Parish Events

PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE OF KNOCK, CROAG PATRICK, WESTPORT, BALLINTUBBER ABBEY - 9th JULY OR 15 OCTOBER, FOR 4 DAYS - £550 On the evening of the 21st August 1879, a heavenly apparition occurred at the gable end of a parish church in the West of Ireland. Our Lady appeared with St Joseph and St John the Evangelist. This place has become an international pilgrimage centre, like Lourdes and Fatima, with many, many thousands of people, each year, visiting the spot where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a group of very poor people. Flying from Stanstead to Knock, for a pilgrimage of four days, we would visit the Payton Centre and hear about the life of the ‘Rosary Priest’ who devoted his life to praying the rosary, holy Mass on the very spot where Our Lady appeared in the parish church, holy Mass in the great basilica, visit to the holy mountain of Croag Patrick where St Patrick fasted and prayed before beginning his missionary work in Ireland, visit to the lively town of Westport for shopping and a little ‘craig’( fun!), visit to Ballintubber Abbey, where St Patrick baptised his converts to Christianity. Holy Mass and rosary each day We will stay in a very comfortable hotel on a part-board basis (breakfast and evening meal) Please put your name on the ‘Knock Pilgrimage’ sheet you will find in the porch of the church, if you would like a little more information about this possible pilgrimage.

Next Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the most important time in the year for all Christians. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. May I invite you to join me in our Cafe, next Sunday, to watch the film ‘The Passion of the Christ.’ This film is a most moving, dramatic, powerful presentation of the suffering and death of Jesus, his final 12 hours. Directed by Mel Gibson, countless people around the world, having viewed this film, have a more real understanding of the depth of God’s love for them. We will show the film in our Cafe at 3.00pm. It lasts for about 2 hours. We might have an intermission, for a comfort break, if you so wish, half-way through the film. You will be enthralled by how vividly the film portrays Our Lord’s suffering and death and quite likely moved to tears. After viewing this film, you will be better able to enter into Holy Week than ever before. The Cafe will open at 2.30, before the film, for coffee, tea and cake.

The Southwark Catholic Youth Service has re-launched several activities in 2024, for those aged 10-35. For more details about what is on offer, please sign up their network, at: www.tinyurl.com/scysnetwork

Please will all our Eucharistic Ministers join me for a short time of Prayer and Reflection on Saturday 16th March from 10.30am until 12.00midday. We will meet for 30 minutes of silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in church and then a short meeting, with a cup of coffee, in our Cafe.

Saturday 9th March Please note that First Reconciliation for children and parents will be Saturday 23rd March at 10.30am.  Thank you, dear Parents, for the wonderful example of Faith that you give to your children.

Our Archbishop John is eager to hear your views on how the Catholic Church can better preach the message of Jesus and make him better known in today’s world. Archbishop John, later this year, will be attending a meeting in Rome (a ‘Synod’ meeting) with Bishops and People from all around the world, to discuss how the Church must perhaps change some of its structures and ways of helping people to know the Lord Jesus and his love. Archbishop John wants to know what you think so that he can represent our views, at the Synod. Please come next Saturday to the Parish Room and share your thoughts and feelings which we can then pass on to Archbishop John.

Next Friday is one of the two Family Fast Days each year when we deprive ourselves of some food and the money we save by doing so, we give to CAFOD for the hungry people of our world. Please bring your savings with you to next week’s Sunday holy Masses and put them in the retiring collection.

A NOTICE FROM LINDA, BRIDGET AND LISA Quiz night at the Old Forge Cafe , Saturday 27th April from 7.30 pm. Join us for soup, bread, pudding, quizzing, fun and friendship! £10 per person (bring your own refreshments). Places will be limited so look out for the sheet at the back of the Church to book your place then pay at the door on the night.

I highly recommend these courses to you. The courses can help you to manage some of the struggles of life. Anger, a sense of Shame, and Anxiety can all seriously damage and blight our lives. We need to understand why I experience these feelings, when and why they began and how they can be transformed. 3rd February 2024: Dealing with the effects of Early-life Shame 11th May 2024: Dealing with Anxiety.  All courses take place on Saturdays, at the London Jesuit Centre, from about 10.30am until 3.00pm. Please book by visiting the London Jesuit Centre website. Unfortunately, there are no more places available for the workshop on ‘Shame in Early Life.’ Book early for the workshop ‘Dealing with Anxiety.