ST THOMAS MORE CHURCH, BEXLEYHEATH.
THE TWENTY- SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SEPTEMBER IS THE MONTH OF THE SORROWFUL MOTHER (Our Lady of Sorrows)
Dear parishioners,
St. Pius of Pietrelcina – Padre Pio: “It would be easier for the world to exist without the sun than without the Holy Mass.”
A Saint receives his Lord.
Who was Padre Pio?
On Friday we celebrated St. Pius, who is still now in sainthood known affectionately, as in his life, as Padre Pio. He was born in the village of Pietrelcina, Italy in 1887 and when only 15 years old entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars. Even as a young man, Padre Pio had poor health, but always a strong will to keep going, and with God’s help, he completed the studies required and was ordained a Franciscan priest in 1910.
On September 20, 1918, like St. Francis of Assisi, Padre Pio received the wounds of Our Lord, in his hands, feet and later on, his side, called ‘the Stigmata’. His long life was filled with hours and hours of suffering, penance, the hearing of confessions and prayer – especially the Rosary.
Padre Pio lived in deep and mystical union with God and had an immense love for the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady. He also expressed great devotion to his guardian angel and to St. Michael, whose feast day is on Thursday.
For over 50 years, Padre Pio suffered greatly but did not complain, keeping his sense of humour and practising charity towards all while denying himself. By many miracles through his prayers, Padre Pio was - and is - a channel of God’s healing grace, both during his life and still now after his death and is a greatly loved saint in our time.
But what was Padre Pio’s greatest miracle?
No miracles surpass the God’s greatest gift to us, the holy sacrifice of the mass, through which by the words of the priest, bread and wine become Christ’s Body and Blood. As a priest who lived totally for his Lord, the words of consecration at the mass and the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the body and blood of the Lord were Padre Pio’s greatest miracle. This is true for every priest, however unworthy he be. Padre Pio only ever said the Traditional Latin Mass and did not adopt the radical changes and deconstruction of the Sacred Liturgy that were taking place around him in the late sixties. Even photographs reveal something of the grace and love with which he said the mass. Thousands upon thousands were drawn to Padre Pio and heard him say mass in his life and still today they travel to his shrine to attend mass and be close to him and ask him for his prayers.
Padre Pio wrote about his total love for the Mass, "At times during the Mass I am consumed by the fire of Divine Love. My face seems to burn." This passionate love was extended into adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He said, "A thousand years of enjoying human glory is not worth even an hour spent sweetly communing with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament."
Padre Pio knew that the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest treasure of the Church: in the most beautiful basilicas in all the world, the most precious thing there will always be the Body of Christ in the tabernacle. Padre Pio said, "Keep close to the Catholic Church at all times, for the Church alone can give you true peace, since she alone possesses Jesus, the true Prince of Peace, in the Blessed Sacrament."
Padre Pio and Our Sorrowful Mother
Padre Pio also believed strongly that the Blessed Virgin Mary is present with us at every mass, asking:
"How can the mother of Jesus, present at the foot of the Cross on Calvary, who offered her Son as Victim for the salvation of souls, be absent at the mystical Calvary of the altar?"
In this month of the Sorrowful Mother, it is right to recall that if the Eucharist is truly the sacrament of Calvary, our blessed and sorrowful mother is with us every time we attend the Holy Sacrifice and prays with us and for us to Jesus, her son, our Lord. The first ordained priest to bear the marks of the Cross, the stigmata, Padre Pio bore these wounds for 50 years. By his wounds and suffering, Padre Pio was at one with his Lord at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass - the sacrament of Calvary and the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sorrowful Mother who, at the foot of the cross, stood by her son to the end. St Pius of Pietrelcina -Padre Pio, pray for the Church! Pray for us!
SEPTEMBER DEVOTIONS TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS. With Stations of the Cross, Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, the Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows and Benediction. 5.00 p.m. Sunday 25th September.
DAY WITH MARY.
1. 9.00 a.m. -5.00 p.m., Saturday 8th October 2022, St.Chad’s Church, Whitworth Rd, South Norwood SE25. Please bring a packed lunch.
2. 9.45 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Saturday 15th October 2022. Westminster Cathedral. Bring a packed lunch. Great venue for a great day of devotions to the Mother of God, Our Lady of Fatima. Recommended.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION PRESENTERS
Job vacancy: a married couple, both being practising Catholics, to present 6 courses a year in various locations in South London and Kent, as well as providing cover in case of colleagues’ illness.
Salary: £30,000 pro rata (£7,000) for the couple. Mileage paid in addition. All training given.
For full job description and further details, please contact liamgallagher@rcaos.org.uk
Closing date for applications: October 14th
Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, 17th October 2022. £699.00 per person sharing. Price includes 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full board. All entertainment and excursions included. Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Fr. Peyton Centre & National Museum. Single supplement £100.00. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com
ST BERNADETTE RELIC TOUR. Wednesday 19th October - Friday 21st October 2022 at St. George’s Cathedral and Aylesford Friary from Monday 24th October to Friday 28th 2022
This visit will provide people across our community of faith with a valuable opportunity for prayer and healing. To ensure the comfort and safety of pilgrims, and to allow venues taking part in the Relic Tour to prepare for the large numbers who will travel to them, individuals and groups are strongly encouraged to register their attendance at their earliest convenience choosing a free, dedicated timeslot at their chosen church or cathedral, as demand is likely to be high.
The reservation system is now open and can be accessed here: stbernadette.org.uk/the-tour/
Details of the itinerary can be found on this page and prayers to support the tour are also there at: stbernadette.org.uk/prayers. However, if you have any questions about the tour, please feel free to get in touch at: contact@stbernadette.org.uk
The relics will visit our cathedral, St George’s, from the morning of Wednesday 19th October until the morning of Friday 21st October; they will also visit Aylesford from Monday 24th October until Friday 28th October. Please consult the website of each venue for further details.
If anyone would like to travel to the cathedral with me by train on Thursday 20th October please let me know. Otherwise, perhaps some mums and dads could organise small groups of families to go up at the weekend.
PARISH GOLF DAY 2022 We are just a few weeks away from the usual Parish Golf day which is on Thursday 29th September at Birchwood Park. There will, as always be a charity raffle to the day which will be available from Tony Brook after some masses. Any enquiries, please call Tony Brooke 07833707016.
SOCIAL EVENING Due to the death of Her Majesty the Queen the social evening on Friday 9th September was cancelled. The next social evening will take place on Friday 14th October with Annie Gee who will supply the music from 8.00 pm till 11pm, Admission - Adults £3 at the door, Jenny 07710 527692 Mary 07749 197957
COFFEE, CAKE & BAKE MORNING. IN AID OF GREENWICH & BEXLEY HOSPICE
From 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Sunday 2nd October in St. Thomas More Hall. There will be tea, coffee cakes, and stalls of high quality hand knitted infants’ clothes (for excellent Christmas and birthday gifts) and religious items.
If you can help in any way on the day or donate your own home baking for the support of Bexley Hospice, please speak to Annette who will be available in the porch after all masses this Saturday evening and Sunday morning selling Seven Sorrows Rosaries.
‘Children’s Liturgy’ this Sunday at 9.00 a.m.
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.
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB will take place this coming Thursday 29th September.
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 souls of:
Judith Cooke, who died on Saturday 20th August 2022 at the hospice. Her funeral was on Thursday 15th September.
Hammond Macaulay who died on Saturday 27th August at Bexley and Greenwich Hospice aged 53. Her funeral was on Tuesday 13th September 2022.
Frances Anne Carter who died on Monday 5th September 2022. Her funeral was on Tuesday 20th September 2022.
May the divine assistance remain with them always, and may their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
PRAY FOR THE CONVERSION OF RUSSIA!
PRAY FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE! IN THE WORLD!
&
MAKE REPARATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
with
FIRST SATURDAY FATIMA DEVOTIONS
Saturday 3rd September 2022
9.00 a.m. confessions
9.30 a.m. Rosary
10.00 a.m. Holy Mass
10.30 a.m. meditation
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE TWENTY- SIXTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME.
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."
Saturday 24th September Ember Saturday of September (with com. of Our Lady of Ransom) T.C.
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. (Latin 1962) Frances Anne Carter R.I.P.
+ 6.30 p.m. TWENTY- SIXTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C). Ann & Sean Gallogly W.B.
Sunday 25th September
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG. John Joe Corbett R.I.P. ( first anniversary) with children's church in the hall.
+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS (with English Readings/ missa orbis factor). The people of the parish.
5.00 p.m. SEPTEMBER DEVOTIONS TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS. With Stations of the Cross, Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, the Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows and Benediction.
7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in the Hall? All welcome. No bar.
Monday 26th September St. Cosmas & Damian, martyrs.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary.
10.00 a.m. Graham Keepax W.B.
Tuesday 27th September St. Vincent de Paul, priest, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Michael Curten R.I.P.
Wednesday 28th September St. Wenceslaus, martyr.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Thursday 29th September ST. MICHAEL, GABRIEL & RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS, FEAST.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. SUNG. Helen D’Souza T.G.
1.00 p.m. LUNCH CLUB.
Friday 30th September St .Jerome, priest & doctor of the church, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Stella Bentley W.B.
6.00 p.m. Choir Practice. New members welcome.
Saturday 1st October Our Lady’s Saturday (TC) FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTIONS.
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. (Latin 1962) Holy Souls.
+ 6.30 p.m. TWENTY- SIXTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C). Lurdina Fernandes & deceased family members R.I.P.
SEPTEMBER PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS
Let us pray.
Our Mother of Sorrows, with strength from above you stood by The Cross, sharing in the sufferings of Jesus, and with tender care you bore Him in your arms, mourning and weeping.
We praise you for your faith, which accepted the life God planned for you.
We praise you for your hope, which trusted that God would do great things in you.
We praise you for your love in bearing with Jesus the sorrows of His passion. Holy Mary, may we follow your example, and stand by all your children who need comfort and love. Mother of God, stand by us in our trials and care for us in our many needs. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
With my blessings to you all,
Fr Jonathon.
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