Saturday 1st April– Saturday 15th April 2023 Double Edition.

jonathonrouth
Mar 31, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Apr 13, 2023

APRIL IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST.

Holy Week and the Easter Octave.

Dear parishioners,

THE CROSS: SOURCE OF FORGIVENESS & THE EUCHARIST

On Thursday, the Sacred Triduum begins. It is a three day long service in which the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord are remembered, celebrated and re-lived by The Church. It begins on Maundy Thursday evening with ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’ and finishes on Saturday night at the Easter Vigil with ‘Go in peace Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia’. The Mass is central to this three- day celebration because before Jesus was arrested, tried and crucified to death, he left us a perpetual connection with the sacrifice he was about to make. On the night before he was killed, at the Last Supper with his disciples, he instituted the Holy Eucharist, that the offering of Himself for our salvation on the Cross might be made present to us for all time.

The Catechism says, ‘ The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are ONE SINGLE SACRIFICE’. It quotes The Council of Trent : ‘The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner is different. In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the Cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner’.

For this reason, at every mass before every altar throughout the world we stand on Calvary and kneel at the foot of the Cross.

It is also why the day of the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross -Good Friday- is the one day of the year that the Sacrifice of the Mass is never celebrated. Because on this day, it is the Cross itself that we venerate and so remember the Great Sacrifice which continues to be offered through time in every mass. On Good Friday, we go back to the source of grace: instead of genuflecting to the Body of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, we genuflect to the Cross of Christ’s Sacrifice and the means of our Salvation. Therefore, the Eucharist begins the Triduum on Thursday and ends it on Saturday night at the Vigil, but at the centre of it, on Good Friday, there is no Eucharist. At the heart of the Triduum is the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, from which Christ’s life emptied and continues even now to flow through our daily masses. By this same Sacrifice on the Cross, God forgives us when we confess our sins and receive absolution through the Sacrament of Penance.

The Catechism states ‘It is through the sacrament of Penance that the baptised can be reconciled with God and with the Church’. It is through this sacrament that God forgives us because Jesus sacrificed and offered up his life for us on the Cross. Every time we confess our sins and receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance, we return to that same Cross.

It is said that the greatest words any Catholic can hear are:

‘this is my body, this is my blood’, because by our continued connection to the Cross of Calvary in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is made present to the Church still today. Who would not want to kneel in awe and reverence before Him?
‘Through the ministry of the Church, I absolve you from your sins’ which are the words of absolution given to the penitent after making confession. Who would not want to receive God’s forgiveness given to us through the Cross in the Sacrament of Penance? Saying ‘I forgive myself’ or just presuming God’s forgiveness is not the Catholic faith. It is only by returning to the Cross in the Sacrament of Penance that we can be assured of God’s forgiveness. Who are we to trust that we are forgiven until we hear these words from the priest which the Lord commanded his apostles to say in this sacrament?

Jesus went to the Cross to pay the debt of human sin. It is through the outpouring of his Precious Blood from the Cross that we receive God’s forgiveness and grace when we receive the sacraments. The Eucharist and Penance show us that God loves us still by continuing to give us the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist and forgiving our sins in the Sacrament of Penance. On Good Friday, let us go back to the source of this grace and love in these sacraments and behold the wood of the Cross, give thanks and adore!

April is the month dedicated to the Holy Eucharist. There will be a Holy Hour with the Lord of silent adoration and benediction at 4.00 p.m. on Palm Sunday afternoon: a Holy Hour to begin a Holy Week watchfully with the Lord. There will be an hour of watching in the presence of the Lord on Maundy Thursday night after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and finally, an Hour with the Lord of silent adoration on Sunday 16th April at 4.00 p.m.

This month we can give particular praise and honour to Jesus Christ, in the most Holy Sacrament and ask ourselves if we are frequently receiving Holy Communion: do I make due preparation for receiving the Lord in Holy Communion by receiving the Lord’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of Penance at least twice a year or if I’ve committed a mortal sin? Have I prepared to receive the Sacrament this Easter by making my confession? Or do I think I don’t need this sacrament of salvation? Am I living in a state of grace and so able to receive Holy Communion? Do I keep silence in church before mass and prayerfully prepare myself for the Lord and so also help others to do so or do I distract them by my noise and chatter? Do I show true reverence in my manner of receiving the Lord? Do I give thanks after receiving Holy Communion?* O praise be to you, Jesus Christ, in the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist!

Additional confession times are available this Holy Week and are listed in the schedule below.

*An example of a prayer of thanksgiving is at the end of the newsletter

God bless,

Fr Jonathon

EASTER NOTICES

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 what like to buy one for a child in this parish, we have some copies available after mass, price £5.00.

HOLY WEEK MUSIC: ERBARME DICH: by Bach sung by Kathleen McLaughlin accompanied by Helen Ratcliff on organ.

After Peter has denied that he knows Jesus three times, he hears the cock crow and is reminded of what Jesus has said to him.

`Before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times'. Peter cries bitterly and the aria is his prayer while he is weeping.

The English translation of Erbarme Dich Mein Gott, written in German by Bach.

Erbarme dich mein Gott. Have mercy, you, my God

Um meiner Zahren willen. For the sake of my grief.

Schaue hier, schaue hier See here, see here.

Herz und auge The heart and eye

Weint vor dir bitterlich Weeping before you bitterly.

Peter`s sorrow and remorse is expressed in the words and music of Bach`s aria as he repeats the prayer through his tears.

UPCOMING EVENTS

PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES in October.

Please contact the parish office if you are interested in joining us.

SOUTHWARK DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 18th-25th August 2023

Message from Bishop Paul:

‘After the restrictions of the past few years, I’m delighted that we are now once more able to include support for pilgrims who need assistance for medical or mobility reasons. In Lourdes, those who are often marginalised are placed at the centre, and we who travel with them are blessed by their presence. I warmly invite you to join us’.

For details, please see

https://www.tangney-tours.com/pilgrimages/lourdes/southwark-ca

PARISH NOTICES

THANK YOU from CAFOD to all parishioners at St Thomas More for your generous support for CAFOD this year and for your latest donation of £779.80 from the Autumn Family Fast Day.

THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB

Following an Easter break, the next lunch club will be on Thursday 20th April.

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.: The Bexley Food Bank currently particularly requests:

CARRIER BAGS /

TINNED TOMATOES / RICE / NOODLES / JAM / CUSTARD /TOOTPASTE / SHOWER GEl/DEODORANT/ TOOTHPASTE/ SUGAR / WASHING PODS/

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

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//

Teaching and Leading in Catholic Schools

Are you a Catholic and a teacher, middle or senior leader in a community school or academy and interested in taking up a role in Catholic education? If so, the Archdiocese of Southwark Education Commission would like to invite you to a twilight session: Teaching and Leading in Catholic Schools.

The session will include opportunities to meet current leaders and the education team, find out about Catholic schools and tips in relation to the application process. This event will be held on Thursday 27th April 2023 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Amigo Hall, Lambeth Road SE1 6HR.

If you are interested in attending please register by clicking here or if you have any queries please contact Sharon Docherty, RE Team Leader and Professional Learning Manager sharondocherty@rcaos.org.uk

PARISH YOUTH NOTICES

CHILDREN’S CHURCH

The ‘children’s liturgy’ will be taking an Easter Break for the next three Sundays.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2023.

Next meeting: 10. 30 a.m. Saturday 22nd April

CONFIRMATION 2023.

Next meeting: Readings at The Easter Vigil. Saturday 8th April, 7.30 p.m.

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.

Derek Charles Robinson, whose burial funeral service is on Monday 17th April 2023.

Anne Gallogly, aged 75, dear wife of Sean, who died on the 16th of March and whose Funeral Requiem is at 10.00 a.m. on Friday 21st April, St John Fisher Catholic Church, Thanet Road, Bexley followed by committal at Eltham Crematorium. To facilitate those unable to attend the Requiem, especially her husband Sean and those unable to travel from Ireland the Requiem will be streamed live. Details to follow.

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 HOLY WEEK AND THE EASTER OCTAVE

Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."

Saturday 1st April feria [T.C.]

9.00 a.m. Confessions

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Mary Kilgannon R.I.P. (3rd anniversary). Please note there is no morning mass next Saturday morning (Holy Saturday).

10.30 a.m. Confessions.

5.30 p.m. Confessions

+ 6.30 p.m. PALM SUNDAY (A) with the simple entrance and short gospel reading. Yeates children and grandchildren W.B.

