X CHRIST THE KING X
Second Collection:
Catholic Youth Services
MASS (OLHoC): 6.00pm (Sat.) (Canon James Walters RIP)
MASS (St Joseph’s): 9.00am (Well-being of Pam Boxall)
X Refreshments
in the Church Hall after Mass
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Pro Populo)
X Refreshments
in the Parish Hall after Mass
THANKSGIVING MASS (OLHoC): 11.00am (For the children who celebrated their 1HC in 2021)
X Refreshments and celebration organised by the UCM in the Parish Hall after Mass
X Baptisms of
Rosie Richardson and Grace Curd (OLHoC): 12.30pm
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• MONDAY, November 22nd – St Cecilia
MASS (OLHoC) 9.00am (Ray Bailey RIP)
X Journey in Faith/RCIA Class (OLHoC): 7.00pm
• TUESDAY, November 23rd – St Clement I
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (James Lightfoot RIP)
• WEDNESDAY, November 24th - SS Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Priest and Companions
MASS (OLHoC): 11.00am (Deceased Clergy of Dover Deanery)
X Tea/Coffee
and Cake in the Parish Hall after Mass
#RedWednesday Prayer Vigil
(OLHoC): 6.00pm
• THURSDAY, November 25th - Feria
MASS (OLHoC) 9.00am (Dec’d members of the Walmsley family)
• FRIDAY, November 26th - Feria
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Living & dead of the Lowther family)
FUNERAL MASS of Mary Louise Petrea
Megit (OLHoC): 12.45pm
• SATURDAY, November 27th – Votive BVM
MASS (St Joseph’s): 10.00am (Dec’d relatives and friends of Miss Streatfield)
X Confessions and Exposition (OLHoC) 11.00am – noon
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Next Sunday: November 28th
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
MASS (OLHoC): 6.00pm (Sat.) (David Roberts RIP)
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Pro Populo)
X Refreshments
in the Parish Hall after Mass
MASS (OLHoC):
11.00am (For Mauve
RIP)
X Refreshments
in the Parish Hall after Mass
X SPECIAL MASS OF THANKSGIVING FOR CHILDREN WHO CELEBRATED FIRST HOLY COMMUNION at Our Lady, Help of Christians, on Sunday, 21st November at 11.00am. All the children who celebrated First Holy Communion, and their families, are invited to this special thanksgiving Mass and are encouraged to wear their First Holy Communion Dress for a final group photo. All the children are requested to practice the hymn, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us’ for the thanksgiving.
The UCM are organising a little celebration to be held in the Parish Hall after Mass. All are welcome.
X NOVEMBER ENVELOPES FOR THE DEPARTED ARE STILL AVAILABLE AT THE BACK OF CHURCH - November is the Month of the Holy Souls, and so throughout the month we continue to keep in our liturgical prayer those special people, particular to us, who have died and we pray for them each day this month.
X CAROL SERVICE – Sunday, 12th December at 4.30pm at St Joseph’s Church followed by refreshments in the hall including mince pies, mulled wine and a Prize Draw organised by the St. Josephs team and the UCM. There will also be a special gift for all the children.
X RECEPTION OF COMMUNION AT MASS – those not in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church and Roman Catholics not able to receive Holy Communion are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing. Those wishing to receive a blessing are asked to approach the Priest with their arms crossed over their chest.
X SECOND COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND is for the Catholic Youth Services to support youth work in the diocese and beyond, especially the Southwark Catholic Youth Service.
X CHURCHES TOGETHER FOLKESTONE WINTER SHELTER DEDICATION SERVICE will take place on Sunday 28th November at 6.00pm at St John’s Church. All are welcome to attend as we pray for the Shelter, which begins on Wednesday 1st December, with the first evening meal of the Shelter being held at Our Lady, Help of Christians, and we pray for the health of staff, volunteers & clients.
X ST JOSEPH’S SOCIAL CLUB MEETING on Sunday 28th
November at 12.30pm there will be a meeting at St Joseph’s Church Hall to
discuss the way forward for Social Club. It will be an opportunity to join the
Club and to discuss and what events you would like to see put on locally in
Cheriton and how we can best utilise the facilities. Coffee and biscuits will
be served.
X PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE PARISH WHO ARE SICK or in hospital including Margaret Foster, Francis Dunn, Mary Wheaton and Daniel MacCarthy.
X THE PASSAGE WORKING WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CONCERT – A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS - The Passage, a Christian Charity working with homeless people, is holding a fundraising concert at the Royal Festival Hall on Thursday 25 November on the theme Bohemian Rhapsody, featuring popular works by Dvořák, Mahler and Smetana. The performers includes Andrei Ioniță, Cello; Anush Kovhannisyan, Soprano; Streetwise Opera; Toby Purser, Conductor; and the Orion Orchestra. Full details and booking at https://passage.org.uk/night-under-the-stars-2021/ or telephone 020 75921856.
X RED WEDNESDAY – this year’s Red Wednesday will be on 24th November 2021, and we will be holding a special prayer vigil and lighting up the church at Our Lady, Help of Christians in red in the evening from 6.00pm for an hour using the new lights that have recently been installed. Please also remember that this Wednesday you are asked to wear something red in support.
As a result of targeted violence, around the world, millions of Christians are now displaced or refugees. Countless numbers have been driven from the homes, lost their livelihoods and even their liberty and their lives because of their faith.
X THE FOLKESTONE FOODBANK – As the temperature is now dropping and it has really started to become a lot colder and wetter, our generous and constant giving to the foodbank becomes increasingly important. Well done and thank you to our regular contributors - and to our occasional contributors, too! Urgently needed items are cup a soup, snacks, tinned custard, tinned rice pudding and tinned meat. Keep up the good work!
X CHRISTMAS CARDS, POSTING DATES AND MORE – from your very own Catholic Shop in our parish. Open every day after Mass at OLHoC (times are in the shop window) for all your cards, gifts, statues, rosaries and more, and every penny you spend will be supporting the work of our Parish, so please support our work. The last posting dates this year for Christmas cards (parcels are different dates) are as follows:
·
Weds 1st December for the Caribbean
·
Mon 6th December for Australia, Greece,
Italy, New Zealand and Portugal
·
Weds 8th December for Africa, Central and
South America, Asia, Far and Middle East
·
Fri 10th December for Cyprus, Malta and
Sweden
·
Sat 11th December for Eastern Europe
·
Monday 13th December for Canada, Czech
Republic, Finland, Poland and USA
·
Thurs 16th November for the rest of Europe
·
Sat 18th December for 2nd class UK
· Tues 21st December for 1st class UK
X FUNERAL MASS OF LOUISE MEGIT - the family of Louise Megit would like to extend an invitation to everyone to attend the funeral Mass at OLHoC on Friday 26th November at 12.45pm followed by a service at Hawkinge Crematorium. There will then be a wake at Upton House, Alkham Valley Road for a full reception with dining. If you would like to attend the wake, please rsvp to bdevilliers@hotmail.co.uk or call 07494989073.
X PARISH FILM SHOW of "A Man for all Seasons":
Sir Thomas More battle of conscience between duty to the crown of King Henry VIII and duty to the Church of Christ.
·
In
St Joseph's Church Hall (Monday 29th November at 2.30 pm).
·
In
the Parish Hall at Our Lady, Help of Christians and St Aloysius (Thurs. 2nd
Dec. at 7.00 pm).
- This is to allow for the greatest number of
people to attend either in the afternoon or in the evening.
- Entry is free; coffee, tea and biscuits
will be provided; you may bring your own nibbles.
- Donations will be gratefully received for
the repair of the roof of St Joseph church.
- A time for discussions on the film will
follow at the end of the show.
- If the event proves successful, more will follow.
I hope you can come and join us in the celebration of parish life. [Deacon Gehad]
X ADVANCE NOTICE OF CHRISTMAS FAYRE - Sunday 19th December. Are you able to assist with the Christmas Fayre this year? We are planning a raffle, lots of goodies for sale, plus tea, coffee and cake. If you would like to be involved, contact Dylan in the Parish office.
X PLEASE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOULS of Agata Borza, Mike Donnelly, Frances
Kirk and Louise Megit who died recently and for all those whose
anniversaries fall at this time, including amongst
them: Harry Field, Lucienne Langley, Elizabeth Southern (21st Nov); Frances
Wanstall, Lilian McGarry (23rd Nov); Alice Jones, Carmela Goolamy (24th Nov); Simon
Doherty, Kathleen Penny (25th Nov); Stanley Regnaud, Denis White (26th Nov); Bridget
Hunt, Annie Cork (27th Nov).
PARISH INFORMATION
Presbytery and Parish
Office:
41
Guildhall Street, Folkestone, Kent CT20 1EF
Tel:
01303 252823 e-mail:
folkestone@rcaos.org.uk
Parish
Secretary: Mr Dylan Jeffrey BA, PGCE, MSc
Clergy
Parish
Priest: Fr Alex Saba MA, MSLR, MCL, JCL
Priest:
Fr Francis Capener MA
Deacon: Rev. Dr Gehad Homsey MB, BCh
Our Lady Help of Christians Hall
Bookings:
Dylan Jeffrey (Tel:01303 252823)
St Joseph’s Church Hall Bookings:
Mrs M. Irving (Tel: 01303 278435)
X RETURNING TO MASS ON SUNDAYS
We are still seeing a very gradual return to increased numbers returning to Mass on Sundays in our Parish. It is well documented why there are less Masses available on Sunday due to availability of the priests in the parish, who now number less than we were fortunate to have previously. As we move into the season of Advent, we will expect increased attendance in our churches where those culturally attached and loosely affiliated come to church, as families or individually, as part of an annual custom.
Fr Alex and Fr Capener are therefore issuing the call for everyone to return to Mass, if they are physically able to, to share in the Eucharist in the Lord’s house. This is in line with the statement from the Plenary Assembly of Bishops, issued this week in Leeds about Honouring Sunday once again.
X BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE STATEMENT ON THE SUNDAY OBLIGATION, HONOURING SUNDAY
During the pandemic, public worship was suspended for a time and there have been restrictions on parish life. As a result, people have been exploring other ways to practice their faith including Spiritual Communion via live streaming.
As people begin returning to more regular patterns of parish life and following the first face to face meeting of the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales in Leeds, the bishops have issued the following statement about the importance of honouring Sunday:
Honouring Sunday
As the Synodal Pathway of listening and discerning unfolds, we the bishops of England and Wales, are paying particular attention to the hopes and fears, the joys and anxieties of all who are sharing their thoughts and feelings with us.
Longing for our Lord
We are attentive to the experience of the last year or so, when we have lived our faith through the limitations of the pandemic. We have heard of the longing which some express as a “homesickness”. We want to be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. We yearn to celebrate the sacraments together, especially the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We desire to be nourished by our Lord in Holy Communion. The live streaming of the Mass and the remarkable response of our Catholic communities to those in need, have provided comfort, sustenance and resilience.
The Eucharist, source and summit
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our spiritual and pastoral life. Many people have said to us that they have appreciated the noble simplicity of the Mass at this time, which has allowed the mystery and majesty of our Lord’s sacrificial love to shine through.
The central appeal of the Mass, its beauty and its transcendence, raises our minds and hearts to God in an unambiguous and compelling manner. Our Lord Jesus invites us to receive anew the gift of Sunday as the preeminent day, the day of the Resurrection, when the Church gathers to celebrate the Eucharist. Here we stand together before our heavenly Father, offering our thanksgiving and prayer, through our Saviour in the Holy Spirit. Here we receive Christ in his Word. Here we are nourished by Christ in his precious Body and Blood. This is our primary joy, for which there is no substitute, and from which we draw our strength.
The Gift of the Sunday Eucharist
The Sunday Eucharist is a gift; as God’s holy people we are called to praise and thank God in the most sublime way possible. When the Church speaks of the Sunday obligation, it reminds us that attending Mass is a personal response to the selfless offering of Christ’s love.
At this time, we recognise that for some people there may be certain factors which hinder attendance at Sunday Mass. The pandemic is clearly not over. The risk of infection is still present. For some, there is legitimate fear in gathering together. As your bishops, we recognise that these prevailing circumstances suggest that not everyone is yet in the position to fulfil the absolute duty to attend freely Sunday Mass.
Responding to the Gift
We now encourage all Catholics to look again at the patterns which they have formed in recent months with regard to going to Mass on Sundays. This would include consideration and reflection about what we might do on Sundays, such as sports or shopping, or other leisure and social activities. This review, and the decisions which arise from it, fall to every Catholic and we trust this will be done with honesty, motivated by a real love for the Lord whom we encounter in the Mass.
The Sunday Mass is the very heartbeat of the Church and of our personal life of faith. We gather on the “first day of the week,” and devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42). The Eucharist sustains us and spurs us on, renewing our gratitude and our hope. When we say “Amen” to Christ in receiving his Body and Blood, we express the love of God which is deep within us, and at the end of Mass, when we are sent forth, we express our love for our neighbour, especially those in need. These two dimensions reveal the full meaning of our faith. We are gathered together and sent out, we pray and are fed, we worship and we adore; these are intrinsic to our lives as those baptised into Christ.
Approved at the Plenary Assembly of Bishops in Leeds.
Thursday 18 November 2021
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