NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY
SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING/ THE THIRTY – FOURTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Dear parishioners,
Statement from the Bishops of England & Wales
Honouring Sunday
During the pandemic, public worship was suspended for a time and there have been restrictions on parish life. As a result, people have been exploring other ways to practice their faith including Spiritual Communion via live streaming.
As people begin returning to more regular patterns of parish life and following the first face to face meeting of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales in Leeds, the bishops have issued the following statement about the importance of honouring Sunday:
Honouring Sunday
As the Synodal Pathway of listening and discerning unfolds, we the bishops of England and Wales, are paying particular attention to the hopes and fears, the joys, and anxieties of all who are sharing their thoughts and feelings with us.
Longing for our Lord
We are attentive to the experience of the last year or so, when we have lived our faith through the limitations of the pandemic. We have heard of the longing which some express as a “homesickness”. We want to be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. We yearn to celebrate the sacraments together, especially the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We desire to be nourished by our Lord in Holy Communion. The live streaming of the Mass and the remarkable response of our Catholic communities to those in need, have provided comfort, sustenance and resilience.
The Eucharist, source, and summit
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our spiritual and pastoral life. Many people have said to us that they have appreciated the noble simplicity of the Mass at this time, which has allowed the mystery and majesty of our Lord’s sacrificial love to shine through.
The central appeal of the Mass, its beauty, and its transcendence, raises our minds and hearts to God in an unambiguous and compelling manner. Our Lord Jesus invites us to receive anew the gift of Sunday as the preeminent day, the day of the Resurrection, when the Church gathers to celebrate the Eucharist. Here we stand together before our heavenly Father, offering our thanksgiving and prayer, through our Saviour in the Holy Spirit. Here we receive Christ in his Word. Here we are nourished by Christ in his precious Body and Blood. This is our primary joy, for which there is no substitute, and from which we draw our strength.
The Gift of the Sunday Eucharist
The Sunday Eucharist is a gift; as God’s holy people we are called to praise and thank God in the most sublime way possible. When the Church speaks of the Sunday obligation, it reminds us that attending Mass is a personal response to the selfless offering of Christ’s love.
At this time, we recognise that for some people there may be certain factors which hinder attendance at Sunday Mass. The pandemic is clearly not over. The risk of infection is still present. For some, there is legitimate fear in gathering together. As your bishops, we recognise that these prevailing circumstances suggest that not everyone is yet in the position to fulfil the absolute duty to attend freely Sunday Mass.
Responding to the Gift
We now encourage all Catholics to look again at the patterns which they have formed in recent months with regard to going to Mass on Sundays. This would include consideration and reflection about what we might do on Sundays, such as sports or shopping, or other leisure and social activities. This review, and the decisions which arise from it, fall to every Catholic and we trust this will be done with honesty, motivated by a real love for the Lord whom we encounter in the Mass.
The Sunday Mass is the very heartbeat of the Church and of our personal life of faith. We gather on the “first day of the week,” and devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42). The Eucharist sustains us and spurs us on, renewing our gratitude and our hope. When we say “Amen” to Christ in receiving his Body and Blood, we express the love of God which is deep within us, and at the end of Mass, when we are sent forth, we express our love for our neighbour, especially those in need. These two dimensions reveal the full meaning of our faith. We are gathered together and sent out, we pray and are fed, we worship and we adore; these are intrinsic to our lives as those baptised into Christ.
Approved at the Plenary Assembly of Bishops in Leeds - Friday, November 19th, 2021
NOVEMBER HOLY SOULS DATES:
1. All Souls Day + 10.00 a.m. and + 7.00 p.m.
2. + Parish Solemn Requiem Mass offered for Holy Souls on Remembrance Sunday. Sunday 14th November, 11.00 a.m.
3. + Requiem Mass for Deceased Clergy of Bexley will be at St. Stephen’s, Welling at 12.00 noon on Tuesday 23rd November.
4. November Requiems for Holy Souls: Saturday 13th 10.00 a.m., Saturday 27th 10.00 a.m.
5. Memorial Service with the Litany of the Sacred Heart and Benediction, followed by refreshments provided by P.L.MULLIGAN’S FAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS, Feast of Christ the King, Sunday 21st November 3.30 p.m.
6. Blessing of Graves. (Those who visit a cemetery between 1st and 8th November and pray for the faithful departed, may obtain a plenary indulgence, applicable to the holy souls, and at other times a partial indulgence)
Below are the times I have received:
Kemnal Park, Saturday 6th November (time not known)
Sidcup Sunday 7th November at 2.30 p.m.
