Newsletter w/c 22-10-2023

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

  • Josephine McEniff – Requiem Tuesday 7th November @11am    May God console her family.

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….

  • 22: Robert Gartland, George Souter, Carlota Cornelio, Charles Mark Hammond, Miriama Pokutova, Joan Lilian Napper, Agnes Mizzen
  • 23: William Burns, Neal Hathaway, Edward Cassidy, Maria Theresa Hollands, Robert Ernstzen, Mary Josephine Gill, Eileen May Rigden
  • 24: Elizabeth Wilders, Margaret Mary Ellen Danzey, Malcolm Anthony Crane
  • 25: Geraldine Elizabeth Currie, Kenneth Macklin, Kathleen Ada Draper, Marek Bunda, Derek Rimmer, Mary Theresa Griffin
  • 26: Ann Money Thomson, Thomas Leonard Rayfield, Stephen James Williamson, Eileen Couchman
  • 27: Sylvester Healy, Sheila Mary Ring, Anne Catherine Davis, Peggie Britton, Anna Geraldina Brenchley, Shirley Elizabeth Wakefield, Miriama Pokutova, Sheila Wilders, Teresa Bains
  • 28: Kathleen Mary Charlton, Josephine Ann McGaley, Alexander Bernard Ross, Eileen Mary Freeman, Kathleen Jones, David Colin Read, Columba (Colm) Murphy
  • 29: Harry Holland, Catherine Ann Walsh, Noel Nicholl, Baby Angelica Candace Serena Bradley, Edward Breslin, Mary Markie Green, Doreen May Rodden, Mary Moran,

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 and their families. Please, when on admission in the hospital or care home, volunteer the information of your faith as you won’t be asked  ordinarily.

Holy Rosary  October is the month of the Holy Rosary and will be said 30 minutes before every Mass Monday to Saturday morning and 5.30pm on Sunday during October –  everyone is welcome, please join us. Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

Baptism  We welcome into our parish family Elizabeth Sidelkova who was baptized this weekend. 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/email the office if you wish to attend (Next session is Monday 13th Nov).

Macmillan Coffee Morning  St John’s Ladies invite you all to a Macmillan Coffee Morning after 8.30 & 10.30 Masses today Sunday 22nd October. Please come & show your support for those living with cancer.

Last weeks collections  £1,346.68. Second collection for the work of Missio. Thank you for your continued generosity. Thank you to all those people who also pay by standing order and contactless.

This Sunday is World Mission Sunday It is the official group to support the work of foreign missions. The collection supports churches, hospitals, schools and vocations in countries where the Church is new, young or poor. It’s a chance to pray and give support to our sisters and brothers in Christ who live in areas of poverty, conflict and oppression.  Please look at their website: missio.org.uk

Bazaar  This year the Parish Bazaar will take place at St John’s Comprehensive School on Saturday 25th November. More information next week about collecting any donations. We would be most grateful for any prize towards our Christmas Raffle this year. Please see Fr Moses, Sr Elizabeth or Parish Secretary if you are able to help.

200 Club  We invite you to join the 200 Club. £20 buys 12 months’ worth of draw entries starting from the end of October. Prizes 1st – £55, 2nd – £35, 3rd- £25, 4th – £15, Forms available at the back of the church. Please return  in an envelope marked ‘200 Club’ this week and we will hold the first draw on Wednesday after 12 noon Mass.

St John’s Catholic Primary School Open Day 6/7/8/9/10th Nov @9.30am. Booking is essential 01474 534546

Remembrance Mass will be celebrated at St John’s on Wednesday15th November at 12 noon to remember and pray for all our family and friends who have died, especially those who died in the covid (lockdown) years. We read out the names of those who have died in our parish during the last year and you are invited to light a candle for them. We warmly invite everyone to join us for this annual Mass. Please, if you have lost anyone in the past 2 years, let us have the names through the Secretary so that we could include in the names to be read out.

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 on 07405803862.

Passing on the Faith as Grandparents  What practical steps can we take and what sort of conversations can we have which will help anchor our grandchildren’s faith? Four online sessions starting Weds eves November 8th, 7:30 – 9pm.  Email Lisette on mflse@rcaos.org.uk

Passing on the Faith as Parents  How do we start? How do we continue? What works well for children at different stages? Four online sessions starting Thurs eves November 9th, 8pm – 9:30pm.  Email Lisette on mflse@rcaos.org.uk

Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion in Our Parishes, Schools and Communities  This seminar will take place at the Amigo Hall, St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, from 9.30am-4.00pm on Saturday 28 Oct. You are all welcomed to this archdiocesan initiative by the Commission for Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion. On that day there will be contributions from a range of speakers, including the Most Reverend John Wilson. To register for the Seminar (and Zoom) please https://forms.microsoft.com/e/1G3DvS124W. Registration is free. Information can be found on rcsouthwark.co.uk

School Forms We will be available to sign school forms on Thursday between 12-3pm in the Presbytery. Please note that the day and times may change each week.

Foodbank  Combined with donations from St John’s Primary School a generous 312.5lkg was delivered to the Foodbank. Thank you.

Catholic Charismatic Renewal   Do you desire living more fully, more spiritually and discovering and putting your gifts at God’s service? This may be a group to try. We meet on Fridays at 7pm in St John’s Church

Senior Youth Day (school yr 7-11) at St Anslem’s Catholic Church, Dartford on Saturday 4th Nov. Please collect a leaflet from the back of the Church with all the details of the day.

House of Mercy  After 31 years of serving Gravesend’s homeless, the House of Mercy has closed because of unsustainable financial pressures. The charity formally closed to residents 29th Sept 2023. Fortunately, the charity was able to find accommodation for most of the residents. The Trustees and staff are indebted to the many parishioners who supported us. We would also like to thank the number of individuals  who supported us by monthly financial donations. We sincerely thank you all, however please cancel any regular donations as soon as possible as the charity is no longer able to accept any   donations. God Bless you all. Margaret Gallagher (Chair of Trustees-House of Mercy Charity)

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.

Come and Rest in Me  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