soup and refreshments available too. See the poster in the porch for more information.
CHARISMATIC RENEWAL RETREAT.
We will be hosting a charismatic renewal retreat on Saturday 14th December in the Church from 12noon till 5pm. All are invited with more information to follow.
LIVE STREAMING.
Following no negative feedback regarding live streaming in the Church, we will be going ahead with this and will keep you updated with its progress.
PARISH MASS BOOKS.
As you may be aware, The Lectionary, which is the book that contains the Scripture readings for Mass and the Sacraments, is changing as part of the continuing process of revising liturgical translations. The process began with the Roman Missal in 2011 and has continued with all the other liturgical texts. The new Lectionary will use the English Standard Version - Catholic Edition of the Bible and the Abbey Psalter. The changes are intended to make the biblical translations more faithful to the original languages, biblical scholarship, and to provide a text for use in liturgical setting that is more proclaimable and, where appropriate, more inclusive. Due to this change, the current Mass books that we use will need to be changed which will incur a considerable cost to the parish. We are looking for donations to enable the parish to purchase new versions of these books which can be made by placing cash/cheques in an envelope marked ‘Parish Mass Books’, by bank transfer with the reference ‘Parish Mass Books’ or on the contactless devices in church. Please donate generously.
UNION OF CATHOLIC MOTHERS (UCM).
The next Union of Catholic mothers meetings will take place on Saturday 23rd November at 11.30am in the hall. If you are interested in joining our group or returning to it, please come along.
LUNCH CLUB.
There will be no more lunch club meetings this year. The next meeting will be on the 9th January 2025 at 12.30pm.
ST THOMAS MORE SOCIAL CLUB SOCIAL EVENING.
On the 13th December, 8pm till 11pm with music by Annie G. See the poster in the porch for more information.
SOUTHWARK ARCHDIOCESE ROSARY PRAYER PROJECT.
Everyone is warmly invited to join this Archdiocese-wide prayer initiative, praying a decade of the Rosary each day for priests and parishes in their deanery. For details see the poster on the noticeboard, pick up an invitation leaflet at the back of church or email southwarkrenewal@gmail.com.
SCOUT FUNDRAISING event on 14th December in the hall.
CONFIRMATION 2025.
Closing date for applications is the 1st December. Application forms can be collected after Mass on the weekend and need to be handed to Fr. Innocent.
There will be a meeting for parents & candidates on the 12th December in the hall at 7.30pm.
SENIOR CITIZENS CHRISTMAS PARTY.
If you have not yet received your invitation for this year’s senior citizens Christmas Party on the 5th December please contact Tony Brook on 07833707016. We are looking for volunteers to help and drivers to taxi so if you are able to help, please contact the parish office or Tony.
FOCOLARE GET-TOGETHER.
This Sunday in the hall from 2:30pm - 4:30pm.
Come and share! Event for children and adults to learn about how to bring fraternity & peace through music made together - a fun afternoon for all. RSVP to elisapuzzolo@gmail.com
FOOD BANK.
Donations can be made in the crate in the Church Porch and they are taken to the Bexley Food Bank on a Monday morning.
NEW WAYS TO DONATE TO THE PARISH.
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DEATHS
Please pray for the souls of:
Carol James who sadly died recently. Carol was a long standing parishioner who regularly attended Saturday evening mass.
Funeral details to follow.
Elizabeth Carter who died recently. Her funeral was on the 13th November.
Jacinta Townsend whose funeral was on the 21st November.
May they rest in peace.
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
Saturday 23rd November
G Feria
10.00 a.m. Malcolm Snashall RIP
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE B
6 p.m. Daily Rosary
6.30 p.m. Jacob & Helen Fernandes RIP
Sunday 24th November
W Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Holy Souls
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. KSC Council 380, family, deceased members & Popes’
Monday 25th November
G Feria
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 26th November
G Feria
10.00 a.m. Bruno Castanha RIP
Wednesday 27th November
G Feria
10.00 a.m. Desmond Rodrigues RIP
Thursday 28th November
G Feria
10.00 a.m. Noel Devane RIP
Friday 29th November
G Feria
10.00 a.m. Melqui Rodrigues RIP
Saturday 30th November
R St Andrew
10.00 a.m. Pauline French RIP
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT C
6 p.m. Daily Rosary
6.30 p.m. Veronica & Sally Kelly RIP
Sunday 1st December
P
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Reagan Pereira TG on his Birthday
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Iris Hayward RIP