Saturday 24th May - Sunday 1st June 2025
- bostallpark
- May 23
- 7 min read
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
SUNDAY 25TH MAY 2025
ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE by John Paul II – Part 3.
Prayer for peace and for the family
6. A number of historical circumstances also make a revival of the Rosary quite timely. First of all, the need to implore from God the gift of peace. The Rosary has many times been proposed by my predecessors and myself as a prayer for peace. At the start of a millennium which began with the terrifying attacks of 11 September 2001, a millennium which witnesses every day innumerous parts of the world fresh scenes of bloodshed and violence, to rediscover the Rosary means to immerse oneself in contemplation of the mystery of Christ who “is our peace”, since he made “the two of us one, and broke down the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph 2:14). Consequently, one cannot recite the Rosary without feeling caught up in a clear commitment to advancing peace, especially in the land of Jesus, still so sorely afflicted and so close to the heart of every Christian.
A similar need for commitment and prayer arises in relation to another critical contemporary issue: the family, the primary cell of society, increasingly menaced by forces of disintegration on both the ideological and practical planes, so as to make us fear for the future of this fundamental and indispensable institution and, with it, for the future of society as a whole. The revival of the Rosary in Christian families, within the context of a broader pastoral ministry to the family, will be an effective aid to countering the devastating effects of this crisis typical of our age.
“Behold, your Mother!” (Jn 19:27)
7. Many signs indicate that still today the Blessed Virgin desires to exercise through this same prayer that maternal concern to which the dying Redeemer entrusted, in the person of the beloved disciple, all the sons and daughters of the Church: “Woman, behold your son!” (Jn19:26). Well-known are the occasions in the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries on which the Mother of Christ made her presence felt and her voice heard, in order to exhort the People of God to this form of contemplative prayer. I would mention in particular, on account of their great influence on the lives of Christians and the authoritative recognition they have received from the Church, the apparitions of Lourdes and of Fatima;(11) these shrines continue to be visited by great numbers of pilgrims seeking comfort and hope.
Following the witnesses
8. It would be impossible to name all the many Saints who discovered in the Rosary a genuine path to growth in holiness. We need but mention Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, the author of an excellent work on the Rosary,(12) and, closer to ourselves, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, whom I recently had the joy of canonizing. As a true apostle of the Rosary, Blessed Bartolo Longo had a special charism. His path to holiness rested on an inspiration heard in the depths of his heart: “Whoever spreads the Rosary is saved!”.(13) As a result, he felt called to build a Church dedicated to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Pompei, against the background of the ruins of the ancient city, which scarcely heard the proclamation of Christ before being buried in 79 A.D. during an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, only to emerge centuries later from its ashes as a witness to the lights and shadows of classical civilization. By his whole life's work and especially by the practice of the “Fifteen Saturdays”, Bartolo Longo promoted the Christocentric and contemplative heart of the Rosary, and received great encouragement and support from Leo XIII, the “Pope of the Rosary”.
To be continued.
JUBILEE YEAR NOTICES
Archdiocesan Jubilee Celebration Day at The Friars, Aylesford, 7th June.
Archbishop John is inviting all of us to the Southwark Archdiocesan Jubilee Celebration at The Friars, Aylesford on Saturday 7 June 2025. It promises to be a great day. Find out more from the poster in the porch or by visiting aec.rcaos.org.uk/jubileecelebration [and sign up to come on our parish coach, leaving at specify time (it is also possible to attend by car)].
Pre-booking for the 90-minute ministry sessions for children (KS1+2) and young people (KS3+4) will commence at 11 am on Wednesday 30 April at aec.rcaos.org.uk/jubileecelebration. The organisers are also asking for volunteers to help on the day. If you might like to help, register to volunteer at bit.ly/southwarkhelper.
DEANERY JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE ON 5TH JULY.
In this Jubilee Year of Hope we are all invited to make a pilgrimage walk from St. Thomas More to St John Vianney. The pilgrimage will start with morning mass at 10.30am at St Thomas More followed by the walk to St John Vianney Church, then we will attend a prayer service at 1pm.
Please bring a packed lunch and a bottle of water. Voluntary stewards needed. Please speak to Patricia Kilgallon or email the parish office for more information.
PARISH NOTICES
ROSARY PROCESSION & BENEDICTION, 25TH MAY.
Parish procession of our Lady with rosary and benediction at 4pm this Sunday. Please see the parish priest for more information.
FOUNDATION GOVERNERS WANTED for St Thomas More Catholic Primary School. Do you have the skills needed to be a Foundation Governor of a Catholic school? Could you spare a few hours a month? Please speak to the parish priest.
DAY FOR LIFE.
Every year the Church in England, Wales, Scotland & Ireland marks the Day for Life, as a reminder of the need to respect and protect the inherent value and dignity of each life. This year it will be celebrated on the 15th June, Trinity Sunday. Ahead of the Day for Life, the faithful are invited to join in prayer through the Novena for Life. This will run up to the Feast of the Visitation, between the 23rd and 31st of May.
Prayers for each day can be found at https://prayforlife.ie
On 15th June there will be a second collection for the Day for Life Fund. Every year the fund allocates over £200,000 in grants to organisations which promote respect for life in various ways.
CONFIRMATION CELEBRATION.
Next Sunday we have 14 of our young parishioners receiving the sacrament of Confirmation at the 11am Mass. Mass will be celebrated by Canon Victor Darlington & Fr. Innocent. There will be a small reception in the hall after Mass for the parish community to congratulate our young people.
DEATHS.
Please pray for the souls of:
Ignatius Pereira
Mario Casciato
Norma Marshall
Peter Quinlan whose funeral will be on the 12th June at 11.30am.
May they rest in peace. Amen.
PARISH GROUPS NOTICES
BIBLE STUDY GROUP.
Meeting every Thursday in the church at 7pm. All are welcome.
LUNCH CLUB.
Meeting on 29th May at 12.30pm in the hall.
UCM MEETING.
The next meeting of the Union of Catholic Mothers is on Wednesday 28th May at 7pm in the porch.
New members are always welcome.
LEGION OF MARY.
Every Monday at 7pm in the porch. New members are always welcome.
UPCOMING EVENTS
DAY WITH MARY ON 7TH JUNE.
Our parish will be hosting A Day with Mary on the 7th June in the hall. Please take a flyer from the porch and encourage your family and friends to come along. Tea and coffee will be available but please bring a packed lunch with you. Please see the poster in the porch for more information.
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.
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.
INTERNATIONAL MASS & PENTECOST MULTICULTURAL LUNCH ON 8TH JUNE.
We look forward to Pentecost Sunday when we will gather together and share a multi-cultural lunch where there will be international food, music and dress which represents the diverse parish we belong to. Please save the date. If you are able to donate food, entertainment and/or your time, please contact the parish office or speak to Dorothy Nikkoi or see the poster in the porch.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Saturday 24th May
W Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
W SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
6.30 p.m. Holy Souls
Sunday 25th May W
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Micah Antao TG on Birthday
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Monday 26th May
W St Philip Neri
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 27th May
W St Augustine of Canterbury
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.30 p.m. Bonny Pereira RIP
Wednesday 28th May
W Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Augustinho Fernandes RIP
Thursday 29th May
W THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Maurice Braganza RIP
7.30 p.m. Greena Paul Family WB
Friday 30th May
W Feria (Pentecost Novena Starts)
9.30 a.m. Divine Mercy
10.00 a.m. Milita De Mello RIP
Saturday 31st May
W The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Aisha TG
W SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
6.30 p.m. KSC Council 380 families, Popes & deceased members
Sunday 1st June W
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Olivia Antao TG on her FHC
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Parish Confirmation Candidates