St Mary’s Blackheath
Newsletter 21st January 2024
Sunday Masses: Saturday 6.30pm first Mass of Sunday
– Sunday 9.30 and 11am and 6.30pm.
Monday to Friday: Mass at 8am.
Saturday 10am and 6.30pm
Confessions: Saturday 12 to 1
Today is the Third Sunday of the Church’s year. Green vestments still for a few weeks until we begin Lent in mid-February.
Several feast this coming week. Wednesday is the feast of St. Francis de Sales, the saintly Bishop of Geneva. Thursday is the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Friday is the Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus, the two companions of St. Paul, to whom he directed his pastoral letters.
The new trampoline, which appeared last Sunday, was a great success. We had an interesting afternoon putting it together – the instruction booklet said it would take two people two hours; three of us needed three hours. The old trampoline is available if anybody would be interested. Still fine for family use but maybe a little tired after extensive use for many years by the children of the parish. Please let me know.
The instruction class for the older children on Sunday went well. The next class is in February so look out for the details.
The coming week is busy with a meeting of the Trustees of the College in Spain. This time it will take place at Southwark. In May we have to travel to the College. I am looking forward to this as on the way back I will be able to visit some of my family in Madrid.
A common dish from Spain. Cut some green and some red peppers in half and de-seed them. Add some skinned onions, some peeled carrots, and some peeled potatoes. Place in rows on a baking tray and sprinkle with olive oil and salt. Bake in a moderate oven, 350 F for about and hour until the potatoes are done. This can be served with cold meat.
Saturday was the Eve of St. Agnes, so here as always are some familiar lines from Keats:
Numb were the beadsman’s fingers while he told
His Rosary, and his frosted breath
Like pious incense from a censer of old,
Seem’d taking flight for heaven.
And a prayer from the 4th century:
Those who approach the Lord should make their prayer in a state of quietness, of peace and great tranquillity without uneasy and confused cries but by applying their attention to the Lord by the effort of the heart and the soberness of their thoughts.
An electric Optare Double Deck bus caught fire in Wimbledon recently. I think that this will bring to an end any hopes of sharing in the supply of buses for London.
It is worth quoting Francis de Sales this week: here he is on contrition. “I would rather reprove my heart reasonably and with compassion as follows; Well, my poor heart, here we are fallen again into that ditch that we had resolved so firmly to avoid. Let us get up once more, imploring God’s mercy and trusting that he will help us to be more steadfast for the future.”
No news from the boy but he is busy back at school at present; already plans in hand maybe for the half term.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon