Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday: Normal morning Masses time apply.  3pm Spanish Mass.  No evening English Mass

Easter: The culmination of Lent and Holy Week is of course Easter but our celebration cannot be exhausted in one day.  Therefore, Mother Church gives us a week’s Octave when we celebrate more solemnly, and then 50 days until Pentecost (8th June); so that we may truly savour and experience the implications of the Resurrection in our own lives.  Happy Easter to you all!   Fr Simon, Fr Christopher A, Fr Maciek and Fr Linus.

Special Marriage Anniversaries: If you are celebrating your 1st, 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th or 60th + anniversary, please apply for an invitation to our special Mass on Saturday 21st June at St George’s Cathedral.  Put your name on the list at the back of the Church or email marriagese@tiscali.co.uk.  The deadline is Wednesday 30th April.

Little Sisters of the Poor: will be here next weekend to sell tickets for the upcoming Summer Fayre which will take place on Spring Bank Holiday (Monday 26th May).

‘Not for Sale’ Campaign: There are at least 10,000 slaves working in the UK.  Even more tragically, at least 1,000 are children. Modern Slavery can go unseen for months and sometimes years.  It takes place all over the country from quiet villages to large cities.  It is so widespread in the UK that you are likely to have come into contact with a victim of trafficking yourself but would not have recognised them as such.  Many news outlets have portrayed the issue of modern slavery as the sexual exploitation of women; however, its most common form is slave labour. In May, a new Modern Slavery Bill will be presented to Parliament.  By signing our petition and getting others to join with you, together we can encourage our MP’s to support the Bill and you could help free someone from modern-day slavery.  The petition can be found at the back of Church.

Concert by the Mandolinenorchester Odenwaldklub Eppertshausen on Tuesday 22nd here in Church at 7.30pm.  

Future Dates:- Check out the calendar for upcoming events.

Tues 22nd: 7.30pm Concert by German Orchestra at St Bede's Church
Sat 26/Sun 27th:  Little Sisters of the Poor - will be here to sell raffle tickets for their Summer Fayre.
Wed 30th - FAITH talk - The Sacraments: The sunshine of the soul (Fr Michael-John Galbraith)

MAY:

Mon 5th: Altar Servers Rally - Aylesford
Sat 10th: Confirmation Preparation Day
Sun 11th: 12.30pm Confirmations (Bishop Pat Lynch)

Wed 14th: FAITH talk - The Church as a field hospital (Canon Luiz Ruscillo)

Sun 18th: 12.30pm African & Caribbean Mass followed by lunch in club.

Fri 23 - Sun 25th - Vocations weekend for young women - Broadstairs, Kent

Wed 28: FAITH talk - The Eucharist: Fulfilling human nature (Fr David Standen)

Mass Time Changes this week: 
Mon 21st - Bank Holiday Mass times apply 9am Convent, 10am English & 10.45am Latin.

Church Cleaners Rota - 25th / 26th April: Vicki Sabbatini, Fernanda Rodrigues & Louis Dayanc.

Vocations Weekend for young women (20s and 30s):  The weekend is organised by the sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) and the theme is 'Discerning God's Call in my life'.  Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th May in Broadstairs, Kent.   There will be input from the FCJ sisters on different aspects of vowed life, and time for prayer, reflection and discussion with other young women who are also considering a vocation to religious life.  It's an opportunity to live community life for a weekend and meet some sisters!  For more information contact Sr Lynne fcJ at lynnefcj@hotmail.com or visit our website www.fcjsisters.org 

Calling Past Pupils of Coloma Convent Girls' School: The annual reunion luncheon for past pupils of Coloma Convent Girls’ School in Shirley, Croydon takes place at the school on Saturday 10th May.   The event is organised by COGA – the school’s alumnae association – and more details and a ticket booking form are available on www.coloma.croydon.sch.uk/COGA   If you are unable to attend this year but would like to be kept up to date with information about next year’s 50th anniversary of the school’s move to Shirley then please email suzystar@live.co.uk.

Current Vacancies:

For more information on all the vacancies, please see our 'Job Opportunties' page on the sidebar.  

Upcoming Pilgrimages for 2014:

See our previous posts for details of these pilgrimages

Palm Sunday (Old Rite: Palm Sunday/II Sunday of Passiontide)

Masses: Easter Triduum: Please note: all ceremonies will be held at St Bede’s this year!  

Palm Sunday (13th) 9.30am Mass with Procession from School.  10.30am Latin Mass with Procession from St Bede’s School.  All other Masses remain the same.
Spy Wednesday (16th) 11.30am Mass of Chrism at Cathedral.  7pm Tenebrae.  
Maundy Thursday (17th):  6pm (Latin); 8pm (English); Adoration 9.30pm – 6am.  
Good Friday (18th): 11am Stations of the Cross & Relic; 3pm; 5.30pm (Latin).  
Holy Saturday (19th): 5.30pm Latin; 8.30pm English. 
Easter Sunday (20th): Normal morning Masses time apply.  3pm Spanish Mass.  No evening English Mass

Holy Week:  All of our Sacraments, like satellites around their sun, revolve around the Blessed Sacrament - the Holy Eucharist.  In the Liturgy this week, this close dependence is clearly shown: the Easter Vigil is the traditional time for Baptism; on Maundy Thursday (or in this Diocese “Spy” Wednesday) the Bishop consecrates the Chrism and blesses the Holy Oils which are used at Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and the Anointing of the Sick.  The Mass of the Lord’s Supper is intimately joined to Good Friday.  We should all enter into the great Three Days to understand better our own personal incorporation into Christ’s Paschal Mystery with all its implications!  Don’t forget to make the most of this Week of weeks.  Put your blessed palm behind your crucifix as a sign of the victory of the Cross.  Make every effort to come to the “Washing of the Feet” on Maundy Thursday evening; the “Kissing of the Cross” on Good Friday and the Solemn Easter Vigil with the fire on Holy Saturday night.  There are loads of opportunities for Confessions so make sure you go before Easter!

Washing of the Feet: We need male volunteers for Maundy Thursday.  Please put your name on the list located on the clipboard at the back of Church

The Good Friday Collection for Holy Places is used to maintain 74 Churches & shrines associated with the life of Jesus.  It also helps the work of the Church in the Holy Land & neighbouring countries by the relief of poverty & suffering.  Parishes, schools, orphanages and medical centres they rely very much on assistance from the Collection, especially at this difficult time.  Gift Aid Donors are asked to place their contribution in one of the spare green envelopes supplied (writing ‘Holy Places’ on front), thereby boosting their donation by an additional 25% tax relief.

Confirmation Candidates: are to be involved in this great week.  On Wednesday they meet at St Bede’s to go to the Mass of Chrism at Cathedral in Southwark.  On Maundy Thursday, they will sit behind the 12 Apostles and do the Offertory Procession.  On Good Friday, they should be here at 2.45pm where they sit in the front row.  On Holy Saturday night, at the 8.30pm Vigil (the first Mass of Easter), they help with tapers to light the candles of the congregation.

Welcome to Fr Linus Clovis: who will be with us over Holy Week and Easter Octave.

Thank you to our new Readers who have generously offered their help for the Saturday Vigil Masses.  

Future Dates:- Check out the calendar for upcoming events.

Sat 26/Sun 27th:  Little Sisters of the Poor - will be here to sell raffle tickets for their Summer Fayre.

Mass Time Changes this week: 
See above for Easter Masses.  There are no Morning Masses on Thursday, Friday or Saturday

Church Cleaners Rota - 18th / 19th April: Biannie Bilwala, Regina Curaj and Legion of Mary.

Born for This: Southwark Youth Services present: ‘A moving depiction of the Stations of the Cross presented by young people' at St George’s Cathedral on tonight at 7:30pm.  Free admission. Appropriate for all ages. For more information contact Southwark Catholic Youth Service on 01227 272900 or info@scys.org.uk

Calling Past Pupils of Coloma Convent Girls' School: The annual reunion luncheon for past pupils of Coloma Convent Girls’ School in Shirley, Croydon takes place at the school on Saturday 10th May.   The event is organised by COGA – the school’s alumnae association – and more details and a ticket booking form are available on www.coloma.croydon.sch.uk/COGA   If you are unable to attend this year but would like to be kept up to date with information about next year’s 50th anniversary of the school’s move to Shirley then please email suzystar@live.co.uk.

Current Vacancies:

For more information on all the vacancies, please see our 'Job Opportunties' page on the sidebar.  

Upcoming Pilgrimages for 2014:

See our previous posts for details of these pilgrimages

5th Sunday of Lent (Old Rite: Passion Sunday/I Sunday in Passiontide)

Lenten Confessions: Saturdays 9.30-10am; 5.30 – 6pm.  Sunday: 9.40 – 10.10am; 11-11.30am.

Stations of the Cross:  Every Sunday during Lent at 5pm

Masses: Easter Triduum: Please note: all ceremonies will be held at St Bede’s this year!  
Palm Sunday (13th) 9.30am Mass with Procession from School.  10.30am Latin Mass with Procession from St Bede’s School.  All other Masses remain the same.
Spy Wednesday (16th) 11.30am Mass of Chrism at Cathedral.  7pm Tenebrae.  
Maundy Thursday (17th):  6pm (Latin); 8pm (English); Adoration 9.30pm – 6am.  
Good Friday (18th): 11am Stations of the Cross & Relic; 3pm; 5.30pm (Latin).  
Holy Saturday (19th): 5.30pm Latin; 8.30pm English. 
Easter Sunday (20th): Normal morning Masses time apply - No evening English Mass

