Saturday 12th September - Sunday 20th September 2026
TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – CYCLE A – 13th SEPTEMBER 2026
A Pastoral Message on the Occasion of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the March for Life 2026
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ
At the beginning of September, we are invited to mark two important occasions in the life and witness of the Church. On Tuesday, 1 September, we observed the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation; and, on Saturday, 5 September, many will gather in London for the March for Life, to bear peaceful and public witness to the dignity of human life from conception until natural death.
These two occasions concern different questions, but they arise from the same truth of our faith: all that exists comes from God.
‘The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.’ (Ps. 24:1) Creation is a gift we receive from God. We do not worship creation; we worship the Creator. Creation bears the marks of God and points beyond itself to the Creator. Contemplating the beauty of creation, St Augustine asks: ‘Who made them if not the Beautiful One who is not subject to change?’
St Paul reminds us that all things were created through Christ and for Christ. (cf. Col. 1:16) A proper care for creation, rightly understood, does not lead us away from the Creator, but leads us more deeply into gratitude, reverence, and obedience towards God who made us. We are each called to be faithful stewards of creation who, in justice, preserve it for future generations.
Pope Benedict XVI spoke of the earth as a precious gift of the Creator, entrusted to our responsible stewardship. He warned against two opposite errors: treating nature as something to be exploited without restraint, and treating nature as though it had an absolute value apart from God, or even greater than the unique dignity of the human person.
This year, our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV has taken the words of the Prophet Isaiah as the theme for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation: ‘They shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks.’ (Is. 2:4) It is a striking image of peace and also of restoration. War wounds human beings, families and communities. It scars the land on which people depend for their livelihood. Violence, greed, exploitation, and the misuse of power all drive wars that damage both human relationships and the world which God has entrusted to us. (to be contd…)
PARISH NOTICES
A Message from the Bishops’ Conference about Home Mission Sunday 2026
On Sunday 20th September, we will celebrate Home Mission Sunday, a day for us as the Catholic community in England and Wales to celebrate our faith in these lands, and our shared commitment to communicate the beauty and the joy of knowing Jesus Christ. Celebrating the Holy Father’s first encyclical, the theme for this year is “Magnifica Humanitas” as the heart of mission. We can celebrate together the call the Holy Father has placed before us to live out our authenticate humanity which finds it’s fullness in Christ. More details about this can be found on the Bishops’ Conference website - https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home-mission-sunday/
The Second Collection on this weekend is to support the work carried out by the Bishops’ Conference Mission Directorate. Through the Mission Directorate, we support our Church in a wide field of service and mission here in England and Wales.
Please hold this important work in your prayers and give as generously as you can. Thank you.
Service for those who have been harmed by abuse. The Archdiocese of Southwark will be holding their annual service for those that have been harmed by abuse on 30th September 2026, at 6.30pm at St George’s Cathedral. The service will be lead by Archbishop John Wilson and is an opportunity for the archdiocese community to express their solidarity and compassion to those that have been hurt by abuse and our commitment to building safe environments for all. Please attend if you are able.
SEPTEMBER SECOND COLLECTIONS
13th Catholic Education Service
20th – Evangelii Gaudium Sunday (Home Mission)
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE. Kindly pray for Adelina Regina Braganza, 94 years, whose funeral Mass will be 25th September, 2026 at 11:00 am & Norah Conlon whose funeral details will be announced later. May God grant them eternal salvation, and solace to the family and dear ones. Amen
MISSIO – Red Box Collections. Thank you to those who took a red box from Fr Liam Durrant. Please use the box at home to collect loose change throughout the year. You will be asked to bring your box in to empty every 3 months. The date of the first collection from the red boxes will be announced in due course. Thank you for all of your offers of support.
Fr John O’Donoghue 90th Birthday Celebrations on Saturday 19th September with Mass at 12.00 noon @ Our Lady Help of Christians, 127 Mottingham Road, SE9 4ST. Thanks to all who have confirmed their attendance for Catering Purposes. If you require transport to travel to Mottingham, please call Tony Brooke on 07833 707016 or Tom Breen on 07801145501 ASAP.
ARE YOU LOOKING TO JOIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?
The next session of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) will take place on 17th September 2026 at 7.15 pm and thereafter every Thursday in the church porch. Please speak with Fr Innocent for further information.
PARISH GROUPS' NOTICES
LEGION OF MARY. The LoM will now meet every Friday at 11.15 am in the church porch until the end of March.
LEGION OF MARY MARIAN FUNCTION. The LoM will be celebrating its annual Marian function on Sunday, 27th September at 12.10 pm in the church porch. All are welcome to join in prayer and devotion to Our Lady, as we honour & invoke her blessings on our members and parishioners. Light refreshments will be served after.
LUNCH CLUB. The next gathering will be on Thursday, 17th September at 12.30 pm in the hall.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
Saturday 12th September G Feria
Family Marian Devotion at home
24th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME G
6.00 pm Daily Rosary
6.30 pm Helen D’Souza WB
Sunday 13th September G
8.30 am Daily Rosary
9.00 am Gladys Adelu birthday TG
10.30 am Daily Rosary
11.00 am K. G. George RIP
Monday 14th September R
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
No Public Mass
Tuesday 15th September W
Our Lady of Sorrows
7.00 pm Daily Rosary
7.30 pm William & Margaret Gilmer RIP
Wednesday 16th September R
Ss Cornelius & Cyprian, Martyrs
9.30 am Adoration
10.00 am Alexandar Fernandes WB
Thursday 17th September G Feria
9.30 am Adoration & Prayer for Vocations
10.00 am Jerome Braganza RIP
Friday 18th September G Feria
9.30 am Prayers for the Dead
10.00 am Samantha Butler RIP
Saturday 19th September G Feria
Family Marian Devotion at home
25th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME G
6.00 pm Daily Rosary
6.30 pm Sr Bridget McCourt RIP
Sunday 20th September G
8.30 am Daily Rosary
9.00 am Souls of Pereira & Rodrigues families
10.30 am Daily Rosary
11.00 am Holy Souls