Please pray for the souls of all deceased parishioners, family and friends
- Brian Anthony Hickey – Requiem at St John’s Thurs 23 April at 11am
May God console their families. May the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace
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Please pray for those whose Anniversaries occur at this time including….
- 5: Sister M. Gertrude Claffey, Joan Regan, Nellie Maloney, Margaret Hickman, Phyllis Jane Lloyd
- 6: Michael John Newman, Lilliam Graske, George David Ball, Ralph Redsell, Alice Hilda Tracey, Joseph Fanning, Mary Frances O’Rourke
- 7: Cecilia Mary Hazell, Ronald Fleury, Victor James Long, Benjamin Westrap, David Westrap.
- 8: Con Cregan, James Cyril Upton, Canon Eamonn Mundy, John Joseph Mullen, Maria Martin, Sister Mary Vincent, Sarah Rayfield, Carmela Puglisi
- 9: John Vincent Joyce, John Joseph Mulholland, Louise Noreen Mary Horry, Rose Taylor, Elizabeth Anne Rimmer, Marina Brenda Canton, Patrick Neeson, Baby Angel Jaques, Joseph Edward George Grant, Philip Anthony Murphy, Helen Ervin, Florence Wardle
- 10: Richard Edward Leggatt, Ann Elizabeth Wattts, Sheila Mary North
- 11: Moya Talbot, Sister M de Sales Garland, Edward Charles Ryan, Guiseppe Papa
- 12: Joan Adams, Fr. John McNally, Vincent John McDonagh Chadwick, Barry Herbert Wenham, Kevin Joseph McKay, Steven Cottrell, James Harold Cook, Shirley Joan Pantry, Jacqueline Elizabeth Blowers
May they rest in peace
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Welcome to our Easter Celebration and a warm welcome to our families, visitors and friends.
Thank You! Our celebrations this Easter could never have gone ahead without so many people giving their time and expertise to the Parish. Our warmest thanks to the Altar Servers and Sacristans, Choirs, Flower arrangers, Cleaners, Readers, Ministers of Holy Communion, Catechists, Helpers at Masses, Counters, collectors, Gift Aid team, Repository and Children’s Liturgy helpers, and all those people who work so tirelessly throughout the year behind the scenes. Those people who look after St Mary’s and St Katherine’s. The Parish committees, those who visit the housebound, the Sisters of Mercy and Schools. We are blessed to have so many dedicated parishioners at St John’s.
Easter Vigil We warmly welcome Ajay Welch, Luke Mulholland, Sophia Rodney, Mariette Akouba and Maria Anderson who were Baptized, received and Confirmed and Danielle Jones, Carl Latayan, Olumuyiwa Rotimi & Denisa Buzatu who were received and Confirmed at the Easter Vigil.
Congratulations to St John’s Catholic Comprehensive School on their recent Catholic Schools Inspection, where the inspectors stated that the overall quality of Catholic Education provided by the school was ‘Outstanding’, and that ‘Christ is at the heart of this community’. To read the report in full, please visit the school’s website: www.stjohnscs.com
Free Marriage and Family Life events for Parents For parents with teenagers; Catholic Celebrate are offering 2 webinars – Confident parenting in a world of screens 29th April 8pm and Raising teenagers in a Catholic family 2nd June 8pm. To book a place contact asap info@celebratetrust.org
Last weeks collections St John’s: £1,141.56, . St Mary’s: £232.81. Standing orders for March £2,545.00. Thank you for your support and continued generosity. Your Easter offering goes towards the training of Priests in the Missionary Society of St Paul. Envelopes are available at the back of the Church.
Monday 6th April There is Mass at 10am and weather permitting, we will make our way down to the river front (by the cafeteria area) for a family and friends afternoon. Bring as many people as you can and bring food, games, chairs, rugs etc for a fun and entertaining afternoon.
Baptisms We welcome into our parish family Azryah Balogun who was baptized on Sunday. Application forms for Baptism are available at the back of the Church or the parish office. Families need to attend a preparation session before the baptism (the next session is Monday 13th April @7pm) or email the office.
The Book Club next meets on Wednesday 8th April at 7pm for an hour in the church coffee bar. Discussion this month on own choice of fiction. Free entry and free refreshments. Organised by Gravesham with Ebbsfleet Rotary.
Divine Mercy Sunday Divine Mercy Sunday is the Sunday following Easter, this year 12th April. You are most welcome to join us for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as a novena online via the parish website, follow the “Divine Mercy Chaplet” link at 3pm for about 15 minutes.
Children’s Liturgy We welcome children of age 4-8 to weekly sessions at the 11am Mass. Please, speak to a member of Children’s Liturgy team to find out more details.
Booking Mass Intentions: Envelopes for Masses are available at the back of the Church, write the intention and put the stipend in the envelope and hand to one of the priests or drop into the Presbytery letterbox 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: Christ is really present in the Blessed Sacrament; come and talk heart to heart with Him, either on Wed 10.00-12 or Sat after 10am Mass until 12.30pm; or 1st Friday 24 hour Adoration.
Holy Hour for the Dignity of Life Sunday 19 April – 4:30pm Join with the Bishops of England and Wales to pray a Holy Hour for the dignity of all human life as peers in the House of Lords continue to debate whether to make Assisted Suicide law.
New parish mass books Please treat them with respect. Refrain from removing or discarding bookmarks. Let us care for our liturgical materials with reverence. If you wish to purchase your own book from the repository they will cost £6. They have 6 months of Sunday readings so the present one runs until 31st May. Eventually the whole set will consist of 6 books for year A, B, & C.
Sick/housebound We are in the process of updating all those who wish to receive Holy Communion at home. 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 01474 352415. We remember in our prayers those who are sick, housebound or in hospital & those who care for them and their families. When on admission in the hospital or care home, volunteer the information of your faith as you won’t be asked ordinarily.
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
The Divine Mercy Novena
Divine Mercy Sunday is the Sunday following Easter, this year 12th April. The novena starts on Good Friday and ends on the following Saturday. In 1935 Our Lord asked St Faustina to promote the Divine Mercy Chaplet and particularly to say it as a novena before Divine Mercy Sunday.
You are most welcome to join us for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as a novena online via the parish website, follow this link Click here
On Good Friday it will begin at 2:00pm
On the other days it will be at 3:00pm.
The chaplet , with the reflections for the novena days, will take probably about 15 minutes.