The Fifth Sunday of Lent: This week, Passiontide begins, a time especially consecrated to the remembrance and loving contemplation of the sorrows of Jesus.  The veiled crucifix and statues, the absence of the Gloria in the Mass is a sign of mourning by which the Church commemorates Our Lord’s Passion.  Pope St. Leo exhorts us to participate “in the Cross of Christ, in order that we also may do something which will unite us to what He has done for us, for as the Apostle says, ‘if we suffer with Him, we shall be glorified with Him.’”  Therefore, we must not only meditate on Jesus’ sufferings, but also take part in them; only by bearing His Passion in our heart and in our body shall we be able to share in its fruits.  So it is that in the liturgy of this season the Church repeats more insistently than ever: “If you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.”  The voice of the Lord makes itself heard these days, not by words, but by eloquent testimony of deeds, by the great events of the Passion – a mystery which gives us the most convincing proof of His infinite love for us.

Fr Linus Clovis: arrives at St Bede's on Friday 11th April.  We will be with us over Holy Week and Easter.

Readers Rota April - June: is now available at the back of Church.  Please pick up your copy today.  

Future Dates:- Check out the calendar for upcoming events.

Sat 12th: 10.30am A Day with Mary - Good Shepherd, New Addington

Sat 26/Sun 27th:  Little Sisters of the Poor - will be here to sell raffle tickets for their Summer Fayre.

Mass Time Changes this week: 
Fri 11th: 9am Mass will move to 9.40am and will be for the St Bede's Schoolchildren.  There will also be a Mass at St Bernadette's School at 9.30am

Church Cleaners Rota - 11th / 12th April: Pauline Ajuga, Rose Anunwa & Ms Nazereth Kristos.

A Day with Mary: Saturday 12th April - Good Shepherd Church in New Addington, starting 10am and finishing around 5.40pm.  
For more info, please see the posters on the notice boards or visit their website www.adaywithmary.org

Born for This: Southwark Youth Services present: ‘A moving depiction of the Stations of the Cross presented by young people' at St George’s Cathedral on Sunday 6th April at 7:30pm.  Free admission. Appropriate for all ages. For more information contact Southwark Catholic Youth Service on 01227 272900 or info@scys.org.uk

Calling Past Pupils of Coloma Convent Girls' School: The annual reunion luncheon for past pupils of Coloma Convent Girls’ School in Shirley, Croydon takes place at the school on Saturday 10th May.   The event is organised by COGA – the school’s alumnae association – and more details and a ticket booking form are available on www.coloma.croydon.sch.uk/COGA   If you are unable to attend this year but would like to be kept up to date with information about next year’s 50th anniversary of the school’s move to Shirley then please email suzystar@live.co.uk.

Are you registered to vote? Our MEPs are coming up for election on May 22nd along with our local councillors.  The European elections are decided on proportional representation, you pick a party rather than an individual.  There are 8 elected from London & 10 from the South East.  Depending on their portion of the vote each party gets a number of MEPs from their candidates list & so all votes can really count.  If you are not registered to vote, you can do so by May 6th; either by going to your local council offices or downloading a form online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote (postal address can be found on there too)

Current Vacancies:

For more information on all the vacancies, please see our 'Job Opportunties' page on the sidebar.  

There are two teaching vacancies at The Laurels School just around the corner from us on Atkins Road and 5 teacher vacancies for Coloma Girls' Convent School.  Regina Coeli Primary School in South Croydon is looking for a new Headteacher from September.  
We also have adverts for St Vincent de Paul Society who need a part-time Fundraising officer, Aid to the Church in Need who are looking for a Area Secretary for the Southwark Diocese and if you are interested in Radio, Heaven's Road FM are a new internet radio station who are on the look-out for people (no experience necessary)

Upcoming Pilgrimages for 2014:

See our previous posts for details of these pilgrimages

• A Day with Mary - Fatima 9th - 14th June
• A Day with Mary - Italy 9th - 17th September
  A Day with Mary, PO Box 432, Sutton, SM1 9LF; phone 020 8641 6418; email dwm@adaywithmary.org.  

• The World Apostolate of Fatima National Pilgrimage to Fatima: 10th-17th July.Oliver Abasolo (WAF Southwark Representative) 020 8274 8261 or 07782 661 922; or Email: abasolo35@gmail.com.  Poster at back of Church.

• Pilgrimage to holy places in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal: led by Fr Linus Clovis  18 Days: 28th July - 14th August. For more information go to www.adjesum.org

• Pilgrimage to Lourdes & the Shrines of France Knights of St. Columba – 20^th to 26^th August.  Tel 020 8696 9714 or email ksc266@hotmail.co.uk

• Southwark Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 22nd - 29th August by Train or Air.  Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage Director, Archbishop's House, 150 St George's Road, London, SE1 6HX. Telephone: 07521 519 482 or email: rcaspilgrim@btinternet.com.