St Mary’s Blackheath
Newsletter 2nd 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
Newsletters are prepared well in advance, and I hope that by the time you read this, I will have returned safely from my visit to the College in Spain.
Today is the Fifth Sunday of Lent, at one time known as Passion Sunday. The statues in the Church are covered with purple veils. During these final two weeks of Lent, we concentrate in a special way on the events of the Passion of the Lord.
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. Palms will be blessed in the garden before the 9.30 Mass and we will process into the Church singing the special hymn. Please remember to arrive in good time.
Next week, the newsletter will give full details of the Easter services.
Thank you to those who have already signed up to read during Holy Week and Easter Sunday- there is still time to sign up on the chart in the church porch. I have booklets for those people who are reading the passion on Psalm Sunday or Good Friday- please ask me nearer the time and remember to return them. Clodagh Woodall has asked for more volunteers to join the reading rota – we are particularly short of readers for the Saturday 6.30 pm. The next rota will be prepared from the beginning of June so please let Clodagh know in good time if you wish to sign up or indeed feel free to try it and see if you would prefer to before making a full commitment. Clodagh’s contact details are: Mob 07841 585342 clodagh.woodall@gmail.com
A reminder that there is a First Holy Communion class next Saturday. Also the children will have a special role in the Palm Sunday procession.
You will have seen the Diocesan response to the Synod document on display in the Angelus Room. You can look at a copy on line by going to the Parish web site – St.Mary’s, Blackheath and typing “synod” in the search box.
A lot of work has been taking place recently. The gutters on the South side of the Church have been repaired. The bell for the Angelus is due to be repaired on Monday and will ring at 11.55am and 5.55pm each day. I have decided that an early morning chime would not be popular with the neighbours. Also the work on trimming the trees in the garden is continuing.
Thinking about Easter – and Covid – I have decided not to have the washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday – and on Good Friday – I will simply hold up the Cross for veneration and there will not be a procession to kiss or touch the figure.
George Herbert on Easter:
I got me flowers to straw thy way;
I got me boughs off many a tree;
But thou wast up by break of day,
And brough’st thy sweets along with thee.
Another Spanish recipe: Salmorejo:
Liquidize 2lb fresh tomatoes, 1oz dray French bread 3-4 tablespoons of sherry vinegar, salt, 2 cloves of garlic 4 fl oz of oil and an egg yolk. The tomatoes should be seeded and peeled. It should be quite thick so serve in small quantities.
Best wishes
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon