Newsletter 5th January 2020

  1. MARY’S NEWSLETTERS

5, Cresswell Park, SE3 9RD

Tel. 020 8852 5420

E-mail: stm.Blackheath@tiscali.co.uk

Website: www.stmarysblackheath.org.uk

Mass times: Saturday: 6.30 pm (first Mass of Sunday) Sunday: 9.30 am, 11.00 am, 7.30 pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 10.00 am Tuesday and Thursday: 7.30 am Eucharistic Service: Tuesday 10.00 am Confessions: Saturday 12 to 1.00 pm

A happy new year to you all.

Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, which commemorates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Christ. This year the feast is celebrated on 5th rather than 6th January.

The children will perform the final part of the cycle of mystery plays at the 9.30 Mass.

I expect that you will be putting your Christmas decorations away in the coming days. We have to take down the crib and return the figures to the attic in the Sacristy. The costumes for the plays will be stored away for another year and the Christmas lights will be taken down. As always thanks to everybody who help to make the Christmas in our parish so special.

First Communion classes come around once again. There is a meeting for the parents who run the next class at 8pm in the house on Monday evening and the class is at 10am in the big hall. It is important to come to this class as it is the day for the first confession. I will be sending around an email to explain the arrangements for the day.

This coming week the Masses are for days in the Octave of the Epiphany. Next Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Further delays with the Southwark Directory for 2020 and it now looks as if it will not be available until late February. I have a copy of the Ordo, or Diocesan Calendar in the Sacristy. This year Sunday Scripture readings are taken from cycle A and for the weekdays from the second ferial cycle.

I will be arranging a meeting of the parish Council in early February and will let you have the date soon.

A further recipe from the College in Spain: simmer some milk with the rind of a lemon and a cinnamon stick for about half an hour on a low heat. Leave to cool and add some slices of French bread so that it soaks well. Beat four eggs. Coat the milk dripped bread with the eggs and fry in oil until golden. Sprinkle each torrija with honey. You will have messy fingers after eating this so have some napkins to hand.

Although the Thameslink trains look smart and modern, sister in law tells me that they are most uncomfortable with their hard upright seats for the journey from Haywards Heath. She prefers to use the older Southern trains.

More money from the Myra fund: the usual investment income plus a generous donation. Please let me know if you have any ideas. I have a new net to fix to the football goal when the weather is warmer. Also I need a new top bar for the smaller trampoline as the old one has been distorted by the wind.

A prayer from St. Thomas More: Give me, good Lord a full faith and fervent charity, a love of you, good Lord, incomparable over the love of myself; and that I love nothing to your displeasure but everything in order to you.

John Donne is always a great favourite: here is one of his divine poems;

Batter my heart, three person’d God; for, you

As yet but knocke, breathe, shine and seeke to mend;

That I may rise, and stand, o’erthrow mee,’ and bend

Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.

Best wishes to you all,

Monsignor Nicholas Rothon

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