St Mary’s Blackheath
Newsletter 27th August 2023
Sunday Masses: Saturday 6.30pm first Mass of Sunday
– Sunday 9.30 and 11am and 5pm.
Monday to Friday: Mass at 8am.
Saturday 10am and 6.30pm
Confessions: Saturday 12 to 1
Today is the Twenty first Sunday of the Church’s year.
Welcome back if you have been away: I hope all is going well with preparations for the new term at school.
Monday is the feast of St. Augustine and Tuesday is the Commemoration of the death of St. John the Baptist.
Next Sunday is the anniversary of the dedication of the Church and I will try to remember to light the candles in front of the consecration crosses. These mark the places where the walls of the Church were anointed with the oil of Chrism during the consecration ceremony in 1906.
The Justice and Peace group will be meeting on 10th September. I think that the agenda has been circulated.
Monday is the Bank holiday, and I will be undertaking my duties on the railway. I need to arrive at Alton for the first steam train and to make this possible, the Mass on Monday will need to start a little earlier, at 7.40 so that I can make it for the down train from Waterloo.
The books have arrived for the First Communion classes, and I have been busy preparing packs for all the children, including timetables and other details. I will be sending out a reminder about the meeting for parents and for the first class.
I am pleased to report that the fig tree is recovering with some good new leaves. I am keeping a careful watch to ensure that these are not attacked by the insects.
The boy and his sisters will be starting back at school soon – I think that he will be in year 7 and she will be in year 5. Some new uniforms as they have grown during the summer.
A prayer for the morning:
Glory be to God who has shown us the light. Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from sadness to joy. Lead me from death to immortality. Glory be to God who has shown us the light.
A recipe from Burgundy this week. Cook some small leeks so that they remain firm. Drain and allow to cool. Sprinkle with some red pepper and serve with a dressing made of olive oil and vinegar. This is a familiar starter in a country restaurant.
The familiar joke – the next station is Oval – but according to Siddy Holloway, this may be correct. The walls of the station were made from brick rather than concrete rings, so it is not a perfect circle.
Out came the children running.
All the little boys and girls,
With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls,
And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls
Tripping and skipping ran merrily after
The wonderful music with shouting and laughter.
(But where were they going – answer next week)
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon