Our Lady of the Rosary

After 9am Mass next Sunday 20 May, there will be a procession with hymns and the Litany of Loreto, and we will crown the statue of Our Lady which is outside the presbytery.

On that day, some families are arranging a shared lunch in the Small Hall after 10.30am Mass. All are welcome to join in.

The bishops have transferred the feast of the Ascension to Sunday 20 May.

However, there will also be a sung Latin Mass (older form) for the traditional feast of the Ascension on Thursday 17 May at 8pm for those who wish to come. (It is not a holyday of obligation.)

A similar arrangement will be made for the feast of Corpus Christi on 7 June.

Would parishioners who have signed a Gift Aid Declaration please collect their new set of envelopes from the Small Hall after Mass this weekend.

Parishioners who are paying Income Tax and have not yet made a Gift Aid Declaration are invited to do so. There are forms at the back of the Church. This simple procedure, which costs you nothing, adds a considerable boost to our parish resources both for the maintenance of our buildings and for the materials needed for the Sacred Liturgy and for catechesis in the parish.

Many thanks to Sydney Lobo for his work in administering this scheme.

The Sodality of the Five Precious Wounds will meet in the Church on Friday 11 May at 7.30pm for the devotions of the Sodality and an allocution from Fr Finigan. There will be a chance to meet socially afterwards. All are welcome to come and to join the Sodality.

The Sodality will be holding a pilgrimage to the shrine of St Augustine at Ramsgate on Friday 15 June. There will be Mass, spiritual and historical talks, and Benediction.

Of your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of Philip O’Connell who died recently.

The Requiem Mass will be on Tuesday 15 May at 10am, followed by committal at Eltham Crematorium.

Requescat in pace

In the past, I have not put the Rosary News on the parish website because there is sometimes personal information included such as telephone numbers.

Nowadays, people expect to see the newsletter as part of the website. As notified, I will now publish Rosary News online, starting this week.

In general, I advise not including personal addresses or telephone numbers in the newsletter. Anyone who needs a parish email address can be given one for approved parish activities. Please email me at: info@blackfencatholic.org

On the weekend of 12/13 May, the Bethlehem Nativity Group will be selling religious objects in the Small Hall after all Masses. This supports the work of Christians who are working in difficult circumstances in the Holy Land.

The first Holy Communion Masses in the parish will be as follows:

• Saturday 5 May at 10.30am (Latin EF)
• Saturday 12 May at 12.30pm
• Saturday 19 May at 12.30pm

All are welcome to the Masses but please remind those not used to going to Church of the normal standards of respect in Church.

Please remember in your prayers the children who are preparing to receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion for the first time. We also pray for all their families that this special occasion will help in a renewal and deepening of faith.

The Lesnes Abbey Blessed Sacrament Procession will take place on Sunday 24 June.

Gather at 3pm by the parish banner. Children who have made their first Holy Communion are invited to come in their special clothes and there will be a blessing for those who have recently been confirmed. Please put the date in your diary.

The Faith Summer Session for young people (16-35) will be held at Woldingham School, Surrey from 30 July-3 August. Daily Mass, informative input on the Catholic Faith, sports and social activities. The theme this year is “The Year of Faith—Reasons for Believing”.

This enjoyable week is attended by Catholic students, young working people and young priests, seminarians and religious sisters. An excellent way to meet others who share our faith. For further information and a booking form, please see Fr Finigan. Alternatively you can book via the Faith Website.