Saturday 18th March– Saturday 25th March 2023
- jonathonrouth
- Mar 18, 2023
- 6 min read
MARCH IS THE MONTH OF ST. JOSEPH
The Fourth Week of Lent
Dear parishioners,
WORKS PLANNED FOR ST THOMAS MORE CHURCH.
In Eastertide we will be presenting to you the annual state of the parish finances at Sunday Mass. But before Finance Sunday I’d like to give you some idea of the many works that are scheduled to be undertaken in the long and short term. As you will know, many works have been completed in the Hall, the porch, the Lady Chapel, the House, the external walls, the new lighting and electrics in the hall, sanctuary furnishings, major plumbing works in the hall etc, etc but the list of works needed and planned just gets longer and longer. Of course, most works are ‘invisible’. Nobody notices when electrics are replaced or new plumbing installed, all fire extinguishers replaced, external walls rebuilt, or even when we have repainted the walls of the church using the same colour paint, however these all make a great impression on the bank account.
Soon to be undertaken is new lighting for the Lady Chapel. The current lamps cannot be replaced and LED lighting is now needed. The Lady Chapel is a well used part of the church and in particular, good lighting is needed for our choir and organists, especially at evening services and in winter. This will commence shortly.
You will notice that some of the spotlights in the church, in addition to the hanging lamps, no longer work. We will need to replace all the lighting in the church with LEDs as many of the current lights no longer have replacements available. It is not a matter of a ladder and some bulbs, but we will need professionals, with a tower, and many of the fittings need replacing.
We recently had a rare opportunity to acquire some very fine Altar/ Communion Rails* which will be more stable, reverent and dignified than the current prayer kneelers. As requested, the stability will assist those who want to kneel but need extra support to kneel down and get up again. These rails are being adjusted to fit our sanctuary and can be quickly and easily removed at any time to allow flexibility of use in the Church. At the same time they will maintain the contemporary sense of openness to a modern sanctuary while enabling ordered and reverent reception of Holy Communion in the ways permitted by the guidelines of the Bishops of England and Wales (see below for more information). Plans for the Rails are on the Parish notice board in the porch.
Also this year, the heating in the Hall will be replaced, God willing, in time for next winter. Fortunately, we were saved this year by an initiative which fixed the Air Conditioners on heating and removed the remotes, and so they can only go on or off and so they have actually been functioning in some way. Remaining in the Hall, the hot water in the kitchen also needs repairing, in addition to the ceiling in the corridor. New lighting was put in there a year ago, in addition to complete new lighting in the hall.
Below is a list of some of the other works needed. I leave you to draw your own conclusions in readiness for ‘Finance Sunday’.
Works Required to STM Church
Church & Porch
• Main roof: gable area (water ingress)
• Main roof: concrete rainwater guttering (water ingress)
• Windows: replace broken panes
• Window frames: clean & paint to several areas
• Lady chapel: lighting (LED lamps)
• Church: lighting (LED lamps)
• Ornamental plasterwork: repair & paint
• Altar rails
• Pew repairs: hymn book restraints
• Confessional refurbishment & new entrance from church (long term project)
• Porch: new mat well carpet (welcome mat)
• Chair rail to porch walls
• Door & floor refurbishment
• Re-position altar cross
• Altar marble work backplate & candle shelves
• Main roof (future development, long term project)
• Repair to porch threshold
Sacristy & Boiler Room
• Tiling disabled toilet
• Access door to WC (gas valve)
• Re-decoration (total)
• Lighting change to LED
Hall & Kitchen
• Re-decoration to walkway between church & hall
• Re-decoration to vestibule car park side of hall
• Adjustment to hall corridor doors
• Re-staining to car park entrance doors
• Drain clearance every three months due to continued blockages
• Floor cleaning & polishing yearly
• Wall decorations as & when required ( already one re-painting since the refurbishment)
• New heating system
• Toilets general decorations
• Replacement hot water cylinder
External
• Replacement concrete fence panels & two new bollards
• Repair/re-fix bin store gate & frame
• Replacement of concrete kerbs around drainpipes
• Replacement of hall-side inspection chamber covers
• Re-building of brickwork pier car park entrance
• Upgrade/replacement of porch entrance steps
• Replacement timber fascia/bargeboard over porch doors
*Altar Rails
When St Thomas More Church was built in the 1950s, there were some fine altar rails around the sanctuary. Altar Rails, also rightly called ‘Communion Rails’ assist a reverent reception of Holy Communion. Traditionally, Catholics visibly show reverence to the Body of Christ by kneeling and receiving on the tongue. This custom demonstrates that Jesus feeds us with his very self and it is not we who feed ourselves with Our Lord and God. At the same time, kneeling physically enacts our belief in the Real Presence and humble reverent adoration of the Lord when we receive Him in Holy Communion. Humbling ourselves is not easy for anyone, but the Lord loves a ‘humble and contrite heart’ and humbling the self before God at Holy Communion, may open our hearts to God in many other ways in our lives.
