ST THOMAS MORE CHURCH, BEXLEYHEATH.
- jonathonrouth
- Oct 22, 2022
- 8 min read
THE THIRTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY
Dear parishioners,
We’ve just come back from St George’s Cathedral to venerate the Relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes which are on tour around England. It was good to see so many people there and lovely for me personally to see again many friends from around the diocese and the deaneries and parishes where I have previously lived and worked. Gathering at our Mother Church to venerate the Relics of the great saint who is also our sister in Christ, helps us affirm our identity as brothers and sisters in Christ in our diocese.
St Bernadette had a heart open to God. She was not a student of theology but was able to receive the doctrine of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception through her faith in God and love of Our Blessed Mother. She was a true daughter of Mary and loved our Blessed Lady as a mother. For ‘No-one can have God as a Father who does not have Jesus as a brother, but no-one can have Jesus as a brother who does not have Mary as mother’ (Jacques Bur). In venerating the holy relics of St Bernadette, we join our devotion with hers to our Blessed Mother to bring us closer to Jesus. For we also join his filial affection for his Holy Mother, and so in Jesus Christ our Lord, we are one family in heaven and on earth.
At the cathedral the rosary was led by the new Dean, Fr Michael Branch (formerly of St Peter’s, Woolwich) including the additional decade which a young Bernadette had added to her own rosary. We were also able to offer prayers for your intentions and were present before the Holy Relics at the exact time a young man, nephew of one of our parishioners, was undergoing surgery and prayed for him. We also prayed for the recently deceased. If you were not able to travel our cathedral, the Relics will be at Aylesford Priory from Monday 24th to Friday 28th October.
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FIRST CONFESSION & HOLY COMMUNIONS 2023.
Application forms are available for collection from the priest at the end of all Sunday masses and returned to him after Sunday mass on a following Sunday. The deadline to submit forms is Sunday 13th November.
Key dates:
Closing date for applications. Sunday 13th November 2022.
Parents Meeting: 7.00 p.m. Wednesday 23rd November 2022.
First Holy Communion Group Christmas Choir for the Christmas Vigil Mass. 24th December 2022
First Session: 10.30 a.m. Saturday 7th January 2023.
First Confessions: probably a Saturday morning in March: to be confirmed.
Children’s Stations of the Cross: 10.30 a.m. Good Friday, 7th April 2023
First Holy Communions: Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th June 2023.
The fulfilment of the Sunday obligation to attend mass on all Catholics (with obvious exemptions) is required for all families with their children preparing to receive their First Holy Communion.
THE MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY
This October, the month of the Holy Rosary…
i. If you are free in the daytime, join us at St. Thomas More and say your DAILY ROSARY AT CHURCH (check newsletter) with us.
ii. Say your DAILY ROSARY AT HOME or on public transport on the way to work, when out for a walk.
iii. Parents: say THE ROSARY WITH YOUR FAMILY every evening: a family that prays together, stays together.
iv. Join us at St. Thomas More for our monthly devotions with The PARISH ROSARY & BENEDICTION on Sunday 23rd October at 4.00 p.m.
To watch Dr Taylor Marshall’s full broadcast on ‘EIGHT REASONS TO SAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY’ visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3qjSVlGcMM
Sunday 23 October 2022 ‐ Today is World Mission Sunday
World Mission Sunday is being celebrated in every Catholic parish around the world today! It supports missionaries who work alongside communities that are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief. By supporting Missio, , you will help missionaries like Maria witness to their faith and offer vulnerable women in Ethiopia hope for a better future. Please pray for the mission of the Church throughout the world and give what you can to this very important collection which will sustain the future of our Church. If you use the donation envelopes to give by credit/debit card, please return the envelopes directly to Missio. Do not put them in the Church collection. Please call 020 7821 9755 (office hours) or visit Missio’s website to give a single gift, set up a Direct Debit and Gift Aid your donation if possible: missio.org.uk
DAY WITH MARY.
2. 9.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Saturday 22nd October 2022 at Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen. Please bring a packed lunch.
FEAST OF ST. JUDE, THE APOSTLE (PATRON OF LOST CAUSES)
This feast is the highpoint of the calendar at the shrine church of St Jude in Faversham. Many visit Faversham in devotion to the Apostle in the company of the Carmelites of Aylesford who run the shrine. In addition to masses, there is a piety stall, a display of Carmelite books and light refreshments.
Friday 28th October 10.00 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. St Jude Mass.
Saturday 29th October 10.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. St Jude Mass.
Sunday 30th October 12.30 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. St. Jude Mass.
