Newsletter w/c 07-05-2023

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

  • Warunee Lewis – date to be confirmed
  • Philomena Nolan Reception into St John’s 18th May and Requiem Friday19th 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….

  • 7:  Christopher Anthony Brooke
  • 9:  June Lily Loveridge, Catherine Morgan, John William Hart, Patricia Joan Keelan
  • 10: Agnes King, Siter M. Magdalen Maguire, Thomas Richard Cribb, Vivienne Margaret Neary, Carol Ann Stevens, 
  • 11: Grace Frances Witherden, Elizabeth McGoran, Constance Mary Hayes, Kevin Joseph Doyle
  • 12: Annie Drayner, Mary Feaheny, Ronald Carter, Alexander Dunlop McBryde, Michael Patrick Murray
  • 13: Joan Clifford, Vera Eileen Marjorie Porter
  • 14: James Anthony Casey

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.

May Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary  During May the Rosary will be recited before all Masses. Please join us.

King Charles Coronation   Please remember to collect a prayer card from the back of the Church. We will continue to pray for Kind Charles at all Masses this weekend.

O God, to whom every human power is subject, grant to your servant our sovereign Charles success in the exercise of his high office, so that, always revering you and striving to please you, he may constantly secure and preserve for the people entrusted to his care the freedom that comes from civil peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.’

 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 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.

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

Last weeks collections  £1333.85, Priest Training Fund £810.11. Donation £650. Thank you for your continued generosity. Thank you to all those people who also pay by standing order – forms are available on the information table if you would like to make your donation to the Church in this way instead of using gift aid envelopes or cash. If you wish to set up a standing order, St Johns Church bank details are: Account name: ‘RCAS a Registered Charity re St Johns Church’, Sort code: 60-09-10 (Nat West Bank, 30 King Street, Gravesend, DA12 2XX) Account No: 07722915. Forms are available in the porch or contact the parish office. Thank you for your continued generosity.   

Baptisms We welcome into our parish family Robert Zsiga who was 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  We will be collecting for the Foodbank at all Masses next weekend, 13th & 14th May. The most urgently needed items are Tinned Meat, Tinned Potatoes, Coffee, Noodles, Mayo & Ketchup, Hot Chocolate, Jam & Peanut Butter and Washing-up Liquid. Thank you for your support. 

Ladies group  Will be holding their first meeting next Saturday 13th May at 2pm in the coffee bar.

School Forms  Fr Moses will be available to sign school forms on Thursday between 11am-3pm in the Presbytery. Please note that the day and times may change each week.

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.

200 Club  April Winners 1st: £55 – Olivia Langendijk, 2nd:  £35 – Oliver Everest, 3rd: £25 – Sunday Teas,  4th: £15 – Anthony Holdstock. We held the draw on Wednesday 26th April in the Coffee Bar. Thank you for your support.

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.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Come to me all who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest. Come, pray, rest & watch before the Blessed Sacrament, either on Wed (9.30–11.30) or Sat after 10am Mass until 12.30pm.

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 joining instruction

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.