Receiving Holy Communion the traditional catholic way has always prevented abuses in which people walk away with the Blessed Sacrament in their hands. This nowadays, we have sadly seen on all too many occasions, meaning the priest has to run after the person who has wrongly come forward to receive Holy Communion, thinking it can be taken away: perhaps in ignorance of the true nature of the Sacrament, or even ill intent. This sacrilege is distressing for all believers to observe.
At an Altar Rail, if the Sacrament is received on the hand whether standing or kneeling, the communicant should place The Sacrament in the mouth in front of the priest. This will be assisted by the Rails, because the priest moves along the rail from communicant to communicant and will not move to the next communicant until he sees this.
Pope Paul VI reluctantly allowed communion on the hands, as an exception to the norm of receiving on the tongue, however, this has more and more become the norm, following the custom of our protestant brethren who do not believe in the Real Presence as Catholics do. Now that we Catholics have the choice about how to receive, ‘on the hands’ has probably become so common among us because it is easier and we all naturally incline towards what is easier for us. We do it because it demands less effort of mind or body, not because we intentionally desire less reverence to God - although this has sadly often been the consequence.
It is not insignificant, that in surveys in America, a high percentage of Catholics no longer believe in the Real Presence. Is this loss of faith partly explained by the manner in which most people now receive Our Blessed Lord? We say that ‘How we pray is what we believe’ and the traditional way of receiving Holy Communion clearly demonstrates our belief that we are receiving the Body of Christ. Altar Rails will assist us in this, although they do not oblige anyone to receive in the traditional Catholic way if they do not want to or perhaps feel shy about expressing this devotion.
In the current mass, the ‘1970 novus ordo’, we are now permitted to receive on the tongue or in the hands. Altar Rails do not change this. Communicants can therefore receive at the Altar Rail:
1. On the tongue while kneeling: the traditional catholic way.
2. In the hands while kneeling: perhaps if you don’t quite feel comfortable yet receiving on the tongue but want to show reverence. I quite understand and have seen some of you do this already.
3. On the tongue while standing: particularly if you find it physically difficult to kneel.
4. In the hands while standing.
I respect your decision in this, hopefully made with the Holy Spirit’s guidance in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament: receiving Holy Communion is the most precious, intimate moment we have with Our Lord and God and must never be treated casually. St Paul tells us it brings God’s condemnation on us when we receive ‘unworthily’ and this dishonours Christ’s body (1Cor 11, 28, 29). Therefore, examining our consciences and making our confession from time to time to a priest, is the most important preparation for Holy Communion regardless of how we choose to receive it. The external manner of reception, although acting as a visible testimony to our belief, should express what is actually inside us because what God sees in us is ultimately what matters.
Although there is that personal choice in the novus ordo, if you ever attend the Traditional Latin Mass, always receive Holy Communion on the tongue and while kneeling if you are able to kneel: this is unchanging for all time.
God bless,
Fr Jonathon
LENT NOTICES
FRIDAY LENTEN REFLECTIONS.
Join Patricia in the presbytery after mass on Friday mornings in reading the Sunday scriptures and sharing your thoughts with one another with Tea, coffee and even a biscuit.
RECOMMENDED EASTER BOOK for CHILDREN
‘BEHOLDING BEAUTY – AN EASTER MIRACLE’
by Madeleine Carroll, illustrated by Pedro De la Puente .
