FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY FAMILY
THE FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Dear parishioners,
FORMING A FOUNDATION OF THE UNION OF CATHOLIC MOTHERS
We thank Tina and Mary for coming to speak to us last Sunday and help us launch a foundation of the UCM at St Thomas More. There was a very positive response from women parishioners. If you missed last week below is a summary of UCM Aims and guidelines:
1) To help women married women to appreciate the sacramental character, responsibilities and permanence of marriage and our lives and live in unselfish love observing the laws of God and his Church.
2) To assist mothers to bring up their children as practising Catholics and public spirited citizens.
3) To teach and defend Christian values in family life.
4) To offer love, sympathy and practical help to family in difficulty.
If you are interested in joining the fellowship and friendship of the UCM and being part of an age old catholic movement with branches all over the world, come along to St Thomas More Church at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday 19th February and find out more about it from Tina and Mary who will be visiting us again. (For more information on the UCM, see last week’s newsletter on line)
The UCM should be one of many groups in the parish which express our diversity of age, backgrounds and interests and our unity and fellowship as Catholics. However, the many aspects of life in a parish need to be discussed, agreed and arranged by committees, and we have four important committees in the life of the parish.
1. PASTORAL COUNCIL
From Chapter Vl: Parishes, Pastors and Parochial Vicars
Can. 536. §1. After the diocesan bishop has listened to the presbyteral council and if he judges it opportune. a pastoral council is to be established in each parish; the pastor presides over it, and through it the Christian faithful along with those who share in the pastoral care of the parish in virtue of their office give their help in fostering pastoral activity.
§2. This pastoral council possesses a consultative vote only and is governed by norms determined by the diocesan bishop.
With this in mind, six parishioners have agreed to serve on a new pastoral council which will meet at least three times a year with the following remit for discussions:
· instruction in the full range of the faith and catechetical formation
· programs promoting gospel values, including issues of social justice
· responsibilities to people with special needs
· Catholic education of children and young adults
· outreach to alienated Catholics
· evangelization
· programs of sacramental life and preparation
· promotion of Eucharistic devotion
· enhancement of programs for the sacraments of penance and Eucharist
· inculcation of prayer life, especially within families
· effective participation in the liturgy
· methods of acquaintance with parishioners
· the welcoming of newcomers
· home visiting
· efforts at building community
· motivation of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy
· efforts of special care for the sick and dying
· tangible concern for the poor, the afflicted, the lonely, the exiled
· fostering of solid Christian family life
· promotion of the lay apostolate
· strengthening of extra-parochial relations with the bishop, diocesan-pastoral efforts and a worldwide Catholic identity
· special role with parish stewardship activities
· outreach to and inclusion of youth and young adults in the life of the parish
Many of these are aspects of parish life which need rebuilding following the COVID pandemic but I am pleased we are making good headway in some of these areas, notably in renewal of the Sacred Liturgy, the Catechesis of children preparing for First Communion and our Social life. The Council members are there to listen to you and your suggestions as to what you too can offer your parish: we are needing more people in more groups to enable us to act upon the list above and there will be a call to greater parish service and activity this spring. Meantime, a couple of the new council members will be in the porch to greet you at the end of all this Sunday’s masses. The new members are:
Ms Bernadette Adusai
Ms Dorothy Darku
Mr Peter Haraf
Mr Tejomon Jose
Ms Patricia Kilgannon
Mr Obi Ogbuagbu
I thank them all for agreeing to provide this service to me and the parish. I have asked that if possible, each member will serve a minimum of three years and after the third year two will drop out and two new members join. After the fourth year, two more old members will drop out and be replaced by two new etc. This way we keep the pastoral council constantly renewed. Please give our new pastoral council your full support and blessing.
2. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
The code of canon law also states:
Can. 537. Each parish is to have a finance council which is regulated by universal law as well as by norms issued by the diocesan bishop; in this council the Christian faithful, selected according to the same norms, aid the pastor in the administration of parish goods with due regard for the prescription of can. 532
This canonically essential committee consists of Mr. Patrick Kamande the Parish Treasurer and Ms Lorraine D’Souza the gift aid organizer with the parish priest.
3. THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE
Some parishes have one of these, others not. At St Thomas More, we have the potential to have the best of parish social lives, with our beautifully renovated church hall and bar and active social committee. The Hall and bar are open every Sunday evening and other special events, such as on Friday 11th February, are planned and organised by our Social Committee:
Mr Thomas Breen, chairman
Mr. Tony Brook, secretary
Mr. Neil Kelly, treasurer
Mr. Charles Walters, bar manager
Ms. Mary Shorthall and Jenny.
If you have any good ideas for Social Events please speak to a member of the Social Committee or to the parish priest who can pass your message on.
