ANONYMOUS LETTER FROM A PARISHIONER

Webmaster • August 18, 2025

Dear Father Malachy


I hope this letter reaches you at the right moment. A small encouragement tucked between your many unseen labours Please know that even if you don't always hear it aloud, what you’re doing and chose to do matters.


Though I remain anonymous, I am part of this parish and I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for staying- faithful, even when the pews felt a little empty. Thank you for showing up, not just to preach, but to live the Gospel through action; by opening the café, openng Bible study, creating spaces for connection, prayer and warmth. It’s easy to over - look these things in a busy world, but I see them. Many of us do. And they mean more than you may ever know.


Thank you also for creating space for others to serve, in a time when many feel disconnected from their faith, it’s a quiet gift to see opportunities open up within the parish, ways for people to take part, however small. That kind of invitation a can mean more than words express.


Even if some members of your parish aren’t here all the time, and even if the presence feels scattered or uncertain, please know that your ministry is still reaching hearts. There are many of us who are quietly praying for this parish, even from a distance. People who are not away visible but are still drawing closer to God, slowly, quietly, but deeply.


Even when growth feels hidden, I hope you remember that God sees it all. Your words, your witness, your sacrifices. None of it is in vain, Some-of the most life -changing work happens in silence and in stillness. You are creating a space where the holy spirit can move, even when it seems small. Sometimes, the smallest seeds grow into the strongest roots, ones that hold firm through every season. And though the fruit may not be visible yet, God is still working. Please do not lose heart. The quiet things matter to God, the prayers no one hears, the hours no one sees, the love that doesn’t need recognition, It all adds up in eternity. Your faithfulness is planting more than you know. And one day, those seeds will bear fruit in ways only Heaven can measure.


May God bless you with strength when you're weary, joy when you’re discouraged, and peace that comes not from outcomes. but from the quiet assurance that you’re walking faith fully with him.


Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for staying.


With gratitude.

A thankful member of the parish.

THANK YOU

By Webmaster • July 6, 2026
To Lorenza, who, with help from the Finance Department of the Archdiocese of Southwark, has brought all our parish accounts up to date, including four years of Gift-Aid details.

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION ROTA

By Webmaster • July 5, 2026
July 4/5: 5pm Paul Mould; 9am Lizzie; 11am Lorenza, Patrick, Regina(H) 11/12: 5pm Patricia Keating; 9am Maggie; 11am Ross, Marian, David(H) (NB NO 9AM HOLY MASS ON SUNDAYS; 10.30AM HOLY MASS ON SUNDAYS, INSTEAD OF 11AM) 18/19 : 5pm Marian; 10.30am Angela, Margaret, Phil(H) 25/26 : 5pm Simone; 10.30am Mary, Lisa, Jim(H) August 1/2 : 5pm Paul; 10.30am Paul Donovan, Giannina, Gaberielle(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.

DEALING WITH LONELINESS - 11TH JULY AT THE LONDON JESUIT CENTRE

By Webmaster • July 5, 2026
Deep in the human heart is a longing to be connected to others, to love and to be loved. I am leading this Workshop from 10.00am until 2.00pm on Saturday 11th July . The Workshop will help us to understand the reasons why we sometimes feel lonely and what a devastating effect Loneliness can have on us. I’ll suggest effective ways to ensure that your experience of Loneliness can actually become the means of finding deep, satisfying ways of being close to the Lord and to other people. The workshop will take place at the London Jesuit Centre. If you would like to attend this Workshop, please book now on the London Jesuit Centre website.

WEEK DAY LECTORS

By WEBMASTER • July 5, 2026
Tue 7th July: Lisa Wed 8th July: Jim  Fri 10th July: Clare

HOLY MASS INTENTION/STIPEND

By Webmaster • July 5, 2026
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.

ROTA FOR LECTORS – JULY 2026

By Webmaster • July 5, 2026
4/5: 5pm Claire; 9am Richard; 11am Paul Donovan 11/12: 5pm Phil; 9am David; 11am Patricia (NB NO 9AM HOLY MASS ON SUNDAYS; 10.30AM HOLY MASS ON SUNDAYS, INSTEAD OF 11AM) 18/19: 5pm Maggie; 10.30am Gerry 25/26: 5pm Jim; 10.30am Chinwe 1/2 August: 5pm Lisa; 10.30am Mutsa

OLDE FORGE CAFE - FREE COFFEE AND CAKE FOR OUR VISITORS

By Webmaster • July 5, 2026
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.

BEQUEST, IN A WILL

By Webmaster • July 5, 2026
It is wise to write a Will so that the resources you have when the time comes for you to leave this world, goes to the people and organisations you wish. May I suggest that you might consider leaving a Bequest in your will to our parish or to our diocese or to our priest as well as to other causes. A gift in your will can enable us to continue to help people to know the Lord Jesus and his saving love. What a wonderful legacy you would be leaving behind.

PARISH FOOD BANK

By Webmaster • July 5, 2026
Our rota for the delivery of food to the Good Shepherd school in New Addington begins this week. Please find the rota below. The dates indicated are Thursdays during the school term. Please collect the two hessian bags of fruit on Thursdays from the porch of the presbytery between the hours of 8.30am and 2.30pm. Please then bring the fruit to the school in New Addington. The fruit could even be collected and delivered on Friday mornings too, if necessary. The address of the school is: 23, Dunley Drive New Addington CR0 0RG. The school is close to the Good Shepherd Catholic Church.  JULY 2026 2: Marlene and Gwen 9: Elaine Clark 16: David

OLD FORGE CAFE BAKER’S AND HOST'S ROTA

By Webmaster • June 28, 2026
OLDE FORGE CAFE BAKERS/PROVIDERS ROTA JULY 2026 4: Lizzie 11: Maggie Bowes 18: Giannina 25: Chinwe Please, if possible, could you provide enough cakes for the whole of each week. Thank you to everybody who is helping to provide cakes. To avoid having too many cakes, Coral mentioned to me that non-perishable cakes can be safely stored in the Cafe for a short while. When it is your turn to provide a non-perishable cake, please bring your cake to the Cafe a few days before the date of your turn. OLDE FORGE CAFE - HOSTS ROTA JUNE 2026  30th June: Gaberielle, Maggie JULY 2026 4: Ross, David 5: Jim, Patricia 7: Jenny, Collette 11: Phil, Mary 12: Regina, Patrick 14: Lorenza, Marian 18: Maggie, Simone 19: Emmanuala, Giannina 21: Gaberielle, Paul 25: Jenny, Lizzie 26: Lorenza, David 28: Marian, Ross Please note that for each of the above dates when the Cafe is open, one of the two Hosts has been trained in the use of the new coffee machine. Please would that trained person be the only person operating the machine and also please train the other person in its use. Many thanks. Thank you to everybody who acts as a Host. If an unexpected emergency occurs on the date you are scheduled to be a Host, please don’t worry about the Cafe. No need to try to find someone to ‘stand in’ for you. There is no need whatsoever to ‘swop’ with someone! We are not a Business, having to stay open to make money! - we open when and if we can. We take this role of ‘Host’ as a Vocation from the Lord to be his Missionary and his Prophet. Actually, the Cafe has, at times, functioned well with just one Host. The success of our Evangelisation Cafe depends on us. The more we speak to others of our Cafe, inviting them to visit us, the more successful it will be. Please invite members of your families, your friends, your neighbours and colleagues. Please check when it is your turn to be a Host (or a Baker!). Please see this role as a Calling, a Vocation from the Lord which you are generously telling the Lord you will do”. Thank you so much for your trust in the good Lord