St Mary’s Blackheath
Newsletter 10th June 2023
Sunday Masses: Saturday 6.30pm first Mass of Sunday
– Sunday 9.30 and 11am and 5pm.
Monday to Friday: Mass at 8am.
Saturday 10am and 6.30pm
Confessions: Saturday 12 to 1
Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi. On Maundy Thursday, there are many things to consider, and we do not have enough time to celebrate the mystery of the Eucharist. So, after the Paschal season is over, we have a special day to celebrate the Eucharist. At one time, the feast was on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday but now it is celebrated on the next Sunday.
Thanks to everybody who helped to make the Confirmations last Sunday such a special day. I was very proud to be able to administer the Sacrament to the young people. Congratulations to you all.
Next Friday is the feast of the Sacred Heart. Otherwise, it is the Tenth week of Ordinary time.
The Justice and Peace group meet after the 11am Mass today.
A personal note – I must go the hospital on Wednesday and Thursday for a small operation – on a tear duct – this means that I will not be about on Wednesday and Thursday. I will see if it will be possible to arrange prayers at 8am on these days. I am not sure how things will work out, but it is possible that the Sunday Masses next week will need to be short.
The Priests of the Deanery are coming here for a meeting and a lunch on Tuesday. They have not been here for some time. We will meet in the big hall, and I have been busy preparing everything. I hope that it will all work out.
For those with obscure interests, the last two Red Arrow bus routes, the 507 and the 521 have disappeared, but the splendid electric buses have appeared on other routes such as the 360. I will be looking out for them. It will be recalled that the Mercedes Citaros now working on the 108 started as Red Arrows, replacing the Bendy buses.
A favourite salad at this time of year is made from a crisp cos lettuce, an avocado and some baby tomatoes, sprinkled with some olive oil, some lemon juice and a little sugar.
You may have noted the new fig tree and the plum tree in the garden – the gospel at Mass on the day after they were planted was the story of the cursing of the barren fig tree. It seemed like a dire warning.
A prayer for today:
Look graciously upon us, O Holy Spirit, and give us, for our hallowing, thoughts which pass into prayer, prayers which pass into love, and love which passes into life with thee, for ever and ever. Amen.
And some John Donne:
Deigne at my hands this crown of prayer and praise,
Weave’d in my low devout melancholie,
Thou which of good, has, yea art treasury,
All changing unchang’d Ancient of days;
Work is taking place on the houses outside the Church: we must repair the rendering, particularly at the back where it is affected by the sun. A new tenant is moving in later in the month, so everything must be prepared.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon.