Saturday 6th May – Saturday 20th May 2023
- jonathonrouth
- May 5, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: May 7, 2023
MAY IS THE MONTH OF MARY.
The Fifth and Sixth Week of Eastertide. Double Edition.
Dear parishioners,
The Eucharist – and Mary.
As we begin the Month of Mary, it seems fitting to conclude our short April series on the Eucharist with how imitating Mary will draw us closer to the Eucharist and bring us greater spiritual rewards.
Christ is God’s greatest Gift to the human race, through Mary. In the account of the Annunciation, the gospel tells us that she was a humble person, asking God why she had been chosen of all women. But Mary accepted God’s choice, because she had absolute faith and trust in her God and to God she surrendered her will with the words, ‘Be unto me according to your word’. The Blessed Virgin’s greatness is in her humility, and it is through her humility that she both brought Jesus to the world and to this day, directs us to Him and his Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist.
Mary had the fullness of grace, through God’s gift to her of her own Immaculate Conception, and it was her purity that enabled her to be fully open to God and thus to begin God’s mission to the world in Jesus Christ. For God’s redemptive grace to work more effectively in us, we need to imitate Mary's purity through the sacrament of penance and good works and more humbly approach the source of Grace, the body of Christ, in the Holy Eucharist.
Mary needs to be our model in our participation and reception of the Eucharist, because the Eucharist is at the centre of a living faith and spiritual life. As the centre of our faith is the realization that Jesus Christ, son of God is also the son of Mary and that he is with us on earth until the end of time in the Holy Eucharist. He is truly present in the Eucharist, but unlike in the other sacraments He left us, the Eucharist is ‘The Blessed Sacrament’ not just ‘a’ sacrament, because we don’t receive grace from Him, but actually receive Him, the Lord Himself: we receive the Body of Christ, Son of Mary. Through the Eucharist, we may receive the grace and healing of the humanity of Jesus, son of Mary just as people reached out to touch him and be healed when He walked on earth, except that in the Eucharist, he comes to us and feeds us with his very self. In the Eucharist, we don’t just touch him, but He comes to dwell within us, to be one with us, to make His home in within us.
In the agony of his body as He hung from the Cross, only the Godhead of Jesus was hidden from human eye, but in the Eucharist, both his humanity and Godhead are veiled from our sight, but he promised us that through this most Holy Sacrament, he would be with us always. Christ left us his body, soul and divinity as the ultimate source of grace through life’s journey. As we sing in the ‘Adoro te Devote’, as translated by Gerard Manley Hopkins:
Godhead here in hiding whom I do adore Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more. See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.
Seeing, touching, tasting are in thee deceived; How says trusty hearing? that shall be believed; What God's Son has told me, take for truth I do; Truth himself speaks truly or there's nothing true.
On the cross thy godhead made no sign to men; Here thy very manhood steals from human ken: Both are my confession, both are my belief, And I pray the prayer made by the dying thief.
O thou, our reminder of the Crucified, Living Bread, the life of us for whom he died, Lend this life to me, then; feed and feast my mind, There be thou the sweetness man was meant to find.
Jesus whom I look at, shrouded here below, I beseech thee, send me what I thirst for so, Some day to gaze on thee face to face in light And be blest forever with thy glory's sight.
By reception of Holy Communion, the Son of God comes to dwell in us just as He came on earth through dwelling in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was God’s first home on earth, and we, when we receive Him in purity of heart at Holy Communion, become his dwelling place on earth today. Mary can help and guide us to receive Him well, in love, purity and devotion like her.
Having confessed our sins and received absolution, we may be more like Mary and more open to receive and be instruments of the Grace, which comes from the Lord in Holy Communion. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the model of how to receive Jesus in our hearts, minds and souls, for our good, and as instruments of Christ’s grace and healing for all we live alongside on earth.
God bless,
Fr Jonathon.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Come and join us for our annual May Parish Rosary & Benediction at 4.00 p.m. this Sunday in which we can give thanks to Mary for the gift of her son, Jesus and adore Him in the Blessed Sacrament on the Altar.
SOUTHWARK VOCATIONS Have you ever considered you may be called to the priesthood or the religious life? Southwark Vocations will be hosting a 60 minute webinar on Tuesday 9th May at 7pm entitled The Good Shepherd Calls where different presenters will share their experiences about discovering God’s plan for each one of us. Please join us by registering for this event in advance by using following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpdOuprDMtH9wKUQ777ddSSjLBucMtsONt
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES in October. Please contact the parish office if you are interested in joining us.
SOUTHWARK DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 18th-25th August 2023
Message from Bishop Paul:
‘After the restrictions of the past few years, I’m delighted that we are now once more able to include support for pilgrims who need assistance for medical or mobility reasons. In Lourdes, those who are often marginalised are placed at the centre, and we who travel with them are blessed by their presence. I warmly invite you to join us’.
