JANUARY IS THE MONTH OF THE HOLY NAME
THE SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Dear parishioners,
WHITE FLOWER APPEAL 2022
PLEASE ACT NOW TO PROTECT PRO-LIFE SPEECH!
· Pro-Life students are increasingly under attack on university campuses.
· Pro-Life witness is ever more restricted by local government.
· We must be able to speak freely about abortion if we are to protect unborn babies and women.
· We must act now to defend pro-life speech.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn children (SPUC) is holding its annual appeal this weekend. SPUC is currently campaigning to protect Pro- Life speech. Pro-life witness is being restricted now more than ever; we must be able to speak freely to protect unborn babies. Please be as generous as you can to help SPUC defend unborn babies and their mothers from this new attack.
You can also support pro-life free speech by supporting the campaign of SPUC to ask the prime minister to defend true freedom of speech in our country by filling in the WHITE FLOWER POSTCARD, available in the church porch this weekend.
God bless SPUC and all those who work and pray for the protection of unborn of children. No human being is a mistake, whatever the circumstances of conception. We are all God’s creatures, made in his image and to show his love for us God became one with us through his Son Jesus Christ who came not in a blaze of glory, but as one of the silent unborn in the Virgin’s womb. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s gift to us, we are shown that all children are God’s gift to humanity, that life is sacred from conception to the grave. As a parish let us bear witness to the gift of true life Jesus Christ brings us by supporting pro-life speech in our country.
PEACE SUNDAY
The Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, next Sunday (16th January) is designated ‘Peace Sunday’. The Catholic Movement for Peace in England and Wales ‘PAX CHRISTI’ relies on your support to continue its work in peace making. 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 Catholic Christianity, we work with all who share our values to abolish war and create communities of peace and justice’
Donation envelopes to Pax Christi can be returned this Sunday or you can make your donation on line via the parish with the reference ‘Pax Christi’.
MESSAGE FROM MISSIO RE WORLD MISSION SUNDAY 2021
Thank you very much for the gift of £281.15 from your parish. You and your parishioners are helping to create a vibrant church for the future through your prayers and financial support. This generosity and spiritual sustenance will encourage missionaries like Sr Veronica to continue serving and sharing God’s love. Sr Veronica is just one of the many selfless missionaries around the world, supported by you through Missio, who have chosen to serve in vulnerable and impoverished communities far from home, in response to God’s calling.
Our church is a global family. We depend on one another; on our shared prayer and solidarity. I am grateful for your prayers and generosity, especially at this difficult time, and assure you that they make a real difference to the lives and work of missionaries who are sharing the Gospel and caring for our brothers and sisters throughout the world. Let us continue to pray that all peoples may experience the saving love and generous mercy of Jesus Christ.
With sincere Good wishes,
Fr Tony
Missio national Director.
CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY: CRIB OFFERING 2021
Throughout the pandemic the Catholic Children’s Society (CCS) has provided emergency support for thousands of vulnerable children and families. Their Southwark Crisis Fund provides immediate help for local families who are facing real hardship and have nowhere else to turn. Recently CCS helped a family with two young children when the father suddenly died. The family were already struggling and paying the funeral costs pushed them to the brink, with no money left for food or essentials. CCS provided a one-off grant to help them get through this challenging time. The mother got in touch to say:
‘When my husband died, I was completely lost. You gave me the breathing space I needed to sort out my finances. You took away the pressure so I could grieve and care for my children. Thank you.’
There are many more families in need of support and our parish will be donating our Crib Offering to support this important work. Every penny donated will be given out via CCS’s Southwark Crisis Fund to support local families in need. You can donate at the Crib or via the CCS website www.cathchild.org.uk/crib
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Might your boy in year 2 or 3 have musical potential? Could he consider becoming a chorister at Westminster Cathedral? Every September Westminster Cathedral Choir School welcomes up to six choristers into Year 4. Becoming a chorister at Westminster Cathedral offers boys the opportunity to sing both at the Cathedral in central London, and on tour internationally, in one of the world’s great choirs. Boys also receive an outstanding education at one of London’s leading schools.
Choristers board during the School week only, heading home to their families from Friday afternoon and until Sunday morning at 9.45 a.m.
It is a wonderful opportunity to join a thriving choir and school. All boys receive generous scholarships, up to 100% of fees available on a means tested basis. Almost all the boys join from Catholic primary schools – the universal element is a love of singing. If interested, contact the Director of Admissions Miss Lucy Auger at Westminster Cathedral Choir School, Ambrosden Avenue, London SW1P 1QH or call 020 7798 9081.
Incidentally, we have a cathedral chorister coming to sing next Sunday 23rd January for the 11.00 a.m. Latin Mass here at St Thomas More.
Food Bank:
COLLECTIONS HAVE RESUMED. ONLY NON PERISHABLE ITEMS CAN BE RECEIVED PLEASE.
There is currently a particular need for:
Long Life milk, Long Life juice, Squash, Tins of Rice Pudding, Toilet Paper
The container for donations is in the Church Porch and is taken to Bexleyheath food bank on Monday mornings.
A Day with Mary
1. Saturday 22nd January 2022 at St. Mary of the Crays, Old Road, Crayford. Starts at 10.00 a.m. finishes at 4.15 p.m. Please bring a packed lunch. If you haven’t experienced ‘A Day with Mary’ before, which takes place on Saturdays all over the diocese, this is a very good local opportunity.
2. Saturday 5th February 2022 at St. Edmund of Canterbury, Village Way, Beckenham. 9.30 a.m. start, finishing at 5.00 p.m.
First Holy Communion 2022
Lesson 3. Saturday 22nd January 10.30 am. Church Hall. Please read the newsletter every week and listen out for notices at the end of Sunday mass. Don’t forget to bring your mass attendance cards to Sunday mass!
The children’s commitments were made at all masses on the Second Sunday of Advent.
CONFIRMATION 2022
Application forms can be picked up by candidates, completed at home and then returned after any Sunday mass. Preparation will begin in the spring term and include a couple of day/evening trips and (hopefully) an overnight retreat. Open to year 9 & 10.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY
This will resume at 9.00 a.m. this Sunday.
Parish Social Evenings Parish Socials with the Bar every Sunday evening at 7.30 p.m. in the Church Hall.
SAFEGUARDING UPDATE. MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SAFEGUARDING FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SOUTHWARK.
‘After serving the parish for some years as Safeguarding Representative, Mr. Martin Keaveney is stepping down from this role. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Martin for his service and dedication in this role and for supporting the Parish in our safeguarding function. Safeguarding remains a priority within the Parish and if anyone is interested in taking on the role of Parish Safeguarding Representative (PSR), please let me or the parish priest know. The ideal candidate would be someone who has an understanding and/or a commitment of safeguarding within the Catholic Church. The role is fully supported by the Archdiocese Safeguarding team.
While an new PSR is recruited, if anyone has any safeguarding concerns or matters that they wish to raise, please contact the Archdiocese safeguarding team on safeguardingoffice@rcaos.org.uk /0207 261 1606 or speak to the parish priest. Please do not contact Mr. Keaveney who is no longer in this role.
I will send a link to the face to face training shortly.
Thank you
Mary-Jane Crowley
Head of Safeguarding |Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark CIO, 59 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JE
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK: SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Saturday 15th January SECOND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C) White Flower Appeal. Collection for Pax Christi (announced last week)
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. John Bevan R.I.P.
Sunday 16th January 2022
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary.
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG Chacko Joseph & Theresa Chacko R.I.P.
+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS (with English Readings) Conor Maguire R.I.P.
7.30 p.m. Parish Social Evening in Church Hall.
Monday 17th January S. Anthony of Egypt, Abbot, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Liam Mc Daniel W.B.
Tuesday 18th January January mass of The Most Holy Name of Jesus (votive)
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Jill Snashall R.I.P.
Wednesday 19h January S. Wulstan, bishop.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.
Thursday 20th January S. Fabian, pope and martyr.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Paul Ling R.I.P.
2.00 p.m. Thursday Lunch Club Afternoon.
Friday 21st January S. Agnes, virgin & martyr, memorial.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Rui Coelho R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. Choir practice.
Saturday 22nd January S. Vincent, deacon & martyr.
9.30 a.m. Confessions/ The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m.[Latin] Gabriel Alphonso R.I.P.
10.30 a.m. First Holy Communion Class in Church Hall
[ + 6.30 p.m. THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C) Tommy Hugh R.I.P.]
JANUARY PRAYER IN HONOUR OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS.
O Divine Jesus, you have promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in your name shall be granted. O Eternal Father, In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfilment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, your Divine Son, our Lord. Amen.
Finally, I also thank Martin Keaveney for his dedicated work for the parish, enabling the recruitment and retention of volunteers for our work through his meticulous management of our essential safeguarding procedures. God bless you Martin for all you have done for us and I pray we find someone else to take on this role soon.
Blessings to you all,
Fr Jonathon