ST.THOMAS MORE, BEXLEYHEATH. Notices & Schedule.
MAY IS THE MONTH OF MARY
Sixth Week of Eastertide with Ascension Day
May Devotions with Prayers to Mary at 6.30 p.m. Mass, the crowning of Mary at 9.00 A.m. mass, procession & Litany at 11.00 A.m. Mass and parish rosary & benediction at 4.00 p.m. this Sunday 5th May. First Communion and Confirmation families and altar servers are asked to attend at 4.00 P.M. if possible.
Altar Servers Rally in Aylesford on monday. Parents, if your son is going to Aylesford on Monday, please bring your son to the May Devotions on Sunday and after the service, pick up a cassock and cotta to take with you on Monday. Please be at the Registration table by 10.45 on Monday. If your son has already received his Guild of St Stephen medal, make sure he brings this with him. If your son has not received his yet, please make sure you have let me know that he’s coming and a medal will be at Aylesford for him to be given.
THANKS. Catholic doctrine on Special Creation or Evolution: Fact or Fiction? Thanks to Hugh Owen for his beautiful and illuminating talk last Monday which delved into the timeless teachings of the Catholic Church regarding genesis as elucidated by the Councils, Fathers, and Doctors of the Church. Also, thanks to Greg Clovis for his unveiling the latest cutting- edge scientific discoveries questioning the evolution Hypothesis. Thanks too for all of you who showed an interest in this important topic. The theory of evolution lurks beneath many of the philosophical and moral evils of our day and it was wonderful to hear again the beauty of what the Catholic Church actually teaches about the Creation of the world and humanity’s place in it.
STATUE OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM We have been offered a donation in memory of a beloved parishioner. A suggestion is we purchase a statue of Our Lady of Walsingham, who St Thomas More would have known well and to whom England’s National Shrine is dedicated. Including installation, the costs will be up to £3,000 which is more than the initial donation. If you would like to contribute towards this, please make your donation online, in a marked envelope or by contactless. We are going on a Family Pilgrimage at the end of this month, so hopefully we can see the Statue and decide if it would be suitable. The suggestion is that it goes on the back wall of the church, above the double exit doors (on the other side of the wall to Christ the Redeemer which is in the porch). This also has the added benefit of enabling us to remove our beautiful and historical Calvary painting and placing it where its details can be better appreciated, most fittingly next to our superb new confessional, which you will see next time you make your confession there.
The Divine Mercy Apostolate, London is holding a First Saturday Divine Mercy Recollection Day at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, on Saturday 1st June 2024 from 11 am to 4:30 pm. The Recollection Day will include teachings on the Message of Mercy, Holy Mass, Stations of the Cross, Hour of Mercy with Adoration and Benediction and Veneration of the Image of Merciful Jesus. All welcome. Call Millie on 07957594646 for more information.
Celebrating migrants at St George’s Cathedral - Monday 6th May 2024. Everyone a migrant. Anyone who has moved from one country to another, from one part of the country to another, one city to another, one town to another, one street to another is a migrant whether travelled by bus, train, car, taxi, aeroplane, boat, ship or any other means of transport. Everyone is welcome. Bring one another to celebrate the valuable contribution the stranger makes to every structure of society in life across our city and beyond.
The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop John Wilson on Monday 6 May at 12.30pm at St George’s Cathedral, London SE1 6HR. People are encouraged to arrive early.
CAFOD’s Sudan Crisis Appeal.
Millions of families in Sudan, forced to flee their homes amid conflict, now face yet another urgent crisis – extreme hunger. Please give to CAFOD’s Sudan Crisis Appeal at cafod.org.uk/sudanappeal. Your donation will help CAFOD’s partners to support more families with food packages and emergency cash payments as well as rebuilding water pipelines so clean water can reach communities who need it. Thank you for your generosity and prayers.
You can also text CAFODSUDAN to 70450 to donate £10.
Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting into hearing more from us. If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more from CAFOD, please text CAFODSUDANNOINFO instead.
Mass in Celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage July 13th, at St George’s Cathedral. If you are celebrating your 1st/10th/25th/40th/50th/60th + wedding anniversary this year, please let us know as soon as possible, and no later than May 31st, providing the following details: your names in the format John and Mary Smith, your home address, the anniversary you are celebrating, so you can receive an invitation from the Archbishop for the renewal of vows during Mass. Spaces are limited. Email us at mflse@rcaos.org.uk. As the title of your email, please write your parish location e.g. Bexleyheath, Bostall Park.
A DAY WITH MARY
Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham, Sunday 12th May 2024 12.00 noon to 6.15 p.m. Bring a packed lunch.
FOOD BANK. You can make your donations before any mass in the crates in the Church Porch and they are taken to Bexley Food Bank on a Monday morning.
Parish family pilgrimage to Walsingham 29th to 31st may 2024.
If you have booked a place, please check your emails for confirmation and further details.
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2024 Archbishop John warmly invites you to join him as he leads the Southwark Archdiocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage, from 23rd to 30th August 2024. Details of this can be found on the Archdiocesan website: rcaos.org.uk. Experience the unique spirituality of Lourdes, along with people from parishes around the Archdiocese.
SCRIPTURE STUDY DAY at St. John Fisher R.C. Parish, Thanet Road, Bexley, DA5 1AP on Saturday 18th May at 10am till 3:30 pm. Please bring a packed lunch. The study day will be led by Fr. Eugene who is currently parish priest of Sacred Heart Church, Mill Hill, London and a member of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) - part of their team that give retreats and parish missions. He lectured for many years at All Hallows College, Dublin following doctoral studies in Chicago, notably in Adult Education and Faith Formation. He is ‘Dublin born and a Harry Potter fan’. “There are many titles for Mary in Catholic tradition. But it is important to recognise that she would have seen herself primarily as a daughter of Abraham and Israel - a successor to the many women of Scripture. The day will allow us to reflect on some of these women, their role in Mary’s formation as a woman of faith and our own sacred history.” Eugene Curran C.M.
Southwark Diocese Formation Fayre.
Join us for an enriching day of faith development at the Formation Fayre 2024 on 8 June 2024 at Amigo Hall, St. George’s Cathedral. This year, we are pleased to welcome Archbishop John Wilson as our keynote speaker. With the theme "Made for More," our event promises dynamic breakout sessions, times of prayer, and opportunities for spiritual reflection. Don't miss this chance to deepen your understanding of Catholicism and emerge renewed and empowered. Register now at aec.rcaos.org.uk and be part of this transformative event.
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB There will be no lunch club on Thursday 2nd May or Thursday 9th May and will resume on Thursday 16th May.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2024 Next Class: Saturday 11th May.
CHILDRENS’ LITURGY OF THE WORD SUNDAY 9.00 A.M. This Sunday, 5th May.
CONFIRMATION 2024 Next session on Sunday 5th May for Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary at 4.00 p.m. in the church.
DEATHS
Please pray for the souls of:
Bridie Philomena Nickells, who died on 6th March 2024, aged 86. Her Funeral Requiem was on Friday 26th April.
Jean Eileen Dyer, who died on 28th March 2024, aged 85. Her funeral was on Tuesday 30th April.
Anne Whittaker, who died on Tuesday 7th April 2024 aged 91. Her Funeral Requiem is on Monday 13th May at 10.00 followed by committal at Eltham at 11.45 a.m. Anne was a parishioner of St Thomas Church for 60 years and kept her faith through some great challenges of life. She attended mass weekly until the very end.
Mary O'Halloran, who died Wednesday 3rd April aged 101. Funeral arrangements to be confirmed.
Mary Catherine Fuller, who died on 23rd March 2024, aged 68. Her funeral is on Monday 3rd June at 12.30 followed by committal at Hillview cemetery.
May they rest in peace.
Sixth Week of Easter 2024
Saturday 4th May The Holy Martyrs of England & Wales [TC]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Low Mass [Latin 1962] Holy Souls
+ 6.30 p.m. Said SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Derek & Tracey D’Souza TG
Sunday 5th May
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG Daniel & Jessmi WB & TG on their wedding. With Crowning of Mary.
+11.00 a.m. SOLEMN Latin Mass (in Latin with English Readings, missa De Angelis ) The people of the parish. With procession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
4.00 p.m. May Devotions to Mary: Parish Rosary & Benediction.
7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in Church Hall. All welcome.
Monday 6th May Solemnity. St John Paine, priest & martyr.
The Daily Rosary at home
[+ Mass in Aylesford 11.30 a.m.]
Tuesday 7th May feria
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Zakaria Rita Fernandes W.B.
Wednesday 8th May feria
The Daily Rosary at home
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Thursday 9th May THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD SOLEMNITY, HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION.
The Daily Rosary at home.
[+10.00 a.m. Mass at School for children and staff only]
+ 7.00 p.m. Maria (Rufie) Fernandes W.B.
Friday 10th May St. John de Avila, priest & doctor of the church.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Anne Fanthome R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Choir Practice.
Saturday 11th May Ss Philip & James, apostles [TC]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Low Mass [Latin 1962] Fr. Barry Hughes R.I.P.
+ 6.30 p.m. Said SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Rose Castanha W.B.