Category Archives: Newsletter

ST. MARY’S NEWSLETTERS

5, Cresswell Park, SE3 9RD

Tel. 020 8852 5420 

E-mail: stm.Blackheath@tiscali.co.uk

Website: www.stmarysblackheaeth.org.uk

Mass times: Saturday: 6.30 pm (first Mass of Sunday) Sunday: 9.30 am, 11.00 am, 7.30 pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 10.00 am Tuesday and Thursday 7.30 am. Eucharistic Service: Tuesday 10.00 am Confessions: Saturday 12 to 1.00 pm

Today is the Third Sunday of Lent.

Long readings today with the Ten Commandments in the first reading and the Lord cleansing the temple in the gospel.

Two special feasts this week – Tuesday is the feast of St. Patrick. Best wishes to all the Irish people in the parish and a special greeting to Bishop Lynch. Thursday is the feast of St. Joseph.

Friday, officially, is the first day of spring. It has been a curious winter: now snow but a lot of rain and strong winds, which have caused some damage to our properties. You will have noted repair work in recent weeks.

The big job at the moment is the repair to the drain at the back of the big hall. It should not cause any problem but please keep clear of the working area.

Thanks for your understanding with the changes we have undertaken to avoid problems with the flu virus. It is worth looking at the web site from the Bishops’ Conference for further detailed advice. We are only at stage one now, but if things deteriorate, further measures will be required.

I mentioned to you last week the sad news of the death of Archbishop Peter Smith.  He was a Southwark priest and had been Rector of the Seminary at Wonersh. He was appointed Bishop of East Anglia and subsequently Archbishop of Cardiff. He came back to Southwark in 2010 and retired last year. May he rest in peace.

I am pleased to tell you that following my recent visit to the College in Spain the Rector has agreed that we can come again. The visit will be from 19^th to 23^rd October but there is a possibility that some may be able to stay on for the feast of the Martyrs on the 25^th. I will have to come home for parish duties. Probably there will be room for about people. Please let me know if you would like to come.

As always, I bring back a recipe from Spain. The Spanish word is Pisto though probably you know it as Ratatouille. Best made from fresh items, sliced and gently baked in the oven: some skinned tomatoes, a sliced pepper, some sliced courgettes and a sliced aubergine. Maybe add a little oil but the ingredients should produce their own juices.  You can make a good supply of this. Mine was served with an egg fried in very hot oil. It is veggie and suitably Lenten.

Who has lost the football? I put a new one in the cupboard last week, but it has disappeared somewhere. See if you can find it in the garden and out in back after use.

A prayer from St. Anselm: Teach me to seek you, for I cannot seek you unless you teach me, or find you unless you show yourself to me.

And some Hopkins:

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

It will flame out, like shining from shook foil.

Best wishes to you all, Monsignor Rothon.

ST. MARY’S NEWSLETTERS

5, Cresswell Park, SE3 9RD

Tel. 020 8852 5420 

E-mail: stm.Blackheath@tiscali.co.uk

Website: www.stmarysblackheaeth.org.uk

Mass times: Saturday: 6.30 pm (first Mass of Sunday) Sunday: 9.30 am, 11.00 am, 7.30 pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 10.00 am Eucharistic Service: Tuesday 10.00 am Confessions: Saturday 12 to 1.00 pm

Newsletter 1^st March 2020.

Today is the first Sunday of Lent.

The purple vestments appear again today. We do not recite the Gloria and do not use Alleluia until the great Alleluia on Easter Sunday.

There are no flowers on the altar during Lent.

There is a second collection today to help the poorer parishes in the Diocese.

There are Stations of the Cross this evening at 6.30pm as a Lenten devotion.

The gospel today gives an account of the temptations of the Lord in the Wilderness. A very appropriate gospel for the beginning of Lent.

During the week, there are no feasts of Saints and all the Masses are for the Lenten season.

I am off to the College in Spain on Monday morning and will return on Friday evening.

The Bishop will be here for Mass on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10am but there will not be a 7.30 Mass on Tuesday or Thursday mornings or a Convent Mass on Friday evening at 6.30pm.

A lot of problems at the moment with the properties. A fence to be repaired after the storms, a blocked drain, cleaning the tower from pigeon infestation and repairing clock, lopping the trees in the roadway and the repairs to the roof of the Church. There are some good people to help but it is taking up a lot of my time.

I will bring back a recipe from Spain. In the meantime, here is a recipe from Madrid. Cook some chopped onion and a pepper in some oil. When soft add some flour but make sure it does not burn. Cook for a moment then add some lentils, a small can of tomatoes and some diced carrot. Add a litre of water, simmer gently and then put through a blender.

A prayer for Lent: God our Father, your will is that all should be saved, and no one lost. You draw us to yourself by prayer and penance. Grant that we may so follow Christ in love that our lives may help others and our weakness never hinder them. We make our prayer through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Here is Eliot on Ash Wednesday:

And pray to God to have mercy upon us

And pray that I may forget

These matters that with myself I too much discuss

Too much explain.

In Spain, I will take the High-Speed train from Madrid to Valladolid – just over an hour for the journey. Work is continuing to extend the high-speed line to connect with the French TGV at Hendaye, but the work seems to be taking an age. I have worked it out that when completed, it should be possible, at least in theory, to travel from London to Valladolid by train in a day: probably about 14 hours of travel.

Remember to look at the First Communion trees in the garden: they all seem to be coming into fruit.

Best wishes to you all,

Monsignor Nicholas Rothon