Sunday 2nd April

8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+9.00 a.m. [SUNG] Patricia Corbett and Jimmy Corbett R.I.P. With the solemn entrance and Passion Reading.

+11.00 a.m. [SOLEMN. Latin with English. Missa in Dominicis Quadragesimae] with the Palm Sunday Procession and Passion Reading. Freny Adagara birthday T.G.

4.00 p.m. An Hour with the Lord. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. Confessions available.

Monday 3rd April Monday of Holy Week.

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+ 10.00 a.m. George Kimber R.I.P.

10.30 a.m. Confessions

Tuesday 4th April. Tuesday of Holy Week.

9.30 a.m. Daily Rosary

+10.00 a.m. Bosco Gomes R.I.P.

6.00 p.m. Confessions.

Wednesday 5th April. Wednesday of Holy Week.

The Daily Rosary at home.

NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY

Thursday 6th April MAUNDY THURSDAY

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+7.30 p.m. MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER with offertory ‘Erbame Dich’ by Bach. See note above . Finishing with one hour of watch in the Presence of the Lord. Priest’s P.I.

Friday 7th April GOOD FRIDAY

9.30 a.m. Confessions.

10.30 a.m. Children’s Stations of the Cross.

+ 3.00 p.m. LITURGY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD with Veneration of the Cross, sung reproaches and during communion ‘Erbame Dich’ by Bach. See note above.

7.30 p.m. Stations of the Cross.

Saturday 8th April feria HOLY SATURDAY

+ 7.30 p.m. THE EASTER VIGIL (with blessing of new fire, the Exsultet, three readings, blessing of water and renewal of baptismal vows) The people of the parish.

Sunday 9th April EASTER SUNDAY

8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+9.00 a.m. [SUNG] Nora Burke R.I.P. birthday anniversary.

+11.00 a.m. [SOLEMN. Latin with English. Missa in Dominicis Quadragesimae] Michael Healy R.I.P.

Monday 10th April Easter Monday

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+ 10.00 a.m. Limita Rodrigues R.I.P. birthday anniversary.

Tuesday 11th April. Easter Tuesday

9.30 a.m. Daily Rosary

+10.00 a.m. Michael Healy R.I.P. (5th anniversary)

Wednesday 12th April. Easter Wednesday

The Daily Rosary at home.

NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY

Thursday 13th April Easter Thursday

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+10.00 a.m. Ken Gaskin W.B.

Friday 14th April Easter Friday

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+ 10.00 a.m. Iris Hayward R.I.P. (birthday anniversary)

6.00 p.m. Parish Choir Practice. New members welcome.

Saturday 15th April Easter Saturday

9.00 a.m. Confessions

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Adoración Morcillo Sánchez. R.I.P.

+ 6.30 p.m. SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (A) Paul & Val Yeates W.B.

APRIL PRAYER

A thanksgiving to the Lord after receiving Holy Communion.

I thank You, Divine Redeemer, for coming upon the earth for our sake, and for instituting this adorable Sacrament in order to remain with us until the end of the world. I thank you for hiding beneath bread and wine your infinite majesty and beauty, which your angels delight to behold, so that I might have courage to approach the throne of your mercy. I thank you, most loving Jesus, for having made yourself my food, and for resting upon this tongue, which has so often offended you, and for entering this body, which has so often deserved to be visited with your anger. I thank you for uniting me to yourself with so much love in this most wonderful Sacrament that I may live in you.

I thank you, my Jesus, for giving yourself to me in this Blessed Sacrament, and so enriching it with the treasures of your love that you have no greater gift to give me. I thank you not only for becoming my food, but also for offering yourself as a continual sacrifice to your Eternal Father for my salvation.

I thank you, divine Priest, for offering yourself as a Sacrifice daily upon our altars, in adoration and homage to the most Blessed Trinity, and for making amends for our poor and miserable adorations. I thank you for renewing in this daily Sacrifice the actual Sacrifice of the Cross offered on Calvary, in which you satisfy divine justice for us poor sinners.

I thank you, dear Jesus, for having become the priceless Victim to merit for me the fullness of heavenly favours. Awaken in me such confidence in you that their fullness may descend ever more fruitfully upon my soul. I thank you for offering yourself in thanksgiving to God for all his benefits, spiritual and temporal, which He has bestowed upon me. Through you, I hope to receive the grace of perseverance, a holy death, and a happy eternity. Amen.