Please pray for the souls of all deceased parishioners, family and friends
- Alison Best – Requiem at St John’s Friday 13th December @1.30pm
- Frank Leonard Sharpe – Requiem at St John’s Tuesday 17th Dec @ 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….
- 8: Alexander Gloag Fisken Henery, James Patrick Hyland, Joyce Rimmer, Jennifer Ann Chapman
- 9: Jean Grange, Phoebe May Boyle, Harry Bowman, Danny Mark Ryan, Helen Thompson, Josephine Wenham, Stefan Adi
- 10: Margaret Joyce, Lillian Allen, Jessica Lennane, George Cossons, Mary Agnes Hewitt, Veronica Foulsham, Robert Campbell
- 11: Kathleen Magee, Leo Vincent Ring, Kathleen Clara Parnett, Kathleen Mary Dobinson, John Charles Fitzpatrick,
- 12: John McGraph, Thomas Lydon, Mary Isabella Day, Irene Elizabeth Cosgrove, Caroline Ann Smyth
- 13: Mary Walker, Luke Turner, Andrew John Harkett, Helena Mary Richardson, Charles Robert Crook, Kenneth William Hughes
- 14: Christine Olive Flynn, Mary Winifred Girling, John Moore
- 15: John Lynam, Peter Holdstock, Baby Clodagh Mary O’Brien, Cynthia Anne Connell
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.
Advent Reconciliation Service Next Saturday 14th December we will have a Family Service of Reconciliation starting at 11am with Mass at 12 noon. There will be many priests to go to for individual Confession. Come and prepare for Christmas spiritually.
Carol Concert Next Sunday 15th December 7.30pm in the Church. We are delighted to welcome back the Medway Singers and Lauren Lynn. Suggested ticket price £5 (children free). We look forward to welcoming you.
Parish Bazaar We had a wonderful Bazaar last Saturday at the Comprehensive school. There are so many people to thank, so instead of leaving you out, we thank everyone who donated, supported, helped on the day and behind the scenes, including Shining Light who put up the decorations. Without you it would never have been a success. We are grateful to Bartellos Restaurant and the Cake Box for their donations. The amazing sum of over £5,600 was collected. It was a joy to see so many people support the day. All prizes have been claimed by our delighted winners. Thank you to Mr Barron, Susanne Gibbons & Team for the use of St John’s School.
Last weeks collections £1,333.26. Thank you for your continued generosity and to those people who pay by standing order and contactless.
Gift Aid Giving Presentation This weekend at all Masses there will be a short presentation about gift aid.
Christmas Lunch There will be a lunch for our older members of the parish on Wednesday 11th December after 12 noon Mass in the Coffee Bar. Please put your name on the list at the back of the Church as we only have room for 30 people and let us know if anyone might benefit from the gathering.
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
Monthly tea/Coffee -Today there will be tea and coffee served in the Coffee Room after 10.30 am Mass. You are most welcome to the Coffee bar after Mass for the refreshments and some social get-together.
New Lectionaries As we start a new Church Year (C) we will be using the new Lectionary; a revised translation of the Scripture readings for Mass and the Sacraments. The new translation is intended to be more faithful to the original languages and biblical scholarship. Thank you to those people who donated towards the new lectionaries, we are most grateful.
Advent Books We have booklets available at the back of the Church @ £1 or 60p for the Infant/Junior booklet.
Please collect our Advent/Christmas Card with events and Masses for the season.
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. Please email the office.
Foodbank We will be collecting donations for the Foodbank at all Masses this weekend. The most needed items are Longlife Milk/Squash/Peanut Butter/Honey/Small Christmas Sweets. Thank you as always for your generous support.
Vote on Assisted Dying Our Archbishop, John Wilson has made a statement regarding the vote last week in the House of Commons. Copies available at the back of the Church.
Book Club Wed 11th December, 6.30-7.30pm in the coffee bar. Free refreshments. Everyone most welcome. Fr Stephen will chair discussion of his book Tears and Torture.
Carol Singing for Christian Aid Sat 14th December, 2.30-3.00pm at St George’s Centre opp. Sports Direct. Everyone most welcome to join in.
Wednesday Tea/Coffee Refreshments are served in the Coffee bar after 12 noon Mass. All welcome.
Mother’s prayer group will take place straight after the 9.15 mass every Friday. You are invited to join us if you could.
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.
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
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.
Jubilee Year 2025 Pope Francis has announced that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee – an event that happens every 25 years. The theme for the upcoming Jubilee is “Pilgrims of Hope”. The Jubilee Year will begin with the opening of the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve 2024. We will be speaking about our parish plans soon.