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Saturday 30th October– Saturday 6th November 2021


NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY

THE THIRTY - FIRST WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME


Dear parishioners,


Holy Souls


In the traditional calendar 1st November is All Saints Day and the 2nd November is All Souls, but following the modern custom of moving a major solemnity which falls on a Saturday or Monday to the Sunday, this year the Church has moved All Saints Day to this Sunday, 31st October. This leaves a little gap on Monday 1st November. On this day we will say ‘The Mass for the Grace of a Happy Death’. This seems like an appropriate way to begin the month of Holy Souls. All the requiems, commemorations of the departed and graveside visits this month should also be reminding us of our own death to come. We are particularly reminded of this at the blessing of the people at the end of the burial service:


Lord God,

whose days are without end

and whose mercies beyond counting,

keep us mindful

that life is short and the hour of death unknown.

Let your Spirit guide our days on earth

in the ways of holiness and justice,

that we may serve you

in union with the whole church,

sure in faith, strong in hope, perfected in love.

And when our earthly journey is ended,

lead us rejoicing into your kingdom,

where you live for ever and ever.

Amen.


Our own mortality is a call to be constantly vigilant, and do this we are called to follow Our Lord Jesus Christ through prayer and good works. Our good works and prayer will be bear fruit in this life and the next for ourselves and the souls in purgatory. We offer up our good works and prayers that we and holy souls may receive the mercy of God and enjoy communion with God the Father, God the Son and the God the Holy Spirit for all eternity. It is one of the great works of Christian charity to pray for the dead as many of you do throughout the year with the offerings of masses.


We pray to the saints and most especially the Queen of Saints, the Blessed Virgin Mary, to support us on journey through this life and that they will support us now and at the hour of our death. We pray to the Saints too that their intercessions for the dead in union with ours, will help our loved ones through purgatory and that through the mercy of God, they will reach their heavenly homeland.


Holy Souls envelopes are available from this Saturday and can be placed in the box at the ambo and all November Requiems are offered for them.


The Lady Chapel will be a Memorial Chapel to the Dead this month under the patronage of St Joseph, patron of the Dying and Our Blessed Lady, Queen of Saints and Gate of Heaven. Light a candle there and pray for the repose of the faithful departed.


NOVEMBER HOLY SOULS DATES:


1. All Souls Day + 10.00 a.m. and + 7.00 p.m.


2. + Parish Solemn Requiem Mass offered for Holy Souls on Remembrance Sunday. Sunday 14th November, 11.00 a.m.


3. + Requiem Mass for Deceased Clergy of Bexley will be at St. Stephen’s, Welling at 12.00 noon on Tuesday 23rd November.


4. November Requiems for Holy Souls: Saturday 13th 10.00 a.m., Saturday 27th 10.00 a.m.


5. Memorial Service with the Litany of the Sacred Heart and Benediction, followed by refreshments. Feast of Christ the King, Sunday 21st November 3.30 p.m.


6. Blessing of Graves. (Those who visit a cemetery between 1st and 8th November and pray for the faithful departed, may obtain a plenary indulgence, applicable to the holy souls, and at other times a partial indulgence)

Below are the times I have received:


Kemnal Park, Saturday 6th November 2.00 p.m.

Sidcup Sunday 7th November at 2.30 p.m.

Hillview Sunday 7th November at 1.30 p.m.

Plumstead Sunday 14th November at 1.30 p.m.

Woolwich Sunday 14th November at 2.30 p.m.



COFFEE MORNING to support HCPT*: Sunday 7th November from 10.00 a.m.


· Hot Breakfast Rolls

· Homemade Cakes & Bakes

· Coffee/Tea

· Stall with nic-nacs/ bric –a-brac

Message from Tony Brooke: Since the mid 1970’s the Catholic Fellowship have taken sick and disabled pilgrims to Lourdes using the excellent services of HCPT. We plan to restart our pilgrimages post COVID, and are back on the fundraising campaign. On Sunday 7th November we will be holding a Coffee morning after Mass and dearly ask for your company in the hall to enjoy some excellent food, a cuppa, and a chat. Maybe we can entice you to purchase a treasure from our bric-a-brac selection. And if you can’t make it perhaps you could spare a prayer for the success of next year’S extravaganza.

(* HCPT = ‘THE HOSANNA HOUSE AND CHILDREN’S PILGRIMAGE TRUST’)


Food Bank


The large container will be in the porch again for our donations of food for people in our neighbourhood who are not getting-by each week on the little money they have. Thanks to the assistance of a parishioner, our donations will be taken to the Food Bank in Bexleyheath on Monday mornings. Packets, tins and food with a long shelf life is preferred.


