Newsletter 15th May 2016
Today is the feast of Pentecost.
Monday if the Feast of ST. Simon Stock but from Tuesday we take up the weeks of ordinary time again. It will be the seventh week of the year with the weekday Scripture readings taken from the second cycle. The green vestments will appear again and will be in use until Advent.
Today the children of the Parish make their First Holy Communion. Congratulations and love to you all and I hope that it will be a wonderful day for you. A special word of thanks also to the parents who have worked so hard with the classes to make it such a good year.
And if you made you First Holy Communion last year, remember to go to look at your Cherry Tree in the garden which is now in full blossom. Also there a couple of small olive trees, planted recently, and I hope that they will thrive.
The Parish Council meets on Wednesday evening. Agenda papers are available today.
The funeral for Elizabeth Hughesdon will be at 11.30 on Monday.
A very simple recipe from Spain brought back from my recent visit – a first course at the station buffet in Madrid. You will need to cook serve small green peas. Dress well with olive oil and black pepper, add some small pieces of ham and serve very hot. It tastes better than it sounds!
If you have travelled from Waterloo main line station recently, you might have noticed that the tracks to the former Eurostar station have been dug up. This is the first stage of the works to bring these platforms back into use for local train services. Waterloo will be busier than ever.
To Woolwich on Tuesday: the Historic Churches Committee is making an inspection to review the proposed works. It is good to note that the parish has received a major grant from the Heritage Lottery fund to help meet the cost of the works. On Tuesday evening, a meeting of the Governors at Christ the King College and a further School Meeting on Thursday afternoon. The Health and Safety consultant will be making an inspection on Friday- so quite a busy week.
The pool is back in use once again. I bought some swim suites for girls last year and I will order some spare swim shorts for the boys. Also I will leave a bin in the Angelus Room for wet towels and bathers so that I can put them in the washing machine.
A prayer for Pentecost:
Transform our understanding and our will by the gift of your Holy Spirit; may our minds be subject to your Spirit and our affections be directed towards your holy will, to the praise and glory of your name. Amen.
Will you walk into my parlour? Said the Spider to the fly,
Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there.
(I know, I found this on the web.)
A large room suitable for a single person, with its own kitchen is available. For details contact Mary Bennet on 020 8692 9330.
A reminder of the Parish Retreat which will be held at the Convent at Belmont Hill on 25th June. Part of the year of Mercy. Further details to follow but you might wish to reserve this date.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon.