St. Mary’s Blackheath
Newsletter: Sunday 29th March 2020
Once again, the newsletter is in an unusual form.
I hope that you are all keeping well: I am celebrating Mass on my own each day in the Church and continuing to pray for you all.
I regret that following the ruling from the Archbishop, it is no longer possible to open the Church, even on Sundays.
Today is the Fifth Sunday of Lent, at one time known as Passion Sunday. We would normally cover the statues with purple veils at this time, but I will not attend to it this year.
The magazine was prepared before the new rules came into effect and I have left some copies for you to take. Obviously the newsletter section is out dated.
I will bless the palms and leave them outside for you next Sunday.
It now looks as if the Easter Services cannot be celebrated in the Church.
There are a number of baptisms pending and I have been in touch with the families so that we can postpone them for the time being.
If you are faced with any practical difficulties, please let me know and I will see if we can arrange some help.
If there are problems regarding the Sacrament of the sick, please let me know so that I can make some special arrangements.
For a little entertainment, dial up “Vicar sets light to himself” – it shows that caution is required for online services even in these difficult days.
It is difficult to know what to do with a recipe at present as it is not always possible to obtain the ingredients. I am sure that many of us find pasta with a tomato sauce is a good basic dish.
And here is a prayer: O God, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, you have filled the hearts of your faithful Christians with gifts of love. Grant health of mind and body to your servants, those for whom we beseech your kindness; may they love you with all their strength and do your will with all their heart. Amen.
I like this from Lawrence Durrell:
This unimportant morning
Something goes singing where
The capes turn over their sides
And the warm Adriatic rides
Best wishes to you all
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon