Parishoners will be sorry to hear that Robert finally passed away on the morning of 31st December - more or less at the time we were saying another Mass for his recovery. This had been expected for about three days before as various parts of his body gradually ceased to function. Please remember Jean and his children and grandchildren in your prayers.
His funeral will take place here this week. The arrangements are as follows:
(a) His body will be brought into Church on the Tuesday night (7th January)- and there will be a memorial Mass at 8.00pm with a guard of honour from the KSC of which he was a keen and active member.
(b) The funeral itself will take place on Wednesday 8th at 2.00pm. ... followed by an interment in Hartley Churchyard at just after 3.00pm
The School
- reopens this MONDAY - 6th January for ALL classes. There will be a start of term Mass at 11.00am in the School Hall - all parents etc welcome.
Christmas Offerings
Fr Hugh thanks you for your generous Christmas offerings which came to £2142 including late offerings last Sunday- your personal gift to your parish priest.
New Ash Green Mass
Last Sunday - 29th December - being the 5th in the Month - there was an ADDITIONAL Mass at New Ash Green at 9.45am in New Ash Green Youth Centre. It was decided to continue these 5th Sunday Masses at New Ash Green for 2003. If you live in NAG please support them
Southwark Directories
Diocesan Directories for the year 2003 are now available in the porch. They have increased in price and are now £2.50 per copy - in Papers & Pamphlets box please.
Crime does not pay !
You will be pleased to know that the youth who took June Stapletons bag has been CAUGHT. He was a resident in a local care home. She has got everything back except the money and is feeling happier about life and almost sorry for the perpetrator.
Prayer for Iraq and Peace
Just before Christmas you were given a prayer Card for this intention - and you are being asked to put aside some time - at least once a week to prayfor our leaders as they make decisions regarding a possible offensive. As you know the Christian Churches ALL have considerable reservations regarding this as it is not complaint with our normal "Just War" criteria - falling far short in several ways as I explained in the sermon last Sunday.
Parish Carol Service
Hearty congratulations to all those (Choir, readers, child actors etc) who took part in the annual carol service on last Sunday afternoon. The SVP were delighted with the outcome of the collection which came to £290 which paid for allthe gifts they have distributed to the needy in this parish over the week.
UCM Christmas Draw
The UCM Christmas Draw took place after the carol concert last weekend. The winners were as follows:
!st Prize - Big Hamper - M B Mooy
2nd Prise - smaller ditto - Teresa Steingass
3rd Prize - smaller again - Padraig Flaherty.
The UCM thank you for your support which raised £164.13 (?) for the Friends of Louise (Kerton) fund.
Priory Fete 2003.
Now is the time to start planning for this annual event. Paulyne and John Doyle have agreed to lead the committee for one further year and Fr Hugh is immensely grateful to them for taking on this immense job.
They have called a meeting in the MEETING ROOM - for next Sunday - 12th January - after the 6.30pm Mass (viz 7.30pm) for all those interested in forming the FETE COMMITTEE for this year.
For further details please contact the Doyles for further details (01474-706389 - eves only.)
CWL
Meets this Tuesday at 2.30pm in Rita Craddys House - Dulce Domum Fairby Lane.
Registered Childminder has full time vacancies in your area. My name is Marie Watts, I have been registered as a childminder for the last seven years. If you would like to contract me to arrange care for your child please ring 01474-879073.
School Incident
As you read this the fence mentioned in last weeks newsletter is well in the course of errection. The bad weather has not helped at all in this regard. I am greateful to all those who have commented on this and suggested how the problem of the Summer Fete (the only use the parish made of the gate) can be overcome. Those others that did so must now go via the school main entrance (to the school field) or my front door (to Whitefriars Garden). This makes a repeat of the incident impossible.
Despite your sympathetic comments on the matter, I (Fr Hugh) still feel bad about this as on returning to Whitefriars after the 9.15am Mass on the Thursday I had seen that the gate to the field had been left open, not just unlocked, by persons unknown and meant to close it immediately just to prevent such an occurrence (which was a previously identified risk) when I was distracted by the door and then being late for other things. I have apologised for my oversight to those parents of the children affected who have raised the matter personally with me
Gift Aid
Remember if you sign a GIFT AID declaration (and pay tax) the parish can recover the tax you paid on the money you give. A form for this purpose is available from the sacristy. You also need to take a set of envelopes in which to give the money (purple boxes in the porch) - or pay by standing order - so we can prove what you have given and claim on that basis. All figures are kept strictly confidential by Vincent, our head counter and Norman, our covenant organiser)
Parish Treasurer.
