THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
PASTORAL LETTER ON THE SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY FAMILY 2024 FOR THE OPENING OF THE JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ
Peace and joy to you, and to your families and loved ones, in this holy season of Christmas.
Today’s Feast of the Holy Family marks the opening of the Jubilee Year in our Archdiocese and across the Catholic Church worldwide. Its theme is ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ As we launch this Year of renewal in faith, we seek to learn from the blessed household in Nazareth where the Lord Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, lived in simplicity, in love, and in faithfulness to the Father’s will.
Looking to the Holy Family, we too are called to be pilgrims of hope, just like Mary and Joseph. As they journeyed with faith and trust, so must we. So, how do you live hopefully in light of Christ? In a world yearning for the tender closeness of Christ, how are you his hopeful presence to others?
‘See what kind of love the Father has given to us,’ explains St John, ‘that we should be called children of God.’ (1 John 3:1) Our identity as beloved children of God is the foundation of our discipleship as the family of God. The Lord Jesus came into the world in the embrace of a family. Through him, we are drawn into the very life of God as brothers and sisters in Christ.
This Jubilee Year is a summons to live together as pilgrims of hope. This is not just about being optimistic, or trying to keep cheerful. Christian hope means living with the desire for the kingdom of heaven and eternal life. It means relying on Christ’s promises and the help of the Holy Spirit. (cf. CCC 1817)
Our world needs witnesses to this hope. It needs disciples whose lives shine with the certainty that the Lord is near, even in times of darkness and suffering. Our hope grows stronger, not by avoiding difficulties, but by facing them with faith. God in Christ is Emmanuel - God with us always, no matter what. The famous words of Padre Pio, St Pio, encourage us all – ‘Pray, hope and don’t worry.’ Or, at least, pray, hope and try not to worry. The Lord is with us, the Lord is with you. Trust him and drawer closer to him, especially through prayer and the Scriptures, through confession in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, through the Holy Eucharist, and through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. As pilgrims of hope, in this Jubilee year of grace, I invite you, dear brothers and sisters, to renew your spiritual life and your service to others.
The Holy Family reminds us that evangelisation and mission begin in the heart and in the home. To parents I say ‘thank you’ for teaching your children to love the Lord Jesus, to pray, and to understand their faith; and, not least, to know the friendship of the saints. To our young people, I say ‘do not be afraid to embrace your faith with courage.’ The Lord Jesus is calling you to great things. Know, love and serve him, and he will guide your steps.
So many people today carry heavy burdens — whether of sickness, grief, or loneliness, or in others ways, sometimes hidden. Know that you are especially close to the heart of the Lord Jesus and his Church. You can be powerful missionaries of hope, showing the world that God in Christ is near to the broken-hearted and raises up those who are crushed in spirit. (Cf. Ps. 34:18) The Church is a family of families. There are no orphans in Christ. We all have a home in the Church. In Christ, we are united as brothers and sisters, called to bear one another’s burdens and rejoice in one another’s happiness.
In this Jubilee year, I ask everyone in our Archdiocese to renew our commitment to building a culture of welcome and belonging within our parishes and schools. Let us seek out those on the margins — people who experience isolation, poverty, and despair. Let us be a Church where all feel at home, where the wounded find mercy, where the weary encounter rest, and where we all journey together in faith, hope and love.
As we begin our Jubilee pilgrimage, may our lives shine with the light of Christ, and, through him, may we bring his hope-filled joy to everyone we meet along the way.
With every blessing for this Christmas Season for the Jubilee Year,
and with the assurance of my prayers and gratitude
Yours devotedly in Christ
+ John Wilson
Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark
LIVE STREAMING. This has now started and you will see notices in the church to guide you on filming areas. Please remember that all readers, altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, sacristan’s and anyone who needs to enter the sanctuary must complete a consent form, which are in the porch, and given to Fr. Innocent or placed in the box in the porch. We cannot be held responsible if you knowingly appear on camera and have chosen to not sign a consent form. Please speak to Fr. Innocent for more information.
PARISH MASS BOOKS.
The Lectionary, which is the book that contains the Scripture readings for Mass and the Sacraments, has now changed. Due to this change, the Mass books that we have will need to be changed which comes at a large cost to the parish. We have purchased part 1 of cycle C but we still need donations for the remaining 5 books which will cover all 3 cycles. We have received £1,305.00 so far and donations can be made in the usual ways.
INFORMATION FOR THE NEWSLETTER.
If you would like a notice published in the weekly parish newsletter, please email your request to bostallpark@rcaos.org.uk by Tuesday evening.
SOCIAL CLUB NEW YEAR’S EVE DISCO
Tuesday 31st December in the hall from 8pm till 12.30am.
Social event for all the family. Please see the poster in the porch for more information.
LUNCH CLUB.
There will be no more lunch club meetings this year. The next meeting will be on the 9th January 2025 at 12.30pm.
SOUTHWARK ARCHDIOCESE ROSARY PRAYER PROJECT.
Everyone is warmly invited to join this Archdiocese-wide prayer initiative, praying a decade of the Rosary each day for priests and parishes in their deanery. For details see the poster on the noticeboard, pick up an invitation leaflet at the back of church or email southwarkrenewal@gmail.com.
ALTAR SERVER RECRUITMENT.
We are currently looking for more altar servers so if your son or daughter has received their First Holy Communion and is interested, please complete a form from the porch and place it in the box. No experience is required and Fr. Innocent will be in touch to arrange training.
Save the date: Building a Better Marriage
This day, held at St Stephen’s parish hall, Welling, on the 25th January 2025, starting at 9.30am until 4.30pm, is a day in which married couples can privately explore their relationship more deeply and gain valuable insights into the communication and the call of the Church to the married. There is no charge for this course. Booking is essential - please contact Carole on mflkent@rcaos.org.uk or phone 07983 524 727
Refreshments will be provided but please bring a packed lunch.
FOOD BANK.
Donations can be made in the crate in the Church Porch and they are taken to the Bexley Food Bank on a Monday morning.
DEATHS
Please pray for the souls of:
Mario Carrasco who died recently, his funeral will be on the 30th December at St Peter’s Church, Woolwich at 11.00 am followed by Interment at Hillview Cemetery.
Antonio Zachariah Fernandes who was a parishioner for many years. His was on the 11th December.
Carol James who sadly died recently. Carol was a long standing parishioner who regularly attended the Saturday evening mass.
Her funeral was on the 19th December.
Muriel D’Souza whose funeral was on 27th November.
May they rest in peace.
THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
Saturday 28th December
R The Holy Innocents
10.00 a.m. Eileen Ruddy RIP
THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH C
6 p.m. Daily Rosary
6.30 p.m. In honour of the Holy Family PI
Sunday 29th December W
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. The Pereira Family WB
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Joseph Bane RIP
Monday 30th December
W 6th Day of Christmas Octave
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 31st December
W 7th Day of Christmas Octave
9.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
10.00 a.m. Joseph Bane RIP
Wednesday 1st January
W Mary the Holy Mother of God
9.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
10.00 a.m.
Thursday 2nd January
W SS Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen
10.00 a.m. Karl Quaye-Foli
Friday 3rd January
W Feria of Christmas Time
10.00 a.m. Ferdie Rodrigues RIP
Saturday 4th January
R The Beatified Martyrs of the Diocese
No Morning Mass
THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD C
6 p.m. Daily Rosary
6.30 p.m. Wellbeing of the Fernandes & Scard Families
Sunday 5th January W
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Christian Pereira TG on his 10th Birthday
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Pat Lee RIP