JULY IS THE MONTH OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time.
Dear parishioners,
GLORY BE TO JESUS!
Last Saturday morning we celebrated High Mass for the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I was celebrant for the first time at a High Mass in the traditional form, Fr Francis Lynch was sub-deacon and Deacon John Harrison, the Deacon. I am very grateful to them for joining us for our celebration and most especially and essentially, Jonathan Hague who as Master of Ceremonies patiently prepared and guided us the whole way with Steve Ryan at his right hand. Equally, I thank Julia Jones and Mother Cristiana who movingly sang the propers of the mass, starting with that heavenly introit ‘Redemisti nos, Domine, in sanguine tuo… You have redeemed us, O Lord, in your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us to our God, a Kingdom’.
It was wonderful to see so many of you, including so many families, especially when you consider it was a Saturday morning. We can be very proud of what our own servers and choir have achieved, and their singing of Mass II setting ‘fons bonitatis’ was confident and joyful, accompanied perfectly, as always, by Helen, while our own servers carried their torches with true love and pride in their service of the Lord at the altar of God. Also, we thank Dorota and Esther of our UCM for cleaning the church first thing in the morning and preparing refreshments for us all in the hall afterwards, and as ever, Suzie for the most festal floral arrangements.
As for me, this mass was the highest point in my priesthood, if not my whole life, one of those events to which life journeys towards and from. I could not talk about it afterwards, or rather, could not find the words, but then several of you who were there were suffering the same condition; the joy and beauty of the mass still moving through our hearts and souls, for which words cannot be found - except in the praise of God: Glory be to Jesus who, in bitter pains, poured for me the life-blood from his sacred veins! Lift then all your voices, swell the mighty flood; louder still and louder, praise the Precious Blood!
I pray our celebration will bring great blessings to us all in St Thomas More parish, ‘that we have been admitted to your Holy Table, O Lord, have drawn waters with joy from the fountains of the Saviour: may His Blood, we beseech You, be for us a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life’. Amen.
JULY DEVOTIONS TO THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD: with Sung Litany and Benediction, Sunday 30th July, 4.00 p.m.
God Bless
Fr. Jonathon
UPCOMING EVENTS
MASS IN CELEBRATION OF THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE, Sept. 23rd, 3pm, at St George’s Cathedral
Message from Marriage and Family Life South East, RC Archdiocese of Southwark:
‘If you are celebrating your 1st/10th/25th/40th/50th/60th + wedding anniversary this year, please let your parish know as soon as possible, and no later than the end of July, 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. You can also get in touch with us at mflse@rcaos.org.uk As the title of your email, please write your parish location e.g. Clapham, Beckenham’.
ST THOMAS MORE GOLF DAY to be held Thursday 21st September 2023 at Birchwood Park Golf course, Swanley. Anyone interested in taking part please contact Tony Brooke. 07833707016. There will be the usual charity raffle attached to the day in aid of taking sick / disabled to Lourdes. You will be offered a chance to be involved in the raffle in early September.
THE LATIN MASS SOCIETY AGM for members Saturday 15th July 2023 at Westminster Hall followed by SUNG MASS (all welcome )in Westminster Cathedral at 2.00 p.m for the Feast of St Henry. This will be accompanied by the men of the Cathedral Choir singing William Byrd ‘mass for four voices’, Robert Parsons ‘Ave Maria’ and Tomas Luis de Victoria ‘Ave Maris Stella’.
DAYS WITH MARY
1. Saturday 8th July 2023 at Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen from 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
2. Saturday 22nd July 2023 at St Anselm’s Church, Tooting Bec from 11.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
3. Saturday 29th July 2023 at Westminster Cathedral, starting at 9.45 and ending at 5.00 p.m. After tea and coffee, you are welcome to stay to attend the Cathedral’s Evening Prayer at 5.30 p.m. and First Mass of Sunday at 6.00 p.m. Bring a packed lunch. Tea and Coffee provided. Recommended.
EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION AND LECTORS - Formation Day 2023
Saturday 14th October 2023, 10.00 a.m.-4.00 p.m.
For Parishes in the Deaneries of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich
Venue: St Stephen’s Church, 26 Deepdene Road, Welling, Kent DA16 3QL
If you are a lector or extraordinary minister you are encouraged to put this in your diary and attend it. Please let me know if you are going so I can let them know numbers.
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES.
Monday 23rd October to Friday 27th October 2023. Please contact the parish office if you are interested in joining us.
ENJOY AN EVENING OUT at St Thomas More Parish Club Presents a social evening for all the family Music by Annie G. Friday 7th July 2023 8.00pm to 11pm Admission - Adults £3 at the door. For more information call Jenny 07710 527692 or Mary 07369 252072, everybody welcome
ESCORTED PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK SHRINE, Ireland, 2nd October 2023. £699.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full board. All entertainment and excursions included. Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Fr. Peyton Centre & National Museum. Single supplement £150.00. Contact Patricia or Natali on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
PARISH NOTICES
PARISH YOUTH NOTICES
DEATHS
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE FOURTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
JULY PRAYER
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