Saturday 12th - Sunday 20th July 2025
- bostallpark
- Jul 11
- 6 min read
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SEA SUNDAY 13TH JULY 2025
ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE BY POPE JOHN PAUL II (part 6)
Praying to Christ with Mary
16. Jesus invited us to turn to God with insistence and the confidence that we will be heard: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Mt 7:7). The basis for this power of prayer is the goodness of the Father, but also the mediation of Christ himself (cf. 1Jn 2:1) and the working of the Holy Spirit who “intercedes for us” according to the will of God (cf. Rom 8:26-27). For “we do not know how to pray as we ought” (Rom 8:26), and at times we are not heard “because we ask wrongly” (cf. Jas 4:2-3).
In support of the prayer which Christ and the Spirit cause to rise in our hearts, Mary intervenes with her maternal intercession. “The prayer of the Church is sustained by the prayer of Mary”. (23) If Jesus, the one Mediator, is the Way of our prayer, then Mary, his purest and most transparent reflection, shows us the Way. “Beginning with Mary's unique cooperation with the working of the Holy Spirit, the Churches developed their prayer to the Holy Mother of God, centering it on the person of Christ manifested in his mysteries”. (24) At the wedding of Cana the Gospel clearly shows the power of Mary's intercession as she makes known to Jesus the needs of others: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3).
The Rosary is both meditation and supplication. Insistent prayer to the Mother of God is based on confidence that her maternal intercession can obtain all things from the heart of her Son. She is “all-powerful by grace”, to use the bold expression, which needs to be properly understood, of Blessed Bartolo Longo in his Supplication to Our Lady. (25) This is a conviction which, beginning with the Gospel, has grown ever more firm in the experience of the Christian people. The supreme poet Dante expresses it marvellously in the lines sung by Saint Bernard: “Lady, thou art so great and so powerful, that whoever desires grace yet does not turn to thee, would have his desire fly without wings”.(26) When in the Rosary we plead with Mary, the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit (cf. Lk 1:35), she intercedes for us before the Father who filled her with grace and before the Son born of her womb, praying with us and for us.
Proclaiming Christ with Mary
17. The Rosary is also a path of proclamation and increasing knowledge, in which the mystery of Christ is presented again and again at different levels of the Christian experience. Its form is that of a prayerful and contemplative presentation, capable of forming Christians according to the heart of Christ. When the recitation of the Rosary combines all the elements needed for an effective meditation, especially in its communal celebration in parishes and shrines, it can present a significant catechetical opportunity which pastors should use to advantage. In this way too Our Lady of the Rosary continues her work of proclaiming Christ. The history of the Rosary shows how this prayer was used in particular by the Dominicans at a difficult time for the Church due to the spread of heresy. Today we are facing new challenges. Why should we not once more have recourse to the Rosary, with the same faith as those who have gone before us? The Rosary retains all its power and continues to be a valuable pastoral resource for every good evangelizer.
To be continued.
PARISH NOTICES
BIBLE STUDY, RCIA & ADULT CONFIRMATION.
Application forms are now available from the parish priest.
ARCHCERT COURSE.
A lifechanging opportunity! Do you desire to know Jesus more intimately?
The Archbishop’s Certificate (ArchCert) is a two-year online course for all in Southwark and beyond who wish to understand their faith in a more profound way and be able to share it with both confidence and joy.
The course will commence on 18 October 2025 and the cost will be £400 per year.
The full cost of the course, payable over 2 years is £800.
In addition, registration must be completed in advance and there is a non-refundable registration fee of £50.
Further details can be found at https://aec.rcaos.org.uk/archcert
ALTAR SERVER RECRUITMENT.
We are looking for altar servers to join our team.
This invitation is open to all boys and girls who have received their First Holy Communion.
Please speak to the parish priest for more information.
READERS.
We are looking for more readers to proclaim the Liturgy of the Word at all Masses.
Please speak to the parish priest if you are interested in joining the team.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PARISH FAMILY FUN DAY – 14TH SEPTEMBER 2025.
Please save the date.
There will be a BBQ, games, bouncy castle, ice cream truck, stalls and much more for all the family to enjoy. At the end of the day, the parish social club will be open in the hall from 6pm. All are welcome.
