St Mary’s Blackheath
Newsletter 31st March 2024
Sunday Masses: Saturday 6.30pm first Mass of Sunday
– Sunday 9.30 and 11am and 5pm.
Monday to Friday: Mass at 8am.
Saturday Mass at 10am
Saturday 10am and 6.30pm
Confessions: Saturday 12 to 1
Greeting to you all on this Easter Day.
Thank you all for sharing in our Easter Services.
At Mass today, instead of the recitation of the Creed, we will renew our Baptismal promises. For most of us, these were made by our parents and godparents when we were baptised as small children but today, we renew them personally. After the renewal, you will be sprinkled with the Holy Water blessed in the font during the Vigil Service.
Thanks to all who have helped during the past few days: preparing the Church, the flowers, the music, reading and serving.
After the 9.30 Mass today there should be some Easter eggs in the garden. A few years ago, the foxes and the squirrels discovered them, and we were left with lots of empty wrappers. So look out for the helpers with boxes of eggs.
At the evening Mass today, the gospel tells the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
The Masses for the coming week are for the Easter Octave.
The Paschal Candle is now beside altar and will remain there until Ascension day. The brass studs contain grains of incense and represent the five wounds of the Lord. After Ascension Day, it will be moved to the side of the font.
On Monday, I will be working on the railway in Hampshire – so I have to leave early. This means that the morning Mass will have to start at about 7.40 rather than the normal 8am.
Some George Herbert again:
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 brought’st thy sweets along with thee.
An amazing treat from Spain; choose some firm bananas and slice them in half. Fry them gently in some hot olive oil and dust them with castor sugar. Serve them with lemon juice and maybe a drop of spirit.
An Easter prayer:
We adore you Christ, Son of the living God. In triumph you rose from the dead. We rejoice in your almighty power and glory. Raise us up with you, and inspire us with thoughts of joy, hope and love. Amen.
Wondering if at long last the warm weather will arrive so that we can put out the pool once again. I would welcome some offers of help as it is a bit big to do it all on my own. Bags of chemicals have been ordered as usual for the coming summer.
A careful look at the fig tree and it looks as if leaves are on the way again.
Best wishes to you al,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon.