Newsletter w/c 13-01-2024

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

  • Linda De Abreu – Service Monday 5th February @ 10am at Thames View Crematorium

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

+++++++++++++++++

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

  • 14:  Liam Slattery, Josephine Ann Sullivan, Mary Theresa Morgan
  • 15,  Johanna Flello, Albert Seradi, Sister M. Clare Doyle, Sheila Cecilia Dawe, Rev. Fr. Hugh Bridge, Darren McCormack
  • 16:  James Bradley, Mary Carlin, Louisa Rose Murray, Patrick Thornton, William Charles Wright, Lorenz Anton Knoebl, Philip Charles Higgins, Robert Anthony Freeman
  • 17:  Charles Biles, Mabel Elizabeth Sanderson, Ronald Alfred Gillett, Dorothy Clare Hill, Dora Kathleen Hafner, John Anthony Thompson
  • 18:  Andrew Sharkey, Ian Pujoe, Claire Tiltman, Dennis McFarlane, Sister M. Cecilia Donnelly, Sister M. Teresa Thomas, James Blair, Kathleen Conway, Margaret O’Kane, Davina Glennis Leddy
  • 19:   Eileen Morris, Joseph Debono, Edward Reilly, Mary Donohue, Christopher Finn, Maria Grazia Rossi, Ruth Ellen Tulip, Marie Patricia Savill, Hugh O’Donnell, Maurice Lloyd Barrett,
  • 20:   Thomas O’Toole, Gloria Williams, Kathleen Freeman, Doris Dock, Lily Beatrice Mary Sutherland, Kathleen Kelly, Bernadette Ellen Mary Walsh
  • 21:   Richard Herbert, Robert Jackson Cuthbertson, Margaret Reilly, Luisa Zazzi, Brian Francis Murray, Mary Teresa Taylor,

May they rest in peace…

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sacrament of Confirmation Preparation Programme 2024  The young people planning to receive the Sacrament of    Confirmation this year and their parents are invited to attend an introductory information session on Sunday 14 January at 4:45pm in St John’s, Gravesend. 

Congratulations  to our brother Priest, Fr Livinus being inducted this weekend as Parish Priest of Northfleet.

Baptism  We welcome into our parish family Neviah Odukaiye, Okikioluwa Ayamolowo and  Tioluwalase Ayamolowo who were 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 12th February).

School Forms We will be available to sign school forms on Tuesday between 11-1pm in the Presbytery. Please note that the day and times may change each week.

Last weeks collections  £1,506.04.Thank you for your continued generosity and also to those people who pay by standing order and contactless.

This week there will be a second collection for Society for the Protection of Unborn children White Flower appeal. This year’s appeal calls for the Government to end the pills-by-post DIY abortion policy.

Finance Thank you to all those people who also pay by standing order or the Dona machine – 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. Or contact the parish office.

Missionary Society of St Paul invite you to their Annual celebration day on Friday 26th January at St George’s Cathedral, London. Mass @ 6.30pm prompt celebrated by Bishop Philip Egain, of Portsmouth Diocese. There will be a reception after in the Amigo Hall to which we are all invited. This is a lovely opportunity to support Fr Moses and Fr Stephen and to see and meet members of the order.

Wednesday Tea/Coffee  We will resume our refreshments after 12 noon Mass. All welcome.

Keep Fit  Move it or lose it! Following the Wednesday refreshments there is a keep fit class for anyone who would like to do a simple workout including chair based exercises. £3 per class. Do come along and try a session.

Foodbank  We will be collecting donations for the Foodbank at all Masses this weekend, 13th &14th January. Thank you for your support for local families in need.

RCIA You are welcome to the Catholic Church. Are you searching or want to review your faith or may be interested in joining the Catholic community, or wish to be Confirmed. A new course has just started. Come to the Presbytery on Wednesday @ 7.30pm. God Bless.

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.

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.

Christian Unity There will be a week of prayer for Christian Unity 18th-25th January.

Old Palm Crosses There is a basket available at the back of the Church to collect old palm crosses which can be burnt and made into ash for Ash Wednesday on 22nd February.

Retrouvaille  is a programme for couples struggling in their marriages. Tens of thousands of couples headed for divorce have successfully saved their marriages by attending and using the tools provided. There is no group therapy or group work. For confidential information about ‘Retrouvaille’ or to register commencing with a virtual weekend on 8-11 Feb or a Face to Face weekend in Welwyn Garden City on 14-16 June, call or text 07887 296983 or  – or visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk

Appeal for Knitters?  Thank you to those people who have shown an interest in making a shawl for our delighted parents getting their children baptised. We are not looking at any specific pattern although they need to be white and different styles would be most welcome (last year we had over 80 baptisms in the parish). Please call at the office if you have any queries.

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

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.