OCTOBER IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY
THE TWENTY-NINTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Dear parishioners,
This Sunday we welcome a Mill Hill Missionary, Fr Vincent Oates who will be preaching and telling us about MISSIO in advance of World Mission Sunday, next week.
World Mission Sunday
From Missio:
Next Sunday is World Mission Sunday, when we are invited to contribute to a special collection for Missio, the charity for world mission. Please support Missio in helping missionaries to work alongside communities throughout the world that are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief. Join in on this special day, that unites Catholics all over the world in prayer and celebration of our Church’s mission to share God’s love with all people. Please call 020 7821 9755 (office hours) or visit Missio’s website to give a single gift, set up a Direct Debit and Gift Aid your donation, if possible: missio.org.uk
Q: Why are all parishes throughout the world asked to support World Mission Sunday?
A: World Mission Sunday is vital to the growth of the Church and the spread of the Gospel in predominantly impoverished and remote areas overseas. The funds raised build much‐needed infrastructure, from chapels and schools to orphanages, clinics and dispensaries. Requested by the local community, the support from Missio transforms lives and creates a hub from which the young Church can flourish and grow. World Mission Sunday is one of only three Papal collections and has been especially chosen to support the mission of the Church in the world via Missio.
Q: How can I donate online?
A: Individual supporters can give directly through our secure website. Simply visit: missio.org.uk/wmsdonate to help build a future of hope around the world.
Q: How can we continue supporting Missio after World Mission Sunday?
A: Missio raises funds for the overseas mission of the Church through the APF‐Mill Hill Red Boxes which are in around 200,000 Catholic homes.
Throughout the year, Missio works in partnership with the Mill Hill Missionaries to raise funds and awareness for overseas mission through the Red Box. If your parish does not already promote the Red Box, please consider an appeal after World Mission Sunday. Other ways of supporting the mission of our Church include praying for the work of missionaries and volunteering for Missio.
You can also support overseas mission by sending Mass stipends to overseas priests via Missio. An overseas priest can say Mass for your intentions and at the same time receive much‐needed financial support. Please call us on 020 7821 9755 or visit missio.org.uk/mass‐offerings.
Also this weekend, following new orders from Rome, the Archdiocese commences a synodal process and timetable which finishes in January. Further details are accessible online. Archbishop John’s letter is available on the Archdiocese of Southwark website and paper copies are also available.
As mentioned before, October has been dedicated to the world mission of the church and the image of St Therese of the Child Jesus is in our church for the whole of this month. St. Therese is the patron of missions, and the presence of her image before the Ambo, from which the Word of God is proclaimed, is a reminder of our missionary call. We ask her prayers for missionaries and thank Fr Vincent for coming to speak to us this weekend.
Our Lady’s Lamp
This has taken a long time to come into being. Finding a sanctuary lamp that is electric fitted and with a bottomless blue glass cut for electric fitting for a Lady Chapel is not something off the shelf. Our Lady’s Lamp has been paid for by a legacy from Mr Victor Lambert who died on 27th September 2018. His funeral was on 18th October 2018. May the prayers of Mary, star of the sea and gate of heaven represented by the perpetual blue light of her lamp, lead Victor to Heaven and may he rest in peace. The Lamp will be blessed on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
First Holy Communion 2022
Applications are now open. Closing date for applications is on Sunday 14th November. Classes will take place on a Saturday morning at 10.30 a.m. in the Hall from Saturday 8th January 2022. However, even more necessary than the classes is Sunday mass attendance. Sadly, this should not need to be stated as attendance at mass for all who are able, is the first visible expression of faith for all Catholics who follow Jesus and love God. This will be an obligation for all First Holy Communion children from Advent Sunday, 27th/28th November. Advent Sunday will also be the children’s day of public commitment to their full participation in the preparation for First Holy Communion in June, the priority being Sunday mass attendance every week from 27th/28th November. Reception of First Communion is dependent on making this commitment on Advent Sunday and fulfilling it before June.
Applications are available from me after Sunday mass.
Can you serve your parish as a catechist? Have you had experience in helping your own child prepare for First Holy Communion and can now offer your service and time for other children in the parish? Please pray about this and if there is a little niggling thought at the back of your mind, that yes, this applies to you, it may be the Holy Spirit calling you to serve.
Please contact me, or Dorota Stochel or Suzie Glasson if God is calling you to support the children of the parish in this way.
