Saturday 4th November – Saturday 11th November 2023

jonathonrouth
Nov 4, 2023
5 min read

Updated: Nov 10, 2023

NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH OF HOLY SOULS

Thirty- first Weeks of Ordinary Time

Dear parishioners,

The dedication of this month to Holy Souls reminds us to listen to God’s voice and his judgement on us. We need God’s mercy and forgiveness to enter the gates of paradise. This is the only entrance ticket available but no-one on earth has the means to purchase it, for it has an infinite price. It was paid for by the Blood of Christ on the Cross and all we have to do is repent of our sins to be let in. At our requiem masses this month and at funerals we approach God in sorrow for our sins and ask for his mercy on the soul. In a requiem mass, there is no certainty of Heaven for us, we do not celebrate the lives of those who have died as modern non- religious funerals do, but Catholics turn their hearts to God, absolutely sure of his mercy to all who repent of their sins. The penitential nature of requiems is expressed in the colours of black and purple but we also hold onto the words of hope in the gospel on All Saint’s Day from the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount: ,Blessed are those who mourn. Emptied by the losses we experience in life, and faced with our own deaths, when we turn to God for his mercy, he blesses us and his mercy does not end at death. Blessed are those who mourn, but also blessed are the souls in purgatory by God’s purifying mercy. That is why they are holy souls.

In this month of November, we thank God for Purgatory because it is God’s love and mercy for all souls who still have sins from this life unforgiven. Purgatory is how our souls are purified from those sins and attachments to the things of this world and where God’s mercy is worked upon the soul for all souls who seek it. We remember the words of Jesus again in his Sermon on the Mount… Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God. And it is for this we long, for this we pray: that purified by God’s mercy, all souls shall see God. Our prayers support the souls in purgatory, God hears our love and care for them, and He answers: for all who seek shall find, for all who knock, the door will be answered. We do not know what becomes of us after death but we believe and place all our trust in the promise of Jesus who died and rose again for us, that he is the way to eternal life, that he is the good shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep.

Death can come upon us at any time. In Gaza now, where people are trapped as the bombs rain down on them, and water, food, power and fuel runs out, people have nowhere to flee from the horror. A Christian Palestinian living in Gaza managed to get a pitiful report out last Sunday and said that no longer do her people try to find a safer place because nowhere is safe and so all they do is plan the best place to die. How terrible and God be with them (please read Embrace the Middle East below). But we must all prepare, for no-one can escape death, even in the relative comfort of our lives here. Sometimes material security in this life softens us to forget that death is our fate too. But our religion is a school that teaches us to prepare for that day which is coming, no matter how secure and healthy our lives are. Based on our knowledge and practice of the teaching in the scriptures, from the church and in our conscience, are we ready? Let us ask ourselves… have I done what I can to prepare for God’s judgement? Have I recently made a full and complete confession?

We are assured of God’s forgiveness through confession and penance that when we die we do so not just as a sinner, but a repentant one who has turned towards God’s love and mercy. Such is a graceful death, as I have had the greatest privilege to experience when called to give the Last Rites.

Today, and in this month of Holy Souls, let us recall that any sins unconfessed or penances not offered, through God’s merciful love, will be cleansed from us in purgatory, but through our penances in this life, we may make it easier on ourselves in our journey to Heaven. There is merit in our good works and penances. Thank God for his mercy upon us!

In November, we remember both to prepare for our death through penance and to pray for all souls in purgatory. Our prayers help all souls in their final journey as we hope that in Christian charity, when we have died, people will pray for us too. We really need each other’s prayers in this life… and in the next. And we need to take responsibility ourselves, while we can, now, to prepare ourselves for a graceful death through good works, confession, penance and prayers. Below are some of the ways you can mark the month of Holy Souls in our parish.

1. Attend The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on All Soul’s Day or any November Requiem, including the Solemn Requiem Mass at 11 o’clock on Remembrance Sunday, 12th November.

2. Visit the Graves in your own time or for the Blessing of Graves or at the following times:

Sunday 5th November - Hillview Cemetery at 1.00 p.m.

Sunday 5th November – St. Paulinus Cemetery at 12.30 p.m.

Sunday 12th November - Bexleyheath Cemetery at 12:30 p.m.

Sunday 12th November - Brook Street at 3.00 p.m.

3. Come to our annual Service of Commemoration of the Faithful Departed with Benediction on Sunday 26th November, Feast of Christ the King at 3.00 p.m.

4. Say the Novena for Holy Souls – our November prayer below.

November Indulgences

As always, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Holy Souls, may be gained once in any church either on All Soul’s Day, on the preceding or following Sunday or on the Feast of All Saints, on the usual conditions, viz a visit to a church, where the Creed and Our Father are recited, sacramental confession made, Holy Communion received and a prayer for the pope’s intentions. 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)

Furthermore, a plenary indulgence is granted to all those present, subject to the usual conditions to those who attend our Service at St Thomas More on Sunday 26th November, the Feast of Christ the King at 3.00 p.m. or any church on that day where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, the consecration of the human race to Christ the King made and the Litany of the Sacred Heart said.

God bless and peace be with you as we pray for Holy Souls,

Fr Jonathon

UPCOMING EVENTS

DAY WITH MAY

1. Our Lady & St Peter, Victoria Drive, Wimbledon Common, Saturday 11th November, 9.30 a.m. -5.00 p.m.

Bring packed lunch. Tea and coffee provided. See noticeboard or www.adaywithmary.org for details.

BINGO ON FRIDAY 17TH IN ST THOMAS MORE CHURCH HALL

St Thomas More Parish Club Presents our BINGO EVENING Cash Prizes! Friday 17th November 2023, 8.00 pm till 11.00 pm, Eyes down at 9.00pm. Your Bingo book is £5 each, available at the door. For more information call Jenny on 07710 527692 or Mary on 07369 252072

PARISH NOTICES

COFFEE MORNINGS

Following our great Macmillan Coffee Morning a couple of weeks ago, we have another coffee morning this Sunday at 10.00 in support of SPUC ‘The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children’ Please come along and have a coffee, support a great Catholic Charity and spend time with one another.

Regarding the Macmillan Coffee Morning, Annette, as do I, thank all

*The helpers who helped on the day and before.

* the fabulous bakers and cake donors.

* the generous donors and sponsors.

* all who attended the event.

Together we raised (£450 at the coffee morning and a total of £615 for Macmillan cancer.

And finally, I would like to thank Annette for all she does to make the Macmillan Coffee Morning such a happy and successful annual event for the parish which benefits others.

ARCHBISHOP’S APPEAL. Next Sunday.

Liturgy of the Word for Children.

The Liturgy of the Word for our children will meet again this Sunday during the 9.00 a.m. mass.

WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL CHOIR

Becoming a chorister at Westminster Cathedral is simple, fun and open to any boy in Year 2 -5 from London or beyond who loves to sing. Your boy will become part of the most famous catholic choir in the world, he will broadcast, record and tour around the world and take part in the beautiful services at Westminster Cathedral. Up to 100% bursaries are offered to attend one of London’s best schools up until year 8, including a comfortable boarding house with expert staff to look after the children in their care at all times. Choristers board during the week only, heading home to their families from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning at 9.45a.m.

‘’ Being a chorister at Westminster Cathedral has given my son a fantastic headstart in life. We are so proud of him and love hearing him sing, and although he lives with his friends, we get to see him every weekend so we are still able to enjoy quality time together as a family. We can’t recommend this experience highly enough to families thinking about choristership!’’ Chorister parent.

‘’ It is a privilege to be able to offer ordinary boys the extraordinary experience of singing in one of the world’s finest choirs. As a chorister attending Westminster Cathedral Choir School, boys can expect to find a family environment in which they can thrive academically as well as musically. With a high degree of specialism in a range of academic subjects and with plenty of sport on offer, we are confident that our choristers leave us as well-rounded individuals with lots of confidence’’. Simon Johnson, Master of Music.

