Statement from the Archbishop of Southwark Following the Vote on Assisted Dying in the House of Commons

WEBMASTER • December 1, 2024

I am deeply saddened and extremely worried by the progress made in the House of Commons towards the legalisation of assisted suicide. While this is not yet the final step in enacting this legislation, it represents a seismic and concerning shift in our nation’s approach to caring for the most vulnerable among us.


Compassion, rightly understood, means standing with those who suffer, sharing their burdens, and honouring their dignity until the natural end of their lives. It does not mean hastening death, even in the face of pain or despair. Every human life is of immeasurable value, and our response must always be to protect and support those who are most in need.


The experience of other countries where assisted suicide has been introduced serves as a grave warning. Promised safeguards are eroded over time, leaving the elderly, disabled, and seriously ill at risk of feeling their lives are a burden to others. The subtle, and sometimes overt, pressure this creates threatens the very fabric of a society built on care and protection for the weakest.


Legalising assisted suicide also undermines the essential trust between patients and healthcare professionals. Those who dedicate their lives to healing and comforting the sick are being placed in an untenable position. Conscientious objection — the right of medical practitioners, nursing and care staff, and institutions to refuse to participate in practices that violate their deeply held ethical or religious convictions — must be upheld and protected. Without this assurance, the ethos of our healthcare system and the integrity of those who serve within it are at serious risk.


Instead of moving towards assisted suicide, we must commit to improving palliative care, ensuring that expert pain relief, emotional support, and spiritual care are available to all who need them. No one should feel alone or abandoned in their suffering.


As we face this challenging moment, I call on Catholics and all people of goodwill to advocate for the protection of life at every stage and to stand in solidarity with those who are most vulnerable. Let us also turn to the Lord Jesus, who shared in human suffering and revealed the depth of his love through his death and resurrection. Through him, we find the strength to defend the dignity of every person and to build a society that values the gift of life from conception to natural death.


Archbishop John Wilson

29 November 2024

ROTA FOR LECTORS – NOVEMBER

By Webmaster • November 3, 2025
1/2: 5pm Richard; 9am Gerry; 11am Mutsa 8/9: 5pm Collette; 9am Claire; 11am Paul 15/16: 5pm Marian; 9am Lorenza; 11am Patricia 22/23: 5pm Lizzie; 9am David; 11am Jim 29/30: 5pm Maggie; 9am John; 11am Lisa

HEALTH AND SAFETY - LEAVES!

By Webmaster • November 3, 2025
Please be careful on the pavement in front of the church and on the pathways leading to the main door of the church and around the church and Cafe and presbytery. As Autumn takes hold and the daylight hours decrease, fallen leaves make for slippery surfaces. If you see fallen leaves around our church and buildings and on the pavement in front of the church, please clear the leaves. There is a brush in the church porch. Thank you. Thank you so much to everyone who helped to sweep and remove fallen leaves after holy Mass last Sunday. We will need to keep doing this for a few more weeks, I fear! If you can hold a broom, please help!

BLESSING OF GRAVES

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
BLESSING OF GRAVES AND PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED Next Sunday afternoon, 9th November , I’ll be pleased to visit local cemeteries to bless the graves of your loved ones with holy water and pray for them. Please let me know if you would like me to do this for you.

THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER - PRAYING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
We began the month of November with the great Feast of All Saints, inviting everyone who is now with the Lord in Heaven, living in eternal joy, to pray for us. Tomorrow, the Feast of All Souls, we begin to think of those who have died and, while not yet in Heaven, are on their way home! We believe that the holy Mass and our prayers help these Holy Souls on that journey. Do come to holy Mass tomorrow, All Souls Day, and join me and through the holy Mass we can help our loved ones to speedily reach our homeland of Heaven.  If you would like me to offer holy Mass during the month of November, for specific members of your family or friends who have died, please fill in one of the Holy Mass envelopes which you will find in the church porch, enclose your stipend and please give it to me or pop it through the presbytery letterbox. In the holy Mass, we are connected to the Lord Jesus in his death and resurrection. The holy Mass is the most powerful means possible to allow the Lord to bring us and our loved ones safely home to Heaven.

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION ROTA

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
NOVEMBER 2025 1/2: 5pm Patrick; 9am Paul; 11am Lizzie, Ross, Marian(H) 8/9: 5pm Patricia; 9am Maggie; 11am Lorenza, David, Simone(H) 15/16: 5pm Angela; 9am Phil; 11am Margaret, Mary, Lisa(H) 22/23: 5pm Carolyn; 9am Jim; 11am John, Gabrielle, Giannina(H) 29/30: 5pm Regina; 9am Patrick; 11am Paul, Patricia, Linda(H) Thank you to our wonderful Ministers of the Eucharist who have accepted the Lord’s invitation to this awesome, sacred ministry, by their willingness to give up their own plans and convenience in order to do God’s will rather than their own. Let us pray for them because they too fight the same personal weaknesses we all have to fight against and they too have to fight the same temptations we all have to fight. God be with them.

WEEK DAY LECTORS

By WEBMASTER • November 2, 2025
Mon 3rd Nov: Gerry Tue 4th Nov: Paul Doherty Wed 5th Nov: David Thu 6th Nov: Jim Fri 7th Nov: Lizzie

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD DURING 11.00am SUNDAY HOLY MASS

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
We will begin again our ‘Liturgy of the Word’ for children of Primary School age on Sunday November 2nd and then on the following consecutive Sundays. Dear Parents please bear these dates in mind when you bring your children to holy Mass. During these ‘Liturgy of the Word’ sessions, our children will have opportunities to understand and enjoy God’s loving Word during the 11.00am holy Mass.

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
Please add the names of any loved ones who have died in the last year, to our Book of Remembrance, on the page of the date they left our world. The Book of Remembrance will be placed on the altar during every holy Mass in this month of November and so we will remember to pray for them at each and every holy Mass.

THE PARISH IN COUNCIL - MEETING - A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
Each year we have a meeting for the whole parish to discuss our plans for the forthcoming year and to review all that we have achieved, by God’s grace, during the previous year. At this meeting we will cover every aspect of our parish life, from Liturgy to Finances! Last year, you may remember, we discussed our Archbishop’s plans for the diocese and parishes. May I invite everyone to this ‘Parish in Council’ meeting on Thursday 6th November at 6.30pm

RCIA - RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS - DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

By Webmaster • November 2, 2025
We will soon begin again our meetings for adults who are thinking about becoming Catholics and/or who wish to receive the Sacraments of Baptism or Eucharist or Reconciliation or Confirmation. The next 3 meetings will be at 5.00pm on the 7th, 14th and 21st November. The meetings will take place in our Parish Room. We already have 2 adults who have signed up for these sessions. Please let me know if you have not yet been baptised or have not yet received the Sacraments mentioned above. You will be most welcome at these meetings which will be very informal and relaxed.