Newsletter w/c 21-05-2023

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

  • Warunee Lewis – date to be confirmed
  • Christine (Tutsy) Walsh – date to be confirmed

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….

  • 21: Dennis John Butterfield, John Fredrick Neal, Sister Juliana Pennelly, Arpad Zsige
  • 22: John Stephen Little, George John Tuley, Maureen Mary McDonnell, Baby Anna Hedley, Bernard Ronald McLeavey
  • 23: Theresa Mary Sims
  • 24:  Harry Mizzen, Desmond Byrne, Frances Beacon, Marjorie Knight
  • 25: John Joseph Lane, Margaret Laura Parker, Joanne Wall, Paul Smith
  • 26: Antony Peter Gibson, Mary Catherine Phillips, Sr. Paschal Sheehy, Marie Ellen Dougal, Clive Stanley Robinson
  • 27: Paul Joseph McCabe, Pat Dillow, Kathy Dillow, Maria Magdelane Leeman, Michael Nyzalowskiyj, Eric Morrant, Roger Stevenson
  • 28: John Somerville Scott, Kathleen Moriarty

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.

Novena to the Holy Spirit  from Friday 19th May to Saturday 27th May at 7pm every evening in the Church (excluding Thursday 25th May). As a parish, let us come to the “Upper Room” to relive Pentecost        experience. Let us make it a community experience. Come O Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful.

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

Last weeks collections  £1299.55. Church maintenance £35.56. Thank you for your continued generosity. This weekend there is a second collection for World Communications Day.

Church Roof Fund Thank you to everyone who has so generously donated to our Church Roof Fund. We have now raised £20,080 towards repairing the roof. Estimates to renew the roof are coming in at approximately £200,000.

Baptisms We welcome into our parish family Justas Rudzionis 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 this Monday 12th June).

Confirmation We welcome Bishop Paul Hendricks this Thursday 25th May at 7pm to St John’s when our young people will receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Please remember them in your prayers.

First Holy Communion Please remember in your prayers the 34 children who will be receiving their First Holy Communion over the next 2 weekends. The children have been preparing with Sr Elizabeth and Mrs Gibbons for the last 9 months.

Wedding  Our prayers and congratulations to Millicent and Michael Afeeva on their wedding this weekend at St John’s. Next weekend we welcome Elizabeth Stevens and James Mannion who will be getting married. Please make an appointment to see one of the priests if you would like to get married at St John’s.

Medway Singers We are delighted to welcome back the Medway Singers after their wonderful concert in December. As it was snowing a lot of people were unable to come along so we encourage you to join the parish in welcoming the Medway singers for a summer concert on Saturday 24th June at 7.30pm. Proceeds go into the leaking roofing project.

Altar Servers Summer Break For Altar Servers, boys and girls aged 11-17 of the Southwark diocese 1-4th Aug at Oratory School, Reading. Please collect a form from the sacristy if you are interested or contact Fr Stephen Boyle 01322 220075

School Forms  Fr Moses will be available to sign school forms on Wednesday between 1-3pm 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.

Foodbank  Thank you again for your generous donations this month . We delivered 189kg to the foodbank.

200 Club  May Winners 1st: £55 – Sunday Teas, 2nd:  £35 – John Perrin, 3rd: £25 – James Gurney,  4th: £15 – Mary Gaskill. 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 instructions

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

Knights of St Columba Dinner Dance & Fund Raising Saturday 15th July @ 5-9pm  The aim of this event is to raise money for the work of the Knights of St. Columba at our two parishes; (St. John’s the Evangelist Gravesend and Our Lady of Assumption, Northfleet). The funds raised will be vital particularly for Youth work. The tickets are as follows: £30 for couples and £20 for singles. There  will be a grand raffle draw on the day with various great hampers and prizes. We are kindly requesting donations of hamper items including: wine, drinks, chocolates, cookies, sweets, savoury snacks as well as any other quality items.  Please grab a ticket to this event today and come along, there will be opportunities for enjoyable music, dance, relaxation, and interaction. Venue: Riverside Centre, Dickens Road, Gravesend DA12 2JY. Tickets available from any of the KSC or Br Victor Achu on 07852746022 or the parish office.