St Mary’s Blackheath
Newsletter 24th April 2022
Sunday Masses: Saturday 6.30pm first Mass of Sunday
– Sunday 9.30 and 11am and 5pm.
Monday to Friday: Lenten service at 8am.
Saturday 10am and 6.30pm
Confessions: Saturday12 to 1
Today is the second Sunday of Eastertide – it has other names – at one time it was known as Low Sunday in contrast with the great feast the previous Sunday. It is also known as Quasimodo Sunday from the first word of the Latin Introit – this is the name of Hunch Back of Notre Dame who was born on this day.
The gospel today tells of the appearances of the Risen Lord and of the doubts of Thomas.
We are meant to have a second collection today for the maintenance of the Cathedral. For the present we are not taking collections but I will leave out a special box and if you so wish, you can make a donation.
Several feasts this week. Monday is the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, the author of the gospel. At times a companion of Paul but also, he stayed with Peter in Rome and his gospel is said to be based on the teachings of Peter.
Tuesday is the feast of St. George, the patron of England, transferred this year from its normal date of 23rd April. Friday is the feast of St. Catherine of Siena.
First Communion classes have come round once again with a class at 10am in the big hall on Saturday. This is the last of the formal classes so please make a special effort to attend. There will be a rehearsal on Saturday 14th May, the day before the First Holy Communions, and we hope to be able to plant our tree to mark this year’s group. Ali has to leave early on Saturday so we will have the music rehearsal first in the big hall and then move on to the teaching.
Next Sunday is the first Sunday in May and we will crown the statue of Our Blessed Lady at the end of the 9.30 Mass.
A soup from the College in Spain which provides a good basic dish for a cold day. Soak some brown lentils over night and rinse then thoroughly. Stew them with some pieces of onion and some slices of chorizo, watching the liquid carefully but making sure that it is quite thick. Quiere mas de eso?
It is worth quoting some John Donne at this time of year:
Hence is’t , that I am carryed towards the West
This day, when my Soules forme bends towards the East.
There I should see a Sunne, by rising set,
And by that setting endlesse day beget;
But that Christ on this cross, did rise and fall,
Sinne had eternally benighted all.
A first trip on one of the City Beam trains the other day. They are not new, and I used them in their South Western days when I went to see the boy and his sister. The initial impression is that they are not as clean and as well kept when compared with their previous owner.
A great deal of work in recent days preparing for the meeting of the College Trustees. Our Chair has decided that we should meet in Spain this year so more travels at the end of May.
Keep well and best wishes to you all – Monsignor Nicholas Rothon