Saturday 27th May – Saturday 10th June 2023
- jonathonrouth
- May 26, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 6, 2023
JUNE IS THE MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART.
Pentecost with Eighth and Ninth Week of Ordinary Time.
Double Edition.
Dear parishioners,
PENTECOST 2023
As we come to the end of Eastertide, since Ascension Day the church looks forward in prayer to God’s blessing on the Church. Traditionally, on Ascension Day, the Paschal Candle which symbolises the Risen Christ, is extinguished after the proclamation of the gospel to show that Christ has gone to Heaven. But we know that he has not left us to fend for ourselves. Like the disciples in the upper room, through faith in the Resurrection, we turn to God in prayer. We believe our Lord has risen from the dead and remains with us in the Sacraments and through the Sacrifice of the Mass. The Lord’s sacrifice on the Cross and the outpouring of his most Precious Blood is the source of all sacramental grace given to us today. Whenever we attend mass, we are present at that same Sacrifice of Christ, for Christ promised to be with us until the end of time.
God also blessed his Church with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which we celebrate this Sunday. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son and is sent into our hearts so that we might receive new life as children of God. We know the Holy Spirit through his actions in the Word and when the Spirit acts in the Church. The Holy Spirit is symbolised in many ways, including through the water of Baptism, the anointing with oil, the imposition of hands and the symbols of fire and the dove. In particular, we can see the work of the Holy Spirit through the life and words of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was filled with the Holy Spirit when she conceived the Word of God and who is the mother of the Church.
In his time among us, Our Lord revealed the Spirit in his teaching, his healing and in breathing the Spirit upon his disciples after the Resurrection. At Pentecost, the mission of Our Lord and of the Holy Spirit became the mission of the Church which is sent to proclaim and spread the mystery of God, the Most Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit builds, animates and sanctifies the Church. The Spirit of Love also restores the faithful to their baptismal purity through the forgiveness of sins received after confession in the Sacrament of Penance. Every time we go to confession, we receive the forgiving and healing love of the Holy Spirit who also consoles us in times of loss and gives us strength and courage to go forth with Christ into a hostile world. If we live in the Spirit through our prayer, penance and good works, we will receive the seven gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. We will then bear the twelve fruits of the Spirit in our lives : charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity.
Like the disciples, with Our Lady, prayed after the Ascension, let us too ask the Holy Spirit to bless our parish and our families who are making their pilgrimage to Walsingham this half term in honour of her, who was filled with the Holy Spirit and reveals to us the gifts and fruits of the Spirit in her life. Let us say with the Saints, ‘ We have seen the true light, we have received the heavenly spirit, we have found the true faith: we adore the indivisible Trinity, who has saved us’ ( from the Byzantine Vespers of Pentecost).
(see the Catechism of the Catholic Church on ‘The Holy Spirit’)
God bless, Fr Jonathon
UPCOMING EVENTS
FOR THE JUNE DIARY:
1. Solemnity of Corpus Christi. There will be a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the church grounds following 11 o’clock mass on Sunday 11th June concluding with Benediction.
2. Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Mass at 10.00 a.m. on Friday 16th June and Parish Devotions to the Sacred Heart with Sung Litany, Act of Consecration and Benediction on Sunday 18th June at 4.00 p.m.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES in October.
Please contact the parish office if you are interested in joining us.
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB
The next lunch will be on Thursday 1st June at 12.30 p.m.
PARISH NOTICES
FOOD BANK. The Bexley Food Bank currently particularly requests:
CARRIER BAGS/ TINNED TOMATOES / RICE / NOODLES / JAM / CUSTARD /TOOTHPASTE / SHOWER GEl/ DEODORANT/ TOOTHPASTE/ SUGAR / WASHING PODS.
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
THANK YOU to ST THOMAS MORE PARISH for funds raised by collections in church from:
1. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children for a donation of £258.20 from the White Flower Appeal.
2. Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice for our donation of £534.00
3. The Catholic Children’s Society for our donation o £354.10 from the Crib Appeal.
4. The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) for our latest donation of £614.40.
The donations above do not include any made directly to the charity through bank transfer. The letters of thanks from the charities can be read on the noticeboard in the narthex. I also thank all of you who have contributed towards raising these funds through building the crib, money counting, coffee mornings and stalls, liaising with the charities and me and the distribution of stickers and flyers. Thanks for your witness to the Faith in these good works of service which in addition to supporting those in need, also contribute greatly to the life of the parish.
Notice from Marriage and Family Life South East
Planning a catholic marriage? Marriage preparation courses are available by emailing mflse@rcaos.org.uk.
GIFT AID
Please contact the parish office if you still donate by cash and have not picked up your gift aid boxes yet.
If you would like to join the Gift Aid Scheme by donating with cash or through a bankers order/standing order, please email bostallpark@rcaos.org.uk.
PARISH YOUTH NOTICES
‘SUMMERTIME 2023’
Altar servers and young people’s summer break, Tuesday 1st August – Friday 4th August at the Oratory School, Reading, cost £169. . A few days to meet up in a holiday atmosphere with activities including talks, discussions, prayer, daily mass, sport, a visit to Thorpe Park and swimming. For more details, contact Fr Stephen Boyle dartford@rcaos.org.uk . ‘Summertime’ is open to any teenagers up to 17years old who are attending mass every Sunday.
CHILDREN’S CHURCH: No ‘Children’s Liturgy’ this weekend due to the Holidays. Next one on Sunday 11th June.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2023. Next meeting: Saturday 10th June for practice in church and the Rosary.
CONFIRMATION 2023. Next meeting: Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with Adoration and Benediction. Sunday 18th June, 4.00 p.m.
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:
Derek Charles Robinson, whose burial funeral service was on Monday 17th April 2023.
Anne Gallogly, aged 75, dear wife of Sean who died on the 16th of March and whose Funeral Requiem was on Friday 21st April at St John Fisher Catholic Church Bexley.
Elizabeth ‘Elsie’ Murphy, who died on 18th April and whose funeral requiem was on Thursday 4th May.
Eddie Etheridge, who died on 19th April, aged 87. Funeral Requiem at 10.00 a.m. on Friday 2nd June at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Chapel, 14 Western Road, Borough Green, Sevenoaks, TN15 8AG followed by committal at 11.45 at Eltham Crematorium.
Reception afterwards at MetroGas Amateur Sports Association, Avery Hill Road.
There will also be a Knights of Saint Columba Requiem Vigil Mass at St. Joseph's in Borough Green on Thursday 1st June 2023 for Knights and families.
For those who cannot attend the committal at Eltham Crematorium, you can view the service live or later via https://watch.obitus.com/ login details below:
You will find below the Username and Password for this Live Stream along with the times it will be available to view. Please distribute this username and password to family and friends. They will be able to login to our website at any time to view a Test Stream which we recommend they do in plenty of time before the service and during the service window they will be automatically redirected to the Live Stream of the service. Go to Website https://watch.obitus.com Username hipo7789 Password 683539 Service Date Friday 2nd June Service Viewing Time 11:45am - 1:15pm Once the viewing window has passed the Live Stream will then automatically close and a message will appear saying "This funeral service has now finished". We aim to get the On Demand Stream back online by Friday 9th June, where it will be available to view until Wednesday 12th July, using the same Login Information.
Melita De Mello, beloved wife of Alex, who died on Tuesday 23rd May 2023, aged 83. Funeral details to follow.
Robert Penny, who died on Tuesday 30th May, aged 87. Funeral details to follow.
Message from Catherine Rayner re the late Tom Brady Snr, Nora Brady and Tom Brady Jnr. All their anniversaries occur at this time ( 19/5, 30/5 and 20/5 respectively ) Mass will be offered for the repose of all their souls at 11.00 a.m. on Sunday 28th May, the feast of Pentecost. May God the Holy Spirit console the family.
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.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR PENTECOST & THE EIGHTH & NINTH WEEKS OF ORDINARY TIME
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."
Saturday 27th May The Vigil of Pentecost [TC]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Fr Romany Shenouda P.I.
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. PENTECOST (WHIT SUNDAY) SOLEMNITY. Mary Etheridge R.I.P. (87th Birthday Anniversary)
Sunday 28th May
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+9.00 a.m. [SUNG] Bonny Pereira R.I.P. (second anniversary)
+11.00 a.m. [SOLEMN. Latin with English. Missa de Angelis] Tom Snr, Nora Brady and Tom Brady Jnr R.I.P.
Monday 29th May Mary, mother of the church, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Augustinho Fernandes R.I.P. (birthday anniversary)
Tuesday 30th May feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Sonny Vaughan R.I.P.
Wednesday 31st May The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, feast.
ST.THOMAS MORE FAMILY PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM UNTIL FRIDAY.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Thursday 1st June Our Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, feast.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Friday 2nd June Ss Marcellinus & Peter, martyrs.First Friday.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Saturday 3rd June Whit Saturday [TC] First Saturday.
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Jack Fernandes R.I.P. (1st anniversary)
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. THE MOST HOLY TRINITY. SOLEMNITY. Lorne Hornsby W.B.
Sunday 4th June
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+9.00 a.m. [SUNG] The people of the parish.
+11.00 a.m. [SOLEMN. English with Latin. Missa de Angelis] Loretta Fernando R.I.P.
Monday 5th June St. Boniface, bishop & martyr, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Ann Gallogly R.I.P.
Tuesday 6th June St. Norbert, bishop.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Lucy Murphy R.I.P.
Wednesday 7th June feria.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Thursday 8th June feria.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Friday 9th June St .Columba, Abbot.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Maria Ponsford R.I.P.
Saturday 10th June St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland. [TC]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] P.I. in honour of St Louis de Montfort.
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. CORPUS CHRISTI SOLEMNITY. Eileen McMurray R.I.P.
JUNE PRAYER
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS by Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart (1863-1899) whose letter to Pope Leo XIII was the impetus for the consecration of the world to the Divine Heart.
My most loving Jesus, I consecrate myself today anew and without reserve to your divine Heart. I consecrate to you my body with all its senses, my soul with all its faculties: my whole being. I consecrate to you all my thoughts, words and actions; all my sufferings and labours; all my hopes, consolations and joys; and, above all, I consecrate to you my poor heart, that it may love only you and be consumed as a victim in the fire of your love.
Accept, O Jesus, my most loving spouse, the desire that I have to console your divine Heart and to be yours for ever. Possess me in such a manner that henceforward I may have no other liberty than that of loving you, no other life than that of suffering and dying for you.
I place in you unlimited trust and I hope, from your infinite mercy, for the pardon of my sins. I place in your hands all my cares, especially that of my eternal salvation. I promise to love and honour you to the last moment of my life, and to propagate, with the help of your divine grace and as far as I am able, devotion to your Sacred Heart. Dispose of me, O divine Heart of Jesus, according to your pleasure; I desire no other recompense than your greater glory and your holy love.
Grant me the grace to find my dwelling place in your Sacred Heart where I desire to pass every day of my life and where I wish to breathe my last breath. Make my heart your abode, the place of your repose, so that we may remain intimately united until, finally, I may praise, love, and possess you for all eternity, singing for ever the infinite mercy of your Sacred Heart.
Amen.