JANUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS
Epiphany and first week of ordinary time.
TRADITIONAL REQUIEM: ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF POPE BENEDICT XVI.
With Palestrina’s missa pro defunctis. Monday 8th January 2024 6.30 p.m. at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane WC2E 2NB. Arranged by the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2024
SESSION 1 This Saturday 6th January at 10.30 a.m. in the Church Hall.
SESSION 2 next Saturday, 13th January at 10.30 a.m.
Crib.
All donations made at our crib this year will go to the Catholic Children’s Society. Your donation will help local disadvantaged children and their families. The crib will be out until Candlemas, 2nd February.
BUILDING A BETTER MARRIAGE
As part of the preparation for the 2025 Jubilee year, the Southwark Marriage and Family Team will be running a Building a Better Marriage Course throughout the Archdiocese from February 2024. The one -day course is for married couples (whether married for one year, 60 years or anywhere in between). It seeks to help husbands and wives to make their marriage better and to improve their communication skills. There is no group sharing and private information remains private to each couple. Couples who have attended previously have found it enjoyable, informative, and uplifting. For more information contact the Marriage and Family Life team through the Archdiocese of Southwark: website. https://www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/mission/marriage-and-family-life
Winter Warmer Drop-In at St Thomas More provided by the MINI- VINNIES of our Primary School.
Message from Mrs Wendy McClumpha:
In a world where compassion knows no boundaries…where every act of kindness makes a difference…where hope is served alongside hearty meals…
We invite you to join us at the St Thomas More Church Hall at 6.00 p.m. on Friday 26th January 2024
We are more than just a kitchen; we are a community of caring hearts. Our Mini Vinnies prepare each meal with love and dedication. Families, children, and friends of St Thomas More Church who experience food poverty are more than welcome.
Our support to you means everything to us. So please come along!!
From the Mini Vinnies group at St Thomas More Catholic Primary School.
FOCOLARE FAMILY GET-TOGETHER Following the success of our family get-together in November in the church hall, families are invited to attend Families Get Together at the FOCOLARE CENTRE FOR UNITY, 69 PARKWAY, WELWYN GARDEN CITY AL8 6JG from 1.00 p.m. This is a family event open to children of all ages. They will play, sing and share experiences of how to create a more united world. Parents will have an opportunity to meet and spend quality time together. Bring and share lunch parking available at the back and on the main road. RSVP to Elisa at elisapuzzolo@gamail.com or call 0756 5613 867. Recommended.
WHITE FLOWER APPEAL 2024 The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) will be holding its annual appeal next weekend. SPUC’s vision is for a world where abortion is unthinkable. This year’s appeal calls for the Government to end the pills-by-post DIY abortion policy.
As well as ending the lives of precious babies, this policy lacks safeguards against illegal late-term abortions, and puts mothers at physical and psychological risk. 86% of GPs are concerned that this scheme leaves women vulnerable to coerced abortion.
Please be as generous as you can to help SPUC defend unborn babies and their mothers by highlighting this urgent crisis.
SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN.
Please contact your MP and urge them to oppose Stella Creasy and Diana Johnson's amendments to the criminal justice bill. As we know the pills by post scheme has led to the death of totally viable, healthy babies outside of the provisions of the abortion act itself. Rather than scrap this flawed scheme these amendments have been tabled making a self-performed (home abortion) possible at any stage of pregnancy and removing the prohibition on hiding the body of a dead newborn baby including in circumstances where the baby has been killed by infanticide (I couldn't believe this either) Urge your MP to support Early Day Motion 131 instead. Please visit www.spuc.org.uk and sign up for email alerts. You'll get details about how to make a submission to the committee dealing with these amendments - heading criminal justice bill 2023 scrutiny@ parliament.uk
MESSAGE FROM PAX CHRISTI ‘The work of Pax Christi is based on the gospel and inspired by faith. Our vision is of a world where people can live in peace, without fear of violence in all its forms. Rooted in Catholic Christianity, we work with all who share our values to abolish war and create communities of peace and justice’. Envelopes for cash donations are available this weekend which can be returned next weeks, and donations can also be made on the contactless device.
FOOD BANK. You can make your donations before any mass in the crates in the Church Porch (narthex) and they are taken to Bexley Food Bank on a Monday morning.
Bexley Food Bank Requirements
Food
UHT Milk Tinned Meat (Hotdogs, Meatballs, etc.) Tinned Fish Tinned Fruit Sponge/Rice Puddings Coffee (small jars) Long-life Juice Pasta Sauce Spreads Tinned Meals (Spaghetti, Chicken or Veg Curry’s Chilli) Tinned Soup Jam and Spreads
Non-food Items
Shower Gel Shampoo Conditioner Deodorant Toilet rolls Washing Up Liquid Laundry Detergent Pods Shower Gel
Bexley Food Bank currently particularly requests (please notice the new items at the end: Please follow the link below to view the food donations page of the Bexley food bank site. https://bexley.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/
JANUARY DEVOTIONS. To the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Hymns, readings, Litany of the Holy Name and Benediction at 4.00 p.m. on Sunday 28th January in the Church.
CANDLEMAS. Bring your devotional candles to mass on the 2nd February to be blessed at 7.00 p.m.
DEATHS
Ann Fanthome who died on Tuesday 14th November 2023, aged 83. Her funeral was on Monday 18th December
MASSES AND INTENTIONS
Epiphany and First Week of Ordinary Time
Saturday 6th January The Epiphany of the Lord [TC]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Low Mass [Latin 1962] Alice ‘Babs’ Pitcher R.I.P.
10.30 a.m. FHC24 session 1. Church Hall.
+ 6.30 p.m. Said THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Solemnity. Mary Hughes RIP
Sunday 7th January
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. Sung (no Liturgy of the Word for Children this week) Christian Pereira TG for his birthday.
+11.00 a.m. Solemn Latin Mass (in Latin with English Readings. Missa de Angelis) Pat Lee R.I.P. Jackie’s mum. First anniversary.
7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in Church Hall. All welcome.
Monday 8th January. The Baptism of the Lord, feast.
The Daily Rosary at home/No Mass at Church today
+ New Year’s Mass at the School for Staff & Pupils
END OF CHRSTMASTIDE. FIRST WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME COMMENCES.
Tuesday 9th January feria
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Barbara Slade R.I.P.
Wednesday 10th January feria
The Daily Rosary at home
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Thursday 11th January feria
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Myola Gomes R.I.P.
No Lunch Club Today
Friday 12th January St. Aelred of Rievaulx, abbot.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+10.00 a.m. Patrick Ponsford R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Choir Practice.
Saturday 13th January The Baptism of the Lord [TC]
9.00 a.m. Confessions
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Low Mass [Latin 1962] Cynthia D’Silva WB
10.30 a.m. FHC24 session 2. Church Hall.
+ 6.30 p.m. Said SECOND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (B) Joaquim D’Souza TG