JANUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY NAME
THE FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Dear parishioners,
UNION OF CATHOLIC MOTHERS
This Sunday we have a visit from Tina of the Union of Catholic Mothers (The UCM) who will be speaking to our parish about starting a UCM here. If you are a young or old mum, and want to make more social contacts in the parish, learn more about your faith and be involved with your parish more, the UCM might be for you.
The UCM was founded in 1913 by Cardinal Bourne to unite and support Catholic married women. It is their centenary year and they are having many celebrations for this.
The patron of the UCM is Our Lady, our universal mother and St Margaret Clitherow, a great English martyr. Both women saints are the centre of family life and of women’s concerns.
The UCM is a national organisation, having a National council, also each diocese has a committee, ours of course being Southwark. The parish level is the ‘foundation level’ which is the most important part of UCM, and which we would like to get going at St Thomas More.
All catholic women including married, widowed and single ladies and women of different faiths married to catholic husbands are welcome to join UCM.
UCM Aims, which is our guidelines:
1) To help women married women to appreciate the sacramental character, responsibilities and permanence of marriage and our lives and live in unselfish love observing the laws of God and his Church.
2) To assist mothers to bring up their children as practising Catholics and public spirited citizens.
3) To teach and defend Christian values in family life.
4) To offer love, sympathy and practical help to family in difficulty.
Why join the UCM? Message from Mary, UCM Diocesan Secretary:
‘Women join the UCM for a variety of reasons as meetings provide friendship and fellowship, and are a blend of social and spiritual activities, The UCM meetings, literature and contacts provide ongoing fresh interests. There are opportunities for varied and valuable catholic action but nothing should be undertaken at the expense of personal and family life. United in prayer, members never face life’s difficulties alone but are strengthened by fellow members.
We have many more things we do, such as supporting people and families in times of need and stress. We have pilgrimages to Aylesford and Walsingham. We financially support training of priests. We support other national charities such as Cafod, homelessness etc.
We take an active part in Women’s World day of prayers and Christian Unity week, and have study days on current issues.
If I join the UCM, what does it entail, what commitments and what do we have to do? Just go along to the initial meeting, the date hasn’t been confirmed yet. Take time to decide if you want to join, the decision is yours, there is no pressure. Just welcome and friendship. At this meeting a there will be an explanation and planning of how your UCM will work.
The UCM offers you support, friendship and welcome but it also depends on many talents its members have to offer and these are needed in management, promotion, welfare, catering, social and educational matters, to mention a few, to ensure that this wonderful organisation continues to support families, parishes and vocations as it has for the past 100 years.
On behalf of UCM I am appealing today for members to start a UCM foundation here, it is not always easy to join a group, but just think about going to meeting, perhaps with a friend. You can be sure of a warm welcome and it will give you a chance to find out if the UCM is for you.
I have found much friendship, love, interest, enjoyment and fun in the UCM and I hope there are some potential members among you who will do same.
If you are interested either give your name and contact number to me at back of church or get in touch with us...We will then be in touch to advise you of first meeting.
Come along on Sunday and meet Mary and Tina and they will tell you all about it. After the 9.00 and 11.00 mass they will be available to meet you in the church porch.
CANDLEMAS.
Wednesday is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord or ‘Candlemas’. We have mass at 7.00 p.m. with the blessing of church candles. If you have a shrine at home or use candles in your prayers, you are welcome to bring them to mass on Wednesday evening to be blessed.
CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY: CRIB OFFERING 2021
Throughout the pandemic the Catholic Children’s Society (CCS) has provided emergency support for thousands of vulnerable children and families. Their Southwark Crisis Fund provides immediate help for local families who are facing real hardship and have nowhere else to turn.
There are many families in need of support and our parish will be donating our Crib Offering to support this important work. Every penny donated will be given out via CCS’s Southwark Crisis Fund to support local families in need. You can donate at the Crib or via the CCS website www.cathchild.org.uk/crib . The crib remains in place with the offering box for CCS until the feast of the Presentation on 2nd February.
