Saturday 21st February - Sunday 1st March 2026
- Feb 20
- 5 min read
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT – CYCLE A
22ND FEBRUARY 2026
COMPENDIUM OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (Part 12)
52. Who created the world? 290-292 & 316
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the one and indivisible principle of creation even though the work of creating the world is particularly attributed to God the Father.
53. Why was the world created? 293-294 & 319
The world was created for the glory of God who wished to show forth and communicate his goodness, truth and beauty. The ultimate end of creation is that God, in Christ, might be “all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28) for his glory and for our happiness.
“The glory of God is man fully alive; moreover, man’s life is the vision of God.” (Saint Irenaeus)
54. How did God create the universe? 295-301 & 317-320
God created the universe freely with wisdom and love. The world is not the result of any necessity, nor of blind fate, nor of chance. God created “out of nothing” (ex nihilo) (2 Maccabees 7:28) a world which is ordered and good and which he infinitely transcends. God preserves his creation in being and sustains it, giving it the capacity to act and leading it toward its fulfilment through his Son and the Holy Spirit.
55. What is divine providence? 302-306 & 321
Divine Providence consists in the dispositions with which God leads his creatures toward their ultimate end. God is the sovereign Master of his own plan. To carry it out, however, he also makes use of the cooperation of his creatures. For God grants his creatures the dignity of acting on their own and of being causes for each other.
56. How do we collaborate with divine Providence? 307-308 & 323
While respecting our freedom, God asks us to cooperate with him and gives us the ability to do so through actions, prayers and sufferings, thus awakening in us the desire “to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
PARISH NOTICES
FATHER INNOCENT AWAY 23rd – 27th February 2026
There will be no daily Mass during this week so please check local parish websites and newsletters for daily Masses.
CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY is on Friday 27th February 2026. Many thanks to you for all your support over the years This Lent, you can answer Christ’s call to love your neighbour by supporting CAFOD’s Family Fast Day, helping families in countries like Bangladesh & South Sudan grow food in floating gardens to survive floods, and in places like Zimbabwe use solar-powered pumps to grow crops despite drought. By eating simply and giving generously this Fast Day, you’ll help more families put food on the table. Please take a CAFOD envelope as you leave or give online using the QR code or at cafod.org.uk. You can also use the contactless machine or Text CAFODLENT to 70085 to donate £10.
DEATHS.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of Elizabeth Papworth, Eileen Barry & June Dorothy Wilson who died recently. Eileen’s funeral was on 4th February & Elizabeth’s funeral was on 12th February. June’s funeral will be on 6th March at 12 noon.
FOOD BANK. Donations can be placed in the porch. There is a sign where you can check what items are needed along with details of how you can make a financial donation if you wish. Please do not leave any perishable items. Donations are delivered to the food bank on Friday mornings.
RCIA & ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASSES.
Every Wednesday, till Easter 2026. Venue: Church Porch. Time: 7:15pm. Anyone can join to learn and/or refresh one’s knowledge and faith in God.
UCM. The next meeting will take place on Saturday, 28th Feb at 10.45 am in the porch.
LUNCH CLUB. The next gathering will be on 5th March at 12.30 p.m. in the hall.
Ambassadors for Christ: A Catholic apologetics resource. The Archdiocese of Southwark has launched an exciting apologetics project to provide evidence-based answers to questions such as "Is Jesus God?" or “does prayer work?”. To watch the videos and take part, please visit: rcaos.org.uk/ambassadorsforchrist.
THANK YOU AND WELCOME.
We are grateful to Melissa Goes for all her hard work and brilliance, supporting our parish for a number of years in countless ways. As she embarks on a new adventure, we want to say a huge thank you and God bless from the St Thomas More parish family and wish her every success.
We would also like to warmly welcome Natasha Pereira as she takes over some of Melissa’s administrative duties. Natasha will be available in the parish office from Tuesday to Thursday between 10.30 am and 12.20 pm.
Melissa & Lawrence Dadzie will continue to be our Gift Aid contacts.
LENT NOTICES
Pray the Romero Rosary at St George’s Cathedral. Join Archbishop John Wilson & the Cathedral clergy in praying the rosary on Fridays at 5pm during Lent. This is a beautiful opportunity to draw closer to the Lord Jesus in prayer. Archbishop John will personally lead the devotion at the National Shrine of St Oscar Romero at St George’s Cathedral (SE1 6HR) on Friday 6th & Friday 27th March. The rosary will be followed by Stations of the Cross at 6pm. Find out more at: rcaos.org.uk/romerorosary
There will be a LENT SUNDAY OF RECONCILIATION on the 22nd March from 12 noon until 2pm in the church.
LENTEN REFLECTIONS. There will be weekly reflections every Tuesday in Lent, beginning 24th February, at 10.00 am in the church porch. All are welcome.
90TH ANNIVERSARY NOTICES
PARISH 90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS.
The date for our celebration will be on Sunday, 12th July 2026. Please save the date.
The next meeting will be on 28th February at 12.00 noon in the porch.
OUR LADY’S GROTTO.
We would like to create a Grotto for Our Lady which will cost £11,778.00. If you are able to donate, please do so in the usual ways. We have almost reached our target and have so far raised £10,745.00. Please see the donations poster in the porch for donation updates.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
Saturday 21st February
P Feria
Family Marian Devotion (see prayers on website)
P FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
6.00 p.m. Daily Rosary
6.30 p.m. Lucy Dias RIP
Sunday 22nd February P
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Stefania Chojnacka RIP
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Rev. James Malone RIP
Monday 23rd February
P Feria
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 24th February
P Feria
Daily Rosary at Home
No Public Mass Today
Wednesday 25th February
P Feria
Adoration at Home
No Public Mass Today
Thursday 26th February
P Feria
Adoration at Home
No Public Mass Today
Friday 27th February
P Feria (CAFOD Family Fast Day)
Rosary for the Dead at Home
No Public Mass Today
10.30 a.m. Stations of the Cross
7.30 p.m. Stations of the Cross
Saturday 28th February
P Feria
Family Marian Devotion
(see prayers on website)
P SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
6.00 p.m. Daily Rosary
6.30 p.m. Abigail & Amelia D’Souza TG
Sunday 1st March P
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Lukas RIP
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls