CHRISTMAS

4/5: 5pm Jim; 9am Lisa; 11am Richard 11/12: 5pm Claire; 9am Gerry; 11am Patricia 18/19: 5pm Marian; 9am Lizzie; 11am Paul 25/26: 5pm Mary; 9am Giannina; 11am Lorenza

On the weekend of the 25th/26th October , I’m delighted to tell you that members of the Catholic Apostolate of the ‘Women of Christ’s Love’ will join us for holy Mass in our parish. They believe very strongly that “Christ’s love for humanity must be the focus of our worship.”

On Saturday 6th December , from 10.00am until 2.00pm, I’ll be delivering this course. The course will bring hope to anyone who is struggling in any way with the complexities and disappointments of life and deeper meaning to anyone who wishes to live and die with peace and joy. The Lord who loves us, is with us in everything. He can show us how to live and even how to die, in the ways that will bring peace and joy to our hearts and minds, whatever be our circumstances. Please book early for this course, on the London Jesuit Centre website, to avoid disappointment.

As you see, we have raised up the outside crucifix to a height which now makes it fully visible to all who pass by our church. It is also now surrounded by a solid base.  This is another way in which we are demonstrating that we are a Christian community obedient to the Lord and to our Archbishop, by becoming a missionary parish. We are trying to make stronger the ‘rumour’ of the living presence of the true God who loves everyone and who can save all who come to him from their sins and from death itself. In a secular culture where the worship of false Gods like Money and Power and Violence and Fame and Selfishness in all its forms and Greed are so strong, the Lord needs you and I to take every opportunity we can to make his saving loving presence known.

To Bridget who delivers a supply of our weekly ‘Food Bank’ fruit and vegetables to our sisters and brothers in New Addington.

SEPTEMBER 2025  27/28: 5pm Patrick; 9am Lizzie; 11am Paul(H) OCTOBER 2025 4/5 : 5pm Patricia; 9am Angela; 11am Ross, David, Marian(H) 11/12 : 5pm Phil; 9am Margaret; 11am Simone(H) 18/19 : 5pm Carolyn; 9am Lisa; 11am Mary, Lorenza, Gabrielle(H) 25/26 : 5pm John; 9am Giannina; 11am Linda, Regina, Lesley(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.

Our Olde Forge Cafe has been up and running for some time now. There have been very wonderful signs, during these past months, that the Lord has been working through our efforts in the Cafe, to bring his love and truth to others who don’t yet know him well. Thank you so much especially to everyone who ministers as a Host or Baker. Thank you to everyone who has invited friends, family members, neighbours, colleagues to join them for refreshments in the Cafe. Of course we are delighted to offer our guests free drinks and cakes, while we ourselves offer a donation to cover costs. If you haven’t yet come into the Cafe or if you haven’t yet brought a guest with you, please may I urge you in the name of the Lord and at the request of our Archbishop, to please do so. Every one of us is called by the Lord to bring others to know him. If you do or even if you don’t think our Cafe is the best way to do this as a parish Faith community, nonetheless please take a full and active part in this initiative. In that way we really are trying to fulfil what our dear Lord Jesus is asking of us.

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.

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.