Parish Events

Monday this week is the Feast of St. Blaise, who was a Bishop in Armenia in the 4th century. He was a physician before becoming a Bishop. His reputation spread widely throughout the church in the Middle Ages, because he was reputed to have miraculously cured a little boy who nearly died because of a fishbone stuck in his throat. From the 8th century, he was asked to pray for those who suffered from illnesses of the throat. One account of the miracle cure was that it took place when he had been imprisoned for his faith and when he picked up two candles provided for him and formed a cross around the boy’s throat. I will offer you this Blessing on Monday. During holy Masses

This is the next workshop I am hoping to offer. Please look on the LJC website for details and to book a place. Shame is a feeling that often lies deep and hidden within us. Even though the causes of those feelings may have occurred many years previously, they can still be alive and active in our lives today, spoiling our joy and peace. In this workshop, we will explore how Shame can take root within us, even without being consciously aware of it and how we can be healed of the damage done to us.  Hope you can come - we can travel together.

The holy Bible is God’s living Word. The Word of God is proclaimed every time we come to holy Mass. It acts like a Navigation System to direct us into a special way of living our lives, a special way that will lead us safely to our destination of Heaven. It is so important that we listen with our hearts and minds to God’s Word whenever it is proclaimed to us. It is vitally important that we understand God’s Word whether we listen to it or indeed whether we are the ones proclaiming the Word, as Lectors.  It was recently suggested to me that we have regular Bible Study meetings. We did this, if you remember, in pre-COVID days! Let’s start again! May I invite everyone to join me, in our Parish Room, once a month, for an hour, to look at and to pray the Bible Readings used in our celebrations of holy Mass each month. Understanding the Readings will help us to gain so much from them, whether you are someone, during holy Mass, who simply listens to the Word or someone who also proclaims the Word. These Bible Study meetings are for everyone but may I ask, especially that our Lectors make these meetings a priority. The meetings will help us all to better understand God’s Word and if we are Lectors to better proclaim God’s Word with meaning and skill. The date and time of our next meeting is above. Please note that it is on a Saturday morning rather than a weekday evening, to make it easier for everyone to attend, especially our Lectors

During this week, many people who hold different views of the Christian Faith, are encouraged to pray together and work for closer bonds. In our area, this week, there are two ways, two Services, in which we can do this. The two Services are: Wednesday: Morning Prayer and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 9.00am, followed by holy Mass at 9.30am in the Catholic church of the Holy Family, Sanderstead.  Wednesday: Prayer Service at 12.00midday in Sanderstead Methodist church

Please see below all the times of holy Masses and Services during the Season of Christmas. Many hearts are open to the Lord’s loving invitation at this holy time of the year, to know him and to discover his life-giving love. Please invite members of your family, your friends, your neighbours and colleagues to come with you to the holy Masses and Services of Christmas. The Lord will speak through you, through your words, inviting people to know him and to know the salvation he comes to give us. Mon 23 Dec: 9.30am THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD – CHRISTMAS Tue 24 Dec: (Vigil Holy Mass of Christmas in HMP Elmley at 9.00am) 5.30pm Christmas Carols Service 6.00pm Vigil Holy Mass of Christmas Day 12.00Midnight Holy Mass of Christmas Day Wed 25 Dec: 11.00am Holy Mass of Christmas Day Thu 26 Dec: 12.00Midday Fri 27 Dec: 9.30am FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH Sat 28 Dec: 5.00PM Vigil holy Mass of the Holy Family Sun 29 Dec: 9.00aam 11.00am Mon 30 Dec: Holy Mass in HMP Elmley at 9.00am Tue 31 Dec: 9.30am Wed 1st January 2025 12.00Midday Thu 2 Jan: 9.30am  Fri 3 Jan: 9.30am THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Sat 4 Jan: 5.00pm Vigil holy Mass of The Epiphany Sun 5 Jan: 9.00am 11.00am

Tuesday 17th December at 6.00pm. Please pop this date and time in your diary. To allow the Lord to love and forgive and heal  us is the best preparation possible to celebrate, at Christmas, the anniversary of his first coming into our world.

Please may I ask everyone to come to our church on Monday 23rd December to help in the decoration and cleaning of the church for Christmas. Also, please may I invite all our children (and parents) to help to design and build the crib. You might like to come to holy Mass at 9.30am and after holy Mass we can decorate the church, build the crib, clean and tidy God’s house.

Anger is a normal human emotion but it must be understood as a part of our lives that needs to be lived in a healthy, wise way. When this happens, Anger is a great force for good but when it is misunderstood and allowed to express itself in destructive ways then it can cause fear and chaos. This short one-day course, which I have been invited to deliver at the LJC on Saturday 7th December , from 10.00am until 2.00pm, will be helpful for anyone who wishes to better understand Anger in themselves or in someone else and will give suggestions about how to live this powerful human emotion in a good, life-giving way. Please check the LJC website for more details and to book a place on the course.

‘Welcome to our new friends’ Woof Woof