If you have any questions about how to take up this great opportunity, contact Lucy Auger lauger@choirschoo.com and ask her for the link to join the next Zoom introductory session on Wednesday 22nd November.

A Solemn Requiem Mass at Westminster Cathedral

NOTICES FROM MARRIAGE & FAMILY LIFE SOUTH EAST:

PASSING ON THE FAITH AS GRANDPARENTS

What practical steps can we take and what sort of conversations can we have which will help anchor our grandchildren’s faith?

Four online sessions starting Weds eves November 8th, 7:30 – 9pm. Email Lisette on mflse@rcaos.org.uk

PASSING ON THE FAITH FOR PARENTS

How do we start? How do we continue? What works well for children at different stages?

Four online sessions starting Thurs eves November 9th, 8pm – 9:30pm. Email Lisette on mflse@rcaos.org.uk

Growing in Faith Together -- this new online course has been developed in collaboration with the Southwark Marriage and Family Life team, the Diocesan Agency for Evangelisation and SycamOre, a programme about the Catholic faith by Fr Stephen Wang. It consists of four one hour-long sessions via Zoom and is a wonderful opportunity for: · married couples to enrich their friendship and love · engaged couples who have completed their marriage preparation course and want to continue exploring their faith together

The course runs on Tuesday evenings from 8-9pm beginning October 24th. To register click on the link: https://aec.rcaos.org.uk/together

Planning a catholic marriage? Marriage preparation courses are available by emailing mflse@rcaos.org.uk.

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

CHRISTMAS NOTICES

CAFOD WORLD GIFTS CHRISTMAS CATALOGUE 2023

How it works:

World Gifts are CAFOD's range of life-changing virtual gifts.

World Gifts are a range of virtual charity gifts that will delight the people you give them to and help transform the lives of families and communities living in poverty.

1. Choose

Browse our range, online or pick up a catalogue in the Church porch, choose your gifts, add them to your basket and check out!

2. Receive

Receive a beautifully illustrated card of your chosen gift, together with a presentation gift envelope, which explains how your gift can help people fighting poverty.

You can also choose one of our gorgeous ecards or to print at home to receive your gift immediately! And you can now send a personalised card directly to your loved one, by choosing "post direct" and typing in your message.

3. Give

Personalise your posted card and give it to your friend or loved-one.

4. Transform

The money you spend on your gift helps us transform the lives of poor families.

PICK UP YOUR WORLD GIFTS CATALOGUE

FROM THE CHURCH PORCH

SPUC NOTICES

The Bexley Branch of the SPUC are holding a coffee morning this Sunday, 5th of November, 10.00 at St Thomas More Church Hall. As well as the usual pro-life literature, there will be postcards urging the Health Secretary to abandon the pills by post scheme. You don't need a stamp, I'll collect them and send them off.

1. The pills by post scheme allows abortion pills to be obtained with just a telephone consultation.

2. There's a high incidence of subsequent hospitalisation.

3. Women have to dispose of their baby's remains themselves.

4. False information has been given during the telephone consultations leading to the death of a healthy baby at 8 months' gestation (amongst other incidents)

5. Abortion providers aim to use their inability to administer this scheme to push for the total decriminalisation of abortion.

Regards

Rob - Bexley SPUC

EMBRACE THE MIDDLE EAST

Dear Friends As the tragic devastation continues to unfold in Gaza, we listen to the news and hear our partners’ updates with increasing sorrow and heartbreak. As many of you will be aware, the Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City was damaged last week (19 October) as a result of nearby shelling. Some 400-500 people had been sheltering in the precincts of the church for the last two weeks. Tragically, whole families died and many were injured, and there was significant damage to the church building. Our Programmes and Partnerships Manager for Gaza, Rhiannon, has written about her personal experience of the long and rich history of the Christian faith in Gaza. Although there are now only around 1,000 Christians left in the Gaza strip, she never ceases to be amazed by how the Christian community continues to make a deep impact by serving those in need:

Read the full blog at https://embraceme.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3c1c3edcd2d1bc360d4aa4b11&id=323a3d2e55&e=b1dd3f923e

Please sign the #CeasefireNow petition: Embrace the Middle East is among over 300 charities from across the globe who have signed the #CeasefireNow petition, an open call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and further loss of innocent lives. Head over to our website to read the open letter and sign the petition.

