Saturday 21st - Sunday Sunday 29th June 2025
- bostallpark
- Jun 20
- 6 min read
THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST
SUNDAY 22ND JUNE 2025
HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS FROM THE 4TH JUNE 2015
We heard: how at the [Last] Supper Jesus gives his Body and his Blood through the bread and wine, to leave us the memorial of his sacrifice of infinite love. And with this “Viaticum” filled with grace, the disciples had everything necessary for their journey through history, to extend to all the Kingdom of God. The gift that Jesus made of himself, by his voluntary immolation on the Cross, will be light and strength for them. And this Bread of Life has come down to us! The Church’s amazement at this reality is unending. An astonishment which always feeds contemplation, adoration, and memory. The body of Christ is the bond which unites you to him: eat it, or you will have no part in him. The blood is the price he paid for your redemption: drink it, lest you despair of your sinfulness”. There is a danger, there is a threat: to have no part in him, to despair. What does it mean today, this “to have no part in him” and “to despair”? We have no part in him when we are not docile to the Word of the Lord, when we do not live in fraternity among ourselves, when we compete for first place — climbers — when we do not find the courage to witness to charity, when we are incapable of offering hope. This is when we have no part in him. The Eucharist enables us to abide in him, for it is the bond which unites us to him, it is the fulfillment of the Covenant, the living sign of the love of Christ who humbled and lowered himself in order that we remain united. Participating in the Eucharist and being nourished of him, we are included in a journey which admits no division. Christ present in our midst, in the sign of the bread and wine, demands that the power of love overcome every laceration, and at the same time that it also become communion with the poorest, support for the weak, fraternal attention to those who have difficulty in bearing the weight of daily life, and are in danger of losing their faith. And then the other phrase: what does it mean for us today to “despair”, or to water down our Christian dignity? It means allowing ourselves to be undermined by the idolatries of our time: appearances, consumerism, egocentrism; but also competitiveness, arrogance as a winning attitude, never admitting to mistakes or to being in need. All this leads us to despair, making us mediocre Christians, lukewarm, bland, pagans. Jesus poured out his Blood as the price and the laver, so that we might be purified of all sin: not to lose hope, let us look to Him, drink at his font, to be shielded from the risk of corruption. Then we will feel the grace of transformation: we will always be poor sinners, but the Blood of Christ will free us from our sins and restore our dignity. It will free us from corruption. Not by our merit, with sincere humility, we will be able to bring our brothers the love of our Lord and Saviour. We will be his eyes which go in search of Zacchaeus and Mary Magdalene; we will be his hand which soothes those who are sick in body and spirit; we will be his heart which loves those in need of reconciliation, mercy and understanding.
Thus, the Eucharist fulfills the Covenant which sanctifies us, purifies us and unites us in worthy communion with God. Thus, we learn that the Eucharist is not a prize for the good, but is strength for the weak, for sinners. It is forgiveness, it is the Viaticum that helps us to move forward, to walk.
Today, the Feast of Corpus Christi, we have the joy not only to celebrate this mystery, but also to praise it and sing it through the streets of our City and let us not forget: “The body of Christ is the bond which unites you to him: eat it, or you will have no part in him. The blood is the price he paid for your redemption: drink it, lest you despair of your sinfulness”
Sourced from https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20150604_omelia-corpus-domini.html
PARISH NOTICES
ALTAR SERVER RECRUITMENT.
We are looking for altar servers to join our team. This invitation is open to all boys and girls who have received their First Holy Communion. Please speak to the parish priest for more information.
SAFEGUARDING FEEDBACK.
The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency are seeking feedback from anyone who may have information regarding the safeguarding function in Southwark Archdiocese. If you wish to contribute please go to https://catholicsafeguarding.org.uk/do-you-have-information-to-help-our-safeguarding-inspection-in-southwark/
DEATHS.
Please pray for the souls of:
Ignatius Pereira
Mario Casciato
Norma Marshall
May they rest in peace.
Amen.
UPCOMING EVENTS
DEANERY JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE ON 5TH JULY.
A pilgrimage is a physical journey that we make to a holy or sacred place and which we use to reflect upon some aspect of our inner journeys. We might have a decision to make, an act of thanksgiving to make, an act of penance, a prayer for healing (or anything) or we might simply wish to honour the Lord. For our Deanery Pilgrimage, we will have our Pilgrimage Opening Service here at 10am. We will then make our pilgrimage journey on foot (or by other means) to the designated sacred Jubilee Year Site, St. John Vianney in Bexleyheath, where we will join with the other parishes of Bexley deanery for our concluding service at 1pm. Maps and instructions will be available closer to the date. There will be time to stop for refreshments on the way, and you can bring a picnic for lunch or try one of the many restaurants on the Broadway or simply leave after the service. It will be a day to bring before the Lord any special or long-term issues in your life or the lives of your loved ones. We will be carrying a pebble on the journey to symbolize that concern or burden we carry in life.
Please see the poster in the porch and sign up on the sheet on the porch table.
SUMMERTIME 2025.
6th August – 9th August: Retreat to Westminster Pastoral Centre, £189. For aged 11-15. Open to those who regularly attend mass on the weekend.
This event has been going on for more than 20 years and is a few days for deepening one’s catholic faith, in a great social atmosphere, including football, sports & a visit to Thorpe Park.
For more details of how to get to the venue, with a coach laid on at St. Anselm’s Dartford, see the parish priest for a form, or contact Fr. Stephen Boyle, chaplain to the Guild of St, Stephen, Dartford@rcaos.org.uk, Tel:01322 220075.
Relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis visiting St George’s Cathedral - 26-29 June.
St George’s Cathedral will be visited by a relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis. The youth of our parish are encouraged to visit on Saturday 28th June where there will be a “morning with Carlo Acutis”, including Mass, adoration, rosary and a talk on the relic. An exhibition will also be on display.
Please see the poster in the porch for more information.
PARISH GROUPS NOTICES
BIBLE STUDY GROUP & RCIA.
We will be on a break until September.
LUNCH CLUB.
Meeting 26th June at 12.30pm in the hall.
LEGION OF MARY.
Every Monday at 7pm in the porch.
New members are always welcome.
UCM MEETING.
The next meeting date for the UCM is on Wednesday the 30th of July at 7pm in the Porch.
New members are always welcome.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
THE MOST HOLY BODY & BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI)
Saturday 21st June
W St. Aloysius Gonzaga
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. KC Onuora TG on her birthday
W CORPUS CHRISTI
6.30 p.m. Sharon D’Souza TG
Sunday 22nd June W
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Holy Souls
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. FHC Thanksgiving
Monday 23rd June
G Feria
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 24th June
W The Nativity of St. John the Baptist
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.30 p.m. Holy Souls
Wednesday 25th June
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Thursday 26th June
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Padraiz & Martin Mulkerrin RIP
Friday 27th June
W The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Marie Inglis RIP
Saturday 28th June
W The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
R SS PETER AND PAUL
6.30 p.m. Holy Souls
Sunday 29th June R
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Holy Souls
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Aisha for Health & Wisdom