PARISH NEWS

[as appears in parish newsletter]

Sunday 4th May 2008

AROUND the PARISH

PRAYERS PLEASE  for Joele Wilcox who died, surrounded by her family, in the Wisdom Hospice last Tuesday after a long illness. Our love and prayers to the family at this sad time. Joele’s Requiem Mass will be this Thursday at 10am. X May she rest in peace.

LUNCH for FR DILLON  The lunch last Sunday was an enormous success, thanks to the huge amount of work put in by Davina Colgan and her family. Our thanks to the kitchen staff, waiters and waitresses and everyone who donated money, raffle prizes and wine, making the total amount to be sent to Fr Dillon’s mission in Kenya the generous sum of £1,670.00. There was a letter from Fr Dillon explaining how the displacement of the whole mission after the Kenyan elections, and the violence which followed, had resulted in families having no homes or jobs, and no tools to rebuild them or seed to plant crops. Also there is no school for the children. Rehabilitation from this level of deprivation is a long and ongoing task and the contribution from our parish, together with our prayers, will go some way to help.

CHURCH INTRUDERS  On Thursday we had a break-in at the church. Fortunately nothing was taken and no one hurt. One of the windows in the toilet next to the repository was broken and the door leading to the car park damaged so as to render that entrance temporarily closed. Please use the Railway Street entrance. The door to the sacristy was also forced open and the lock broken. Our thanks to Mr Bernard Bligh, who was working in the office at the time, for chasing away the culprits, informing the police and calling out the maintenance team to make safe the premises.

MAY is the MONTH of OUR LADY  The parish branch of the Legion of Mary meets every Thursday in the presbytery at 11am - anyone from the parish is welcome to join them for an hour of Rosary and reflection.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS  This year our children will be making their First Holy Communions at the evening Mass on Saturday 17th May and at the 11am Mass on Sunday 18th. Since the numbers at these Masses are likely to be high parishioners are advised to opt for the 9 o’clock Mass on the Sunday if they wish to avoid the crowds. This Mass will follow the pattern of the usual Saturday evening Mass, without singing.

THIS MONTH’S PARISH SOCIAL  For the past months we have had our highly successful parish lunches. However, to ring the changes, this month there will be a Quiz Night on Saturday 24th May (Bangers and Brains) at 7.30pm in the McMahon Hall. Tickets £5: a good sausage supper and lots of fun. All proceeds go towards the building.

SUPERMARKET VOUCHERS  Please remember to put supermarket vouchers for schools equipment in the box on the windowsill at the back of the church. St Mary’s are very grateful for this support.

GLOBAL DAY of PRAYER  Sunday 11th May from 2 to 5pm at Priestfield Stadium Conference Centre. Please see the poster in the Porch.

AROUND the DIOCESE and BEYOND

DAY of REFLECTION  for parents and carers of people with disabilities. This is on Wednesday 7th May at Hartley Hall, Culverley Rd, Catford. See the notice in the porch.

PARISH COUNCILS  Education for Parish Service (EPS) are running two evenings on setting up and sustaining parish councils. They will take place at the Christian Education Centre, 21 Tooting Bec Road, SW17 8BS, on Wednesday 7th and 14th May from 7.30 - 9pm. The evenings will be led by Fr John Mulligan. The cost is £15 per session. Details from Mary Boley (020 8672 7684/2422) or email office@cectootingbec.org.uk.

LEGION of MARY  On Saturday 10th May there will be a special Mass at Aylesford Priory at 12noon to celebrate Edela Quinn, the founder of the Legion of Mary.

A CELEBRATION of UNITY in DIVERSITY  A special Mass of thanksgiving at the English Martyrs’ Church in Strood on Saturday 10th May at 6pm. During Mass there will prayers offered in different languages. After Mass there will be a social evening with music, food and drink from different countries. Everyone welcome.

St JOHN FISHER SCHOOL  has a vacancy for a qualified ICT teacher from September. Please see the notice on the schools notice board in the porch. Also, a part time Science Technician is required as soon as possible.

HUMAN FERTILISATION BILL  We need a parish representative to join a mass lobby of MPs on May 14th (meeting at the Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, Westminster, at 12.30). If you are interested, Fr Geoffrey has the details.

MASS for NEW CATHOLICS  on Saturday 17th May at St George’s Cathedral at 11am, to be celebrated by Bishop John Hine.

The FRIARS, AYLESFORD  Have a look at the posters highlighting some of the forthcoming events at the Friars, including the Year of St Paul which begins on 29th June. All night vigils are held at the Friars on the first Saturday of each month from May to October from 10pm to 6am. See the notice in the porch. And there is a ‘Celebrate Love’ weekend at the Priory on 7th and 8th June. For further information ring 020 7931 6064 or email cathmacgillivray@rcdow.org.uk.