15th Sunday / (Old Rite) VI Sunday after Pentecost

Federation - Breaking News:  This statement was issued this past week.

“We are extremely pleased to let you know that Governors from both St Bede’s & St Bernadette School voted unanimously for the schools to enter into a hard federation, this legally took place on 10th July 2017 when the new Governing Board met, however nothing will change for families until September 2017. 

We would like to assure you that the new Governing board will remain committed to working together effectively, in order to support the best interests of children of both schools”

This is a huge development – when I came her in September 1994 the two schools were under different trusteeships – St Bernadette was owned by the Sisters of La Retraite and St Bede’s was a Diocesan school.  Formerly many of you will remember that the former was a girl’s school (with boys in infants) and the latter was for boys only.  Over 10 years ago after complex legal proceedings La Retraite & St Bernadette came under Diocesan control.  

This federation makes sense.  The 2 schools share the same children and are both in the parish.  Together we can do better than being apart.  I have noticed a real change already – Congratulations – fr Chris

Fr Hugh Simon Thwaites: Centenary of his birth – tomorrow.  What a remarkable priest – Jewish, Anglican, P.O.W, Jesuit, apostle to immigrants, herald of Traditional Mass and much more. R.I.P

Welcome back to Fr Andrew: who will be with us until next Sunday when he will head off to the annual St Catherine’s Trust summer school in Wales. 

Fr Christopher: is in Maine burying the ashes of the old choir-mistress who knew him as a teenager in Tehran, Iran half a century ago.  

Fr Lukasz: is in Poland with his Mother, back in a couple of weeks.  

Fr Pawel's Presentation & Farewell: Sunday 24th September.  He returns from holiday late on Monday 18th and will say goodbye to the schools and UCM in the days after.  On the weekend of 23rd / 24th, he will speak at each Mass and then the presentation will be at 1pm on the Sunday in the context of a shared lunch.    

Sisters Retreat - Tuesday 1st to Wednesday 9th August Inclusive: Every year, our Handmaid of Mary Sisters have a 10 day retreat during the summer.  Therefore there will be no 8.30 Convent Mass during this time.

Where are all the red boxes? Do you have an APF box in your home? Has it been emptied recently? You can bring in any weekend and leave with one of the priests.  Don’t forget to put your name on the bottom of the box - so we can return your box to you afterwards! 

All London Caribbean Pilgrimage to Aylesford: Sunday 30th July. Solemn Mass at 12noon and Rosary, Adoration & Benediction at 3.30pm. Chief celebrant is Bishop Patrick Lynch.  Adults £14 - Children £12.  Coach leaving from Clapham – contact Lloyd Booker.

Latin Mass Society's Pilgrimage to Walsingham: The Latin Mass Society’s annual walking pilgrimage from Ely to Walsingham takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend.  Pilgrims meet at Ely on Thurs 24th and, after Mass early Friday morning, start the walk to Walsingham. Arriving in Walsingham on Sunday 27th, pilgrims will be joined by day pilgrims from around the country. On Friday, Saturday & Sunday there is a sung (normally High) Mass in the Extraordinary Form or Vetus ordo and accompanied by a Gregorian Chant schola of walking pilgrims. Each day we sing or say the Rosary, the Angelus, and a Litany, as well as many other things. There are also periods of quiet reflection and opportunities to talk to one’s fellow pilgrims.  For more information visit:
www.lms.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=22

Cleaners this week: Annie Nongo, Biannie Bilwala & Mamie Bazakana

14th Sunday / (Old Rite) V Sunday after Pentecost

Your Awesome Prayers: In the last few weeks I have asked you to pray about the sudden Episcopal interruption into our happy and peaceful lives.  I know we lost the battle but I think we may have won the war.  On 17th Sept we hope to welcome Fr Przemyslaw Zgorecki, 31, (on 24th Sept 24th, we will have Fr Pawel's presentation and farewell).  The former is full time, the latter is part time.  Furthermore fr PZ speaks fluently English, Spanish, Italian and French and can get along in German and Russian.  He has an advanced certificate in Latin and is too young to have any allergies in regard to the Traditional Mass.  He is a PhD in Philosophy from the same university that fr Lukasz & fr Pawel attend (Cardinal Wyszynski Univ. in Warsaw).  He will defend his thesis this autumn.  His parents live in Poznan and his brother has just qualified as an architect.  So, although we will sorely miss the radiant DNA and the unique charismatic gifts of fr Pawel, because of your awesome prayers we have an amazing runner-up.  Apologies for the volcanic entry last week.  The Lord comforts his afflicted!  Fr Chris.

First Communion (Old Rite): Congratulations to Augustine Windsor who makes his First Holy Communion today during the 11am Mass.

Special Sunday - 11am Mass: The music is provided by Cantores Missæ under thedirection of Charles Finch: 

• Ordinary: Mass for 4 voices (Byrd); 
• Offertory: O quam gloriosum (Victoria); 
• Communion: Ave verum corpus (Byrd) 
• After Last Gospel: Salve Regina (Chant).  

First Communion Party: Welcome back to all our FHC candidates and their families. After the 9.30 Mass, there will be a party in the club.  Copies of the photos will be available to view along with the order forms. Please place your orders as soon as possible – no later than next Sunday!

Confirmation Reunion: Welcome back to our Confirmation candidates and their families.  After the 6pm Mass, we will join the youth club for the summer round up party.

Youth Club Summer Round-up: tonight after the 6pm Mass.  We will not meet until then and that will be it for the summer.

African & Caribbean Meeting: after 9.30 Mass today (parlour).

All London Caribbean Pilgrimage to Aylesford: Sunday 30th July. Solemn Mass at 12noon and Rosary, Adoration & Benediction at 3.30pm. Chief celebrant is Bishop Patrick Lynch.  Adults £14 - Children £12.  Coach leaving from Clapham – contact Lloyd Booker.

Today is Sea Sunday - 2nd Collection: when the Church prayers for all those who live & work at sea. Without them we would not have most of the items we buy in the shops. Today’s second collection is for the Apostleship of the Sea (AoS), the Church’s official maritime welfare agency. It supports seafarers both practically & spiritually. This annual collection is absolutely vital to enable it to continue to work, so please give generously and remember seafarers in your prayers. 

Fr Lukasz: has taken his mother from Poland to France for the baptism of Milan, his sister’s first child (yesterday).  Pray for safe travel.

Fr Michael Adams is this week 50 years a priest. In June 1967 he said his very first Mass here at St Bede’s.  Fr Joseph Sullivan was Parish Priest, Harold Wilson was the PM, Lyndon B Johnson was President of the US and communism still threatened the world.  Fifty years on all has changed but Fr Michael, at 86, is still Parish Priest in Parkwood near Rainham.  Congratulations to all the family.  Paul and Cecil Adams, his brothers are with us on Emmanuel Road, and Mary is in Ferring in West Sussex. 

Congratulations to James Farragher (who has come to the 7am Latin Mass on & off for years) and Jean Wang who were married this past Friday at the Oratory.   

Cleaners this week: Annie Nongo, Biannie Bilwala & Mamie Bazakana