Saturday 24th December– Saturday 31st December 2022
- jonathonrouth
- Dec 24, 2022
- 1 min read
THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER IS THE MONTH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Christmas Notices
CRIB OFFERING 2022
In support of the Catholic Children’s Society Southwark Crisis Fund
The Catholic Children’s Society (CCS) is helping local disadvantaged families facing severe hardship due to the cost of living crisis. Through their Southwark Crisis Fund, CCS is providing immediate, practical support to famiies in need. Recently CCS helped a young mother who had to give up work to care for her five year old daughter who had been diagnosed with cancer. Her daughter often felt cold, so the mother would keep the heating on to help her child feel warm and comfortable. The family could just afford the rent and food but had no way to pay their rising energy bills. CCS provided a one off grant to help them get through winter. The mother said:
‘’ I felt so helpless and scared. All I wanted to do was look after my daughter, but I couldn’t stop worrying about how I would pay our bills. You have taken that worry away and now I can focus on caring for my child. Thank you’’
There are many more vulnerable 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 by cash or contactless or via the CCS website with message St Thomas More, Bexleyheath Crib Offering: https://www.cathchild.org.uk/crib/
St Thomas More Crib
I was very happy to see so many families gathered at our crib last Sunday and candles lit to the Holy Family. Thank you Christine and Paul for your time, imagination and work in providing our parish with probably the best crib in the Archdiocese. The crib will be in place until February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation. Stop and Say a prayer there as you leave Church and ask God to bless our families.
Events
Parish Notice Board
FOOD BANK.
Don’t forget the Food Bank collection crate in the Church Porch! People are not managing to afford the basic essentials of life. If you can contribute some long life milk, canned food, packets of pasta, toilet rolls or any other non-perishable basics, you will be helping our neighbours in great need.
DECEMBER PRAYERS FOR THE INTERCESSION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: THE ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER.
Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alma+redemptoris+mater+solemn+tone
The Alma Redemptoris Mater, like all the seasonal Marian antiphons, is sung to the more familiar simple tone on weekdays and the solemn tone on Sundays and solemnities. The YouTube link above is to the solemn tone, one of the most beautiful prayers elevated to the heavens by music. You can also hear this on Sundays at the end of the 11 o'clock mass at St Thomas More from Advent to the Feast of the Presentation (February 2nd).
Mass Intentions for the Christmas Octave
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."
Saturday 24th December Advent Feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
10.00 a.m. An hour before the Lord. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Confessions.
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD - CHRISTMAS EVE
5.30 p.m. Carols led by our First Communion Choir.
+ 6.00 p.m. Vigil Mass of Christmas (sung) (Fr) Frank Pavone W.B.
9.30 p.m. Carols led by St Thomas More Parish Choir
+10.00 p.m. Solemn Midnight Mass (in Latin and English/missa de Angelis) Tony Watson R.I.P.
Sunday 25th December - CHRISTMAS DAY
+8.00 a.m. Mass of the Dawn (said) The people of the parish
+10.00 a.m. Mass of the Day (sung) Eileen Budd W.B.
Monday 26th December St. Stephen, deacon, the first martyr, feast.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary.
10.00 a.m. Richie Hatfield R.I.P.
Tuesday 27h December St. John, Apostle & Evangelist, feast.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
10.00 a.m. Deceased members of the Bass & Connor families R.I.P.
Wednesday 28th December The Holy Innocents, martyrs, feast.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Thursday 29th December St. Thomas of Canterbury, bishop & martyr, diocesan feast.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. From Bernie Fernandes to the Holy Family in TG.
Friday 30th December The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, feast.
9.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. The Pereira family WB & TG.
6.00 p.m. Parish Choir Practice. New members welcome.
Saturday 31stDecember Seventh Day of the Octave. Comm. St. Sylvester I, pope & confessor.TC.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962]
+ 6.30 p.m. MARY, THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, SOLEMNITY. Colin Jones R.I.P.