St Mary’s Blackheath
Newsletter 4th February 2024
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 fifth Sunday of the Church’s year. At one time this would have been Sexagesim Sunday, sixty days before Easter but now it is a Sunday in Ordinary time.
Monday is the feast of St. Agatha and Saturday is the feast of St. Scholastica, the sister of St. Benedict.
First Communion classes are coming round again – a class in the big hall starting at 10 on Saturday morning and a meeting to plan the class on Monday evening at 8pm.
A meeting of the Governors of Christ the King College on Tuesday evening.
The Justice and Peace group meet at 12 next Sunday.
Last Sunday was far from easy as I had to explain that the Archbishop had asked me to retire as Parish Priest here in September. Thank you all for your wonderful kindness and support. Things are very much up in the air at present with no firm decisions, but I will keep you informed. I am asking the Parish Council to meet on 13th February so that we can discuss everything fully.
This does mean that for the time being it is not possible to make firm arrangements for classes for First Communions in 2025 and also for Confirmations. Normally I would be thinking of arranging for classes to start in the autumn of this year – but as things stand at present, I will have to leave this to my successor.
Many of you will have known Alyn Roberts – a member of the choir and a reader for many years. Sadly, he died last
Monday. His funeral will be here, and I will advise you of the date in due course.
A favourite dish at this time of year is Onion Soup. Stew some sliced onions gently in some butter and for about ten minutes. Add some sugar and some flour and stew for a couple of minutes, stirring gently until the onions browned. Add some beef stock and cook very gently for about an hour, adding some pieces of bread to the liquid. You might add a shot of wine.
Served topped with some grated cheese.
And a prayer: Help us Lord, to pray for the things that we can change, and for the things that we cannot change: and help us to know the difference. Amen.
Interesting days as more electric buses seem to be catching fire. You may recall that there was a similar problem with the bendy-buses and all had to be withdrawn from service for a time.
Very busy with the parish accounts for 2023 in recent days. All the figures balance but it is a major task to make them fit the Diocesan form.
After all this we need a jolly poem:
‘you are old’ said the youth, ‘ one would hardly suppose
That your eye was as steady as ever;
Yet you balance an eel on the end of your nose-
What made you so awfully clever?’
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon