St. Mary’s,
Blackheath
Newsletter: 25th February 2018
Mass times: Saturday: 6.30pm (first Mass of Sunday)
Sunday: 9.30 and 11am and 7.30pm
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10am
Tuesday, Thursday: 7.30am
Eucharistic Service: Tuesday 10am
There is a Mass at the Convent on Friday evenings at 6.30pm.
Confessions: Saturday 12 to 1pm
Welcome back to the parish magazine after the January break and thanks to the editors for producing another splendid edition.
Today is the second Sunday of Lent – after the gospel of the temptations in the wilderness last week, we move to the Transfiguration today.
There are stations of the cross at 6.30 today as a Lenten devotion.
The boxes will be out today to collect your envelopes from the Lent Fast Day for Cafod last Friday.
Magazines are written well in advance but I hope that by the time you read this, I will have returned safely from a visit to the College in Spain. One of my tasks will be to ask the Rector if we can come again in October and I will let you know his response.
First Communion classes have come around once again – there is a lot to fit in before May – the parents meet on Monday evening at 8pm to plan the class and the class will be on Saturday morning at 10am in the big hall.
Thursday is the Feast of St. David, the patron of Wales.
Here is a recipe from Spain – from the Basque country. Wash some green beans and some potatoes and fry some garlic and cut it into small pieces. Put all the ingredients into some salted water with a little oil and boil until the potatoes break up to make a thick soup. Cut some slices of bread in half, fry with some oil, cover them with grated cheese. Place in a large pot and pour the soup over them. Add some olives cut into rings.
A prayer for Lent: Be mindful, Lord, of your people, for whose sake our Lord Jesus Christ did not hesitate to undergo the sufferings of the Cross, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
A learned contributor to this issue has written a review on the recent biography of Anthony Powell. I have recently re-read one of the “Dance to the Music of Time” series. The twelve volumes were produced over a period of over 20 years. I read one of the last ones and it occurs to me that they improve immensely over the years – the early volumes might seem slight – but the last few volumes provide a fascinating commentary on the contemporary scene – politics, the arts, and life in general.
So busy days in the coming weeks preparing for Easter – the purple covers for the statues during the final weeks of Lent – the palms, the Paschal candle and the many items that are required for the Vigil Service – cleaning the Church and thinking about the Easter flowers, and who knows – even some chocolate eggs for the garden.
And to finish, a tiny bit of John Donne:
Hence is’t, that I am carried towards the West
This day when my soules forme bends toward the East.
Then I should see a Sunne, by rising set,
And by that setting endlesse day beget.
Best wishes to you all
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon