Dear parishioners,

The tragedy of India continues. Whilst things open up here and people begin to make social contact again and the number of infections and deaths have gone down to almost insignificant numbers, in the world infections and deaths are higher from the coronavirus are higher than ever. A large percentage of this number is due to the pandemic in India. There is an injustice here. It is hitting the poor who have nowhere to go and no one to turn to in a country that has advanced medical science, rich resources and has provided much of the world, including here, with our vaccines. Many of you have family and friends in India. We will pray for the people there and support them in any way we can.

I realise there has been some concern about overseas aid not reaching the people or at least there have been questions about where it is going. One charity I totally trust is CAFOD. We support them as a parish and can be assured that they can account for all the aid given.

This is CAFOD’S appeal:

You will no doubt have seen on the news that in India the second wave of coronavirus is having a devastating impact.

There are more than 18 million confirmed cases, and many hundreds of thousands have died. India’s health system is struggling to cope.

Sadly, India will not be the last country to be pushed to the brink by the pandemic. We are committed to supporting our sisters and our brothers around the world to survive the pandemic, but we urgently need your help to do this. 

Please support our global response.

We have already pledged £200,000 to our long-term partner, Caritas India who are responding in some of the worst affected areas and we continue to monitor the situation. Their response includes:

• Providing PPE to frontline health workers
• Distributing medical kits to people with mild symptoms
• Setting up safely run isolation and quarantine centres
• Promoting lifesaving Covid and vaccine information

It's time to pull together for those suffering the effects of a devastating pandemic.

You can donate to CAFOD’s appeal by clicking on the "Emergency Corona Virus Appeal" image above, or by "Clicking Here"

PARISH ROSARY FOR INDIA

This Sunday, 9th May at 4.00 p.m., we will have our Maytime Parish Rosary with intentions for the people of India and Benediction. Bring your family and let’s pray that through the prayers of Our Lady of Vailankanni, the benefits of God’s mercy come down to the people of India from her throne in greater abundance. Vailankanni, means ‘good health’ in Tamil and there are several well-churches and shrines dedicated to Our Lady of Vailankanni throughout India.

LET’S GET OUR HALL OPEN AGAIN! £3,000 is still needed. We cannot safely reopen until our electrics are made safe.

The work on the hall is nearly completed and I think it will look superb, but you probably will not be surprised to hear that as the work has proceeded, more problems have been found which need rectifying in order to reopen. This particularly concerns the electrics. In order to reopen in June, the parish needs an additional £3,000 which will cover the repairs to the electrics, some additional flooring replacement and a professional floor to ceiling clean on completion.

Please make your donation with cheque payable to St Thomas More Church, Bostall Park and place in an envelope marked ‘Hall Repairs’.

Alternatively, and better, pay into the parish account directly:

NATWEST
ACC NO. 21361606
SORT CODE 517014
for the credit of: RCAS ST THOMAS MORE - BOSTALL PARK
Ref: HALL REPAIRS

Or you can make your donation through ‘justgiving’ on line at:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/STM-bexleyheath 

Deaths

Just as Jesus died and rose again, so through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep; and as in Adam all die, so also in Christ will all be brought to life, alleluia. (The entrance antiphon of Requiem masses in Eastertide)

Please pray for the souls of: Catherine Teresa Hanly who died on Sunday 21st March 2021 aged 102. Her funeral was on Monday 12th April.

Frank Mercieca who died on Thursday 25th March 2021 aged 76. His funeral was on Thursday 22nd April.

Alice Sullivan who died on Sunday 28th March 2021 aged 86. Her funeral was on Friday 23rd April.

Baby Finlay David Legutko-Seal who died on Monday 19th April aged 12 days. His funeral was on Thursday 6th May .

Maria Pereira who died on Tuesday 27th April. Her funeral is on Thursday 20th May at 11.00 a.m. followed by committal at Hillview.

May the divine assistance remain with them always, and may their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

MASSES AND INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK: THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE

Please come to mass once a week only, on any day of your choosing, to help with numbers and social distancing.

Mass intentions booked for masses cancelled or replaced with a funeral will be moved to another day.

Saturday 8th May THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

   6.30 p.m. Bosco Gomes R.I.P. (month’s mind)

Sunday 9th May

   9.00 a.m. The deceased members of the Gnana Foragascan Family R.I.P.

 10.30 a.m. Nora Brady T.G. on her ninetieth birthday.

4.00 p.m. Maytime Parish Rosary with Intentions for the People of India and Benediction.

Monday 10th May

 10.00 a.m. Bernie Fernandes. T.G. to the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Tuesday 11th May

 10.00 a.m. Ferdie Rodrigues R.I.P.

Wednesday 12th May St. Pancras, martyr (VIGIL OF THE ASCENSION)

NO PUBLIC MASS TODAY.

 Mass said in private: Priest’s P.I.

Thursday 13th May THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD, SOLEMNITY (HOLYDAY OF OBLIGATION)

 11.00 a.m. SUNG. Fred Baldwin R.I.P.

   7.00 p.m. SAID. Our children preparing for First Holy Communion.

Friday 14th May St. Matthias, apostle, feast.

 10.00 a.m. Holy Souls.

Saturday 15th May feria.

 10.00 a.m. Jose Alaminos R.I.P. 11.30 a.m. Baptism

  [ + 6.30 p.m. Thomas and Eileen Kelly R.I.P.)

POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER FOR PROTECTION DURING THE CORONOVIRUS PANDEMIC.

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith.

You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

In Unity

Fr Jonathon

Telephone: 0208 303 2169

email: jonathonrouth@rcaos.org.uk