I would personally like to thank all our stewards who have worked tirelessly during the last couple of months to enable you to attend Mass. Without them we would not be able to open the church. If you are attending Mass, please consider offering your services so that the load
Continue readingMASS All Masses are celebrated with a congregation. They are live-streamed and can be followed on the Parish website. Strict rules apply at all Masses in accordance with government and diocesan instructions: this includes social distancing, the mandatory wearing of face-coverings, and the recording of contact details for all those
Continue readingPope Francis prays for victims of Lebanon explosion At the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis prays for victims of a massive explosion in Beirut on Tuesday, which killed dozens and caused serious destruction.By Vatican NewsDuring the weekly General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis prayed for Lebanon in the aftermath of
Continue readingThis Sunday’s gospel reading is Matthew’s account of the miracle of the Feeding of the Five Thousand (14:13-21). This manifestation of God’s generous love points forward to the Eucharist: this year we are able to reflect about this in a new way, as many have been deprived of the chance
Continue readingThe office will be staffed from Monday 3 August but will NOT be open to personal callers yet. Please email us on beckenham@rcaos.org.uk or telephone 020 8650 0970. You can also drop a note through our door and we will get in touch with you. If you would like to book
Continue readingToday is the feast of St Martha, the name day of my older daughter. This painting by Rembrandt depicts her with her sister Mary at their house in Bethany, with Martha serving Jesus, (Luke 10: 38-42). The simplicity of this scene is worth reflecting on (and because of later legends
Continue readingWhen I was a student and learning about the Old Testament, I remember our tutor (Fr Nicholas Turner) saying that he found Jeremiah such an intense figure that he almost found it impossible to teach people about him: we were encouraged simply to try and experience the raw emotion, and
Continue readingToday’s gospel contains a number of short parables from Jesus in Matthew’s gospel (13:44-52), including that of the pearl of great price, shown here. The Holy Father’s catechesis from the Angelus in St Peter’s square earlier today, can be seen at https://www.vaticannews.va/…/2020-07/pope-angelus-26-july-2…. Please remember that from this weekend we are
Continue readingToday is the feast of St James the Great (there were two disciples with this name, or rather Jacob), the first apostle to be martyred (Acts chapter 12) – some of you will have been to his great shrine at Compostella in Spain, which houses the famous ‘botafumeiro’, the large
Continue readingToday is the feast day of St Sharbel Makhluf. He was a nineteenth century Maronite priest and hermit in Lebanon. His feast is an affirmation of the Christian communities in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, which have suffered so much in recent years. Please pray for them and for Christians from
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