THE THIRTY- FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH OF HOLY SOULS
Dear parishioners,
JESUS CHRIST IS OUR KING
‘We shall never have sufficiently meditated on, or sought to understand, what Our Lord Jesus Christ is…. He should rule our thinking, He makes us holy. He is also our Creator since nothing whatsoever was made without the Word, and therefore without Our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Word. So we must only think about and contemplate Our Lord Jesus Christ. And that transforms one’s life!"
How can we start this transformation: not just of ourselves individually but society?
1. We must return to fulfilling our Sunday obligation to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the mass—which is the source and expression of the reign of Jesus Christ, and at the mass orient and direct the whole sacred liturgy to Him. Through attendance of mass weekly, we will pass on our faith to our children, demonstrating it in word and practice to them and consecrate each week to Jesus Christ and so make him King of our Homes and Families. Only by meeting Him at mass at the start of each week will we really do this.
2. By the graces which flow from weekly attendance at Mass with the family, sacramental catholic marriage, twice yearly confession and good works, we will remain faithful Catholics, no matter how much the flood of worldly belief and practice rises in the church.
3. In our public lives we will support Christian values in all society and our workplaces and re-crown our Lord Jesus Christ in society: “Omnia instaurare in Christo—to restore all things in Christ,” according to the motto of St. Pius X.
We are all, through baptism, sent by Christ to Christianize society. For us, our Lord Jesus Christ is everything, He is our life. The Church is our Lord Jesus Christ; the priest is another Christ; the Mass is the triumph of Jesus Christ on the cross; our family homes must centre on him. For us, our Lord Jesus Christ must be everything for He is our King, the King of the Universe and only through Him will we be saved.
Observing the Month of Holy Souls
Those who visit a cemetery between 1st and 8th November and pray for the faithful departed, may obtain a plenary indulgence, applicable to the Holy Souls ( and at other times a partial indulgence).
At St Thomas More Church:
All Souls Day. Mass at 10.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m.
Blessing of Grave’s at Hillview Cemetery at 1.00 p.m., Saturday 12th November; Sidcup and Brook Street, 3.00 p.m. Sunday 13th November;
Remembrance Sunday. Solemn Requiem for the dead of two world wars at 11.00 a.m., Sunday 13th November.
November Masses for the Dead:
i. Saturday 5th November 10.00 a.m. ( TLM )
ii. Tuesday 15th November 11.00 a.m. Mass for deceased clergy of
Bexley deanery at Our Lady of the Crays, Crayford.
iii. Thursday 17th November 10.00 a.m.
iv. Thursday 24th November 10.00 a.m.
Service of Remembrance with commemoration of the faithful departed, the Litany of the Sacred Heart and Benediction. Feast of Christ the King, Sunday 20th November at 4.00 p.m. ( A plenary indulgence is granted to those present, subject to the usual conditions, where are recited in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed, the consecration of the human race to Christ the King and the Litany of the Sacred Heart). Hosted by our catholic Funeral Directors P.L Mulligans who invite you to join them for Tea, Coffee and light refreshments in the porch after the service.
COFFEE MORNING 9:00 am to 12:00 noon Sunday 27th November 2022, St Thomas More Church Hall. Bring some cash to church with you as coffee mornings are not contactless, but more importantly are occasions to support your parish and keep or make contact with other parishioners. Coffee mornings are a response to your requests and will soon be a thing of the past if no-one is interested.
Repository with religious items, Christmas cards and Stalls with knitted jumpers and other crafts.
St Thomas More Parish Club
Christmas social evening Music by Annie Gee
Friday 9th December 2022
8.00 pm till 11pm
Door admission - Adults £3
St Thomas More Hall Long Lane DA7 5JW
Call Jenny 07710 527692
or Mary 07749 197957
ARCHBISHOP’S APPEAL SECOND COLLECTION 13th & 20th November
The Archbishop’s Appeal seeks to invest faith, hope, love, and charity into three key areas of mission and ministry in the Archdiocese of Southwark.
Youth and Evangelisation
To strengthen the formation of young people in the faith within our schools and parishes, enhance the faith life of parishioners, support the work of parish catechists, enhance the faith journeys of new Catholics; and for Southwark to become an evangelising and missionary Archdiocese.