Please support our Gaza Crisis Appeal The people of Gaza are living through an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and are in desperate need of help. The UN estimates that 1.4 million people have been displaced from their homes and the number of people killed in Gaza has exceeded 5,000.

Our local Christian partners in Gaza can make a real difference. They are ready to serve faithfully as soon as they are able to - but they need our support.

Your gift will help to:

deliver emergency response where possible
restart essential services as soon as possible
undo the damage that has torn through Gaza and the hearts of those affected.

Please give what you can today to our Gaza Crisis Appeal.

Thank you.

Embrace the Middle East

As a Christian development charity, EMBRACE THE MIDDLE EAST partners with Christians in the Middle East as they work to transform lives and restore the dignity of the most excluded and marginalised communities. Where there is a need – for refuge, a home, for health care, for education, for justice and human rights EBRACE THE MIDDLE EAST responds with its partners. Their goal is to contribute to a culture of human flourishing in a troubled region.

They have a vision of love in action. It is rooted in, and inspired by, Christ’s invitation to care for those most in need.

MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE THIRTY- FIRST WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME

Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."

Saturday 4th November St. Charles Borromeo, bishop & confessor [TC]. 9.00 a.m. Confessions 9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary (in Latin & English) + 10.00 a.m. (Latin 1962) Holy Souls. November Requiem. + 6.30 p.m. SAID THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME Deceased members of the D’Souza & De Lima families R.I.P. Sunday 5th November 8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary + 9.00 a.m. SUNG with Liturgy of the Word for children in Church Hall. The people of the parish 10.00 a.m. SPUC COFFEE MORNING IN THE CHURCH HALL. All invited. +11.00 a.m. SOLEMN (in Latin with English Readings] Alice McLaughlin RIP (4th anniversary) 1.00 p.m. Blessing of Graves at Hillview Cemetery 7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in the Hall. All welcome. Monday 6th November feria 9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary +10.00 a.m. Bob Penny R.I.P. Tuesday 7th November The Dedication of our Cathedral Church of St George, feast. 9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary +10.00 a.m. Leslie Hayward R.I.P. Wednesday 8th November St Willibrord, bishop. The Daily Rosary at home NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY Thursday 9th November The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, feast. 9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary +10.00 a.m. Eddie Etheridge R.I.P. 12.00 noon Thursday Lunch Club Friday 10th November St. Leo the Great, pope & doctor of the church, memorial. 9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary +10.00 a.m. Hilda Fernandes R.I.P. 6.00 p.m. Choir Practice. Saturday 11thNovember St. Martin of Tours, bishop & confessor [TC]. 9.00 a.m. Confessions 9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary (in Latin & English) + 10.00 a.m. (Latin 1962) Wilhelmina McCahey R.I.P. + 6.30 p.m. SAID THIRTY- SECOND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (with the Archbishop’s Appeal) Jacob & Helen Fernandes R.I.P

NOVEMBER PRAYER

THE NOVENA FOR THE HOLY SOULS by St. Alphonsus Liguori

You can say this prayer for nine days in preparation for All Souls Day or for any set of nine days in November.

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which you suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which you suffered during your most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which you suffered in your most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which you suffered in carrying your cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which you suffered during your most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord. O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which you suffered in your most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord. O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which you suffered when you gave up your spirit in your last breath, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

(Recommend yourself to the Souls in Purgatory and mention your intentions here)

Blessed Souls, I have prayed for you; I entreat you, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen

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:

Simon Francis Gorman 'Frank' who died peacefully at home with his family having received the Last Rites of the Church on Tuesday 31st October 2023 aged 93. His funeral is on Tuesday 28th November 2023 at 11.00 a.m. followed by committal at Eltham.

May the divine assistance remain with him always, and may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.