‘’Where Jeremiah was born the sun glittered silver on a lake full of life. Crashing waves on the rocks in winter storms were always loud, and in spring the air was fresh with shore flowers. Each season brought its own smells, blowing in over the Sea of Galilee. Jeremiah was blind, but, although his world was dark, it was full of sound and love"…..BEHOLDING BEAUTY is an Easter story of joy, healing and beauty, with excerpts from Scripture included at the back of the book.
Many of you have enjoyed previous books by Madeleine. They are beautiful and very fine presents to give your children to mark our Great Feast Days. Madeleine is a catechist with ‘Catechesis of the Good Shepherd’, as well as author and mother. Pedro is a freelance artist and illustrator, with his own YouTube channel ‘Little Lamplighters’. He loves teaching kids how to draw and is passionate about art. You can find out more about his work on www.littlelamplighters.com
If you would like to buy a copy of ‘Beholding Beauty’ or would like to buy one for a child in this parish, please let me know this week. Price £5.00.
WALK WITH ME
Pick up your ‘Walk with Me’. Daily Reflections through Lent. £1.00 donation asked. Some junior versions may still be available, also available is the excellent ‘Day by Day’ for juniors and infants.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
We are doing the traditional Stations of the Cross of St Alphonsus Liguori every Friday in Lent concluding on Good Friday at 7.30 p.m. There will also be a Children’s Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at 10.30 a.m.
PARISH NOTICES
Notice from Marriage and Family Life South East
Planning a catholic marriage? Marriage preparation courses are available by emailing mflse@rcaos.org.uk.
FOOD BANK.
Bexley food bank are very grateful for the goodwill and support generously given by the Parishioners of St Thomas More. The food bank regularly updates its donation requirements, and it is not always food.
The current list of urgently required items is:-
Custard, Noodles, Squash, Long Life Fruit Juice, Long Life Milk, Deodorant, Shampoo, Toilet Paper, Shower Gel, Tinned Spaghetti, Washing Pods, and Sugar.
[The Food bank would also like to point out that currently they do not require any of the following:- Baby Formula or Baby Food, Tampons, Pulses - Chickpeas Lentils Bulgur Rice, Butter Beans, Tea, Cereal]
Please follow the link below to view the food donations page of the Bexley food bank website.
https://bexley.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/
BAR STAFF NEEDED a few hours a month for the parish social club bar. Please contact Mr Tony Brook 07833 707016
SUNDAY 19th MARCH SECOND COLLECTION FOR POOR PARISHES.
This collection enables the Archbishop to make grants to some of the poorer parishes in the diocese.
HOMES FOR UKRAINE MATCHING SERVICE
CARITAS SOCIAL ACTION NETWORK, in partnership with St John of God Hospitalier Services, an international Catholic Charity with many services for the vulnerable in the UK and Ireland, are matching Ukrainian people displaced by the brutal war in their country with people in the Catholic community willing to host them in their homes for six months. If you have room in your home and in your heart to consider welcoming a stranger displaced by war, then we’d love to hear from you.
Please visit https://sjog-homesforukraine.uk//
CAFOD Syria-Turkey Earthquake Appeal
CAFOD is responding with support of provision of food, water, shelter, medical assistance and winter kits for survivors. Your donations in recent months have made that quick response possible. Let us join CAFOD in praying for our sisters and brothers affected by the earthquakes and the winter weather. Your support for CAFOD throughout the year allows our Catholic agency to act quickly when disasters strike. For more details visit CAFOD’s Syria Turkey Emergency Appeal online at https://cafod.org.uk/give.
UPCOMING EVENTS
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB:
Next lunch club on Thursday 23rd March from 12.30 p.m.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM.
We have now taken all the bookings and will be in touch soon.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES in October. Please contact the parish office if you are interested in joining us.
' By His stripes we are healed’ - The All Nations Catholic Charismatic Group would like to invite you for a day of healing and prayer at Our Lady of Annunciation Catholic Church, Addiscombe, Croydon on Saturday 25 March from 10 am until 4pm. The programme will begin with Eucharistic celebration followed by rosary, Holy wounds novena, adoration, confession, healing prayer and praise and Worship. Come and encounter the Lord who forgives all our iniquities.'
