Newsletter w/c 23-04-2023

Please pray for the souls of all deceased parishioners, family and friends

  • Philomena Nolan Reception into St John’s 18th May and Requiem Thurs 19th May at 11am

May God console their families. May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace;

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Please pray for those whose Anniversaries occur at this time including….

  • 23: Josephine Elizabeth McGowan, Giovanni Tramontano, Sister M. Carmel Boyle, George Henry Stocks, Adam Lawrence Colton, William John Colton, Bartley Gilhooly
  • 24: Grace Sally, John McCrane, Josephine Morris
  • 25: Arthur Ernest Strickland, Pamela Doreen Evers, Herbert Mark Martin, Christina Cecilia Murphy
  • 26: Patrick Carlin, Martin Rodden, Sister M. Camillus Doyle, Lorna Anne Agley, Jonathan Patrick Laimons Kelly, Betty McNally,
  • 27: Anthony Clarke, Ken Albert Kenna, Catherine Ellen Seagust, Ellen Dorothy Mayers, Ronald Leslie Roberts, Mary Patricia Sharpe
  • 28: Ethel Amelia Reardon, Kathleen Strain, Rita Ryan, Helen Stella Bergin, Eileen Scutts, William Agley, Owen Mulheran, Ervine Gabor, Rosa Horton nee Cientanni
  • 29: Alfred William Mills, Agnes Patricia Byrne, Dennis Francis Hurley,
  • 30: Paul Koluzs, Anthony Stephen Robinson, Albert George Pattison, Norah Eileen Lorimer, Sheila Evans

May they rest in peace…

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Sick/housebound Please contact the parish office and let us know of neighbours/family members who are unable to come to Church and would like to receive Communion or call 07405803862. We remember in our prayers those who are sick, housebound or in     hospital & those who care for them. Please, when on admission in the hospital or care home, volunteer the information of your faith as you won’t be asked ordinarily.

Last weeks collections  £1181.06. Maintenance £45.24. Thank you. This week: a second collection for Maintenance of St George’s Cathedral. Next week: a second collection for Priest Training Fund. (Good Shepherd Sunday – a day when we pray for vocations).

Have you ever considered you may be called to the priesthood or the religious life? Southwark Vocations will be hosting a 60 minute webinar on Tues 9th May at 7pm entitled The Good Shepherd Calls where different presenters will share their experiences about discovering God’s plan for each one of us. Please join us by registering for this event in advance by using following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpdOuprDMtH9wKUQ777ddSSjLBucMtsONt

Baptisms We welcome into our parish family Eliza Ramchand-Bentley, Louie Bassett and Daisy Cooper who were baptized this week. Application forms for Baptism are available from the back of the Church or the parish office. Families need to    attend a talk before the baptism. Please phone or email the office if you wish to attend (Next session is 15th May).

Foodbank Thank you to everyone who donated so generously last weekend. We were able to deliver 193.7kg of food and other essentials to help local families in need.

School Forms  Fr Moses will be available to sign school forms on Wednesday between 12.45pm-3pm in the Presbytery. Please note that the day and times may change each week.

Wednesday Tea/Coffee  Come and join the fellowship after the 12 noon Mass on Wednesday. The 200 club draw will take place this Wednesday.

Altar servers Rally at The Friars, Aylesford on May Day bank holiday 1st May. Mass will be celebrated at 11.30am.     Everyone is welcome to attend especially our servers, families and friends. Altar servers are encouraged to attend with    family and friends.

Gift Aid Boxes available for collection at all Masses this weekend in the sacristy.

Precious Blood  Following discussion at the Bishops’ Conference, and bearing in mind current guidance, it will be permissible to offer once again Holy Communion under both kinds (that is also from the chalice, receiving the Precious Blood.) from Maundy Thursday (6 April 2023) onwards. This practice remains optional. No one is obliged to receive Holy Communion from the shared chalice since Jesus Christ is received sacramentally, whole, and entire, under one kind. 

RCIA  We welcome anyone who is searching or wants to review their faith or may be interested in joining the Catholic     community, or wishes to be Confirmed. Please contact the parish office or speak to Fr Moses.

Nursery 2023  Would you like your child to start at St. John’s Catholic Primary School Nursery in September 2023? If your child will be 3 years of age on or before 31st August 2023 then now is the time to summit your nursery application form, which is available from our school office or download https://www.stjohnsprimary.kent.sch.uk/Information/Admissions/ and once completed, have it countersigned by your Parish Priest. We will also need to see your children’s original full Birth     Certificate and evidence of their Christian Baptism.  Completed documents can be brought into the school office or emailed as a PDF document to admissions@st-johns-gravesend.kcsp.org.uk before the end of April.

Round Britain Sailing Pilgrimage – Celebrating STELLA MARIS’ 100+ years of service to Seafarers & Fishers. Please come and join skipper Russ Fairman & Crew in the Mass, celebrated by Fr Moses, with Deacon John Fogarty from Stella Maris, at St John’s church in Gravesend at 6pm on Saturday 6th May and at 08.30 on Sunday 7th May. Hospitality will be provided in the hall afterwards, hosted by Dcn John Fogarty, Stella Maris Port Chaplain, followed by a stroll down to see the boat off from the Pier if you would like to. for more details, go to https://sailingpilgrimages.co.uk/stella-maris/  Leaflets at the back of the Church.

King Charles Coronation A special Mass will take place at St John’s to celebrate the Coronation on Fri 5th May at 7pm.

Mass IntentionsIf you would like to have a Mass offered for an intention, please fill in one of marked envelopes and hand to one of the priests or call at the presbytery between 10-2pm if you would like a specific mass. We cannot always allocate a Mass on the date requested as it may have already been booked, however, your Mass may be shared if you wish.

Padre Pio Prayer Group each Tuesday  straight after 9.15am Mass in the Cry Chapel. All welcome to join us in prayer. We especially remember our sick friends and family.

Come and Rest  is a contemplative group that meets around the Word of God on Wednesdays 8-9pm. Click here for the zoom link.

Mustard Seed  Bible study every day @ 8.30pm; Lectio Divina on Fridays @ 7.30pm. Please click here for how to join

Divine Mercy Chaplet The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be online at 3pm Monday – Friday. Click here for how to join the online meetings as well as the prayers if you wish to say the Chaplet privately.

Dona Card Machine We now have a self-service card donation point. It accepts contactless and chip and pin donations for those parishioners who may find this more useful than cash. We will try and have someone with the machine at all masses to help with any enquires about making donations this way.