Our Lord Jesus Christ says:

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." - Luke 6:37-38


First Holy Communion 2022

Applications are now open. Closing date for applications is on Sunday 14th November. Classes will take place on a Saturday morning at 10.30 a.m. in the Hall from Saturday 8th January 2022.


First Communion Catechists are still needed. Please contact me if you can serve the children of your parish in this way.


Sunday Children’s Liturgy in the Hall

Hopefully this will resume at 9.00 a.m. on Sunday 14th November. Helpers still needed. Please contact me or Fiona Martyres.


Message from MIND IN BEXLEY: ‘TALK TO US…about your difficulties coping with low mood, frustration, depression, anxiety, sleeping difficulties that have an impact on your daily life e.g. work, relationships, family life or caring role. Call MIND IN BEXLEY on 0208 3038932 or ask your GP or healthcare professional for a referral or refer online at www.mindinbexley.org.uk

Mind in Bexley, 2A Devonshire Road, Bexleyheath DA6 8DS


Mind offers information, support and guidance to adults registered with a Bexley GP for:


· Talking Therapies

· Recovery College: Education and well –being service for people with mental health issues including activities for physical wellbeing

· Social and Peer Support

· Mental Health Carers Support

· Welfare Rights for individuals with a mental health diagnosis

· Employment Support for individuals with mental health issues

· Out of hours Crisis Cafe


Parish Pilgrimage to Walsingham (possibly May 2022). More interest has been expressed. I’m waiting to get at least a mini – bus full and then will make bookings. Please let me know if you would like to come too. Dates to follow and coach or mini -bus will be booked.


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 souls of:

Sandra Nourse who died on 3rd September 2021. The Funeral was on Wednesday 22nd September.

John Joe Corbett who died on 23rd September 2021, aged 73. The funeral was on Wednesday 13th October 2021.

Patrick Joseph Flynn who died on Saturday 25th September, aged 93. Funeral Requiem at 11.30 a.m. on Monday 25th October followed by committal at Eltham Crematorium.

Raymond Frank Hawkins who died on Thursday 30th September, aged 91. Funeral Requiem on Friday 12th November at 10.00 a.m. with Vigil Mass at 7.00 p.m. on Thursday 11th November with the Knights of St Columba.

Ray Hawkins was a man of many talents who came to St Thomas More’s Parish in 1964 with his late wife, Ann. For many years he led the Choir at the 9.00 a.m. mass on Sundays. He was a member of Council 380 of the Knights of St Columba for over fifty years and provincial Treasurer during that time. He was a member of the Parish Council in recent years and Treasurer of both St Thomas More’s Social Club and the Thursday Lunch Club. He is survived by his three sons, Simon, Michael and Andrew. Ray, who was an Engineer, was a very focussed man who carried out his responsibilities to a very high standard and once he got his teeth into the task carried it out to successful completion. May he rest in peace.

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 COMING WEEK: THE THIRTY – FIRST WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME

Psalter week 3 Ferial cycle 1 at mass.

Saturday 30th October ALL SAINTS SOLEMNITY, HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. (for convenience moved to the Sunday from the traditional date of (Monday November 1st)

6.00 p.m. Confessions

+ 6.30 p.m. MASS [said] Fran Olaj R.I.P.

Sunday 31st October

8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG MASS. Harry & Emily Yeates R.I.P.

+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS [with English Readings] Ryan, Eden & Louie Fernandes W.B.

7.30 p.m. Social Evening in Hall.


Monday 1st November Mass ‘ For the Grace of a Happy Death’

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+ 10.00 a.m. Valsa Christopher R.I.P.


Tuesday 2nd November THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED (‘ALL SOULS DAY’)

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+ 10.00 a.m. Holy souls.

+ 7.00 p.m. Holy souls


Wednesday 3rd November St. Winifride, virgin.

The Daily Rosary at home.

NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY


Thursday 4th November St. Charles Borromeo, bishop, memorial.

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+ 10.00 a.m. Children with disabilities and their families W.B.

2.00 p.m. Thursday Lunch Club Afternoon Tea


Friday 5th November feria.

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary

+ 10.00 Bridie Lynch R.I.P.

6.00 p.m. choir practice


Saturday 6th November Our Lady’s Saturday.

9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary & Confessions

+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin] Requiem. Adriana Morcillo Sanchez R.I.P.

11.30 a.m. Baptisms

[+ 6.30 p.m. THE THIRTY – SECOND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME Deceased Members of the D’Souza & D’Lima Families R.I.P.)


NOVEMBER PRAYER FOR HOLY SOULS

In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

God bless,

Fr. Jonathon



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