Hillview Sunday 7th November at 1.30 p.m.
Plumstead Sunday 14th November at 1.30 p.m.
Woolwich Sunday 14th November at 2.30 p.m.
Re Parish Coffee Morning. Message from Tony.
Thanks to all for the wonderful support for our recent Sunday coffee morning supporting HCPT. The cake makers, the bacon friers, our singer, the staff on the day and of course yourselves. It was great to see people gathering to chat, something that seems to have disappeared over Covid times. Money is still coming in but so far we have profited £480. That’s two thirds of the cost of taking a pilgrim to Lourdes.
Thanks again
Tony
Food Bank
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 Anselm's Parish Bazaar
Saturday 27th November 1pm to 4pm at St Anselm's Parish Centre, 89 West Hill Dartford DA1 2HJ.
Santa's Grotto, Mulled Wine & Mince Pies, Hot Lunches, Cakes, Hamper Raffle, Children's Corner, Gifts, Bottle Tombola. Entry: Adults £1, Children free.
St. Thomas More Catholic Primary School Admissions.
The next open morning for parents considering sending children to our catholic primary school is on Wednesday 10th November and following then on Monday 10th January. For more detail look at the website and video on the school website: www.stm.bexley.sch.uk/admissions/admissions
Christ the King Catholic Sixth Forms OPEN EVENTS
· CTK Aquinas in Brockley offers extensive A level choice for high achieving students who gain top GCSE grades: Saturday 6th November 2021 9.30 – 1.00. For bookings: ctaquinas.ac.uk/events
· CTK St Mary’s in Sidcup offers A level equivalent vocational programmes, including T levels: Saturday 13th November 2021 9.30 – 1.00. For bookings: ctkstmarys.ac.uk/events
· CTK Emmanuel in Blackheath offers a wide range of high quality A level and vocational courses : Saturday 20th November 2021 9.30 – 1.00. For bookings: ctkemmanuel.ac./events
First Holy Communion 2022
Thanks for submitting your applications on time.
Please note there is a meeting for catechists on Monday this week (22nd) at 7.00 p.m.
Also a meeting with parents (it’s OK if only one can attend) on Wednesday (24th) this week at 7.30 p.m. in the church.
First Communion Catechists are still needed. Please contact me if you can serve the children of your parish in this way.
Sunday Children’s Liturgy in the Hall
Hopefully this will resume at 9.00 a.m. this Sunday. Helpers still needed. Please contact me or Fiona Martyres.
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.
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:
Ann Ellen Silvertre who died on Monday 15th November aged 85. Her Funeral Requiem is at 10.00 on Monday 13th December followed by committal at Eltham Crematorium. May she rest in peace.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK: THE THIRTY – FOURTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Psalter week 2, Ferial cycle 1 at mass.
Saturday 20th November OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE (B) Solemnity.
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. MASS [said] Deceased members of the Castanha family R.I.P.
Sunday 21st November
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] The deceased members of the Ratcliff Family R.I.P.
3.30 p.m. Commemoration of the faithful departed with Litany of the Sacred Heart and Benediction followed by refreshments.
No Social in Hall this evening .
Monday 22nd November St. Cecilia, virgin & martyr, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. The deceased family, friends & neighbours of Freny R.I.P.
7.00 p.m. FHC catechist meeting in house.
Tuesday 23rd November St. Clement I, pope & martyr.
NO MASS AT ST THOMAS MORE. Daily Rosary at home.
+ 12.00 noon. AT STEPHEN’S, WELLING. Deanery mass for the deceased clergy of the deanery R.I.P.
Wednesday 24th November Ss Andrew Dung-Lac, priest & companions, martyrs, memorial.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
7.30 p.m. Meeting with all First Holy Communion parents and catechists in church.
Thursday 25th November St. Catherine of Alexandria, virgin & martyr.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Denis Sullivan R.I.P. (fourth anniversary)
No Thursday Lunch Club today.
Friday 26th November feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Justa Mendes P.I.
6.00 p.m. choir practice. New members welcome to come along.
Saturday 27th November (Our Lady’s Saturday).
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary & Confessions
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin] November Requiem. Deceased members of the Yeates family R.I.P.
[+ 6.30 p.m. FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Bruno Castanha R.I.P.)
NOVEMBER PRAYER FOR HOLY SOULS
In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
God bless, Fr. Jonathon