Saturday 4th February – Saturday 11th February 2023
- jonathonrouth
- Feb 4, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 10, 2023
FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY FAMILY
The Fifth Week of Ordinary Time
Dear parishioners,
‘You are the salt of the earth. You are light of the world’
Thanks to all who contributed to a beautiful celebration of Candlemas last Thursday. This coming Sunday, 5th of ordinary time, is also known as ‘Septuagesima’ Sunday, meaning there are seventy days before Easter. In some Churches, green turns to purple at this time too, as we approach Lent. Traditionally Alleluias and Glorias stopped from now until Easter with some people even beginning a pre-lent fasting at this time too.
In this Sunday’s readings, there is though still a glimmer of Candlemas in the reference to ‘light’ in the gospel. It refers to the light which come from God that is in the souls of all baptised followers of Jesus Christ. For we are told not to hide our lamps under a tub, but place it on a lamp stand for all to see. We are called to be the light of Jesus in this world. The way we do this is by being true to Him and the Teaching and Tradition of the Church, through how we pray and practice our religion in our public worship in the Church and good works in the world. When catholics accommodate and embrace the beliefs and morals of this world, our light gets dimmer and dimmer, no longer offering anything different to the world around us. A catholic family comes to mass on Sunday. That makes us really different and that’s wonderful! Everyone else may have a lie-in, play on the computer, wash the car, go on a trip but we Catholics are different… for on a Sunday we go to the altar of God, who gives us his joy and gladness for the week ahead.
When non-believers find out about our beliefs, it may cause them puzzlement and wonder, but that may be the first act of spreading the Gospel to others*. If we hide our light and say and do just like everyone else in in the world, we will interest no-one. If the catholic mass looks the same as an evangelical service, or a meditation workshop or a rock concert – but not done as well, people may well ask, why bother? Truly, as salt of the earth, our salt will have lost its saltiness. To be a light to the world, the church must be light in the darkness, and light, it goes without saying, is different from dark. That’s what our faith makes us: different, as Jesus said ‘If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you’. (John 15: 19)
(see Fr Denis McBride ‘Seasons of the Word’ p188-189)
God bless
Fr Jonathon
PARISH NOTICES
FOOD BANK.
Thanks to all who offered to help with collecting our donations and taking them to the Food Bank on Monday morning. Tony McLaughlin will be covering for Paul for a few weeks and will collect the donations after the Sunday 11.00 a.m. mass.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES in October. Please contact the parish office if you are interested in joining us.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM .
We have now taken all the bookings and will be in touch soon.
Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 15th March 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. Special St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations. Single supplement £150.00. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
A DAY WITH MARY
St. Joseph’s Church, Orchard Road, Bromley from 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Please bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee provided.
Notice from Marriage and Family Life South East
BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE
This Saturday morning online session on February 18 is aimed at couples with average-to-good marriages who would like to improve their relationship further and gain insights into their communication and the call of the Church to the married. No personal sharing! Email Carole on mflkent@rcaos.org.uk or phone 07983 524 727.
GROWING IN FAITH TOGETHER
SycamOre is an online course exploring our Catholic faith and suitable for individuals and couples alike. It runs throughout Lent, with weekly one-hour sessions on Tuesday evenings from 8-9pm starting on February 28. For more details or to register, visit the website: Growing in Faith Together — Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis (rcaos.org.uk)
CELEBRATE PARENTING FOR FAITH
A new online course for those with babies and toddlers, 5 weeks from February 23 – March 23. 8pm, 45 mins. https://www.celebratetrust.org/
And a reminder to you that our marriage preparation courses are available by emailing mflse@rcaos.org.uk.
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB takes place from 12.30 p.m. this Thursday.
PARISH YOUTH NOTICES
CHURCH for CHILDREN.
The ‘children’s liturgy’ takes place in the hall at the 9 o’clock mass this Sunday.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2023.
No session on Saturday 11th or Saturday 18th February for Half Term Break. Session 6 on Saturday 25th February, 10.30 a.m. in the hall.
CONFIRMATION 2023.
Next meeting: 4.00 p.m. Sunday 12th February 2023, in the presbytery.
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:
Michel Vidal, who died in France on Monday 19th December aged 62 and whose funeral was in France. He had a Requiem at St. Thomas More on Friday 27th January followed by the burial of ashes at Hillview Cemetery.
Teresa Bridget Crump who died on Thursday 29th December 2023, aged 77. Her funeral was on Friday 3rd February 2023 .
Patricia Maureen Lee who died on Monday 2nd January 2023, aged 88. Her funeral is at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday 7th February 2023 with committal at Plumstead Cemetery.
Mary Etheridge, who died on 6th January 2023. Her Funeral was on Friday 3rd February.
Bernard O’Brien, who died on 15th January 2023.
May the divine assistance remain with her 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 FIFTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "restoring all things in Christ."
Saturday 4th February St. Andrew Corsini, bishop & confessor. [T.C.]
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Fr. Philip De Freitas TG on the twenty- fifth anniversary of his priesthood.
+ 6.30 p.m. FIFTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (A) Annie and Albert Powell R.I.P.
Sunday 5th February
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+9.00 a.m. [SUNG] with ‘Children’s Liturgy’ in the Hall. The people of the parish.
+11.00 a.m. [SOLEMN. Latin with English. Missa Orbis Factor] Mary Etheridge R.I.P.
Monday 6th February Ss Paul Miki and companions, martyrs, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Paul Yeates W.B.
Tuesday 7th February St. John Bosco, priest, memorial.
11.00 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+11.30 a.m. Funeral Requiem for Patricia Lee followed by committal at Plumstead Cemetery.
Wednesday 8th February feria.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Thursday 9th February
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary.
+10.00 a.m. Jerome Braganza R.I.P.
Friday 10th February St. Scholastica, virgin, memorial.
9.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Robert Voorhees R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Parish Choir Practice. New members welcome.
Saturday 11th February The Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculate [T.C.]
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] John Weir R.I.P.
+ 6.30 p.m. SIXTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (A) Anthony Fernandes R.I.P.
FEBRUARY PRAYER FOR CATHOLIC FAMILIES
A blessing on all our young families in our parish.
Your kingdom come; yes bid it come – as when your kingdom first began on earth, your kingdom was a home, a child, a woman and a man.
The child who was in the midst of them, O blessed Jesus, holiest One! The centre and the fount of love, Mary and Joseph’s little son.
Wherever on this earth shall be children, a woman and a man, may they be an image of that sweet trinity with which your kingdom first began.
Establish in that family your kingdom! Yes, and over it your trinity of unity, harmony and peace send down, and on that chosen day, the blessings of your love.
(after Katherine Tynan Hinkson 1861- 1931 ‘Thy Kingdom Come’)