A DAY WITH MARY
1. St. Anselm’s, West Hill, Dartford. Saturday 25th March. From 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
2. St. Dunstan’s, London Rd, Southborough. Saturday 1st April. 9.45 a.m. to 5.05 p.m.
Bring your own packed lunch.
MARCH DEVOTIONS
To
ST. JOSEPH,
PATRON OF THE CHURCH
This Sunday, 19th March, at 4.00 p.m. with The Parish Rosary, The Litany of St. Joseph, Prayers and Hymns to St Joseph and Benediction.
KNIGHTS OF ST. COLUMBA
The Order of the Knights of St Columba will be welcoming some new members into the Order at the 11:00am mass, on Sunday, 26th March 2023.
The Order is based on the virtues of Charity, Unity and Fraternity, and this ceremony of admission to the Order, is intended to encourage the new members to place these great ideals, foremost in all their future actions.
We encourage practicing Catholic men, aged 16 years and over, to consider joining us in the work we do for our local parishes.
Come along and welcome the new members into the order and give thanks for the work they do for our parish and the Church in the world. If you are interested in finding out more, are a man looking for more involvement in the parish and would like to get to know more people here, I encourage you to come along next Sunday, 26th March, 11.00 a.m.
THIS SUNDAY ! FOCOLARE* AFTERNOON GET-TOGETHER
We invite children between 4 and 10 years old, together with their parents, to come join us for an afternoon filled with music. Focolare is an international movement that teaches us to love everyone as we love ourselves.
Date 19th March 2023 between 2-4 PM in the Parish Church Hall.
Please contact Elisa (elisapuzzolo@gmail.com phone 07565613867) or Leonara (07467366566) to let us know you are coming so we can plan logistics.
*The Focolare Movement is an international organization that promotes the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood, and celebrating ‘Jesus in our midst’, God who is with us.
PARISH YOUTH NOTICES
CHILDREN’S CHURCH.
The ‘children’s liturgy’ takes place in the hall at the 9 o’clock mass this Sunday.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2023.
Session 10 on Saturday 25th March, 10.30 a.m. in the hall.
CONFIRMATION 2023.
Next meetings: Sunday 26th March 4.00 p.m. in the presbytery.
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 soul of:
Thelma Ali, aged 84, who died on 22nd February and whose funeral was on Tuesday 7th March.
May the divine assistance remain with her always, and may her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."
Saturday 18th March Lent Feria with commemoration of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop & confessor [T.C.]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Domnick Pacheco R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (A) ‘Laetare Sunday’ Marshall Fernandes R.I.P. Second Collection for poor parishes in the Archdiocese.
Sunday 19th March (The Solemnity of St Joseph transferred to Monday)
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+9.00 a.m. [SUNG] Audrey Fernandes R.I.P.
+11.00 a.m. [SOLEMN. Latin with English. Missa in Dominicis Quadragesimae] Maria Lembo R.I.P.
Monday 20th March ST. JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, PATRON OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH, SOLEMNITY.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Linda Coakley R.I.P. (month’s mind)
Tuesday 21st March Lent feria
9.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Leslie Hayward R.I.P. (birthday anniversary)
Wednesday 22nd March Lent feria
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Thursday 23rd March Lent feria with comm of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo, bishop.
9.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. May McCloat R.I.P.
Friday 24thMarch St. Patrick, bishop, patron of Ireland, feast.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Linda Gilder P.I.
6.00 p.m. Parish Choir Practice. New members welcome.
7.30 p.m. Stations of the Cross.
Saturday 25th March THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, SOLEMNITY [T.C.]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Mr. and Mrs Tagg and family W.B
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (A) ‘Passion Sunday’ Lloyd D'Souza T.G.
MARCH PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH
Prayer to the Sleeping St. Joseph
Oh Saint Joseph,
You are a man greatly favoured by the Most High. The angel of the Lord appeared to you in dreams, while you slept, to warn you and guide you as you cared for the Holy Family. You were both silent and strong, a loyal and courageous protector. Dear Saint Joseph, as you rest in the Lord, confident of His absolute power and goodness, look upon me. Please take my need… (mention your request here) … into your heart, dream of it, and present it to your Son. Help me then, good Saint Joseph, to hear the voice of God, to arise, and act with love. I praise and thank God with joy. Saint Joseph, I love you. Amen.