Faversham is a fine Kentish town, well worth a visit, accessible by train from Bexleyheath or Abbey Wood, changing at Gravesend. There are some excellent old pubs and other places to eat. Prayers at the shrine of St Jude in Faversham have helped many people, including myself, and I recommend this to you.
The shrine of St Jude is at 34 Tanners Street, Faversham, Kent ME13 7JW.
ST BERNADETTE RELIC TOUR.
Aylesford Friary from Monday 24th October to Friday 28th 2022
This visit will provide people across our community of faith with a valuable opportunity for prayer and healing. To ensure the comfort and safety of pilgrims, and to allow venues taking part in the Relic Tour to prepare for the large numbers who will travel to them, individuals and groups are strongly encouraged to register their attendance at their earliest convenience choosing a free, dedicated timeslot at their chosen church or cathedral, as demand is likely to be high.
The reservation system is now open and can be accessed here: stbernadette.org.uk/the-tour/
Details of the itinerary can be found on this page and prayers to support the tour are also there at: stbernadette.org.uk/prayers. However, if you have any questions about the tour, please feel free to get in touch at: contact@stbernadette.org.uk
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‘Children’s Liturgy’ this Sunday at 9.00 a.m.
FOOD BANK. Don’t forget the Food Bank collection crate in the Church Porch! People are not managing to afford the basic essentials of life. If you can contribute some long life milk, canned food, packets of pasta, toilet rolls or any other non-perishable basics, you will be helping our neighbours in great need.
THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB There is no Lunch Club this Thursday,27th of October. Lunch Club will resume on Thursday 3rd of November.
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:
Frances Anne Carter who died on Monday 5th September 2022. Her funeral was on Tuesday 20th September 2022.
Clare Cullen who died on Friday 23rd September 2022 aged 92. Her funeral requiem is Monday 31st October 2022 at 11.00 a.m. followed by committal at Camberwell New Cemetery.
Teresa Cooper who died on Wednesday 5th October 2022 aged 77. Her funeral is on Monday 7th November at 12.00 noon followed by committal at Eltham Crematorium at 1.45 p.m.
Denis McLaughlin who died on Tuesday 18th October. His funeral is on Friday 28th October in Belfast, Ireland.
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 THIRTIETH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME.
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."
Saturday 22nd October Our Lady’s Saturday
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS THIS MORNING.
+ 6.30 p.m. THIRTIETH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C). Vince & Helen D’Souza T.G.
Sunday 23rd October
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG. The people of the parish.
+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS (with English Readings/ missa orbis factor). Tony & Kathleen McLaughlin P.I.
4.00 p.m. OCTOBER ROSARY & BENEDICTION (with the Litany of Loreto and hymns to Our Lady)
7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in the Hall.
Monday 24thOctober St. Anthony Mary Claret, bishop.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary.
10.00 a.m. Peter King R.I.P.
Tuesday 25thOctober feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary.
10.00 a.m. Veronica & Sally Kelly.
Wednesday 26thOctober Ss.Chad & Cedd, bishops.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Thursday 27th October feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Peter Braganza R.I.P.
1.00 p.m. NO LUNCH CLUB TODAY.
Friday 28th October Ss Simon & Jude, Apostles, feast.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Josie Talbot (second anniversary) R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Choir Practice. New members welcome.
Saturday 29thOctober Our Lady’s Saturday.
9.00 a.m. Confessions.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
6.00 p.m. Confessions.
+ 6.30 p.m. THIRTY- FIRST SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C). Maria Josephina DaSilva & deceased family members R.I.P.
OCTOBER PRAYER TO OUR LADY, QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY.
(This prayer was written by, St. Jean Marie Vianney, the Cure d’Ars)
O most holy Virgin, Mary, who evermore stands before the Most Holy Trinity, and to whom it is granted at all times to pray for us to your most beloved Son; pray for me in all my necessities; help me, protect me, and obtain for me the pardon of all my sins. Help me especially at my last hour; and when I can no longer give any sign of the use of reason, then encourage me, make the sign of the cross for me, have me sprinkled with holy water and fight for me against the enemy. Make in my name a profession of faith; assure me with the promise of my salvation, never let me despair of the mercy of God and help me to overcome the temptations of the evil one.
When I can no longer say: “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul,” I ask you to say it to me; when I can longer hear human words of consolation, comfort me. Leave me not before I have been judged, and if I have to atone for my sins in purgatory, pray for me earnestly; and lead my friends to pray for my speedy enjoyment of the blessed vision of God.
Lessen my sufferings, deliver me speedily, and lead my soul into heaven with you: that, united with all God’s chosen, I may there bless and praise my God - and you Mother Mary - for all eternity. Amen.
God bless,
Fr Jonathon