For details, please see
https://www.tangney-tours.com/pilgrimages/lourdes/southwark-ca
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB
The next lunch will be on Thursday 11th May at 12.30 p.m.
PARISH NOTICES
SPUC – The SOCIETY for the PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN: COFFEE MORNING AT ST THOMAS MORE CHURCH 'Rob, Jemma and Tom from Bexley SPUC would like to thank Fr Routh, Annette and Tony for all their help in setting up and running the coffee morning on Sunday 30th of April. We'd also like to thank all the parishioners for their attendance, contributions and questions. We really enjoyed it'
I hope they come back soon. They were most welcome.
SECOND COLLECTION FOR PRIEST TRAINING FUND
This collection helps to meet the cost of training students for the priesthood and the permanent diaconate. It also supports certain forms of ongoing formation of the clergy. These envelopes are available for the next two weeks.
BAR STAFF NEEDED a few hours a month for the parish social club bar. Please contact Mr Tony Brook 07833 707016
FOOD BANK. The Bexley Food Bank currently particularly requests:
CARRIER BAGS/ TINNED TOMATOES / RICE / NOODLES / JAM / CUSTARD /TOOTPASTE / SHOWER GEl/ DEODORANT/ TOOTHPASTE/ SUGAR / WASHING PODS.
Please follow the link below to view the food donations page of the Bexley food bank website. https://bexley.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/
Notice from Marriage and Family Life South East
Planning a catholic marriage? Marriage preparation courses are available by emailing mflse@rcaos.org.uk.
GIFT AID
Please contact the parish office if you still donate by cash and have not picked up your gift aid boxes yet.
If you would like to join the Gift Aid Scheme by donating with cash or through a bankers order/standing order, please email bostallpark@rcaos.org.uk.
PARISH YOUTH NOTICES
CHILDREN’S CHURCH
The ‘children’s liturgy’ takes place in the hall at the 9 o’clock mass this Sunday.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2023.
Next meeting: Saturday 13th May.
(No meeting on 6th May due to the Coronation),
then again on Saturday 20th May.
CONFIRMATION 2023.
Next meeting: May Parish Rosary & Benediction. 4.00 p.m. This Sunday 30th May then it’s the retreat to Kintbury on Friday 19th May – Sunday 21st.
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:
Derek Charles Robinson, whose burial funeral service was on Monday 17th April 2023.
Anne Gallogly, aged 75, dear wife of Sean who died on the 16th of March and whose Funeral Requiem was on Friday 21st April.
Elizabeth ‘Elsie’ Murphy, who died on 18th April and whose funeral requiem was on Thursday 4th May.
Eddie Etheridge, who died on 19th April, aged 87.
May the divine assistance remain with them 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 & SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."
Saturday 6th May Celebration of the BVM [TC] First Saturday.
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Monica Affonso R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Derek & Tracey D’Souza T.G. With May prayers to Mary.
Sunday 7th May
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+9.00 a.m. [SUNG] Lukas Lawrynowicz RIP ( died recently aged 37) . With Crowning of Mary.
+11.00 a.m. [SOLEMN. Latin with English. Missa de Angelis] Dave Royston R.I.P. (month’s mind) With Procession of the Blessed Virgin and Litany of Loreto.
4.00 p.m. May Parish Rosary & Benediction.
Monday 8th May feria
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Tuesday 9th May feria.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Wednesday 10th May St. John de Avila, priest & doctor of the Church.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Thursday 11th May feria
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Friday 12th May Ss Nereus & Achilleus, martyrs.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Saturday 13th May Our Lady of Fatima.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO LATIN MASS TODAY.
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER David Bosworth Daly R.I.P.
Sunday 14th May
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+9.00 a.m. [SUNG] Harry & Emily Yeates R.I.P.
+11.00 a.m. [SOLEMN. English with Latin. Missa de Angelis] The people of the parish.
Monday 15th May St. Joseph the Worker.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Tuesday 16th May St. Athanasius, bishop & doctor of the Church, memorial.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Wednesday 17th May Ss Philip & James, apostles, feast.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Thursday 18th May THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD. SOLEMNITY. HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION.
The Daily Rosary at home
+ 7.00 p.m. Jenny Dunning W.B.
Friday 19th May St. Dunstan, bishop.
The Daily Rosary at home
NO MASS TODAY: Please refer to daily mass times at other local churches.
Saturday 20th May St. Bernard of Sienna [TC]
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin 1962] Alice Carrasco R.I.P. (first anniversary)
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Des Leahy R.I.P. (second anniversary)
MAY PRAYER
This month we have an ancient hymn of devotion which unites love of Mary with love of Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament: Ave Verum Corpus Natum.
