Please pray for the souls of all deceased parishioners, family and friends
- Elivera Haigh – Requiem Tuesday 14th January @ 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….
- 22: Brigid Harkin, Eileen Kavanagh, Kevin Joseph Clarke, Kevin Patrick Whelan, Kathleen Ryan, Patrick Joseph Murphy, Elizabeth Joan Diprose
- 23: Maureen McCarthy, Jeremiah Sheehan, Hannah Harriet Clark, Margaret Nellie Freeman, Kenneth Denny, Doris Jane Broad, Helga Sieloff, Elizabeth Neilsen, Derek Coulton, Teresa Hylands, John Joseph McDonach,
- 24: Derry O’Donoghue, Michael Nelson, Sister M. Winifred Walsh, Maureen Iris Reader
- 25: Kathleen Upton, Frank Peach, Olive May Johnson, Sister M. Columba O’Malley, Michael McCarthy, John Palasz, Monica Camilla Murphy
- 26: Michael Mallinder, Sheelah Cherry, Lilian Hester Webster, Stella Chessworth, Joseph Whelan, Annie Waghorne,
- 27: Harry Enefer, Kathleen McDermott, Roger David Hall, Elizabeth Mary Langley, Mary Angela Millar, Mary Georgina McGaley, Linda De Abreau
- 28: John James Leatham, Michael Brennan, William Phillip Sharp, Lionel Edward Fox, Gladys Amy Hendy, Josephine Cooper
- 29: Irene Grant, Patrick Curran, Rev. Fr. Edward O’Byrne, Francis Joseph Traynor, Marie Therese Salter, Henry James Silwood, Angiolina Maria Morrant, Liam Joseph Dolan
May they rest in peace
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Welcome to St John’s as we celebrate the birth of the Saviour. If you are visiting, we hope you have a happy Christmas and wish you all God’s blessings for the coming year. If you are returning to Mass after an absence, long or short, welcome home! We are delighted that you have chosen to celebrate Christmas Mass with us today.
We wish all parishioners the peace and joy of Christmas, and extend a warm welcome to all visitors to our parish. Thank you for all your cards and gifts.
Our wonderful celebrations this Christmas could never have gone ahead without so many people giving their time and skill to the Parish. Our warmest thanks to the Altar Servers and Sacristans, Choirs, Crib & Flower arrangers and Church Decorators, our fantastic Cleaners, Readers, Ministers of Holy Communion, Catechists, Helpers at Masses, Collectors & Counters and Gift Aid team, Repository, Children’s Liturgy helpers, and all those people who work so tirelessly throughout the year behind the scenes. Those who look after St Mary’s and St Katherine’s, the Parish committees – Finance, Building, Parish, Bazaar, Social and Safeguarding. To those who take communion and visit the sick and housebound. The Sisters of Mercy and Schools including Headteachers/Teachers. We are blessed to have so many dedicated parishioners.
Last weeks collections £1,237.64. Thank you for your continued generosity and to those people who pay by standing order and contactless. The collection over Christmas will be your personal gift to our priests. Envelopes are available at the back of the Church.
Family craft event – Sunday 22nd December 2.30-4pm at St John’s Church. Lots of different Christmas themed craft activities for families to enjoy. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Craft supplies are on a first come first served basis. We look forward to welcoming you to this free event.
Wednesday Tea/Coffee A huge thank you to everyone who supports the Wednesday teas. The group have raised £1,218.81 throughout 2024 for Church funds. Refreshments are served in the Coffee bar after 12 noon Mass. All welcome.
Gift Aid Thanks to everyone who signed up to Gift Aid recently. Our Gift Aid Coordinator can answer any queries by calling the office or email gravesendgac@rcaos.org.uk
Confirmation The preparation programme for young people in Years 8-13 at school or 13 years of age by 1 September 2025, who are interested in being confirmed in 2025 begins in January 2025. To register for the programme please complete the Google Form: https://forms.gle/Getb9fGoGsNY1JTX9
A Confirmation Preparation Assistant is required (Classes start in January 2025). Please see Fr Moses
Booking Mass Intentions: Envelopes for Masses are available at the back of the Church, write the intention and put the stipend (Diocesan recommendation is £10) in the envelope. Please do not use the Dona Machine for Mass stipends.
Baptism 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 (the next session is Monday 13th January @7pm). Please email the office.
Southwark Archdiocese Rosary Prayer Project Everyone is warmly invited to join this Archdiocese-wide prayer initiative, praying a decade of the Rosary each day for priests and parishes in their deanery. For details see the poster on the noticeboard, pick up an invitation leaflet at the back of church or email southwarkrenewal@gmail.com.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Christ is really present in the Blessed Sacrament; come and talk heart to heart with Him, either on Wed (10am-12noon) or Sat after 10am Mass until 12.30pm; or 1st Friday 24 hour Adoration.
Mother’s prayer group takes place straight after the 9.15 mass every Friday. You are invited to join us and pray for our children especially.
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.
Jubilee Year 2025 Pope Francis has announced that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee “Pilgrims of Hope”. – an event that happens every 25 years. The Jubilee Year will begin with the opening of the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve 2024 and ends on January 6, 2026, with the closing of the Holy Door. We have some booklets explaining the year ahead at the back of the Church (£1.50). We will be speaking about our parish plans soon.
Crib Thank you to the team of crib builders and maintaining the beautiful crib figures. Please encourage the children to watch the scene build week by week with the story of Christmas.
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