FRIDAY SOCIAL EVENING
Enjoy an evening out at St Thomas More Parish Club, presenting a SOCIAL EVENING FOR ALL THE FAMILY, EVERYONE WELCOME, WITH LIVE MUSIC BY RAY NEARLY DIAMOND. This Friday, 11th February 8.00 p.m. -11.00 p.m. Admission £3.00 for adults at the door.
There are also Parish Social Evenings with the Bar, every Sunday from 7.30 p.m. All welcome.
CANDLEMAS last week.
Last Wednesday was the feast of the Presentation of the Lord or ‘Candlemas’. We had mass at 7.00 p.m. with the blessing of church candles and a missa cantata. Thanks to all who participated in a most beautiful celebration. With the final flicker of the star of Christmas now dimmed, we begin to look towards Lent and Passiontide. Join us at Candlemas next year on 2nd February, 7.00 p.m. 2023.
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL CHOIR: might your boy in year 2 or 3 have musical potential? Could he consider becoming a chorister at Westminster Cathedral? Every September Westminster Cathedral Choir School welcomes up to six choristers into Year 4. Becoming a chorister at Westminster Cathedral offers boys the opportunity to sing both at the Cathedral in central London, and on tour internationally, in one of the world’s great choirs. Boys also receive an outstanding education at one of London’s leading schools.
Choristers board during the School week only, heading home to their families from Friday afternoon and until Sunday morning at 9.45 a.m.
It is a wonderful opportunity to join a thriving choir and school. All boys receive generous scholarships, up to 100% of fees available on a means tested basis. Almost all the boys join from Catholic primary schools – the universal element is a love of singing. If interested, contact the Director of Admissions Miss Lucy Auger at Westminster Cathedral Choir School, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1P 1QH or call 020 7798 9081.
Food Bank:
ONLY NON PERISHABLE ITEMS CAN BE RECEIVED PLEASE.
There is currently a particular need for:
Long Life milk, Long Life juice, Squash, Tins of Rice Pudding, Toilet Paper
The container for donations is in the Church Porch and is taken to Bexleyheath food bank on Monday mornings.
A Day with Mary
Saturday 12thFebruary 2022 at Our Lady Help of Christians, Mottingham Road SE9. 10.00 a.m. -5.15 p.m.
Saturday 26thFebruary 2022 at St. Anselm, West Hill, Dartford 10.30 a.m. -4.30 p.m.
First Holy Communion 2022
Lesson 5. Saturday 12th February 10.30 am. Church Hall. No class on Saturday 13th or Saturday 19th for half term.
Please read the newsletter every week and listen out for notices at the end of Sunday mass. Don’t forget to bring your mass attendance cards to Sunday mass!
The children’s commitments were made at all masses on the Second Sunday of Advent.
CONFIRMATION 2022
Application forms are still coming in, but hopefully full schedule will be released soon.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY
9.00 a.m. This Sunday.
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:
Mrs. Patricia Cassidy who died on Sunday 16th January. Her funeral is at 11.30 a.m. on Monday 7th January followed by committal at Hillview.
May the divine assistance remain with her always, and may her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK: FIFTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Saturday 5th February FIFTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. The people of the parish.
Sunday 6th February
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary.
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG Kathleen Andrews R.I.P.
+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS (with English Readings) Patrick McGowan R.I.P.
7.30 p.m. Parish Social Evening in Church Hall.
Monday 7th February feria.
10. 45 a.m. The Daily Rosary (or at home if time not convenient today)
+ 11.30 a.m. Funeral Requiem for Patricia Cassidy followed by committal at Hillview.
Tuesday 8th February S. Josephine Bakhita, virgin.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Jerome Braganza R.I.P.
Wednesday 9th February feria.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO MORNING MASS
Thursday 10th February S. Scholastica, virgin, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. James Templeton R.I.P.
1.00 p.m. Thursday Lunch Club Afternoon.
Friday 11th February Our Lady of Lourdes.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Mary & Paul T.G.
6.00 p.m. Choir practice.
Saturday 12th February Our Lady’s Saturday.
9.30 a.m. Confessions/ The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m.[Latin] Fr. Francis Moran R.I.P.
10.30 a.m. First Holy Communion Class in Church Hall
[ + 6.30 p.m. SIXTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C) The Yeates Family, Welsh contingent)
FEBRUARY PRAYER IN HONOUR OF THE HOLY FAMILY.
Acceptance of Death:
O Lord, my God, from this moment on I accept with a good will, as something coming from your hand, whatever kind of death you want to send me, with all its anguish, pain and sorrow.
Through our faith, we not only accept death when it comes but we can also pray for a happy death. Every time we say the Hail Mary we ask our Blessed Lady to be with us when this time comes. Another invocation to be said any time, any place, alone or with others and most especially with the dying is the ‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph’.
V. Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
R. I give you my heart and my soul.
V. Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
R. Assist me in my last agony.
V. Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
R. May I sleep and take my rest in peace with you.
Blessings and God’s peace to you all,
Fr Jonathon
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