Video Message to Catechumens and Candidates
This Sunday 7th June 2020, Archbishop John Wilson was due to come to our parish and confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on some 33 of our young people. Sadly, because of the current global situation, this has had to be deferred, as everyone is aware. Archbishop John recorded a special very well-timed message to all the Catechumens and Candidates, people who had been preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation or to be received in to the Church during the Easter season. During the Pentecost Sunday Mass Homily he spoke particularly to them, but also made a short video for all affected:
Click here to see this video on YouTube.
Please remember our young people, their catechists and parents, our clergy, and also Archbishop John himself. We very much look forward to welcoming him to St Joseph’s in the future!
Preparing for Pentecost Sunday – 31st May 2020
The Bishops’ Conference has provided some resources focused on preparation for the celebration of Pentecost: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/the-god-who-speaks/focus/
Text of a Pentecost Novena: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Pentecost-Novena.pdf
National Mass for Keyworkers and Families
The Bishops’ Conference have organised a weekly live stream Mass to pray for Keyworkers and their Families. These Masses are celebrated by a different Bishop each Thursday at 7pm from one Cathedrals across the country. Archbishop John will be celebrating the 2nd July Mass. The planned schedule for the next few weeks is:
4 June
Bishop John Arnold
Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Salford
Salford Cathedral on churchservices.tv
11 June
Bishop Patrick McKinney
St Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham
Nottingham Cathedral on churchservices.tv
18 June
Archbishop Bernard Longley
St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham
St Chad’s on MCN Media
25 June
Bishop Alan Hopes
Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich
YouTube Channel
2 July
Archbishop John Wilson
St George’s Cathedral, Southwark
YouTube Channel
9 July
Bishop Tom Williams
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool
YouTube Channel
Facebook
Passing on The Faith
Parents have a lot more time with their children at the moment. The diocese is offering a programme they have run in the past in several parishes but now as an online service for families. For more details email Lisette Blanchett-Ball on [email protected].
Archdiocese of Southwark May Devotions 7pm Wednesday 27 May 2020
Bulletin 24th May 2020 – Seventh Sunday of Easter (A)
A Message from Archbishop John Wilson for our Young People
Bulletin 17th May 2020 – Sixth Sunday of Easter (A)
Rev Peter Holmes RIP
Over the weekend, we learned with great sadness that the Reverend Peter Holmes, our dear friend and Chair of the Joel Board of Trustees, passed away from COVID-19. As vicar of St Peter’s Church, Kingston for more than 25 years and founder of The Joel Community Night Shelter, he was passionately dedicated to social justice for those on the margins.
Peter followed Jesus’ example and threw the church doors wide-open to those people that few cared about, particularly the ‘street-homeless’. He was an inspirational man of God, a pioneer and mentor to so many of us. We will miss his friendship, his leadership and his Christ-centred approach to life.
Ephesians 5:2
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
We offer our prayers and heartfelt condolences to Peter’s wife Carol and their four children, and to the congregation at St Peter’s. Despite our great sadness, we take comfort in knowing that Peter is in a wonderful place, with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
God bless and keep well,
The Trustees
Joel Community Services