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

Thank you so much to all the wonderful people who act as Hosts in our Olde Forge Cafe. If you are not yet a Host, please speak with me. It would be great to increase the team of Hosts. All training to operate the Coffee Machine, will be given.

As last year, I have invited our friends from the other Christian Churches in our area, to join us for a three-part series of discussions during the holy Season of Lent which begins in the not too distant future!  We will meet in the Olde Forge Cafe at 12.00midday for one hour, on the 12th, 19th and 26th of March. We will be talking about the three great theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. One of the leaders of each Christian Church in our area will give a 10/15 minute introduction and then pose a few questions to the group for discussion. On the 12th, Graham, our local Methodist Minister will lead on the theme of ‘Faith.’ I’ll lead on the theme of ‘Hope’, on the 19th. We will be led by a third person on the theme of ‘Charity’ on the 26th. Please pop these dates and time in your diary.

Our programme of preparation for the two Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist for children and their parents is well underway. We will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday morning, the 15th March , beginning at 10.00am in our church. Our children will receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion for the first time, with their parents, on Sunday 7th June, during 11.00am holy Mass.

Please remember, in your prayers, to thank the Lord for: Paul, who has been commissioned by our Archdiocese to become an ‘Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion’. Paul now joins our parish group of Ministers who have the enormous honour and privilege of sharing in such a great, sacred gift. Canon Gerard Bradley, who will be ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Southwark on Monday this week.  Please pray for me too that my visit to the High-Security prison of HMP Belmarsh, this week, will be helpful to the residents and staff in the prison.

Wed: Collette Thu: Marian  Fri: David

Dear Parents, please make sure that you and your children arrive early for Sunday holy Mass so that the children, at the beginning of holy Mass, may make their way into the sacristy with our Catechists, to begin their own special reflection on the Sunday Gospels.

An Intention for holy Mass is a specific prayer, often for a particular person or purpose, that a priest offers during the celebration of a holy Mass. It is the best way that we have to unite our lives, our hopes, our fears, our joys and our sorrows with the Lord Jesus. It is the best way possible, because every time holy Mass takes place, the Lord’s Death and Resurrection also takes place. A holy Mass Intention is a prayer asking that the Lord’s victory over sin and death be applied to the Intention. The Intention can be for those who are still living in this world or for those who have left this world. Anyone, of course, may request a holy Mass - In Thanksgiving, for a Birthday, for someone who has died, on the occasion of a special Anniversary, for someone who is unwell or for any other intention that we believe the good Lord wishes to hear and possibly to give us. Every holy Mass is the making present of the Lord offering his saving love to everyone, so every holy Mass is for everyone! However, sometimes we have specific Intentions that we may wish to mention to the Lord. A ‘Stipend’ or Offering for the holy Mass is not a fee! It is not ‘the cost of a holy Mass’! The holy Mass is so sacred, so full of the Lord’s presence and saving power that it is priceless! In fact, the Stipend is only a gesture of gratitude and care for the priest who celebrates the holy Mass for you. It is a way for supporting our priests who, although they do not receive salaries, still need personal funds to meet their own ‘costs of living.’ The Stipend suggested by the Archdiocese of Southwark Finance Committee is a minimum of £10 for each holy Mass. Of course, anyone who can’t afford a Stipend should still request a holy Mass Intention and I’m sure every priest would always be more than happy to celebrate holy Mass for someone in that situation.  Here in our parish, please use the holy Mass Intention envelopes which you will find in the porch of the church. Please write the details of the Intention, a preferred date if required, enclose the Stipend, and let me have it directly or post it through the presbytery letterbox.

Please could you come to help us keep the place where the Lord dwells among us, clean and tidy. Thank you.

Please do your best to bring members of your family, your friends, neighbours and colleagues who normally have little, if any contact with our Catholic parish, to the Olde Forge Cafe. Please remember that those you bring with you DO NOT give a donation for their coffee and cake. Only us, who are regular members of our parish, are asked to give a donation, each time, to cover the cost of the Coffee machine, coffee beans, heat, light etc. Dear Bakers and those who provide milk, please remember to take your expenses from the donations received.