Saturday 5th - Sunday 13th July 2025
- bostallpark
- Jul 4
- 7 min read
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C
BUILDING FUND SUNDAY 6TH JULY 2025
ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE BY POPE JOHN PAUL II (part 5)
Learning Christ from Mary
14. Christ is the supreme Teacher, the revealer and the one revealed. It is not just a question of learning what he taught but of “learning him”. In this regard could we have any better teacher than Mary? From the divine standpoint, the Spirit is the interior teacher who leads us to the full truth of Christ (cf. Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). But among creatures no one knows Christ better than Mary; no one can introduce us to a profound knowledge of his mystery better than his Mother. The first of the “signs” worked by Jesus – the changing of water into wine at the marriage in Cana – clearly presents Mary in the guise of a teacher, as she urges the servants to do what Jesus commands (cf. Jn 2:5). We can imagine that she would have done likewise for the disciples after Jesus' Ascension, when she joined them in awaiting the Holy Spirit and supported them in their first mission. Contemplating the scenes of the Rosary in union with Mary is a means of learning from her to “read” Christ, to discover his secrets and to understand his message. This school of Mary is all the more effective if we consider that she teaches by obtaining for us in abundance the gifts of the Holy Spirit, even as she offers us the incomparable example of her own “pilgrimage of faith”.(17) As we contemplate each mystery of her Son's life, she invites us to do as she did at the Annunciation: to ask humbly the questions which open us to the light, in order to end with the obedience of faith: “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).
Being conformed to Christ with Mary
15. Christian spirituality is distinguished by the disciple's commitment to become conformed ever more fully to his Master (cf. Rom 8:29; Phil 3:10,12). The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Baptism grafts the believer like a branch onto the vine which is Christ (cf. Jn 15:5) and makes him a member of Christ's mystical Body (cf.1Cor 12:12; Rom 12:5). This initial unity, however, calls for a growing assimilation which will increasingly shape the conduct of the disciple in accordance with the “mind” of Christ: “Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5). In the words of the Apostle, we are called “to put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (cf. Rom 13:14; Gal 3:27). In the spiritual journey of the Rosary, based on the constant contemplation – in Mary's company – of the face of Christ, this demanding ideal of being conformed to him is pursued through an association which could be described in terms of friendship. We are thereby enabled to enter naturally into Christ's life and as it were to share his deepest feelings. In this regard Blessed Bartolo Longo has written: “Just as two friends, frequently in each other's company, tend to develop similar habits, so too, by holding familiar converse with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin, by meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary and by living the same life in Holy Communion, we can become, to the extent of our lowliness, similar to them and can learn from these supreme models a life of humility, poverty, hiddenness, patience and perfection”. (18) In this process of being conformed to Christ in the Rosary, we entrust ourselves in a special way to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin. She who is both the Mother of Christ and a member of the Church, indeed her “pre-eminent and altogether singular member”,(19) is at the same time the “Mother of the Church”. As such, she continually brings to birth children for the mystical Body of her Son. She does so through her intercession, imploring upon them the inexhaustible outpouring of the Spirit. Mary is the perfect icon of the motherhood of the Church. The Rosary mystically transports us to Mary's side as she is busy watching over the human growth of Christ in the home of Nazareth. This enables her to train us and to mold us with the same care, until Christ is “fully formed” in us (cf. Gal 4:19). This role of Mary, totally grounded in that of Christ and radically subordinated to it, “in no way obscures or diminishes the unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power”.(20) This is the luminous principle expressed by the Second Vatican Council which I have so powerfully experienced in my own life and have made the basis of my episcopal motto: Totus Tuus.(21) The motto is of course inspired by the teaching of Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, who explained in the following words Mary's role in the process of our configuration to Christ: “Our entire perfection consists in being conformed, united and consecrated to Jesus Christ. Hence the most perfect of all devotions is undoubtedly that which conforms, unites and consecrates us most perfectly to Jesus Christ. Now, since Mary is of all creatures the one most conformed to Jesus Christ, it follows that among all devotions that which most consecrates and conforms a soul to our Lord is devotion to Mary, his Holy Mother, and that the more a soul is consecrated to her the more will it be consecrated to Jesus Christ”.(22) Never as in the Rosary do the life of Jesus and that of Mary appear so deeply joined. Mary lives only in Christ and for Christ!
To be continued.
PARISH NOTICES
ALTAR SERVER RECRUITMENT.
