JULY IS THE MONTH OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Dear parishioners,
This week we celebrate several saints. On Monday we have the memorial of Ss Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We join them in thanking the ‘God of our Fathers, that of them should be born the Mother of God’s Son’.
Then on Thursday we have the memorial of St Martha, sister of Lazarus and St Mary of Bethany. She’s the one who ‘didn’t take the better part’, busying herself serving the Lord while Mary kept still in contemplation while listening to the Lord’s words. But it didn’t stop the church recognising Martha’s sanctity because she served Jesus, taking care of others, and Jesus loved her. His words to her say to us that the most important thing is listening to him, as Mary did, but it doesn’t mean our manual work is not important, we just have to get things in perspective.
It’s like people who don’t get married because they can’t afford a big wedding and fear all the fuss. Well - forget all that. Just be like Mary, and listen to Jesus, and get married and bring him into the heart of your partnership through the sacrament of matrimony. That’s the better part, not all the fuss and expense of a big reception. Regarding our church building too: the most important thing is that we pray in it and like Mary listen to the Words of Jesus. But we also need to keep it clean and manage it. There are a lot of ordinary daily tasks needed to keep it going, including keeping it clean. If you would be willing to join a team of cleaners, perhaps on a rota, you will be following in the steps of St Martha, patron saint of cleaners and servants. If the church is dirty, which is the more immediate better service to the Lord and your parish… to say a rosary or to pick up a duster? And who says you can’t pray while you clean? Cleaning the House of God is an offering to him: it is a good work which can be offered as a prayer, if you listen to God as Mary did.
Daily Rosary
Speaking of the Rosary we should pray one every day for divine intervention so we will try having a rosary every day at 9.30. when there is a 10.00 mass (which is most weekdays) It would be good if a parishioner would lead it, or take turns leading it, rather than having to hear my own voice. I think it’s better before mass. It makes a perfect ‘gathering prayer’, brings us together before the altar of God for mass and encourages others to join in who may be coming for mass. It also means people can ‘take the better part’ of quiet contemplation after the Holy Sacrifice, and be quiet with the Lord they have just received.
The Venerable Fr. Agnelo de Souza S.F.X.
At the mass of St. Martha, we will be joining with the local Goan community in praying for the cause of Fr Agnelo de Souza ( 21 January 1869 -20 November 1927) who was a priest of the Society of the Missionaries of St Francis Xavier in Pilar, Goa. Agnelo worked tirelessly as a missionary in Goa, and died on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus during Benediction. The parish priest who buried him said in Konkani ‘‘Hanvem atanch eka Santak matiek laila’ meaning ‘I have laid a saint to rest’. The cause for his canonization has been accepted for investigation by the Holy See and he was declared Venerable in 1986. Fr Agnelo’s day is celebrated on 20th November every year following a Novena for his cause.
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:
Albert D’Silva who died on Monday 31st May aged 77. His funeral is on Monday 28th June at 11.00 a.m. followed by committal at Hillview Cemetery.
Mark John Norris Paxton who died on Thursday 27th May aged 60. The Funeral Mass was on Thursday 17th June.
Arthur Whittle, aged 94, for many years a parishioner, who died in Liverpool where he moved with Norma a few weeks ago.
Mary Elizabeth Conlon, aged 94. Requiem was on Friday 16th with committal at Eltham.
James Nesbitt, aged 90, who died on Tuesday 13th July 2021. Funeral mass on Tuesday 9th August at 11.00 a.m. with burial at Sidcup Cemetery.
Thomas Furlong, aged 88, who died on Friday 16th July in the evening. Funeral details to follow.
(St Thomas More church will be continuing for the time being with some social distancing, open doors and windows and a limit on numbers. This is estimated on the size of the church building and so for all our masses, including funerals, the maximum number is between about 80 and 100).
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.
PARISH GOLF DAY. NEW UPDATED MESSAGE FROM TONY BROOKE. Saturday 18th September 2021 to be held at Pedham Place Golf Club, Farningham.
Bacon rolls from 11am. First tee off at 12 noon. 18 holes of golf followed by a one course meal and prize awarding. In an attempt to keep the price down we have dropped to a one course meal and bumped into a very gracious sponsor who will hold down the price to £40per contestant. There will be the usual charity raffle attached to the day that parishioners will have a chance to be involved with by purchasing tickets after Mass.
Any enquiries / interest to Tony Brooke 07833707016. Provisional numbers please ASAP so that we can secure tee times.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK: THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Psalter week 1. Ferial cycle 1 at mass.
Please come to mass once a week only, on any day of your choosing, to help with numbers and social distancing.
Mass intentions booked for masses cancelled or replaced with a funeral will be moved to another day.
Saturday 24th July THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (B)
+ 6.30 p.m. Tony Bass R.I.P.
Sunday 25th July
+ 9.00 a.m. Brian Kilgannon R.I.P.
+ 10.30 a.m. Tom Brady Jnr R.I.P.
4.00 p.m. JULY PARISH ADORATION OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. With the Litany of the Precious Blood, Consecration to the Precious Blood, Chaplet of the Precious Blood and Benediction. Come to church this Sunday afternoon, and give thanks to God for his love for us.
Monday 26th July Ss. Joachim & Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, memorial.
9.30 a.m. Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Annie Mullen R.I.P.
Tuesday 27th July. feria.
9.30 a.m. Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Desmond Rodrigues R.I.P.
Wednesday 28th July feria.
Say your Rosary at home, in private.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Thursday 29th July St. Martha, memorial.
9.30 a.m. Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Lloyd & Sharon D’Souza W.B.
With prayer for the Cause of the Venerable Fr Agnelo de Souza
Friday 30th July St Peter Chrisologus, bishop & doctor of the church.
9.30 a.m. Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Muriel D’Souza W.B.
Saturday 31st July St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest, memorial.
9.30 a.m. Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Amy Winsor R.I.P.
[ + 6.30 p.m. EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY. The people of the parish.)
JULY PRAYER: ‘Viva, viva, Gestu’ trans. Edward Caswell.
Glory be to Jesus who in bitter pains, poured for me the lifeblood from his sacred veins.
Grace and life eternal in that blood I find: blest be his compassion, infinitely kind.
Blest, through endless ages, be the precious stream - which from endless torment did the world redeem.
There the fainting spirit drinks of life her fill; there, as in a fountain, laves herself at will.
Abel’s blood for vengeance pleaded to the skies, but the blood of Jesus for our pardon cries.
Oft as it is sprinkled on our guilty hearts, Satan in confusion terror-struck departs.
Oft as earth exulting wafts its praise on high, angel hosts rejoicing, make their glad reply.
Lift, then, all your voices, swell the mighty flood; louder still and louder, PRAISE THE PRECIOUS BLOOD!
In unity,
Fr Jonathon