JANUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY NAME
Christmastide/ The Epiphany of the Lord
Dear parishioners,
Thank you to all of you for making this Christmas go so well. You distributed yourselves well over all the masses of Christmas and some of you fulfilled your obligation by coming to mass in the week too. Our attendance relatively speaking in these post- Covid times, was good. The main difference I notice is that in Christmases past with packed churches, we might see people who come to church once a year. This year it was those of you who come to mass every week.. in other words, those of you celebrate not just the Lord’s birth, but his conception, life, ministry, death and resurrection too, not to mention the feasts of Our Lady and the Saints.
This meant that no mass was overcrowded and for the Christmas vigil mass our young families could all be accommodated. The singing of the First Communion Choir led by Natasha our pianist was lovely and made the most perfect start to the festivities. Our Latin Mass choir with Helen our organist put in a lot of practice for the Midnight Mass which was beautifully solemn and joyful. It really is quite an achievement for a small parish to have a solemn Latin mass with full choir and serving team. The Dawn mass was surprisingly well attended by mainly our early rising older parishioners and the mass of the day and Holy Family Sunday was - last but not least - everyone else.
We can be very proud that at St Thomas More we have a choice of masses and at all our celebrations honour the rubrics of the missal, canon law, and the directives of the Councils on liturgy and sacred music that we might make as perfect an offering to Almighty God as we can in the full and recognisable Roman tradition. While looking ever forwards, we continue to embrace the rich living traditions of Holy Church: our religious heritage and our children’s.
Thanks to all who made the Church look so beautiful and contributed so much to the joyful solemnity of our celebrations of the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The new look crib will, as always, remain up until Candlemas on 2nd February, as will the singing of the Alma.
Thank you too from the bottom of my heart for your friendship and support, your generous Christmas offerings and the wonderful gifts, including your food both delivered to my door and even better, when shared at table with you. I thank God for you and that I’m here with you and for you.
We keep in mind those parishioners still not able to go out due to the pandemic. Please be assured of our prayers, and please contact me if and when you wish to be seen or just to talk by phone. God bless you.
CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY: CRIB OFFERING 2021
Throughout the pandemic the Catholic Children’s Society (CCS) has provided emergency support for thousands of vulnerable children and families. Their Southwark Crisis Fund provides immediate help for local families who are facing real hardship and have nowhere else to turn. Recently CCS helped a family with two young children when the father suddenly died. The family were already struggling and paying the funeral costs pushed them to the brink, with no money left for food or essentials. CCS provided a one-off grant to help them get through this challenging time. The mother got in touch to say:
‘When my husband died, I was completely lost. You gave me the breathing space I needed to sort out my finances. You took away the pressure so I could grieve and care for my children. Thank you.’
There are many more families in need of support and our parish will be donating our Crib Offering to support this important work. Every penny donated will be given out via CCS’s Southwark Crisis Fund to support local families in need. You can donate at the Crib or via the CCS website www.cathchild.org.uk/crib
Food Bank:
PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO COLLECTIONS ON 27TH DECEMBER & 3RD JANUARY. ONLY NON PERISHABLE ITEMS CAN BE RECEIVED AT THIS TIME.
There is currently a particular need for:
Long Life milk, Long Life juice, Squash, Tins of Rice Pudding, Toilet Paper
The container for donations is in the Church Porch and is taken to Bexleyheath food bank on Monday mornings.
ST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC
PRIMARY SCHOOL OPEN MORNING CANCELLATION
Unfortunately due to COVID numbers in London rising, the Head Teacher has taken the decision to cancel the open morning on 10 January, in order to keep children and staff safe. If you are considering our parish school as an option for your child, please visit the website for a virtual tour of the school.
First Holy Communion 2022
Lesson 1. Saturday 8th January 10.30. Church Hall.
Please read the newsletter every week and listen out for notices at the end of Sunday mass.
The children’s commitments were made at all masses on the Second Sunday of Advent.
CONFIRMATION 2022
Application forms can be picked up by candidates, completed at home and then returned after any Sunday mass. Preparation will begin in the spring term and include a couple of day/evening trips and (hopefully) an overnight retreat.
Parish Social Evenings In the New Year Parish Socials will continue in the Church Hall on Sunday evenings from the 9th of January.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK: CHRISTMASTIDE/ EPIPHANY
Saturday 1st January MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, Solemnity
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin] Joseph Bane R.I.P.
No 6.30 p.m. mass this evening.
Sunday 2nd January 2022 SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG Christian Pereira T.G. on his birthday.
+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS (with English Readings) Paraic Mulkerrin R.I.P.
Monday 3rd January The Beatified Martyrs of the Diocese, memorial
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Charles Coyle R.I.P.
Tuesday 4th January Christmastide feria
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Barry Bourne R.I.P.
Wednesday 5th January Christmastide feria
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Thursday 6th January THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD. Solemnity.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Patricia Pinto R.I.P. (first anniversary)
+ 7.00 p.m. James Nicholas Routh T.G. on his birthday.
No Thursday Lunch Club Afternoon Today.
Friday 7th January St. Raymond of Penyafort, priest.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Joaquim Vincent D’Souza T.G.
Saturday 8th January Christmastide feria
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m.[Latin] Jackie Martina R.I.P (month’s mind)
10.30 a.m. First Holy Communion Class in Church Hall
[ + 6.30 p.m. THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD Maria Pinto R.I.P.
JANUARY PRAYER IN HONOUR OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS.
O Divine Jesus, you have promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in your name shall be granted. O Eternal Father, In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfilment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, your Divine Son, our Lord. Amen.
God bless and a Happy New Year to you all,
Fr Jonathon