Saturday 5th August - Saturday 12th August 2023
- jonathonrouth
- Aug 4, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 10, 2023
AUGUST IS THE MONTH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time.
Dear parishioners,
VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS!
Photo of Canon Victor Darlington (Episcopal Vicar for South –East London) and confirmation candidates in prayer as we asked for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
What our Lord Jesus Christ gives to each one of his own people in the Sacrament of Confirmation is greater that the all the gifts of kingship that God gave King Solomon. Because to all who ask for confirmation, God the Holy Spirit is given. Confirmation requires us to open ourselves to the Lord and by sending us the Holy Spirit, so strengthening our commitment to his service.
And with the Holy Spirit, God gives the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit too. These are:
1. Wisdom
2. Understanding
3. Counsel
4. Knowledge
5. Piety
6. Fortitude
7. Fear of the Lord
In last Sunday’s first reading, King Solomon asked only the first of these, but we ask for all seven! There are riches in these gifts which cannot be measured, more than King Solomon knew to ask for. We do indeed ask God for our daily bread to sustain our bodies, but if we ask God for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit we will have the inner resources to manage when life is hard. Such spiritual wisdom is the treasure we draw from in the great losses of life. It is these we need for the strength to cope with the many demands of existence; it is these gifts which will help us carry the Cross and follow the Lord.
What is more, when we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we receive the Holy Spirit’s consolations too within us. Love, Joy and Peace are among the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and with them a sense of the kingdom of heaven we long for. This is treasure indeed.
May God, the Holy Spirit bless our Confirmandees and give them the gifts they need to truly be and live as Catholics in a hostile and sinful world.
God Bless
Fr. Jonathon.
UPCOMING EVENTS
ST THOMAS MORE GOLF DAY to be held Thursday 21st September 2023 at Birchwood Park Golf course, Swanley. Anyone interested in taking part please contact Tony Brooke. 07833707016. There will be the usual charity raffle attached to the day in aid of taking sick / disabled to Lourdes. You will be offered a chance to be involved in the raffle in early September.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES. Monday 23rd October to Friday 27th October 2023. Please contact the parish office if you are interested in joining us.
ESCORTED PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK SHRINE, Ireland, 2nd October 2023. £699.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight, all transfers, 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 £150.00. Contact Patricia or Natali on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
A DAY WITH MARY at St. George's Cathedral, Lambeth Road, Southwark from 10.15 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. Please bring packed lunch. Tea and coffee provided.
PARISH NOTICES
August Masses.
During the holiday season, weekday masses are at 9.00 a.m. and the two masses on Sunday will be said.
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION AND LECTORS - Formation Day 2023
Saturday 14th October 2023, 10.00 a.m.-4.00 p.m.
For Parishes in the Deaneries of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich
Venue: St Stephen’s Church, 26 Deepdene Road, Welling, Kent DA16 3QL
If you are a lector or extraordinary minister you are encouraged to put this in your diary and attend it. Please let me know if you are going so I can let them know numbers.
FOOD BANK. The Bexley Food Bank currently particularly requests (please notice the new items at the end):
CARRIER BAGS/ TINNED TOMATOES / RICE / NOODLES / JAM / CUSTARD /TOOTPASTE / SHOWER GEl/ DEODORANT/ TOOTHPASTE/ SUGAR / WASHING PODS/ LONG LIFE MILK / BISCUITS / SWEETS- CONFECTIONARY.
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/
Notice from Marriage and Family Life South East: Planning a catholic marriage? Marriage preparation courses are available by emailing mflse@rcaos.org.uk.
Liturgy of the Word for infants: The Liturgy of the Word for our little children will meet again in September after the summer break.
BEXLEY CRISIS CAFÉ Experiencing emotional or psychological distress? Access mental health support and advice after hours. Open every day from 6.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. including bank holidays. MIND IN BEXLEY at 2A Devonshire Road, Bexleyheath DA6 8DS.
SPUC NOTICES
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:
Bridget Daghini, who died on Tuesday 4th July, aged 79. Her funeral requiem was on Friday 28th July.
Anthony Daniel Da Silva Modos, who died on 13th June 2023, aged 35. His funeral was on Thursday 27th July at Eltham Crematorium.
John Williams, husband of Margaret, who died at Kings College Hospital on the 18th of July, aged 78. Our sympathies go to Margaret and her family. His Requiem Mass will take place at 10.00 a.m. on Thursday 17th August at St John Fisher and St Thomas More Church, Arbroath Road, London SE9 6RR followed by burial at Grove Park Cemetery, Marvels Lane, SE12 9PU.
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 THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."
Saturday 5th August The Dedication of St Mary of the Snows [TC] 9.00 a.m. confessions 9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary at home. + 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Tom Furlong R.I.P. (for 2nd anniversary) [+ 6.30 p.m. THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD (& eighteenth week) Conception Correia T.G. for her birthday. Sunday 6th August 8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary + 9.00 a.m. SAID. The people of the parish. +11.00 a.m. SAID (August holidays only) Latin & English. Muriel D’ Souza TG on her 90th birthday. 7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in the Hall. All welcome. Monday 7th August. St Sixtus II, pope & companions, martyrs. 8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary +9.00 a.m. Peter Brennan R.I.P. Tuesday 8th August St. Dominic, priest, memorial. 8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary +9.00 a.m. Deacon Tom Coyle R.I.P. Wednesday 9th August St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, virgin & martyr, patron of Europe. The Daily Rosary at home. NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY. Thursday 10th August St. Lawrence, deacon & martyr, feast. 8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary +9.00 a.m. Patrick Farrell R.I.P. 12.30 p.m. Thursday Lunch Club. Friday 11th August St. Clare, virgin, memorial. 8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary +10.00 a.m. Chief Francis Obiji R.I.P. No Choir Practice until Friday 25th August. Saturday 12th August St. Clare, virgin [TC] NO 10.00 A.M. LATIN MASS TODAY. Nuptial mass for Joseph & Nicole at 11.00 at St. Mary’s, Chislehurst. 6.00 p.m. Confessions. [+ 6.30 p.m. NINETEENTH SUNDAY Ellen Barrett & Gladys Bowers R.I.P.
AUGUST PRAYER
TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children, we implore your intercession with Jesus your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today, especially... (special intention).
We are comforted in knowing your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayer. We trust to your gentle care and intercession, those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting. Help all of us, Holy Mother, to bear our burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with God forever. Amen.