Our Faith in Action
To show compassionate and active service in the world around us through love for all people: the protection of human dignity, respect for the inter-connectedness of our world and common home, hearing the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth. Supporting social outreach projects in parishes and schools.
Clergy Care and Formation
To care for sick and retired priests in their old age and ill health. Supporting the ongoing formation of our priests and deacons. Providing on-going formation of clergy in active ministry. Supporting the work of the vocations team and formation of seminarians and deacons.
Pooled together, your support can have significant impact in our faith community. A portion of the monies raised will be granted to parishes and Catholic schools to support local projects.
Please support the Archbishop’s Appeal today, every gift is welcome.
· Donate Online: rcaos.org.uk/archbishops-appeal
· Or Scan QR Code using phone camera (right)
· Telephone weekdays 9 am – 5 pm: 020 7960 2504
· Cash / Cheque – use the Archbishop’s Appeal envelopes at the back of church.
Aid to the Church in Need is again promoting #RedWednesday – 23 November 2022 as a way to Break the Silence ( see on YouTube) on the persecution of Christians and all faiths, globally. Find out more at www.acnuk.org/redwednesday
This November will you help Aid to the Church in Need to ‘Break the Silence’ on the persecution and suffering of Christians? In countries where they face discrimination and the fear of kidnap, violence and death, Christians feel that their cries for help go unheard in the West. #RedWednesday is our chance as Christians to be seen, be heard and to make a difference. Please join us once again by wearing and using red – the colour of martyrdom – in solidarity, and by signing our #RedWednesday Petition calling for justice for Christians in Nigeria who are facing violent attacks.
To sign the Petition, request your FREE ‘Persecuted and Forgotten’ Report and for event details, including our London event at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, head to ACN’s website. You will also find individual, parish and school resources, including prayer and activity ideas and our ‘Taste of Home’ fundraiser. Please visit www.acnuk.org/redwednesday.
Now Accepting Contactless Donations
You will find our new DIGITAL COLLECTION PLATE, contactless terminal in the church. Just use your contactless debit/credit card or smart phone/ device to make a donation.
Simply choose the amount you wish to donate and
hold your card onto the reader.
You can also opt-in for Gift Aid to increase your donation by 25%.
If you are a UK taxpayer then donating with Gift Aid means that we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 received.
Contactless donations are simple to administer, secure and convenient.
Message from: CARITAS. HOMES FOR UKRAINE MATCHING NETWORK. Caritas Social Action Network, in partnership with St John of God Hospitaller Services, an international Catholic charity with many services for the vulnerable in the UK and Ireland, have launched a service to bring together Ukrainian people displaced by the brutal war in their country with people in the Catholic community willing to host them in their homes for six months. Once the match is confirmed, the Ukrainian guest can apply for their visa. We know that coping with the cost of living crisis will be the main concern for many people this winter, but if you have room in your home and in your heart to consider welcoming a stranger displaced by war , then we’d love to hear from you. Please visit https://sjoq-homesforukraine.uk/ for more information. Also see the poster in the porch.
ADVENT 2022 . Next Sunday is Advent Sunday the Church’s new liturgical year begins. The Season of Advent is divided into two parts. The first part until December 16th focuses on the Second Coming of Christ, the second part until 24th December looks to the first coming of Christ, God made man, the Word made flesh. Advent is a time of reflection and we are encouraged to pray and do penance, including making our confession. We have for many years been supported in the spiritual journey of Advent by the daily reflections of ‘Walk With Me’. These helpful little booklets will be available to all after all Sunday masses next weekend and parishioners are asked to make a £1.00 donation to cover the parish expense.
Advent reflection on Fridays after the 10.00 a.m. mass. The reflection will focus on the Advent Sunday gospels and last for half hour approximately. The aim of the reflection meetings is for members of STM to make a good preparation for Christmas. All are welcome.
DIOCESAN DIRECTORIES If you require one please let me know by Tuesday this week. £4.50 simple bound or £5.00 for the spiral.
World Youth Day, Lisbon (31st July to 7th August 2023)
The Archdiocese of Southwark is taking a group of young people (aged 18-35) to World Youth Day in Lisbon from 31 July to 7 August 2023. Bookings are now open; the price is £1,295, which includes flights, 3* accommodation (shared room), transfers, WYD registration fee & meal vouchers. If you are between 18-35, you are welcome to book via https://bit.ly/WYDSouthwark . For further information, please email youth@rcaos.org.uk
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Please see link below for this week’s Universe Catholic Weekly.
Church for Children. The ‘Children’s liturgy’ has made a welcome return and will finish for Christmas on the 11/12. Well done to our little ones last Sunday for making the poppies on Remembrance Sunday and presenting them to us with a prayer at the end of mass. Another generation will remember the lives sacrificed for their country and keep the promise ‘We will remember them’.
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 This Thursday, 24th November.
ST THOMAS MORE SENIOR CITIZENS CHRISTMAS LUNCH. Thursday 8th December 2022, 12. 30 p.m. Invitations will be given out in the next week. Please contact Fr Jonathon or Tony on 07833 707016 for more details. Transport is being arranged.
A DAY WITH MARY
1. Saturday 26th November 2022 at Sacred Heart Church, Edge Hill, Wimbledon from 10.45 to 5.45. Please bring a packed lunch.
2. Saturday 3rd December 2022 at St. Mary’s. Wellesley Road, Croydon from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Please bring a packed lunch.
3. Saturday 10th December 2022 at St. George’s Cathedral from 10. 15 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. Please bring packed lunch.
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:
Clare Cullen who died on Friday 23rd September 2022 aged 92. Her funeral requiem was on Monday 31st October 2022 at 11.00 a.m. with committal at Camberwell New Cemetery.
Teresa Cooper who died on Wednesday 5th October 2022 aged 77. Her funeral was on Monday 7th November at 12.00 noon with committal at Eltham Crematorium at 1.45 p.m.
Denis McLaughlin who died on Tuesday 18th October. His funeral was on Friday 28th October in Belfast, Ireland.
John Maloney, 85, who died on Tuesday 1st November 2022. His funeral is on Monday 21st November 2022 at 6.00 p.m. followed by the committal at 12.00 noon on Wednesday 23rd November St. Michael’s Church, Castletown, Co. Westmeath, 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 THIRTY- FOURTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME.
Instaurare Omnia in Christo: "to restore all things in Christ."
Saturday 19th November St. Elizabeth, widow. [T.C.]
9.00 a.m. Confessions.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. (Latin 1962) Octavia on her first birthday. T.G.
6.00 p.m. Confessions.
+ 6.30 p.m. OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE, SOLEMNITY (C). Rose Castanha T.G.
Sunday 20th November
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG. Hannah Pereira T.G. on her birthday.
+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS (Latin with English Readings/ missa d’angelis). Denis McLaughlin R.I.P. month’s mind.
4.00 p.m. NOVEMBER COMMEMORATION OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED with readings, music, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, consecration of the Human Race to Christ the King and Benediction followed by tea and refreshements hosted by P.L. Mulligan’s Family Funeral Directors.
7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in the Hall.
Monday 21st November The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, memorial.
5.30 p.m. The Daily Rosary.
+6.00 p.m. Funeral Requiem for John ‘Sean’ Maloney followed by committal at St Michael’s, Castletown, Westmeath, Ireland on Wednesday.
Tuesday 22nd November St. Cecilia, virgin & martyr, memorial.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Wednesday 23rd November St. Clement I, pope & martyr.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Thursday 24th November St. Andrew Dung- Lac, priest & companions, martyrs, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. November Requiem for Holy Souls.
1.00 p.m. Thursday Lunch Club.
Friday 25th November St. Catherine of Alexandria, virgin & martyr.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Leslie Hayward R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Choir Practice. New members welcome.
Saturday 26th November St. Silvester, abbot. [T.C.]
9.00 a.m. Confessions.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. (Latin 1962) Bruno Castanha R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Confessions.
+ 6.30 p.m. ADVENT SUNDAY Bernie’s grandparents: Matthias & Eliza D’Souza, Baptist & Abelina Carrasco R.I.P.
God bless,
Fr Jonathon
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