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If you are going into hospital, please let the Parish Priest know so that if possible a visit can be arranged.
It is possible to bring Holy Communion to the sick and the housebound on a regular basis. Please ask the Parish Priest if you would like to arrange this.Login
← newsletter 16th February 2020
ST. MARY’S NEWSLETTERS
5, Cresswell Park, SE3 9RD
Tel. 020 8852 5420
E-mail: stm.Blackheath@tiscali.co.uk
Website: www.stmarysbly oneackheath.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
Newsletter 16th February 2020
Today is the Sixth Sunday of the Church’s year.
Only another week before Lent – this year Ash Wednesday is on 26th February.
Saturday is the feast of the Chair of St. Peter. At one time there used to be two feasts: Peter’s Chair in Rome and Peter’s Chair in Antioch but now there is a single day. The feast recognises the teaching authority of the Holy Father and we pray for his intentions in a special way on this day.
You will have noticed the works to the roof of the Church. It was necessary to re-fix the high-level gutters and also general to check that all the slates were in order. It is well worth doing this as regular maintenance helps to prevent problems at a later date.
The bell in the tower is not working at present. The problem seems to be debris from birds’ nest which is blocking the mechanism. Nowadays I have to bring in a specialist contractor with breathing apparatus to attend to this. They have to take the rubbish to a special site as it can be dangerous. Once this has been done, I can arrange for the bell to be repaired.
Thank you for your help with the marmalade sale last Sunday. I will let you know the result at Mass today.
We are hoping to arrange a series of Scripture classes. There is a notice in the porch for you to add your name if you might be interested.
Lenten fare can still be appetising. Here is my dish for Ash Wednesday. Steam a leek, some potatoes and some stalks of broccoli and a handful of frozen mixed vegetables. When soft transfer to a dish and add some pepper and some olive oil. Serve hot with a sliced hard-boiled egg.
Lent reminds me of the Gawain poet:
After Crystenmasse com the crabbed Lentoun,
That fraystes flesch with the fysche and ode more semple.
I like this prayer from Baron von Hugel:
All human souls are deeply interconnected … we cannot only pray but suffer for each other … Nothing is more real than this interconnection, this gracious power put by God himself into the very heart of our infirmities.
No trains on the Bexleyheath line this week – the embankments beyond Eltham are far from stable and there are landslips from time to time and some major works are required. It would be interesting to go and watch the works, but boys are not allowed to enter the site.
To the College in Spain again for the first week in March. I am looking forward to this. I will ask the Rector if we can come again in October for the Martyrs’ feast. It is still quite cold in Spain in the early spring – warm in Madrid but there will be some snow on the mountains and the cold winds blow across the plains of Castile.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon
newsletter 1st March 2020
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 1st 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
→← newsletter 16th February 2020
ST. MARY’S NEWSLETTERS
5, Cresswell Park, SE3 9RD
Tel. 020 8852 5420
E-mail: stm.Blackheath@tiscali.co.uk
Website: www.stmarysbly oneackheath.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
Newsletter 16th February 2020
Today is the Sixth Sunday of the Church’s year.
Only another week before Lent – this year Ash Wednesday is on 26th February.
Saturday is the feast of the Chair of St. Peter. At one time there used to be two feasts: Peter’s Chair in Rome and Peter’s Chair in Antioch but now there is a single day. The feast recognises the teaching authority of the Holy Father and we pray for his intentions in a special way on this day.
You will have noticed the works to the roof of the Church. It was necessary to re-fix the high-level gutters and also general to check that all the slates were in order. It is well worth doing this as regular maintenance helps to prevent problems at a later date.
The bell in the tower is not working at present. The problem seems to be debris from birds’ nest which is blocking the mechanism. Nowadays I have to bring in a specialist contractor with breathing apparatus to attend to this. They have to take the rubbish to a special site as it can be dangerous. Once this has been done, I can arrange for the bell to be repaired.
Thank you for your help with the marmalade sale last Sunday. I will let you know the result at Mass today.
We are hoping to arrange a series of Scripture classes. There is a notice in the porch for you to add your name if you might be interested.
Lenten fare can still be appetising. Here is my dish for Ash Wednesday. Steam a leek, some potatoes and some stalks of broccoli and a handful of frozen mixed vegetables. When soft transfer to a dish and add some pepper and some olive oil. Serve hot with a sliced hard-boiled egg.
Lent reminds me of the Gawain poet:
After Crystenmasse com the crabbed Lentoun,
That fraystes flesch with the fysche and ode more semple.
I like this prayer from Baron von Hugel:
All human souls are deeply interconnected … we cannot only pray but suffer for each other … Nothing is more real than this interconnection, this gracious power put by God himself into the very heart of our infirmities.
No trains on the Bexleyheath line this week – the embankments beyond Eltham are far from stable and there are landslips from time to time and some major works are required. It would be interesting to go and watch the works, but boys are not allowed to enter the site.
To the College in Spain again for the first week in March. I am looking forward to this. I will ask the Rector if we can come again in October for the Martyrs’ feast. It is still quite cold in Spain in the early spring – warm in Madrid but there will be some snow on the mountains and the cold winds blow across the plains of Castile.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon
newsletter 1st March 2020
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 1st 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
→