DECEMBER IS THE MONTH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT
Saturday 4th December– Saturday 11th December 2021
Dear parishioners,
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
This Wednesday the Church celebrates the great solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The celebration of this feast goes back to the seventh century in the East and in the Latin Church was formalised by Pope Sixtus IV in 1483. This then passed into the doctrines of the Council of Trent and the Tridentine Mass of Pope Pius V (‘The mass of the Ages’). It became a feast of obligation in 1708 and received great popular acclaim when it was personalised by Our Lady herself in the vision when The Blessed Virgin declared to St. Bernadette ‘I am the Immaculate Conception’.
In 1854, Pope Pius IX, in the constitution ‘Ineffabilis Deus’ stated that Mary was endowed with a grace distinct from ours since, unlike us, she received it at the time of her conception. It is however the same grace given to all of us through baptism. Mary is the first member of a redeemed community, the first disciple, a member of the church, the mother of the church, the very type and model of the church redeemed. We pray that we, like her, may be worthy dwelling places for Christ, and that through our own penance, prayers and receptiveness to The Holy Spirit, we will prepare ourselves to receive Christ’s gift of himself to us at every mass.
We rejoice in this feast, because through Mary, we have a sign of our own redemption, that God has chosen us before the creation of the world and destined us to become his children (see Ephesians 1: 4-5). In a sinful world in which we witness the evil that humanity is capable of even to a small child, we rejoice, that God our Father loves us his children, a love we need to share with one another. On Wednesday we will rejoice with Mother Mary, who loved God, loved her son and loved others selflessly from the purity of her Immaculate Heart. When we experience the worst that sinful humanity can do, we more than ever need to rejoice in the love of Mother Mary, for the fruit of her love is our Lord Jesus Christ: her gift of life and light to the world.
The Mass of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated this Wednesday, 8th December at 10.00 a.m. (said) and 7.00 p.m. (sung in Latin with English).
Days with Mary
1. St. George’s Cathedral, Saturday 18th December
10. 15 a.m. – 5.15 p.m. Including Marian procession, Mass, Rosary, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament, Sermon, Benediction with lunch break and tea break.
2. The Sacred Heart, Edge Hill, Wimbledon, Saturday 1st January 2022
Honour the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God and consecrate the new year to her. Programme begins at 10.45. Bring your own packed lunch.
Parish Social Evening in Church Hall every Sunday from 7.00 p.m. The bar is opening again this Sunday. All parishioners welcome.
Food Bank
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.
St. Thomas More Catholic Primary School Admissions.
The next open morning for parents considering sending children to our catholic primary school is on Monday 10th January. For more detail look at the website and video on the school website: www.stm.bexley.sch.uk/admissions/admissions
First Holy Communion 2022
Thanks for submitting your applications on time.
Please note there was a meeting for catechists on Monday this week (22nd) at 7.00 p.m.
Also there was a meeting with parents on Wednesday (24th) last week at 7.30 p.m. in the church. Please read the newsletter every week and listen out for notices at the end of Sunday mass.
The children’s commitments will be made at all masses on the Second Sunday of Advent.
Sunday Children’s Liturgy in the Hall: 9.00 a.m. this Sunday. Helpers still needed. Please contact me or Fiona Martyres.
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.
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 soul of:
Ann Ellen Silvestre who died on Monday 15th November aged 85. Her Funeral Requiem is at 10.00 on Monday 13th December followed by committal at Eltham Crematorium. May she rest in peace.
MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK: THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT.
Psalter 2
Saturday 4th December SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (C)
6.00 p.m. Confessions
+ 6.30 p.m. MASS [said] Deceased members of the D’Souza and Fernandes families R.I.P.
Sunday 5th December
8.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 9.00 a.m. SUNG MASS. Mr. K.M. Christopher R.I.P. With ‘Children’s Liturgy’ in Church Hall.
+ 11.00 a.m. SOLEMN LATIN MASS [with English readings] Reagan Pereira on his birthday T.G.
7.00 p.m. Parish Social Evening in Church Hall with bar.
Monday 6th December St. Nicholas, bishop.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Pat Crocker W.B.
Tuesday 7th December St. Ambrose, bishop & doctor of the church, memorial.
The Daily Rosary at home.
NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY
Wednesday 8th December THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. Solemnity, principal patron of the Diocese.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [said] Helen Gaskin R.I.P.
+ 7.00 p.m. [sung Latin with English readings] Victor and Christina Lambert R.I.P. With blessing of Our Lady’s new sanctuary lamp in the Lady Chapel and thanksgiving to the late Victor Lambert for his legacy.
Thursday 9th December Advent feria.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. [said] Linda King W.B.
2.00 p.m. Thursday Lunch Club Afternoon Tea in Church Hall.
Friday 10th December Our Lady of Loreto.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary
+ 10.00 a.m. Cis and Alf Smith R.I.P.
6.00 p.m. choir practice. New members welcome to come along.
Saturday 11th December St. Damasus I, pope.
9.30 a.m. The Daily Rosary & Confessions
+ 10.00 a.m. [Latin] Ferdie Rodrigues R.I.P.
[+ 6.30 p.m. THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Tracy D’Souza T.G.)
DECEMBER PRAYER TO OUR LADY. The ‘ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER’
Loving Mother of the Redeemer, gate of Heaven, star of the sea, assist your people who have fallen, as we strive to rise again. To the wonderment of nature, you bore your Creator, yet remained a virgin after as before. You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting, have pity on us poor sinners.
Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti.
Surgere qui currat, populo: tu quae genuisiti, natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore sumens illud ave, peccatorum miserere.
God bless
Fr Jonathon