St Mary’s Blackheath
Newsletter 14th May 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 Sixth Sunday of Easter.
This is the day of the First Holy Communions, always a very special day in our parish. Prayers and best wishes for the Children and thanks to the parents and to all who have helped with the classes. It has been a wonderful year and we have enjoyed in very much. A day to celebrate. Remember to look for the new tree in the garden, planted by the children.
This is the last Sunday of the Easter season. Next Thursday is the feast of the Ascension. It is a Holy Day of obligation. Masses in the Church are at 8 and 10am and 6.30pm. The Paschal candle will be extinguished after the gospel and moved to a place beside the font.
There is a funeral Mass at 12 on Thursday for Maureen McCormack.
We are looking forward to the Confirmations on 4th June. A reminder please to send confirmation names and names of sponsors.
The recent visit to Spain was very enjoyable. There were some busy days at the College but on the way back I was able to visit my family in Madrid. I had not seen them for many years. A mountain of admin. work to be completed but I am gradually working through it.
Always a recipe from Spain. Take a ripe tomato, take off the skin in some boiling water and remove the stalk and the pips.
Mash the pulp with a little seasoning. Toast some slices of French bread and spread the tomato on it. This is a familiar tea-time treat for Spanish children.
‘Twas brillig and the slithy coves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe.
All mimsy were the borogroves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
( My spell-check cannot cope with this)
A prayer for Ascension Day:
O God, King of Glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph into the kingdom of heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us into the same place where our Saviour Christ is gone before, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
In Spain, the old railway is disappearing and has been replaced with high speed in trains. Recently some of the diesel locomotives have been re-gauged and sent to Saudi Arabia.
In the garden, some problems in preparing the pool but I hope that they have been resolved and we will be able enjoy it again soon.
Have you noticed the new piece of stonework on the wall of the Church near to the side entrance? It is a superb piece of work and well finished.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon.