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On Friday, 29 November, the House of Commons will hear the Second Reading of a bill on assisted suicide tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. Visit www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/how-to-oppose-the-assisted-suicide-bill/ for more on how to oppose this bill, which threatens the sanctity of life.

Oppose the Assisted Dying Bill

The Bishops of England & Wales are calling on all Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action to oppose assisted suicide (or assisted dying).

Please contact your MP to voice your opposition to assisted suicide being rushed into law on 29^th November 2024. Please make every effort to express your opposition to your MP.

Vincent Cardinal Nichols has summarised the three main reasons for our opposition:

·         it is a slippery slope

·         a right to die can become a duty to die

·         being forgetful of God belittles our humanity

Please read the statement below from the Catholic Bishops of England, Wales & Scotland (hard copies available at the back of church & from the Parish Office)

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd accompanies children in their ‘Faith  Journey’ helping them to develop a personal relationship with God.

It involves children from the age of 3 to 13 and over. 

Children enter gradually and more deeply year after year in the Mystery of the Kingdom of God, through the Bible, the Liturgy & Sacraments and Prayer.

Each presentation is followed by practical work leading the child to meditate on the spiritual reality behind what has been presented. The little ones can use materials with figures to “act” the scriptures that are read to them, work with collages,  drawing, paint and clay etc. Personal activities will help them focus and get a glimpse of the love and glory of God, which will be progressively unveiled in the other levels.

For instance, the younger children work with a small model  altar including a small Chalice, Paten, Crucifix, candles, tiny missal, purificator, corporal etc.  which they will be presented in association with the gestures of the Mass (Blessings, Offertory, Consecration essentially). 

At the next level (6 to 8 years old) they will go deeper into these and start making their own little missal. When they reach the age of 9 they are presented with the whole of the Holy Mass, rebuilding every step thanks to detailed cards of each prayer and gesture of the Eucharistic Sacrifice of the Mass. They also delve more profoundly into the Bible: the Old Testament with its fulfilment  in the New, through a study of the Plan of God, Plan of Love and Salvation, from Creation to Parousia. 

Ideally sessions would be 60 to 90 minutes for the younger ones. From the age of 6 onward, we aim at  one and a half   to two hours. Those who find this too long are the parents!!! The children are always willing to stay longer! 

MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE Thursday 23rd May to Thursday 30th May 2024 approx £829, including flights from Luton, luggage, airport transfer, accommodation, breakfast and one main meal a day plus full pilgrimage programme.  SPACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE.  Booking forms are available from the Parish Office or Anne D’Silva.  Please see posters on the notice boards & screens for more information.

 

The Season of Creation is from 1^st September to 4^th October (Feast of St Francis – Patron Saint of the Environment).  It is also the time when we give thanks for the fruits of the harvest. It was initiated in 2015 by Pope Francis, the year he published the encyclical letter, Laudato Si – On Care for our Common Home. A Pilgrimage for the Planet has been arranged for Saturday 9^th September in London.  It has been mainly organised by a Columban Sister.  Sr Margaret is taking part, so all are welcome to join her, for prayer and reflection, as we walk along the River Thames in London. For details see below.

Our Director of Music, Peter Morrell, is moving to pastures new from September this year, after five years with us at St Joseph’s. Peter has the exciting opportunity to run the Music Department of an international school, abroad. We will miss him greatly, and wish him every success and blessing in his new post. Peter’s Farewell party will be at the 11:30am Mass on Sunday 23rd July, with a small gathering in the hall afterwards. All welcome to attend! We are looking to fill the vacancy of parish Director of Music from September 2023.  For the full job spec, please see our notice board, screens and below.

At the Inaugural RJS Mass in 2022, Archbishop John Wilson stated strongly that there was no place for Racism in the Catholic Church, and encouraged all to ‘…broaden our hearts to love and minds to understand and to recognise that in the cultures of others, in the languages and traditions of others, there is something enormously enriching for the whole of the world.’

This year on Racial Justice Sunday, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland encourage us to remember Stephen Lawrence. The 30th anniversary of the racist killing of the black teenager in Eltham will fall on 22nd April 2023, In life he aspired to be an architect, but his legacy has seen him become an architect for justice, equality, dignity and unity.

All are invited to the Racial Justice Sunday Mass at St George’s Cathedral, which will take place at 10 am this Sunday 5th February 2023 and will be celebrated by Archbishop John Wilson. The Mass will also be live-streamed via the RC Southwark YouTube account: https://bit.ly/RJS2023.  Those attending Mass in person are encouraged to wear cultural dress and are asked to be seated by 9.45 am for a prompt start at 10 am in St George’s Cathedral.

The first issue of our Diocesan Newsletter of the Commission for promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion is below: