Laetare Sunday.

Today we celebrate Laetare Sunday which falls 21 days before Easter Sunday. It is considered a day of relaxation from the rigours of Lent knowing that the Great Day of celebration is close at hand. The name derives from the opening words of the Entrance Antiphon, ‘Rejoice, O Jerusalem’. Traditionally, servants were allowed to return to the church of their baptism and give praise to God and they would bring flowers for the altars which were allowed in church for that day. They would then continue and visit mother at the family home bearing gifts from the larders of the houses where they worked. This might take the form of the simnel cake associated with Lent/Easter which contained fruits not used during the fasting season of Lent.

Next Saturday 

Mass for the Bereaved.

5th April at 10.30 am.

All are welcome to attend our Mass, where we give ourselves some space and time to remember our loved ones who are now with God.

It may be a parent whom we've been thinking about, who is a long-time departed,

or a child lost in miscarriage, or some other form of accident or illness.

It may be a spouse or a close friend whom we are still coming to terms with the loss.

With votive lights and music, we create a safe atmosphere where we can engage with our emotions and our pain.

Refreshments and a chat to follow at the back of the church.

Parish Activities during Lent.

Thursdays: Morning Prayer of the Church at 9.40 am

Thursdays: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass.

Fridays: Exposition and Benediction after Mass.

Fridays: Stations of the Cross at 7.30pm

Saturdays in Lent.

Saturday, 5th April: Mass for the Bereaved at 10.30 am.

Please click the link to register the young person attending the retreat:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=9JKa3g4HSkOYwRaMdLJsHhfpOE51Om9HlyINRP3WkBpUOE5VT01NSUg5M0pTMkdNMDNPT1JXTlhGWS4u

Inauguration of Holy Year Jubilee 2025

Seee link for latest.

Jubilee Celebration at Aylesford Priory.

on Saturday 7th June 2025

From 10 am to 5 pm.

See link for further details.

Mass in Celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage, July 12th, at St George’s Cathedral.

If you are celebrating your 1st/10th/25th/40th/50th/60th + wedding anniversary this year,

please let us know as soon as possible, and no later than the middle of May,

providing the following details: your names in the format John and Mary Smith, your home address, your parish,

and the anniversary you are celebrating,

so you can receive an invitation from the Archbishop for the renewal of vows during Mass.

Spaces are limited.

Contact us at mflse@rcaos.org.uk As the title of your email, please write your parish location e.g. Clapham, Beckenham.

Marriage and Family Life South East

RC Archdiocese of Southwark

IMPORTANT UPDATE

I’m writing to share an important update on the campaign to defeat Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill.

This is a little longer than my usual emails,

but you must read it so you are aware of exactly what the situation is now,

and what you need to do to ensure this dangerous Bill is defeated.

As I mentioned in my last email, the Committee Stage of the Bill ended very late on Tuesday night last week.

From here, the first day of Report Stage for the Bill will take place on 25 April—which is now only 23 days away—

and will be held in the main House of Commons chamber, where all MPs can bring forward and vote on amendments.

How these votes go will likely significantly impact whether the Bill is defeated later on, so it’s vital that you mobilise and contact your MP before 25 April.

After the Report Stage, Kim Leadbeater will either hold the final Third Reading vote on 25 April or spread the Report Stage across two days (25 April and 16 May) before a final vote on 16 May. Although we expect her to opt for two days, nothing is confirmed yet.

I will keep you updated and let you know as soon as anything is confirmed, but at this stage, the main focus is ensuring we get as many emails and in-person visits to MPs as possible before 25 April.

Best wishes,

Catherine Robinson
Right To Life UK

Please click for further details.

A Year of Hope: Introduction to the Jubilee Year

How can we respond to Pope Francis’ call to be “tangible signs of hope” in this Jubilee Year?

Find out by watching this inspirational event

find it and other Jubilee resources at cafod.org.uk/jubilee).

Featuring Fr Jan Nowotnik, Director of Mission at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales,

CAFOD Director Christine Allen and more.

Discover how we can act in faith and in love as pilgrims of hope this Holy Year.

You Can Help Your Marriage –Do you feel alone?

Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue … or have you just stopped talking to each other?

Does talking about it only make it worse? Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long'i') helps couples through difficult times in their marriages.

There is no group therapy or group work.

This programme has helped 10s of 1000s of couples experiencing difficulties in their marriage. For confidential information about Retrouvaille’, or to register for the next programme commencing via Zoom on …27 February to 2 March 2025

Call or text 0788 7296983 Emailinfo@retrouvaille.org.uk www.retrouvaille.org.uk

A Jubilee Year

is a special time dedicated by the Catholic Church

to reconciliation, conversion, and spiritual renewal.

During this year, the faithful can receive

plenary indulgences, participate in events and spiritual activities, and deeply reconnect with their faith.

As so many will not be able to travel to Rome to celebrate the Jubilee Year,

the Pope asks local Bishops to designate appropriate churches in each diocese

to be centres of pilgrimage where the many Jubilee Indulgences may be obtained.

See link for further details.

Appeal for School Governors.

Governors have an important role to play in ensuring sure schools are run effectively.

They work as part of a team with the Headteacher and other staff

to provide a happy, safe, and thriving learning environment as well as an excellent education for all the children.

See link for details.

For families and young adults:

The latest CELEBRATE resource which is ourLent Online Family Activity pack designed to support family faith life.

It is packed full of engaging activities, ways to pray, books to savour and films that both entertain and promote conversation in faith.

Parishes, schools and families can download their free Lent family activity pack here.

CELEBRATE also has a couple of events coming up:

See link for details.

See link for details.

Cafod Family Fast Day (Spring).

Total sent £500.

See link for details.

Organisations supporting

Respect for Life and all of God's Creation.

December update on Assisted Suicide Bill and undecided MP's.

See link for details.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Child

See link.

Pax Christi

Annual Report.

&

Latest Report.

See link.

Lenten  Edition

With the ESV translation of the scripture.

Price £1.

now available from the back of the church.