Saturday 27th September - Sunday 5th October 2025
- bostallpark
- Sep 26
- 8 min read
TWENTY SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 2025
ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE BY POPE JOHN PAUL II (part 14)
The family: parents...
41. As a prayer for peace, the Rosary is also, and always has been, a prayer of and for the family. At one time this prayer was particularly dear to Christian families, and it certainly brought them closer together. It is important not to lose this precious inheritance. We need to return to the practice of family prayer and prayer for families, continuing to use the Rosary. In my Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte I encouraged the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours by the lay faithful in the ordinary life of parish communities and Christian groups;(39) I now wish to do the same for the Rosary. These two paths of Christian contemplation are not mutually exclusive; they complement one another. I would therefore ask those who devote themselves to the pastoral care of families to recommend heartily the recitation of the Rosary.
The family that prays together stays together. The Holy Rosary, by age-old tradition, has shown itself particularly effective as a prayer which brings the family together. Individual family members, in turning their eyes towards Jesus, also regain the ability to look one another in the eye, to communicate, to show solidarity, to forgive one another and to see their covenant of love renewed in the Spirit of God.
Many of the problems facing contemporary families, especially in economically developed societies, result from their increasing difficulty in communicating. Families seldom manage to come together, and the rare occasions when they do are often taken up with watching television. To return to the recitation of the family Rosary means filling daily life with very different images, images of the mystery of salvation: the image of the Redeemer, the image of his most Blessed Mother. The family that recites the Rosary together reproduces something of the atmosphere of the household of Nazareth: its members place Jesus at the centre, they share his joys and sorrows, they place their needs and their plans in his hands, they draw from him the hope and the strength to go on.
... and children
42. It is also beautiful and fruitful to entrust to this prayer the growth and development of children. Does the Rosary not follow the life of Christ, from his conception to his death, and then to his Resurrection and his glory? Parents are finding it ever more difficult to follow the lives of their children as they grow to maturity. In a society of advanced technology, of mass communications and globalization, everything has become hurried, and the cultural distance between generations is growing ever greater. The most diverse messages and the most unpredictable experiences rapidly make their way into the lives of children and adolescents, and parents can become quite anxious about the dangers their children face. At times parents suffer acute disappointment at the failure of their children to resist the seductions of the drug culture, the lure of an unbridled hedonism, the temptation to violence, and the manifold expressions of meaninglessness and despair. To pray the Rosary for children, and even more, with children, training them from their earliest years to experience this daily “pause for prayer” with the family, is admittedly not the solution to every problem, but it is a spiritual aid which should not be underestimated. It could be objected that the Rosary seems hardly suited to the taste of children and young people of today. But perhaps the objection is directed to an impoverished method of praying it. Furthermore, without prejudice to the Rosary's basic structure, there is nothing to stop children and young people from praying it – either within the family or in groups – with appropriate symbolic and practical aids to understanding and appreciation. Why not try it? With God's help, a pastoral approach to youth which is positive, impassioned and creative – as shown by the World Youth Days! – is capable of achieving quite remarkable results. If the Rosary is well presented, I am sure that young people will once more surprise adults by the way they make this prayer their own and recite it with the enthusiasm typical of their age group.
The Rosary, a treasure to be rediscovered
43. Dear brothers and sisters! A prayer so easy and yet so rich truly deserves to be rediscovered by the Christian community. Let us do so, especially this year, as a means of confirming the direction outlined in my Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, from which the pastoral plans of so many particular Churches have drawn inspiration as they look to the immediate future.
I turn particularly to you, my dear Brother Bishops, priests and deacons, and to you, pastoral agents in your different ministries: through your own personal experience of the beauty of the Rosary, may you come to promote it with conviction.
I also place my trust in you, theologians: by your sage and rigorous reflection, rooted in the word of God and sensitive to the lived experience of the Christian people, may you help them to discover the Biblical foundations, the spiritual riches and the pastoral value of this traditional prayer.
I count on you, consecrated men and women, called in a particular way to contemplate the face of Christ at the school of Mary.
I look to all of you, brothers and sisters of every state of life, to you, Christian families, to you, the sick and elderly, and to you, young people: confidently take up the Rosary once again. Rediscover the Rosary in the light of Scripture, in harmony with the Liturgy, and in the context of your daily lives.
May this appeal of mine not go unheard! At the start of the twenty-fifth year of my Pontificate, I entrust this Apostolic Letter to the loving hands of the Virgin Mary, prostrating myself in spirit before her image in the splendid Shrine built for her by Blessed Bartolo Longo, the apostle of the Rosary. I willingly make my own the touching words with which he concluded his well-known Supplication to the Queen of the Holy Rosary: “O Blessed Rosary of Mary, sweet chain which unites us to God, bond of love which unites us to the angels, tower of salvation against the assaults of Hell, safe port in our universal shipwreck, we will never abandon you. You will be our comfort in the hour of death: yours our final kiss as life ebbs away. And the last word from our lips will be your sweet name, O Queen of the Rosary of Pompei, O dearest Mother, O Refuge of Sinners, O Sovereign Consoler of the Afflicted. May you be everywhere blessed, today and always, on earth and in heaven.
PARISH NOTICES
PRAY THE ROSARY WITH ARCHBISHOP JOHN
& THE MARK 10 MISSION.
The Rosary Challenge invites you to pray a decade of the Rosary each weekday in October. The Mark 10 Mission has created beautiful online videos for each mystery of the Holy Rosary, led by Archbishop John. To watch the videos and learn more, please visit themark10mission.co.uk or The Mark 10 Mission YouTube channel @themark10mission.
FAMILY FUN DAY THANKS.
Despite the weather, it was a great day and raised £524.75 for the parish. Special thanks to all that helped to make it a success.
Until next year!
DEATH.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Rita Carrier who was a parishioner here at St. Thomas More for many years. Rita was a devout Catholic, an active parishioner volunteering as the parish secretary for many years, was a key member of the flower arranging team, a eucharistic minister and active member of the parish social club. Rita and her husband Roy regularly attended the 9am Mass on Sundays until she became ill. Her funeral will be on the 1st October at 12 noon.
JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP.
This is a youth group for 8-13 year olds and will be held on the first Sunday of the month starting from the 5th October. Please speak to the parish priest for more information.
RCIA & ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASSES- begins on Wednesday, 4th October, and henceforth every Wednesday, till Easter 2026.
Venue: Church Porch Time: 7:15pm.
Anyone can join to learn and/or refresh one’s knowledge and faith in God.
UPCOMING EVENTS
RETROUVAILLE MARRIAGE SUPPORT.
Holiday periods can be very stressful for marriages and couples often suffer in silence. Does your relationship need some TLC? Need help with deeper issues? Next programme starts 17th October. For more information visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk or call 07887 296 983
DAY OF PRAISE & WORSHIP.
Following the wonderful event at Aylesford on Pentecost Sunday this year, we are delighted to invite you to a Day of Celebration at St. George’s Cathedral on Saturday 4th October from 10:15am to 5pm to give thanks for the blessings we have all received during this Jubilee Year of Hope. Archbishop John Wilson will be presiding and preaching at Mass at 11:15am. The day will include Adoration, rosary, confessions, testimonies, praise and worship, bookstall and prayer ministry led by Catholic evangelist Ros Powell. Please see the poster in the porch for more information or take a leaflet.
JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP.
This is a youth group for 8-13 year olds and will be held on the first Sunday of the month starting from the 5th October. Please speak to the parish priest for more information.
DAY FOR READERS &
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST.
The day retreat for parish Readers & Eucharistic Ministers is on Saturday 18th October at St. Stephen’s Church, Welling. Please inform the parish office if you are able to attend as soon as possible. Please bring a packed lunch.
BLESSING OF ANIMALS ON ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI FEAST DAY – 4TH OCTOBER 2025
Blessing of Animals and pets will be at 11:00am in the Church porch. On a donkey’s back, Jesus fled to Egypt with Mary and Joseph. On the back of a donkey, Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. Come let us bless our animals and pets!
SHARING YOUR FAITH WORKSHOP – 11TH OCTOBER.
The Agency for Evangelisation & Catechesis are hosting a workshop on Saturday 11th October 10am-3:30pm at Ss. John Fisher & Thomas More, Eltham, Well Hall. This one-day workshop aims to explore what it means to share our Catholic Faith. For more details, including how to register, please see the poster in the porch.
PARISH GROUPS NOTICES
MARIAN MARRIAGE CIRCLE (MMC).
The Marian Marriage Circle is a gathering of young Catholic singles who are eager to learn & develop their love & relationship skills. It’s open to Catholics of any nationality from 21yrs or working class from 18yrs. It aims to create a Christian culture that encourages relationships that lead to marriage & happy family life. The next webinar is on 5th October @ 7:15pm using these details.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87971246953?pwd=R1QwOVE0NldER1dZeUdrclVuNkVRZz09
Meeting ID: 87971246953 Passcode: 585828
Come let us place our relationships at the feet of Mary
Ave Maria!
CENACLE PRAYERS FOR VOCATIONS.
Join us on the third Friday of every month @ 8pm to pray for vocations.
Please use these details to join the online webinar.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87971246953?pwd=R1QwOVE0NldER1dZeUdrclVuNkVRZz09
Meeting ID: 87971246953 Passcode: 585828
Speak to the parish priest for more information.
LUNCH CLUB.
The next lunch club gathering will be on the 2nd October at 12.30pm in the hall. New members always welcome.
LEGION OF MARY.
Now every Friday at 11:15am in the porch. New members
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Saturday 27th September
W St. Vincent de Paul
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
G TWENTY SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
6.30 p.m. Alicia & Godwin Rodrigues RIP
Sunday 28th September G
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Clinton Nunes WB
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Adams Afegbai RIP
(5yr Ann.)
Monday 29th September
W Ss. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 30th September
W St. Jerome
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.30 p.m. Aisha PI & grace
Wednesday 1st October
W St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Ferdie Rodrigues RIP
Thursday 2nd October
W The Holy Guardian Angels
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Vocations & Vocations to the Priesthood
Friday 3rd October
G Feria – Harvest Fast Day
9.30 a.m. Rosary for the Dead
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Saturday 4th October
W St. Francis of Assisi
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
11.00 p.m. Blessing of Animals
G TWENTY SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
6.30 p.m. Derek D’Souza TG
Sunday 5th October G
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Melba Fernandes TB
10.00 a.m. Junior Youth Group
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Eric Gottwalles RIP
7.15 p.m. MMC Webinar