Saturday 5th April - Sunday 13th April 2025

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Pastoral Letter on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ

Following my pastoral message in March 2024, I wish to speak to you again about the process by which Parliament is currently considering legalising assisted suicide through the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. As I made clear previously, concerning this grave matter, as Catholics we maintain a principled objection to this change in law, because we recognise that every human life is sacred: a gift of God, bearing a God-given dignity. We are, therefore, clearly opposed to this Bill in principle, elevating, as it does, the autonomy of the individual above all other considerations.

The passage of the Bill through Parliament, as originally proposed, would lead to a vote in late April on whether it progresses further. This will be a crucial moment and I, together with all the Bishops of England and Wales, am writing to ask your support in urging your MP to vote against this Bill at that time.

There are serious reasons for doing so. At this point we wish not simply to restate our objections in principle, but to emphasise the deeply ﬂawed process undergone in Parliament thus far. We wish to remind you that it is a fundamental duty of every MP to ensure that legislation is not imposed on our society which has not been properly scrutinised and which will bring about damaging consequences.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will fundamentally change many of the key relationships in our way of life: within the family, between doctor and patient, within the health service. Yet there has been no Royal Commission or independent inquiry ahead of its presentation. It is a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill itself is long and complex and was published just days before MPs voted on it, giving them inadequate time to consult or reﬂect upon it. The time for debate was minimal. The Committee examining the Bill took only three days of evidence: not all voices were heard, and it comprises an undue number of supporters of the Bill. In short, this is no way to legislate on such an important and morally complex issue.

One consequence of this ﬂawed process is that many vital questions remain unanswered. Can MPs guarantee that the scope of the Bill will not be extended? In almost every country where assisted suicide has been introduced the current scope is wider than was originally intended. What role, if any, will the judiciary have in the process? We were told that judicial oversight was a necessary and vital part of the process; now we are told it isn’t needed at all. What will protect the vulnerable from coercion, or from feeling a burden on family? Can the National Health Service cope with assisted suicide or will it, as the Health Secretary has warned, cause cuts elsewhere in the NHS? Can MPs guarantee that no medical practitioner or care worker would be compelled to take part in assisted suicide? Would this mean the establishment of a ‘national death service’?

In contrast to the provisions of this Bill, what is needed is ﬁrst-class, compassionate palliative care at the end of our lives. This is already provided to many in our society but, tragically, is in short supply and underfunded. No-one should be dispatched as a burden to others. Instead, a good society would prioritise care for the elderly, the vulnerable, and the weak. The lives of our families are richer for cherishing their presence.

It is sad reﬂection on Parliament’s priorities that the House of Commons spent far more time debating the ban on fox hunting than it is spending debating bringing in assisted suicide.

I am sure that you will share these concerns. Despite recent events, this measure is still being rushed without proper scrutiny and without fundamental questions surrounding safeguards being answered. This is a deeply ﬂawed Bill with untold unintended consequences.

Every MP, and Government, has a solemn duty to prevent such legislation reaching the statute book. This, tragically, is what may happen. So, I appeal to you: even if you have written before, please make contact now with your MP and ask them to vote against this Bill not only on grounds of principle but because of the failure of Parliament to approach this issue in an adequate and responsible manner.

In his Letter to the Philippians, from which we heard in the Second Reading, St Paul reflects on the difficulties and responsibilities of life. He speaks of ‘pressing on’ and ‘striving’ for the fulness of life promised in Christ Jesus. Yet he is totally confident in his struggles because, as he says, ‘Christ Jesus has made me his own’.

We too have many struggles. We too know that Christ Jesus has made us his own. So, we too press on with this struggle, so important in our times.

With an assurance of my continued prayers and blessing

Yours devotedly in Christ

+John Wilson

Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark

PARISH NOTICES

STATIONS OF THE CROSS.

Every Friday during Lent after 10am Mass and at 7.30pm. Morning stations will be led by the Priest and evening stations will be led by the people.

BIBLE STUDY GROUP.

Meeting every Thursday in the church at 7pm. All are welcome.

THE PASSION OF CHRIST.

The next session will be this Sunday in the Hall at 4pm.

WEEKDAY MASSES.

Daily mass on Tuesday will now be at 7.30pm with daily rosary at 7pm. This will be a trial that will run until Eastertime.

LEGION OF MARY.

Every Tuesday at 5pm in the church. New members welcome.

LUNCH CLUB.

The next meeting will be on the 17th April 2025 at 12.30pm in the hall with fish & chips.

SUNDAY OF RECONCILIATION SERVICE.

On Sunday 6th April at 12 noon in the church.

GIFT AID BOXES.

Please contact the parish office to arrange receipt of your new Gift Aid envelopes or for more information/register.

INTERNATIONAL MASS & PENTECOST MULTICULTURAL LUNCH.

We look forward to Pentecost Sunday when we will gather together and share a multicultural lunch. More details to follow.

MONTHLY COFFEE MORNINGS in the porch after each Mass on Sunday starting on the 4nd May. Speak to Dorothy Nikkoi if you are able to help.

CELEBRATION MASS FOR THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE, July 12th, at St George’s Cathedral.

If you are celebrating your 1st/10th/25th/40th/50th/60th + wedding anniversary this year, please let us know by the middle of May, providing your names (e.g. John and Mary Smith), address, parish, and the anniversary you are celebrating, so you can receive an invitation from the Archbishop for the renewal of vows during Mass. Spaces are limited. Contact us at mflse@rcaos.org.uk and the title of your email should be your parish, i.e. Bostall Park.

ST THOMAS MORE GOLF SOCIETY at Pedham Place Golf Course. Thursday 29th May. If interested please call Tony Brooke 07833707016. Raffle tickets to support this event will be available closer to the date.

DEANERY JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope we are all invited to make a pilgrimage walk from St. Thomas More to St John Vianney. The pilgrimage will start with morning mass at 10.30am at St Thomas More on the 5th of July followed by the walk to St John Vianney Church, then we will attend a prayer service at 1pm. Please bring a packed lunch. Voluntary stewards needed. Please speak to Patricia Kilgallon or email the parish office for more information.

ST THOMAS MORE SIGN BOARD.

We have raised £2,470 for our new parish sign board which has now been ordered.

Thanks to the generous donations from 3 parishioners for this.

THANK YOU FROM CAFOD.

Many thanks for your generous donation of £200.49 to CAFOD Family Fast Day. You will be helping support communities suffering from the impacts of war, poverty & climate change to find solutions and hope. Thank you again for your continuous generosity.

PILGRIMAGE TO PENTECOST.

The Diocese have created a 6 week programme, ending at Aylesford with the Jubilee Celebration, to help lead us to Pentecost during this Jubilee Year of Hope. The first session will be on Friday 25th April at 7pm in the parish hall with light refreshments available. Please contact the parish office for more information or see the poster in the porch.

UCM ENROLMENT MASS.

Enrolment Mass followed by buffet lunch for invited guests, members and close family of members will be taking place on the 11th May at 11am in the Hall.

Thank you to everyone who will be attending the Mass and joining the UCM.

The next meeting will be on April 26th at 11.30 am in the hall.

DEATHS.

Please pray for the souls of Tom McCormack, Elizabeth Woodward, Rita Fernandes, Norma Marshall & Ignatius Pereira whose funeral will be on the 2nd May at 11.30am. May they rest in peace.

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Saturday 5th April

P Feria

9.30 a.m. Adoration

10.00 a.m. Marcus D’Mello RIP

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT C

6 p.m. Daily Rosary

6.30 p.m. Aleyamma Devasia RIP

Sunday 6th April P

8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary

9.00 a.m. Patricia Corbett RIP

10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary

11.00 a.m. Marian D’Lima RIP

4 p.m. Passion of Christ Session

Monday 7th April

P Feria

No Public Mass Today

Tuesday 8th April

P Feria

7 p.m. Daily Rosary

7.30 p.m. Ignatius Pereira RIP

Wednesday 9th April

P Feria

9.30 a.m. Adoration

10.00 a.m. Norma Marshall RIP

Thursday 10th April

P Feria

9.30 a.m. Adoration

10.00 a.m. Richard Fernandes

7.00 p.m. Bible Study Group

Friday 11th April

P Feria

9.30 a.m. Divine Mercy

10.00 a.m. Brian James RIP

10.30 a.m. Stations

7.30 p.m. Stations

Saturday 12th April

P Feria

9.30 a.m. Adoration

10.00 a.m. Mae McCormack WB

PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD C

6 p.m. Daily Rosary

6.30 p.m. Tom McCormack RIP

Sunday 13th April R

8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary

9.00 a.m. Mae McCormack WB

10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary

11.00 a.m. Holy Souls