We are looking for altar servers to join our team. This invitation is open to all boys and girls who have received their First Holy Communion.
Please speak to the parish priest for more information.
READERS.
We are looking for more readers to proclaim the Liturgy of the Word at all Masses.
Please speak to the parish priest if you are interested in joining the team.
PARISH GROUPS NOTICES
LUNCH CLUB.
The next meeting will be on the 10th July in the Hall at 12:30pm.
UNION OF CATHOLIC MOTHERS.
The next meeting of the UCM is on Wednesday the 30th July at 7pm in the Church Porch.
New members are always welcome.
BLESSED CARLO ACUTIS YOUTH CIRCLE.
The first meeting will be on Friday 25th July at 6pm in the Church.
This is open to all young people who have already received their Confirmation.
LEGION OF MARY.
Every Monday at 7pm in the Church Porch.
New members are always welcome.
UPCOMING EVENTS
LONDON CATHOLIC SOCIAL GROUP.
London Catholic Social Group have a number of upcoming events for Catholic adults over 30.
Saturday July 12th, Monthly Social at the One Tun pub, Goodge Street.
Sunday 20th July, from 12, Mass, Italian Street Fête and Procession of Our Lady of Saint Carmel in Clerkenwell.
Saturday 26th July, day trip to Waddesdon Manor.
Sunday 3rd August, picnic in Regent's Park.
Contact us on WhatsApp - Brendan 07425549408, Facebook - ‘London Catholic Social Group’ or Email - londonswcatholicsocial@gmail.com'.
DAY FOR READERS & EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST.
The next day retreat for parish readers and extraordinary ministers of the eucharist is on Saturday 18th October at St. Stephen’s Church, Welling.
The day will start at 9;30am with Tea/Coffee followed by Adoration, talks on ‘Discipleship of Hope’ & ‘Virtual Ministry’ & ‘Liturgy of Witness’ and will conclude with Mass at 2:30pm.
Please can you inform the parish office if you are able to attend as soon as possible. Please bring a packed lunch.
THE DIVINE MERCY APOSTOLATE.
The Divine Mercy Apostolate, London is holding a Celebration of St Faustina Birthday at Aylesford Priory, Kent on Bank Holiday Monday, 25th August 2025 from 10:30 am to 4pm. The reflection day will include teachings on the Message of Divine Mercy, Holy Mass, Hour of Mercy with Stations of the Cross, Adoration and Benediction and Veneration of the Image of Merciful Jesus. All welcome. Call Millie on 07957594646 for more information.
SUMMERTIME 2025.
6th August – 9th August: Retreat to Westminster Pastoral Centre, £189. For aged 11-15. Open to those who regularly attend mass on the weekend. This event has been going on for more than 20 years and is a few days for deepening one’s catholic faith, in a great social atmosphere, including football, sports & a visit to Thorpe Park. For more details of how to get to the venue, with a coach laid on at St. Anselm’s Dartford, see the parish priest for a form, or contact Fr. Stephen Boyle, chaplain to the Guild of St, Stephen, Dartford@rcaos.org.uk, Tel:01322 220075.
VOCATIONS DAY CELEBRATION with Marian Consecration on Sunday, 17th August 2025 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Bostall Park.
Highlights include Consecration/ renewal of Marian Consecration at 11am Mass, Gospel Music, Celebration of Priestly, Religious Profession or Marriage Anniversaries (1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th and above 50th Wedding Anniversaries. Interested couples should text their names to the WhatsApp phone number 07424269423 or email vocationpromotersGLAP@gmail.com), Speeches on Marriage, Priestly and Consecrated life, Entertainment & Refreshments.
Come, let's celebrate our vocations at the feet of Mary! Ave Maria!
For more information contact Fr Innocent Ezeonyeasi, Founder/Spiritual Director or see the poster in the porch.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Saturday 5th July
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.30 a.m. Holy Souls
11.00 a.m. Deanery Pilgrimage
G FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
6.30 p.m. Mary Aikohomu TG on her Birthday
Sunday 6th July G
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Cynthia Antao WB
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Monday 7th July
G Feria
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 8th July
G Feria
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.30 p.m. Holy Souls
Wednesday 9th July
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Thursday 10th July
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Stella Meehan RIP
Friday 11th July
W St Benedict
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Saturday 12th July
G Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.30 a.m. Holy Souls
G FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
6.30 p.m. Brenda Ribeiro WB
Sunday 13th July G
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Souls of the Pereira & Rodrigues Families RIP
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls