Saturday 3rd - Sunday 11th May 2025
- bostallpark
- May 2
- 7 min read
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
SUNDAY 4TH MAY 2025
ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE BY POPE JOHN PAUL II
1. The Rosary of the Virgin Mary, which gradually took form in the second millennium under the guidance of the Spirit of God, is a prayer loved by countless Saints and encouraged by the Magisterium. Simple yet profound, it still remains, at the dawn of this third millennium, a prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness. It blends easily into the spiritual journey of the Christian life, which, after two thousand years, has lost none of the freshness of its beginnings and feels drawn by the Spirit of God to “set out into the deep” (duc in altum!) in order once more to proclaim, and even cry out, before the world that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour, “the way, and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6), “the goal of human history and the point on which the desires of history and civilization turn”.(1)
The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer. In the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety, of which it can be said to be a compendium. (2) It is an echo of the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat for the work of the redemptive Incarnation which began in her virginal womb. With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love. Through the Rosary the faithful receive abundant grace, as though from the very hands of the Mother of the Redeemer.
The Popes and the Rosary
2. Numerous predecessors of mine attributed great importance to this prayer. Worthy of special note in this regard is Pope Leo XIII who on 1 September 1883 promulgated the Encyclical Supremi Apostolatus Officio,(3) a document of great worth, the first of his many statements about this prayer, in which he proposed the Rosary as an effective spiritual weapon against the evils afflicting society. Among the more recent Popes who, from the time of the Second Vatican Council, have distinguished themselves in promoting the Rosary I would mention Blessed John XXIII(4) and above all Pope Paul VI, who in his Apostolic Exhortation Marialis Cultus emphasized, in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, the Rosary's evangelical character and its Christocentric inspiration. I myself have often encouraged the frequent recitation of the Rosary. From my youthful years this prayer has held an important place in my spiritual life. I was powerfully reminded of this during my recent visit to Poland, and in particular at the Shrine of Kalwaria. The Rosary has accompanied me in moments of joy and in moments of difficulty. To it I have entrusted any number of concerns; in it I have always found comfort. Twenty-four years ago, on 29 October 1978, scarcely two weeks after my election to the See of Peter, I frankly admitted: “The Rosary is my favourite prayer. A marvellous prayer! Marvellous in its simplicity and its depth. [...]. It can be said that the Rosary is, in some sense, a prayer-commentary on the final chapter of the Vatican II Constitution Lumen Gentium, a chapter which discusses the wondrous presence of the Mother of God in the mystery of Christ and the Church. Against the background of the words Ave Maria the principal events of the life of Jesus Christ pass before the eyes of the soul. They take shape in the complete series of the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries, and they put us in living communion with Jesus through – we might say – the heart of his Mother. At the same time our heart can embrace in the decades of the Rosary all the events that make up the lives of individuals, families, nations, the Church, and all mankind. Our personal concerns and those of our neighbour, especially those who are closest to us, who are dearest to us. Thus the simple prayer of the Rosary marks the rhythm of human life”. (5)
With these words, dear brothers and sisters, I set the first year of my Pontificate within the daily rhythm of the Rosary. Today, as I begin the twenty-fifth year of my service as the Successor of Peter, I wish to do the same. How many graces have I received in these years from the Blessed Virgin through the Rosary: Magnificat anima mea Dominum! I wish to lift up my thanks to the Lord in the words of his Most Holy Mother, under whose protection I have placed my Petrine ministry: Totus Tuus!
To be continued.
JUBILEE YEAR NOTICES
Archdiocesan Jubilee Celebration Day at The Friars, Aylesford on the 7th June. Led by Archbishop John Wilson, See the poster in the porch for information. If you are interested in a parish coach, please contact the parish office.
DEANERY JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE ON 5TH JULY.
In this Jubilee Year of Hope we are all invited to make a pilgrimage walk from St. Thomas More to St John Vianney. The pilgrimage will start with morning mass at 10.30am at St Thomas More followed by the walk to St John Vianney Church, then we will attend a prayer service at 1pm. Please bring a packed lunch. Voluntary stewards needed. Please speak to Patricia Kilgallon or email the parish office for more information.
PILGRIMAGE TO PENTECOST.
The Diocese have created a 6 week programme, incorporating the Jubilee Celebration at Aylesford, to help lead us to Pentecost during this Jubilee Year of Hope. The next session will be on Friday 9th May at 7pm in the hall with light refreshments available. This course can be completed at home as well as in our parish group and the booklets to accompany the course are available at the session or on request and cost £3.50. Please see the poster in the porch for more information or contact the parish office.
PARISH NOTICES
EASTER THANKS.
Thank you to all those that helped in any way to prepare and celebrate for the Easter season. Thank you also for your generous Easter gift of £3483.58.
COMPOUND CLEANING.
If you are able to give some time to help keep our parish compound looking beautiful, please speak to the parish priest.
MONTHLY COFFEE MORNING in the porch after each Mass this Sunday. Enjoy a drink, treat and a chat to help get to know your parish community better.
FINANCE SUNDAY 24TH -25THMAY.
The parish finance committee will be presenting the parish finances after all Sunday Masses that weekend.
DEATHS.
Please pray for the souls of Ignatius Pereira, Mario Casciato whose funeral will be on the 21st May at 11.30am & Norma Marshall whose funeral will be on the 14th May. May they rest in peace.
PARISH GROUPS NOTICES
UCM ENROLMENT MASS 11th MAY AT 11AM.
The Union of Catholic Mothers’ enrolment Mass will have 20 women making a commitment to the group and parish. The ceremony will be within the Mass and women enrolling will need to arrive at least 20mins before Mass starts so you can be given guidance about the ceremony. Please sit as a group together in the seats reserved for you at the front of the church on the left hand side. Please feel free to invite family & friends to this special Mass. We are all very grateful to Fr Innocent for his continuous & steady support towards this enrolment Mass and in this year of hope, we all pray that the group will grow & flourish as a strong, faith based support for our parish priest, parish & for each other.
LEGION OF MARY.
On Wednesday this week at 7pm in the church due to the bank holiday. We will be having a membership drive on the weekend of the 17th-18th May. Please speak to Fr. Innocent for more information.
BIBLE STUDY GROUP.
Meeting every Thursday in the church at 7pm. All are welcome.
LUNCH CLUB.
Meeting on 15th May at 12.30pm in the hall.
UPCOMING EVENTS
INTERNATIONAL MASS & PENTECOST MULTICULTURAL LUNCH ON 8TH JUNE.
We look forward to Pentecost Sunday when we will gather together and share a multi-cultural lunch. More details to follow.
ST THOMAS MORE GOLF SOCIETY at Pedham Place Golf Course. Thursday 29th May. If interested please call Tony Brooke 07833707016. Raffle tickets will be available closer to the date.
DAY WITH MARY ON 7TH JUNE.
Our parish will be hosting A Day with Mary on the 7th June in the hall. Please take a flyer from the porch and encourage your family and friends to come along. Tea and coffee will be available but please bring a packed lunch with you.
Contact the parish office for more information.
MODERN SLAVERY & ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING SEMINAR.
Caritas Southwark & the Santa Marta Group are hosting a Seminar to discuss Modern Slavery & Anti-Human Trafficking on the 28th May at St Stephen’s Church, Welling from 6.30-8.30PM. Come and find out more about the realities facing victims of trafficking and how the Church is responding.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
Saturday 3rd May
R Ss Philip & James
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Dan Frias RIP
W THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
6.30 p.m. Derek & Tracey D’Souza TG
Sunday 4th May W
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Cathy Inglis TG
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Eileen Budd TG
Monday 5th May
W Feria
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 6th May
W Feria
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.30 p.m. Milita De Mello RIP (2nd Anniversary)
Wednesday 7th May
W Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Maurice Braganza RIP
Thursday 8th May
W Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Priests and Vocations to the Priesthood
Friday 9th May
W Feria
9.30 a.m. Divine Mercy
11.30 a.m. Michael O’Connor RIP
Saturday 10th May
W Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Brenda Ribeiro WB
W FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
6.30 p.m. Mario Casciato RIP
Sunday 11th May W
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Ignatius Pereira RIP
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Lucy Malloni RIP