Message from MIND IN BEXLEY : ‘TALK TO US…about your difficulties coping with low mood, frustration, depression, anxiety, sleeping difficulties that have an impact on your daily life e.g. work, relationships, family life or caring role. Call MIND IN BEXLEY on 0208 3038932 or ask your GP or healthcare professional for a referral or refer online at www.mindinbexley.org.uk
or email: referral@mindinbexley.org.uk
Mind in Bexley, 2A Devonshire Road, Bexleyheath DA6 8DS
Mind offers information, support and guidance to adults registered with a Bexley GP for:
· Talking Therapies.
· Recovery College: Education and well –being service for people with mental health issues including activities for physical wellbeing.
· Social and Peer Support.
· Mental Health Carers Support.
· Welfare Rights for individuals with a mental health diagnosis.
· Employment Support for individuals with mental health issues
· Out of hours Crisis Cafe.
Parish Pilgrimage to Walsingham (possibly May 2022) . More interest has been expressed. I’m waiting to get at least a mini – bus full and then will make bookings. Please let me know if you would like to come too. Dates to follow and coach or mini -bus will be booked.
Church Back Wall Repair & Redecoration
We have enough to proceed, although not the full £2,000 requested. If you would like to support this, the details are below.
NATWEST
ACC NO. 21361606
SORT CODE 517014
for the credit of: RCAS ST THOMAS MORE - BOSTALL PARK
Ref: church redecoration
Deaths For all our brothers and sisters who ate the Body of Christ, the bread of Life, that they may be raised up on the Last Day. (Drawn from the intercession of the Funeral Mass)
Please pray for the souls of:
Sandra Nourse who died on 3rd September 2021. The Funeral was on Wednesday 22nd September.
John Joe Corbett who died on 23rd September 2021, aged 73. The funeral was on Wednesday 13th October 2021 .
Patrick Joseph Flynn who died on Saturday 25th September, aged 93. Funeral Requiem at 11.30 a.m. on Monday 25th October followed by committal at Eltham Crematorium.
Raymond Frank Hawkins who died on Thursday 30th September, aged 91. Funeral Requiem on Friday 12th November with Vigil Mass the evening before with the Knights of St Columba. Times to be confirmed.
Ray Hawkins was a man of many talents who came to St Thomas More’s Parish in 1964 with his late wife, Ann. For many years he lead the Choir at the 9.00 a.m. mass on Sundays. He was a member of Council 380 of the Knights of St Columba for over fifty years and provincial Treasurer during that time. He was a member of the Parish Council in recent years and Treasurer of both St Thomas More’s Social Club and the Thursday Lunch Club. He is survived by his three sons, Simon, Michael and Andrew. Ray, who was an Engineer, was a very focussed man who carried out his responsibilities to a very high standard and once he got his teeth into the task carried it out to successful completion. May he rest in peace.
May the divine assistance remain with them always, and may their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK: THE TWENTY-NINTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Psalter week 1 Ferial cycle 1 at mass.
Saturday 16th October THE TWENTY- NINTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (B)
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. MASS [said] Vincent & Helen D’Souza T.G. for 67th Wedding Anniversary.
Sunday 17th October
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG MASS. The people of the parish.
+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS [with English Readings] Antonio & Argentina Fernandes R.I.P.
7.00 p.m. Social Evening in the Hall.
Monday 18th October St. Luke, evangelist, feast.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Prazeres D’Souza R.I.P.
Tuesday 19th October Ss John de Brebeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests and companions, martyrs.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. The Staff of St Thomas More Catholic Primary School W.B.
Wednesday 20th October feria.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Thursday 21st October feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Domingo & Adelina D’Sa R.I.P.
2.00 p.m. Thursday Lunch Club Afternoon Tea
Friday 22nd October St. John Paul II, pope.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Laurente & Felicidade D’Souza R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. choir practice
Saturday 23rd October Our Lady’s Saturday.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary & Confessions
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin] Canon Richard Hearn R.I.P.
[+ 6.30 p.m. THE THIRTIETH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME. Oliver Fernandes & Family W.B.)
OCTOBER PRAYER
The Rosary in October
Those who recite five decades of the Rosary in church, or as a family, a religious community, or as a group of the faithful, may gain a plenary indulgence daily; in other circumstances a partial indulgence. A partial indulgence may be obtained daily by reciting the Litany of Loreto and the Prayer to St. Joseph. (Southwark Directory p215)
Pray the Rosary Daily this October! See the daily times above .
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!
God bless,
Fr. Jonathon