Alan Gray has been our parish treasurer for over five years - but would like to step down next March. We therefore need someone to take the role on. It does NOT involve hasndling or counting cash - which is catered for elsewhere. Offers to Fr Hugh
Bargains for the New Year-
(a) In late November some wholesalers had quite exceptional bargains on offer for full price EMI classical CDs - £2.99 each instead of around £14.99 This was for the top sellers (not deletions). I bought a batch and have sold most of them on to parishoners from my shelf with no advertising. I have a few copiesof the Baker/Barbirolli Dream of Gerontius left... plus odd copies of some other Elgar, VW and Britten. The local record shops have the same "bargains" in their January sales at 4.99 to £7.99. I have some of the best of the Double Decca series - Neilsen and Falla - at £6.99 per pair (£9.99 in bwtr)
(b) If you want all 16 volumes of the Oxford History of England they are available new at a 78% discount or £150 the set rather than £720 rrp until the end of January - secondhand bookshops have usually charged £220 - £300 according to condition.
(c) No more copies of the "Irish Empire" about the Irish dispersion (in USA, Australia, England, India, Africa etc) - sorry. It is being reprinted and will probably be only available at about half price c£12.50 rather than the £5to£7 of my earlier copies
(d) National Geographic Millenium Photos Book - of then and now. Copies in transit from US - will cost £7..50 rather than the £60 when they arrive Confirmation Photos
The confirmation photos have arrived- and all but three have come out really well. Candidates can collect them from Fr Hugh (gratis) after Mass. I will have more copies made of the group photo. I also have a CD Rom of them which can be borrowed
First Holy Communion 2003
1st Communion Day is Saturday 21st June 2003. There will be two services - one at 10.00am and the other at 11.00am - with a combined party after. (b) Preparation classes are on WEDNESDAYs after school from 3.30pm to 4.00pm. The classes will resume on Wednesday 8th January 2003.
The childrens workbooks - "I Belong" - have now arrived and can be bought - price £5.95 (NOTE REDUCTION)- from the Sacristy. Would parents who still owe for them please pay Mrs Kerton with great speed. The parents guide is £4.95. The next preparation Mass to be attended by ALL children in the group will be on NEXT Sunday 12th January in the Church at 11.00am 100% attendance without exception is ESSENTIAL. Please bring back your SIGNED enrollment certificate.
As you may have read in the press, we now need your written permission to display yuor childrens photographs on the displays in the church. We will be distributing the forms that the Catholic Bishops Conference have issued for this purpose at this Mass. Please make sure that they are returned with any photographs you send in for display.
Piano for Sale
For sale Bosendorfer 5'6" Concert Grand piano - 1920 rebuilt about 20 years ago and immaculate. Serious offers around £5000 or above to Fr Hugh. A reconditioned one in Bosendorfers showroom currently costs about £17000.
Please pray for the sick
Jean McCarthy is in better spirits. Please pray for Eileen Harrisson. and for her family. Aoife Bishop - 18 days old and very sick.Fr Hughs sister Cathy had yet another op -& once again gone wrong,. Also Fr Hugh's mother had a medium-severe stroke four weeks ago and is in Orpington Hospital -very poorly and unable to move on her right side. David Moss' mother has cancer. Also Archie. Rachel is still with Fr Hugh - is currently awaiting a transfer and desperate for someone to talk to now that all the support services have closed for a 5 week Christmas holiday. Also Jessica Neilson - diagnosed with a tumour on the brain aged just 20 has had sucessful op. Don Anderson needs prayers. Claire Barbour, Lucy Philips, Mrs Gabriel, Henry Gray.- You are gently reminded that practicing Catholics should be attending Mass every Sunday and holyday of obligation.
North West Kent Prayer Groups
Monthly Joint service - First Tuesdays - from 7.30pm, Mass at 8pm, healing 8.45pm St Clements Ch, Coldharbour La, Northfleet). Next Mass THIS WEEK - 7th January 03 at 8pm