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL CHOIR: might your boy in year 2 or 3 have musical potential? Could he consider becoming a chorister at Westminster Cathedral? Every September Westminster Cathedral Choir School welcomes up to six choristers into Year 4. Becoming a chorister at Westminster Cathedral offers boys the opportunity to sing both at the Cathedral in central London, and on tour internationally, in one of the world’s great choirs. Boys also receive an outstanding education at one of London’s leading schools.
Choristers board during the School week only, heading home to their families from Friday afternoon and until Sunday morning at 9.45 a.m.
It is a wonderful opportunity to join a thriving choir and school. All boys receive generous scholarships, up to 100% of fees available on a means tested basis. Almost all the boys join from Catholic primary schools – the universal element is a love of singing. If interested, contact the Director of Admissions Miss Lucy Auger at Westminster Cathedral Choir School, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1P 1QH or call 020 7798 9081.
Food Bank:
COLLECTIONS HAVE RESUMED. ONLY NON PERISHABLE ITEMS CAN BE RECEIVED PLEASE.
There is currently a particular need for:
Long Life milk, Long Life juice, Squash, Tins of Rice Pudding, Toilet Paper
The container for donations is in the Church Porch and is taken to Bexleyheath food bank on Monday mornings.
A Day with Mary
Saturday 5th February 2022 at St. Edmund of Canterbury, Village Way, Beckenham. 9.30 a.m. start, finishing at 5.00 p.m.
Saturday 12thFebruary 2022 at Our Lady Help of Christians, Mottingham Road SE9. 10.00 a.m. -5.15 p.m.
Saturday 26thFebruary 2022 at St. Anselm, West Hill, Dartford 10.30 a.m. -4.30 p.m.
First Holy Communion 2022
Lesson 4. Saturday 5th February 10.30 am. Church Hall.
Please read the newsletter every week and listen out for notices at the end of Sunday mass. Don’t forget to bring your mass attendance cards to Sunday mass!
The children’s commitments were made at all masses on the Second Sunday of Advent.
CONFIRMATION 2022
Application forms can be picked up by candidates, completed at home and then returned after any Sunday mass. Preparation will begin in the spring term and include a couple of day/evening trips and (hopefully) an overnight retreat.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY
9.00 a.m. This Sunday.
Parish Social Evenings Parish Socials with the Bar will continue in the Church Hall on Sunday evenings from the 9th of January.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK: FOURTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Saturday 29th January FOURTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. Agnes & Martin Braganza R.I.P.
Sunday 30thJanuary 2022
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary.
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG Natasha & Reagan Pereira T.G. on 9th wedding anniversary.
+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS (with English Readings) The People of the parish.
7.30 p.m. Parish Social Evening in Church Hall.
Monday 31st January S. John Bosco, priest, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Lawrence Dadzie W.B.
Tuesday 1st February feria.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Wednesday 2nd February THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD ‘CANDLEMAS’, feast.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO MORNING MASS
+7.00 p.m. SUNG (Latin and English) with blessing of candles. Mason Russ W.B.
Thursday 3rd February S. Blaise, bishop & martyr
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. (with S. Blaise blessing of throats) Annie Maloney W.B.
1.00 p.m. Thursday Lunch Club Afternoon.
Friday 4th February S. Henry Morse, priest & martyr.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. The Brooke Family W.B.
6.00 p.m. Choir practice.
Saturday 5th February S. Agatha, virgin & martyr, memorial.
9.30 a.m. Confessions/ The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m.[Latin] Victor D’ Mello R.I.P.
10.30 a.m. First Holy Communion Class in Church Hall
[ + 6.30 p.m. FIFTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C) The people of the parish]
JANUARY PRAYER IN HONOUR OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS.
O Divine Jesus, you have promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in your name shall be granted. O Eternal Father, In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfilment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, your Divine Son, our Lord. Amen.
Blessings to you all,
Fr Jonathon
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