Saturday 25th March– Saturday 1st April 2023.
- jonathonrouth
- Mar 24, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 25, 2023
MARCH IS THE MONTH OF ST. JOSEPH
The Fifth Week of Lent – Passiontide.
Dear parishioners,
PASSION SUNDAY 2023
As we veil our images and crosses this Passion Sunday, three catholic men are making a deeper commitment to the cross and follow the Lord through their prayer and good works in the Knights of St Columba. This Sunday at the Solemn 11 o’clock Mass, these men will be initiated into the Knights, one of whom is a parishioner here, one from our deanery and one from Greenwich deanery. The Membership and Development officer will say to them:
‘I ask you to recall that day on Calvary, when our beloved Saviour, Jesus Christ, shed his precious blood on the Cross for our Salvation. Since that day, the Cross has been the symbol of our Faith and has been carried to the four corners of the earth by fearless missionaries. The Church in carrying out that duty has, like our crucified Lord, been subjected to many persecutions, and although we do not now face the barbarities of earlier times, we do face the great enemies of indifference or mockery or open hostility, for those values, which we, as Christians, hold as being essential.
Through all this, the Cross has remained the symbol of that Divine Sacrifice suffered for the redemption of all mankind.
Let us, therefore, treasure this symbol, as a reminder of Almighty God’s infinite love for us who are his creatures, and may we do all in our power, to secure the return of our country men, to accept God as their loving Father under the banner of the Cross’
The new Knights will be handed the Knight’s Cross (pictured below) as the sign of their initiation. These crosses, fittingly, will be the only ones visible in the church. This is a reminder, that even though images of The Cross are veiled, we are all called to witness to the Cross in our lives through our self- sacrifices and to stand up for our Christian Faith which is increasingly under attack from within and without the Church. Many in The Church, including among the hierarchy in some countries, are falling to the Sin of the World and faithlessness. In some national ‘synods on synodality’, calls to abandon teaching on Christian marriage rooted in Holy Scripture itself have been expressed loudly and publicly. This is causing a distressing confusion in The Church. We can also see a lived- belief in the Holy Eucharist diminished through lack of reverence to the true Body of Christ which Christ gave us for our continued spiritual connection with his Sacrifice on The Cross of Calvary. We are in a battle for the soul of The Church.
The Cross is our weapon in this world of sin and darkness: this Sunday we ask God to bless our Knights as they fight and stand for The Truth of our Catholic Faith, with the Cross as their sword and shield, and hold fast to it when the Day of Battle comes. The Cross is also the sign of true life: for he who dies to himself finds true life in God. Without The Cross, there is no Resurrection and so no hope in the world. The Cross is our key to freedom from the mortal limitations of the self and when we take it up by dying to ourselves through prayer and good works, we may truly and fully live this life on our journey to the next.
Come along and welcome the new members into the order and give thanks for the work they do for our parish and the Church in the world. If you are interested in finding out more, are a man looking for more involvement in the parish and would like to get to know more people here, I encourage you to come along this Sunday, 26th March, 11.00 a.m.
God bless,
Fr Jonathon
LENT NOTICES
FRIDAY LENTEN REFLECTIONS.
Join Patricia in the presbytery after mass on Friday mornings in reading the Sunday scriptures and sharing your thoughts with one another with Tea, coffee and even a biscuit.
WALK WITH ME Pick up your ‘Walk with Me’. Daily Reflections through Lent. £1.00 donation asked. Some junior versions may still be available, also available is the excellent ‘Day by Day’ for juniors and infants.
RECOMMENDED EASTER BOOK for CHILDREN
‘BEHOLDING BEAUTY – AN EASTER MIRACLE’ by Madeleine Carroll, illustrated by Pedro De la Puente.
‘’Where Jeremiah was born the sun glittered silver on a lake full of life. Crashing waves on the rocks in winter storms were always loud, and in spring the air was fresh with shore flowers. Each season brought its own smells, blowing in over the Sea of Galilee. Jeremiah was blind, but, although his world was dark, it was full of sound and love…..BEHOLDING BEAUTY is an Easter story of joy, healing and beauty, with excerpts from Scripture included at the back of the book.
Many of you have enjoyed previous books by Madeleine. They are beautiful and very fine presents to give your children to mark our Great Feast Days. Madeleine is a catechist with ‘Catechesis of the Good Shepherd’, as well as author and mother. Pedro is a freelance artist and illustrator, with his own YouTube channel ‘Little Lamplighters’. He loves teaching kids how to draw and is passionate about art. You can find out more about his work on www.littlelamplighters.com
If you would like to buy a copy of ‘Beholding Beauty’ or what like to buy one for a child in this parish, the author, Madeleine, will be with us this Sunday and will be presenting the book to us for purchase after mass. Price £5.00. Contactless, hopefully, available.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS.
We are doing the traditional Stations of the Cross of St Alphonsus Liguori every Friday in Lent concluding on Good Friday at 7.30 p.m. There will also be a Children’s Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at 10.30 a.m.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM.
We have now taken all the bookings and will be in touch.
SOUTHWARK DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 18th-25th August 2023
Message from Bishop Paul:
‘After the restrictions of the past few years, I’m delighted that we are now once more able to include support for pilgrims who need assistance for medical or mobility reasons. In Lourdes, those who are often marginalised are placed at the centre, and we who travel with them are blessed by their presence. I warmly invite you to join us’.
For details, please see
https://www.tangney-tours.com/pilgrimages/lourdes/southwark-ca
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES in October.
Please contact the parish office if you are interested in joining us.
A DAY WITH MARY
St. Dunstan’s, London Rd, Southborough.
Saturday 1st April. 9.45 a.m. to 5.05 p.m.
Bring your own packed lunch.
PARISH NOTICES
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB:
Next lunch club on Thursday 30th March from 12.30 p.m.
Notice from Marriage and Family Life South East
Planning a catholic marriage? Marriage preparation courses are available by emailing mflse@rcaos.org.uk.
FOOD BANK.
The Bexley Food Bank has updated their list of most needed items:
The current list of urgently required items is:-
Custard, Noodles, Squash, Long Life Fruit Juice, Deodorant, Toothpaste, Shower Gel, Tinned Spaghetti, Washing Pods, Sugar and Lots of Cereals
[The Food bank would also like to point out that currently they do not require any of the following:- Baby Formula or Baby Food, Tampons, Pulses - Chickpeas Lentils Bulgur Rice, Butter Beans, Tea, Cereal]
Please follow the link below to view the food donations page of the Bexley food bank website. https://bexley.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/
BAR STAFF NEEDED a few hours a month for the parish social club bar. Please contact Mr Tony Brook 07833 707016
HOMES FOR UKRAINE MATCHING SERVICE CARITAS SOCIAL ACTION NETWORK, in partnership with St John of God Hospitalier Services, an international Catholic Charity with many services for the vulnerable in the UK and Ireland, are matching Ukrainian people displaced by the brutal war in their country with people in the Catholic community willing to host them in their homes for six months. If you have room in your home and in your heart to consider welcoming a stranger displaced by war, then we’d love to hear from you. Please visit https://sjog-homesforukraine.uk//
CAFOD Syria-Turkey Earthquake Appeal
CAFOD is responding with support of provision of food, water, shelter, medical assistance and winter kits for survivors. Your donations in recent months have made that quick response possible. Let us join CAFOD in praying for our sisters and brothers affected by the earthquakes and the winter weather. Your support for CAFOD throughout the year allows our Catholic agency to act quickly when disasters strike. For more details, visit CAFOD’s Syria Turkey Emergency Appeal online at https://cafod.org.uk/give.
THANKS TO THE UNION OF CATHOLIC MOTHERS for providing the beautiful parcels of sweets and cakes for all our parish mums last Sunday. If you are woman in this parish, and would like to get to know more people here, speak with me after mass and I’ll put you in touch with a member of our UCM. You do not have to have children, for just as I try to be a father to you all through the gift of priesthood but have no children of my own, so there are many women who nurture others through their service to Christ’s church and prayers for others. All women of our parish, whether married, single, with or without children, who live their faith through prayer and good works are invited to join our U.C.M.
KNIGHTS OF ST. COLUMBA
The Order of the Knights of St Columba will be welcoming some new members into the Order at the 11:00am mass, on Sunday, 26th March 2023.
The Order is based on the virtues of Charity, Unity and Fraternity, and this ceremony of admission to the Order, is intended to encourage the new members to place these great ideals, foremost in all their future actions.
We encourage practicing Catholic men, aged 16 years and over, to consider joining us in the work we do for our local parishes.
PARISH YOUTH NOTICES
CHILDREN’S CHURCH
The ‘children’s liturgy’ takes place in the hall at the 9 o’clock mass this Sunday and is the last until after the Easter break.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2023.
Next meeting: GOOD FRIDAY STATIONS OF THE CROSS, 10.30 a.m. Friday 7th April 2023.
CONFIRMATION 2023.
Next meeting: Sunday 26th March 4.00 p.m. in the presbytery.
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 soul of:
Thelma Ali, aged 84, who died on 22nd February and whose funeral was on Tuesday 7th March.
Derek Charles Robinson, whose burial funeral service is on Monday 17th April 2023.
May the divine assistance remain with her always, and may her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE FIFTH WEEK OF LENT - PASSIONTIDE
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."
Saturday 25th March THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, SOLEMNITY [T.C.]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Mr. and Mrs. Tagg and Family W.B.
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (A) ‘PASSION SUNDAY’ Lloyd D’Souza T.G.
Sunday 26th March Remember to put your clocks forward one hour for British Summer Time. Presentation of ‘Beholding Beauty’ our recommended children’s Easter Book at both masses.
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+9.00 a.m. [SUNG] Anthony Fernandes R.I.P.
+11.00 a.m. [SOLEMN. Latin with English. Missa in Dominicis Quadragesimae] KOSC Council 320 T.G. With initiation ceremony of new Knights.
Monday 27th March Lent feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. The Fernandes family.
Tuesday 28st March Lent feria
9.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Terry Jones R.I.P.
Wednesday 29th March Lent feria
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Thursday 30th March Lent feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. The people of the parish.
Friday 31st March Lent feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Carlo Rodrigues W.B.
6.00 p.m. Parish Choir Practice. New members welcome.
7.30 p.m. Stations of the Cross.
Saturday 1st April feria [T.C.]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Mary Kilgannon R.I.P. (3rd anniversary). Please note there will of course be no morning mass next Saturday morning (Holy Saturday)
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD (A) Yeates children and grandchildren W.B.
MARCH PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH
Prayer to the Sleeping St. Joseph
Oh Saint Joseph,
You are a man greatly favoured by the Most High. The angel of the Lord appeared to you in dreams, while you slept, to warn you and guide you as you cared for the Holy Family. You were both silent and strong, a loyal and courageous protector. Dear Saint Joseph, as you rest in the Lord, confident of His absolute power and goodness, look upon me. Please take my need… (mention your request here) … into your heart, dream of it, and present it to your Son. Help me then, good Saint Joseph, to hear the voice of God, to arise, and act with love. I praise and thank God with joy. Saint Joseph, I love you. Amen.