PALM SUNDAY
PASSION OF THE LORD
MASS (OLHoC): 6.00pm (Pro Populo)
MASS (OLHoC): 9.00am (Agata & Ernesto Borza RIP)
X Refreshments in the Hall
after Mass
Palm Sunday procession from the hall 10.45am
MASS (OLHoC): 11.00am (Mark Hall RIP)
No Children’s Liturgy session today
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
•
MONDAY OF HOLY
WEEK - March 25th
(OLHoC):
9.00am (Bronwen
Stinati RIP)
•
TUESDAY OF
HOLY WEEK - March 26th
NO MASS TODAY AT OLHoC
• WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK, March 27th
NO MASS HERE - CHRISM MASS AT ST GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL,
SOUTHWARK: 11.30am
THE EASTER TRIDUUM
MAUNDY THURSDAY, March 28th
MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
8.00pm
(OLHoC)
Followed by the Watch until Midnight
X
GOOD FRIDAY, March 29th
FRIDAY OF THE
PASSION OF THE LORD
(Annual
Papal collection for the Holy Places)
X
HOLY SATURDAY March 30th
Święconka
[Blessing of the Easter Baskets] (OLHoC):
1.00pm
THE
EASTER VIGIL
IN
THE HOLY NIGHT
8.00pm (OLHoC) (Priest’s Intention)
The New Fire; the
Vigil; Renewal of Baptismal Promises; and First Mass of Easter
EASTER
DAY, March 31st
EASTER
SUNDAY
OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
MASS & Renewal of Baptismal Promises
9.00am (OLHoC) (Pro Populo)
MASS & Renewal of Baptismal Promises 11.00am
(OLHoC)
(Malcolm Slade RIP)
XXXXX CLOCKS GO FORWARD NEXT
SATURDAY AT 2.00am! XXXXXXXXXXXXX
X COLLECTIONS – last weekend’s collection raised £934.05. The second collection for the Poor Parishes of the diocese raised £314.45. Thank you for your generosity.
On Friday 29th March there will be the annual Pontifical collection for the Holy Places. The Vatican is encouraging Catholics across the globe to donate to the annual Collection “Pro Terra Sancta” as a way to invest in the Church’s future in the Middle East, while connecting everyone to the Holy Land. This collection is sent for the upkeep and to maintain Christian schooling in the places connected with Our Lord’s Passion which have always been centres of veneration and pilgrimage.
X THE SICK - We remember all those who are sick and
housebound and that they remain in our prayers including Paul Croft,
John McDermottroe, Bob Vickery, Canon Luke Smith, Beulah Blomfield,
John Lodge, Robert Jones, Veronica Poulton, Margaret Woolley, Ema Deba,
Rosaleen Kelly, King Charles, Angelo Strinati, little Aibhlinn McCarthy and all those who
have asked for our prayers.
X WE PRAY FOR KATE, THE PRINCESS OF WALES
On Friday 22 March, the Princess of Wales shared a video message about her health and cancer diagnosis with the Nation.
Following the message, Cardinal Vincent Nichols said:
‘I salute the courage of the Princess of Wales in speaking so openly about her personal health. Not only does she give encouragement to all who carry the burden of ill health, but she also speaks so movingly of the importance of her family life. Her message will move many people to pray for her and her full recovery, as I certainly will do myself.’
X GIFT AID UPDATE – Due to unforeseen circumstances, the new envelopes for our Gift aiders have been delayed and should be available for collection next weekend.
Apologies for any
inconvenience this may cause.
X DIOCESAN CHRISM MASS will be held on Wednesday 27th March at 11.30am at St George’s Cathedral, Lambeth Road, London SE1. Archbishop John Wilson warmly invites all to join him at St George's Cathedral for the joyous annual Diocesan Chrism Mass.
Please note that there will be no Mass here on this day to enable attendance by Fr Alex and parishioners at the Chrism Mass.
X YOUNG ADULT EVENTS - St George's Cathedral hosts a monthly Young Adult Mass at 6:00pm on the first Sunday of every month, followed by a social gathering (for those 18+). There are also weekly events and socials on Thursday evenings. Details on the website, Facebook, and Instagram @stgeorgesya.
X WE PRAY FOR THE RECENTLY DECEASED - Please pray for the repose of the souls Malcolm Slade, Sheelagh (Mary) Crowther and all those who have died recently or whose anniversaries fall at this time including: Steve Press (7th Mar); Evelyn Hannah, Stephen Hixon, Norah Slevin (24th Mar); Francis McCabe, Mildred Martin, Anne Brewerton (26th Mar) Patricia Reeves (27th March); Julian Perez-Tejedor (28th Mar); James Martin, Paul Kubilec (29th Mar); Jean Smith, Mary Adams, Stephen Geering (30th Mar); Bridget Woodsford (31st Mar); Fernando Nunes-Diniz, Gladys Baker, Rose Simons, Drummond De Villiers (1st Apr); Leonard Ashton (2nd Apr).
X EASTER TRIDUUM REMINDER
Thursday 28th March – Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 8.00pm at OLHoC followed by watching vigil until midnight.
Holy Thursday Night Watch will begin from 9.40pm after the procession to the Altar of Repose. People are encouraged to keep silence from the repose to the time the group prayer led by a Committee until midnight when we will conclude with the Night Prayer of the Church.
The Group Prayer will be led by the Committees and will last 40 minutes and we ask participants to follow the lead of the Leader of Prayer.
Friday 29th March at 3.00pm – The Passion of the Lord at 3.00pm at OLHoC
Saturday 30th March – Easter Vigil at 8.00pm at OLHoC with Easter eggs provided for the children
Sunday 31st March – Easter Sunday 9.00am and 11.00am with Easter eggs for the children.
X PARISH CATHOLIC BOOK AND GIFT SHOP: Easter cards now in stock. New Easter activity and storybooks for children are also available along with all other Catholic gifts and items.
X INFANTS’ BAPTISM - Anyone who would like to baptise a child under seven should first use the open door on Thursdays to get all the information needed for the preparation before a date can be fixed for the celebration of baptism.
After having considered people’s preference for Saturday’s Baptism which goes against the Church’s clear teaching that is: “to bring out the paschal character of baptism, it is recommended that the sacrament of baptism is celebrated during the Easter Vigil or on Sunday, when the Church commemorates the Lord’s resurrection.”
To bring this preference closer to the Church’s teaching, if people opt for Saturday’s Baptism this will take place at 3pm’n a Saturday while the norm which is Sunday’s Baptism will take place on 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 1pm. Only a baptised and Confirmed Catholic can be a god parent; a baptised non-Catholic can only be Christian witness not a godparent.
X RAINBOW CENTRE SPONSORED KNIT-IN is taking place on Wednesday April 10th in the hall at OLHoC. Fifteen teams took part last year including 2 teams from our own Parish, and raised over £5000 for the work of the Rainbow Centre. Are you interested in knitting and being sponsored – please ring Sara on 07745 247102.
X A TALK ON ST EANSWYTHE OF FOLKESTONE -A Talk on her life, After-life and Legacy. By: Dr Andrew Richardson FSA (Director,Isle Heritage CIC) and Judy Docherty (Community Volunteer with the Finding Eanswythe Project).
The talk will be held in Our Lady Help of Christians Church Hall, Guildhall Street Folkestone on Saturday April 20th 2024 at 2.00pm. Refreshments will be available.
X THE DEAN OF DOVER, FATHER JOHN PANARIO’S JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS. The celebration to mark 50 years since Father John was ordained in 2020 had to be postponed due to the pandemic.
This event will now take place on Saturday 13th July at Our Lady OF Dover, 24 Old Park Hill, Dover CT16 2AW. Mass will be at 12:00 noon followed by a reception and buffet. All are very welcome.
X BRITISH SUMMERTIME IS COMING NEXT WEEKEND - Clocks will spring forward 1 hour at 2.00am on Sunday 31st March.
Remember to set your clocks and watches forward by 1 hour before you go to bed this coming Saturday to make sure you are not late for Easter Sunday Mass next week.
X ARCHBISHOP JOHN “EVERY HUMAN LIFE IS TO BE CHERISHED”
Archbishop John issues a pastoral message on assisted suicide making clear we are called to care for those suffering, not to bring about their death.
With increased pressure on MPs to change the legislation on assisted suicide, Archbishop John Wilson has issued a pastoral message highlighting the threat this poses to human life and our claim to uphold equality.
‘The Catholic Church believes and teaches that every life is valuable, regardless of one’s physical or mental state or ability. We are called to care for those who are suffering, not to bring about their death. We cannot approve of any form of euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Rather, we need to support individuals, families, and those who work in healthcare, so that the fundamental value of life is not eroded. The United Kingdom is currently experiencing a significant campaign by advocates of assisted suicide. This has gained momentum following Dame Esther Rantzen’s announcement that she has joined Dignitas, the assisted suicide facility in Switzerland. There has been increased media coverage and pressure on Members of Parliament to change legislation.
Assisted suicide refers to the act of deliberately assisting another person to end their life, usually by providing them with lethal drugs. Euthanasia is an action or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering.2 Both involve a fundamental conviction that life is not worth living and a suffering person is better off dead. This raises many serious issues: the pressure which will fall on people with debilitating and life-shortening illnesses who are made to feel a burden to their family or society; the slippery slope which moves from there being an option to end one’s life to this becoming a duty; the impact on the ethos of medical and healthcare workers when those we trust to care for us also become those who might end our life; and the challenges of obtaining consent in the context of suffering. Elevating individual choice above any concern for its wider consequences can deform a culture of life into a culture of death. Experience shows, not least with abortion legislation, that whatever safeguards are initially assured, restrictions are trampled.’
Archbishop John concluded his message, which is available in full to read at https://tinyurl.com/rcsouthwark-assisted-suicide with the words
‘Dear brothers and sisters, you and me, every
person, is created in the image and likeness of God, and is therefore deserving
of respect and protection. As baptised followers of the Lord Jesus we must do
all within our power to support the most vulnerable in our society, especially
those who have no voice to speak for themselves. May God bless you always, and
guide and strengthen you in your efforts to uphold, respect, and protect every
human life from conception until natural death.’
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