Our Lady of the Rosary

Just a reminder of the meeting this Thursday 23 February for parents of children who are preparing for their First Holy Communion this year.

We will meet this Thursday for Rosary and Benediction in the Church at 8pm, followed by a short talk by Fr Finigan on preparation for the children’s first confession.

We are looking for new members for the Parish Orchestra. This is for young people of all abilities. The older children are great at helping the younger players and there is a lot of fun to be had playing together.

The Orchestra comes together on an ad hoc basis prior to our major events. They will be playing at the Confirmation Mass on Thursday 15th March. If your child plays a musical instrument, please see Sue from Children’s Liturgy after the 9am Mass or email childrensliturgy@blackfencatholic.org

The Holy Shop has a new stock of Jesus Bracelets which have proved popular recently. There are also some new books for children, statues, prayer cards, rosaries and crucifixes.

Saying Yes and Saying No.
Medical and moral dilemmas faced by healthcare workers.
25-26 February

Our parish is hosting a conference offering skills for clinicians dealing with ethical dilemmas in medicine. A crucial question is how to offer care when others would advise ceasing care, and how to communicate good clinical decisions. The Conference carries six hours of CPD for healthcare workers, and attendance certificates will be available.

There is a distinguished panel of speakers including several experienced consultants, a barrister, the head of Nurses Opposed to Euthanasia, and a priest who is a qualified physician, and now works as an exorcist.

The conference is explicitly Catholic; there will be overnight adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and a blessing for Healthcare Workers. Conference members will be joining us for our Masses. There will be a conference banquet on the Saturday evening.

For full information, see: faithandfamily.org.uk

I am grateful to all who assisted at the funeral Mass for Margaret Murphy last week, especially our altar servers, the students and staff of Our Lady of the Rosary and St Thomas More schools who sang so beautifully, the Union of Catholic Mothers who prepared the refreshments, and the Guild of St Martha who prepared the Church.

The Funeral Mass for Margaret Murphy will be at Our Lady of the Rosary, Blackfen on Thursday 26th January 2012 at 11am, followed by burial at Hillview cemetery.

You are welcome to send flowers if you wish (Funeral Directors: W Uden and Sons, 64 High Street, Sidcup, Kent DA14 6DS), or to make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Of your charity, please remember in your prayers Margaret Murphy who died peacefully this morning, 15 January, fortified by the sacraments, the prayers of Holy Mother Church, the Apostolic Blessing and plenary indulgence.

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Margaret was Headteacher of St Thomas More School at Eltham and assisted in apostolic work in the parish for many years, especially as a catechist, preparing young people for the sacrament of Confirmation, but also in many other ways in support of the work of the Church.

This Friday 20 January 7.30pm, as a part of the Octave of prayer for Christian Unity, we will have sung English Vespers. Part of the liturgical prayer of the Church, this service consists of sung psalms and other scriptural texts.

Bishop Patrick Lynch will administer the sacrament of Confirmation during Mass at 7.30pm on Thursday 15 March.

The initial meeting for young people making their Confirmation this year, and their parents, will be this Thursday 19 January. There will be Rosary and Benediction at 8pm, followed by a short talk by Fr Finigan.

Late application forms for Confirmation will be accepted if they are submitted immediately.

This week on Wednesday, the children from year 6 of Our Lady of the Rosary School will be joining us for 10.30am Mass, which will be a Votive Mass of the Holy Name of Jesus.