Join us for a delightful "Children's Art Exhibition Day" at the Olde Forge Café on Sunday, May 12th , from 12:00 PM to 1:30PM. This year's inspiring theme is "God's Creations." Children are invited to pick up their drawing sheets which can be found on the table in the church porch. Once their masterpieces are complete, please return them to the designated tray on the table in the porch of the church. On the day of the exhibition, all artwork will be proudly displayed on the café walls for everyone's enjoyment. Bring your family and friends to celebrate the creative talents of our young artists!
On Saturday 11th May , I’m offering a short one-day Workshop at the London Jesuit Centre, from 11.00am until 3.00pm. The theme will be: ‘Why we human beings worry so much and how we can deal with anxiety in our lives?’ If you would like to come to this Workshop, please book on the London Jesuit Centre website. We could travel together from Sanderstead to the LJC in Mayfair. Please let me know.
Thank you to everybody who came to share their views on our present Sunday holy Mass schedule. It was a most helpful meeting. The clear consensus was that a change or changes in the number/times of Sunday holy Masses in our parish, needs to be made. Before any change does or doesn’t take place, may I ask anybody who didn’t come to last Saturday’s meeting, to please let me have your views, in the next two weeks. No decision will be made before then. Many thanks.
To our Quiz Night team for organising a splendid social evening. Great enjoyment was had by everyone. Thank you especially to Bridget, Linda and Lisa. To John for providing more excellent ‘Olde Forge Cafe’ hand-outs.
APRIL 2024 6/7: 6pm Angela; 9am Simone; 11am Lorenza, Patrick, Regina(H) 13/14: 6pm Gabriella; 9am Carolyn; 11am Lizzie, Patricia, Marian(H) 20/21: 6pm Mary; 9am Tony; 11am Dinah, Gabriella, Jim(H) 27/28: 6pm Paul; 9am Margaret; 11am Ross; Maggie; Coral(H) MAY 2024 4/5: 6pm David; 9am Phil; 11am Angela; Carolyn; Gabriella(H) 11/12: 6pm Patrick; 9am Lizzie; 11am Paul; Lisa; Lorenza(H) 18/19: 6pm John; 9am Simone; 11am Tony; Regina; Dinah(H) 25/26: 6pm Marian; 9am David; 11am Margaret; Coral, Patricia(H) JUNE 2024 1/2: 6pm Phil; 9am Lisa; 11am Dinah, Gabriella, Mary(H) 8/9: 6pm Angela; 9am Lorenza; 11am Ross; Lizzie; Paul(H) 15/16: 6pm Regina; 9am Coral; 11am Marian; Carolyn; John(H) 22/23: 6pm Simone; 9am Dinah; 11am Tony; Lisa; Maggie(H) 29/30: 6pm Margaret; 9am Jim; 11am Patrick; David; Ross(H) Let us pray for our Ministers of the Eucharist that they may be increasingly aware of God’s gift to them as they strive to grow in holiness, living in faith and conduct.
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.
For over half a century, St George's Cathedral has been the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Southwark, home to 175 parishes and over 50,000 Roman Catholics. For many Catholics living and working across London and the South East of England, St George's has been a beacon of light. Today, St George's Cathedral continues to attract thousands of worshippers and visitors each year, as well as serving a lively local parish community which proudly reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of South London. The Cathedral frequently hosts important Diocesan and national celebrations, as well as concerts and events for various Catholic charities. There is a rich musical tradition, maintaining a choir of boys and men, as well as a girls' choir, both of which sing at Sunday Masses and on major feasts. In many respects, St George's Cathedral serves as a spiritual home and 'beehive' for Catholic evangelisation and mission across the Archdiocese of Southwark. St George's Cathedral is entirely reliant upon the generosity of its parishioners, volunteers and the Archdiocese of Southwark to keep its doors open. It does not receive Vatican or government funding, nor has an endowment to rely on. Your support can enable the Cathedral to remain open daily to those seeking a place of peace, prayer and worship. Thank you!
The Cafe is slowly but surely developing very well, thanks to our wonderful Hosts and Bakers. I noticed last Saturday, for example, that the Hosts had set a table outside for Dog Walkers, with cushioned seats and dog treats! What a great initiative that was which may attract people to the Cafe. One Visitor to the Cafe suggested the sign be placed further towards the pavement. Please remember, dear Hosts to: Empty the trays of the used coffee grounds when you finish a session, otherwise it will not work next time it is switched on! Please do not put rubbish bags in the presbytery bins if the bins are are already full - the foxes have had a good time recently, with rubbish strewn everywhere! If using the bins, please ensure the rubbish goes in the correct bin! Please do not seek a ‘stand in’ if you do not intend to be a Host on your appointed day. The Cafe can function with one Host but if not, then it simply doesn’t open! Our wonderful work for Evangelisation is a Vocation.
Next Saturday we begin again our meetings for adults to help us all to grow in understanding our Catholic Faith. Please join me at 12.00 midday, in the Parish Room, for an hour, to discuss anything at all that you may wish to speak about. We meet in a very relaxed, informal, enjoyable way. I know there will be many other calls on your time but do come and give yourself permission to keep growing in your Faith.
The priesthood has always been essential to the life of the Church, from the time of Jesus until today. Good Shepherd Sunday is the day we pray for vocations, for our priests, and take up the Priest Training Fund second collection. This fund pays for the formation of men to become priests in our Archdiocese. After their ordination, our priests dedicate their lives to serving Christ and His people in our parishes, hospitals, schools, chaplaincies, prisons and in service to the needy, throughout South London, Kent and Surrey. We are blessed to have 5 men in formation to the Priesthood for our Archdiocese. However, it costs £30,000 a year to sponsor each seminarian. They study for 6 years before being ordained a Catholic priest. We therefore rely on your generous support and prayers. Please support our priests of the future with a gift today. Thank you!