If you would like to have a stall or can donate cakes and refreshments please email bostallpark@rcaos.org.uk.
Donations for raffle prizes, bottles and more can be brought to the house and left with Melissa or the parish priest.
LONDON CATHOLIC SOCIAL GROUP.
London Catholic Social Group have a number of upcoming events for Catholic adults over 30.
Sunday 20th July, from 12, Mass, Italian Street Fête and Procession of Our Lady of Saint Carmel in Clerkenwell.
Saturday 26th July, day trip to Waddesdon Manor.
Sunday 3rd August, picnic in Regent's Park.
Contact us on WhatsApp - Brendan 07425549408, Facebook - ‘London Catholic Social Group’ or Email - londonswcatholicsocial@gmail.com'.
DAY FOR READERS & EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST.
The next day retreat for parish readers and extraordinary ministers of the eucharist is on Saturday 18th October at St. Stephen’s Church, Welling.
The day will start at 9;30am with Tea/Coffee followed by Adoration, talks on ‘Discipleship of Hope’ & ‘Virtual Ministry’ & ‘Liturgy of Witness’ and will conclude with Mass at 2:30pm.
Please can you inform the parish office if you are able to attend as soon as possible. Please bring a packed lunch.
THE DIVINE MERCY APOSTOLATE.
The Divine Mercy Apostolate, London is holding a Celebration of St Faustina Birthday at Aylesford Priory, Kent on Bank Holiday Monday,
25th August 2025 from 10:30 am to 4pm.
The reflection day will include teachings on the Message of Divine Mercy, Holy Mass, Hour of Mercy with Stations of the Cross, Adoration and Benediction and Veneration of the Image of Merciful Jesus.
All welcome. Call Millie on 07957594646 for more information.
SUMMERTIME 2025.
6th August – 9th August: Retreat to Westminster Pastoral Centre, £189.
For aged 11-15. Open to those who regularly attend mass on the weekend.
This event has been going on for more than 20 years and is a few days for deepening one’s catholic faith, in a great social atmosphere, including football, sports & a visit to Thorpe Park.
For more details of how to get to the venue, with a coach laid on at St. Anselm’s Dartford, see the parish priest for a form, or contact Fr. Stephen Boyle, chaplain to the Guild of St, Stephen, Dartford@rcaos.org.uk, Tel:01322 220075.
VOCATIONS DAY CELEBRATION with Marian Consecration on Sunday, 17th August 2025 at
St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Bostall Park.
Highlights include Consecration/ renewal of Marian Consecration at 11am Mass, Gospel Music, Celebration of Priestly, Religious Profession or Marriage Anniversaries (1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th and above 50th Wedding Anniversaries.
Interested couples should text their names to the WhatsApp phone number 07424269423 or email vocationpromotersGLAP@gmail.com).
Speeches on Marriage, Priestly and Consecrated life, Entertainment & Refreshments.
Come, let's celebrate our vocations at the feet of Mary! Ave Maria!
For more information contact Fr Innocent Ezeonyeasi, Founder/Spiritual Director or see the poster in the porch.
PARISH GROUPS NOTICES
LUNCH CLUB.
Meeting 24th July at 12.30pm in the hall.
UCM MEETING.
The next meeting of the UCM is Wednesday 30th of July at 7pm in the Porch. New members always welcome.
BLESSED CARLO ACUTIS YOUTH CIRCLE.
Meeting 25th July at 6pm in the Church.
LEGION OF MARY.
Every Monday at 7pm in the porch.
New members welcome.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Saturday 12th July
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.30 a.m. Holy Souls
G FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
6.30 p.m. Brenda Ribeiro WB
Sunday 13th July G
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Souls of the Pereira & Rodrigues Families RIP
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Monday 14th July
G Feria
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 15th July
W St. Bonaventure
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.30 p.m. Holy Souls
Wednesday 16th July
W Our Lady of Mount Carmel
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Norma Marshall RIP
Thursday 17th July
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Friday 18th July
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Saturday 19th July
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.30 a.m. Magdaline D’Souza WB
G SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
6.30 p.m. Blasco Goes WB
Sunday 20th July G
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Holy Souls
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls